I guess it's bye-bye November as well

It's been a hectic two weeks and I'm struggling to keep up.
Apart from working on the garden and my studio, I had a little exhibition at Hellean.

It was an interesting experience.

Friends over for a meal on the 12th.

Bev, Emma and her friend and Rachel wait as the crowds start to gather for a little live music. 

David Gentry rocks (in yellow). It was a really great night.  These four lads really did the business.  The atmosphere was brilliant. Sadly it's likely to be their last gig together.

It was Friday the 13th and we all know what else was going down not too far away in Paris.

The security wasn't too bad travelling from France to England the next day.  It's nice to see the grandkids...

...and mum.

And doing a little prep for Ashley's birthday next week.

The family gathered from all over England for thanksgiving, early Christmas and baby blessing in Sunderland.

It wasn't the best weather but since when did that ever stop us?

Em getting a rough ride from her uncles.

They just loved this swing.

Anna-Belle.

All fourteen of our grandkids waiting patiently for their Christmas presents.

Hollie being Hollie. The kids loved early Christmas...too many photos to share.

Kids are now having their own time with each other watching films, playing games and catching up with each other elsewhere in the house.  Now it's adults time to open their Secret Santa presents. It was really nice. Not sure what was happening here. 

It's the adults time to play and the girls are up for a challenge. I think Bev and me came overall second...what else do we need to know!

Well done, Bev for this game.

Using the empty boxes for this next game was a laugh, but not as funny as the next game.  Sorry, no photos...it was all good clean fun but censored all the same!

Setting out the thanksgiving meal after the blessing of baby Eleanor Jose.

My globe-trotting sister Susan and Nigel arriving. We don't get to see them very often.

The place was eventually packed and we had to have two sittings for the meal...children then adults.

Showing some of the games from last night.

I think Chris had set it all to music.

Pie face!

It was an incredible family gathering...possibly the best ever. The house was just bursting with love.

During the course of our visit I also got to see my other sister and her family along with one of my brothers and his family.

We dropped by to see mum again on the way back to France.

Not sure if we'll recover easily from such a hectic schedule, but it was worth it.

I fitted our new wood-burner this week (that's our first cooked meal on top ready to eat). 

We are now glowing in the warmth of a wonderful past few weeks.

Happy Birthday Ash...hope you had a great day! 

Bye Bye October

Today is Sunday and the weather is glorious. Even Sunderland losing 6-2 won't put a dampener on things.

It was the same last week, although Sunderland did win. We spend so much time out front that we ought to bring the table and chairs round from the patio.

Monday was rainy, so we went to see how the tree-felling was progressing.

Looks like the they are organised.  All the trees are cut and categorised now.

We insulated and boarded the winter studio during the week as the weather wasn't too good.  We also completely tidied the shed...a BIG job!

We picked up the new part for the mower and Martin came to help me fit it. It still doesn't work, even though the new part needed replacing anyway. 

Sandwiched between working on the bread oven Halloween at Le Bono.

There was a magician, a fire juggler and live music with our meal.  Clarline and Benjamin were perfect hosts.

Everyone starting to come in for their meal as the music gets going. As it happens, it was so busy that a lot had to eat outside.

So, here we are. It won't be long before everything is finished for the winter. The front facia is now slated.

A bit closer.

Closer still.

The gaps are now filled and pointed...

along with the front pillars.

Just the top showpiece bit of slate to fit.

Bev covering her beds for winter with Sophie's manure.

Okay, make that Sophie's horses' manure. Another two barrow-loads, please!

The walnuts are still dropping.

I love the colour of these leaves. This was less than 6" tall when we planted it, and the silver birch (far right) was even shorter when it was decapitated two years ago.

Well, here we are on the first of November and the car registered 22 degrees when we got in it to drive Gary home.

Surely it can't last another week, can it?