Spring into Summer

Well. It was Winter, but all week we've had scorching days and boiling nights, with all the windows open hoping for a breeze. I'm not complaining! But the poor daffodils, who bravely sprung a few weeks ago and gave us hope that winter was over, they are all shrivelled and crisped up, baked and brown. The bluebells are in a panic of "Flower!" and by lunchtime they, too, and droopy and exhausted.

This family is feeling droopy too. We have had a wonderful Easter Holiday, racing out upon adventures because IT MIGHT NOT LAST, getting our sunburn on before the (usually) inevitable English Holiday Rain. The Easter Bunny came on Friday, because Sean went back to work and Charlotte and Venus went back to London on Friday evening. Yesterday the boys and I went downtown to do some chores and play mini golf and watch the duck races in the park. I was rooting for yellow duck number 518, but it didn't win! I love that every time we go to Bournemouth's Lower Gardens, there is some mad fun thing going on. I also love that you can go to the upper gardens for peace and a genteel cup of tea while you watch the tennis players. I love this town!

So today, while everyone else is eating chocolate, we will clean the house and get ready to go back to school and stuff. And we'll eat chocolate too, because there is tons of it.

As Inspector Clouseau would say, "I 'ope ze weazer conteenues zees fine."

How is ze weazer where you are? Have you overdosed on chocolate yet?

Things I've Found in Holiday Pockets

Ammonites,
Belemnites,
Sand,
Black Cretaceous Mud,
£1.20,
Socks,
Iron Pyrites,
Sandwich Crusts,
Camera Lens Cover,
Spare Battery.

Snack Wrappers,
More Sand,
Shells,
Interesting Rocks, one heart-shaped.
Less Interesting Rocks,
Rocks that MIGHT be interesting.

Pebbles,
Sunshine,
Memories,
And Happiness.

What have you got in your pockets?

Landing Gear Down...

Captain Max heads skyward.

Ahhh, a Peaceful Sunday. NOT!

*Thinks*... "Oooh, when I go out to hang up the laundry, I will lie on the trampoline in that nice warm Spring sun! By myself! Where's my bikini?"

Ahhhh, peace and quiet, wind chimes gently dingling, birds tweeting, warm sun, this is the li...

"AHA! A MAIDEN IN DISTRESS!!! FEAR NOT FAIR MAIDEN, I WILL RESCUE YOU!!!"

"No, no, I'm not in distress. Shoo."

"QUICK! SOMEONE DISTRESS THAT MAIDEN! SO WE CAN RESCUE HER!"

*Maiden pretends to be asleep*

"Maybe we could BOUNCE her."

"No, no, *whisperwhisper*" .... swishing noise as boys rub their hands on trampoline to build up a static charge...

ZAP! 

"AAAAARGH! OW! You beasts!"

"AHA! FEAR NOT, FAIR MAIDEN...."

"I DO NOT NEED RESCUING!"

"You DO!"

"HA! From YOU! It was SO peaceful out here a minute ago. Go play videogames or something. NO, you cannot come on the trampoline.... NO! Fine, but you have to not move."

"Look! a helicopter."

"Quick! Make a landing symbol! Helicopters, land here!"

Aren't we all pale? Sean was laughing at us from the kitchen window, and did not warn me that I was about to get zapped. It's a conspiracy! They static-electrocuted their mother, but she is a sucker for snuggles in the sun.

Entertainment!

Duuuude, this is one boring website. Why do y'all keep coming back?

I'm having fun taking pictures though... With my new
 Lumix FZ35 which, if you buy via here, I will get
another seven cents. PIMP!

My muses are growing up, and I can't muse on them any more. The Blog world has been taken over by facebook. Blogs are more and more about making a few dollars. (P.S. if you do the whole ad thing or Amazon or whatever, you will make a grand total of very few dollars a year, unless you are really willing to pimp your blog. Which defeats the whole purpose of blogging.) Comments are often spam. Except for my USUAL commenters, who are witty and brilliant and actually better than the posts, usually. I'll never get rich. I'm BOOOORED.

My stats are fun to look at though: most of my Google hits are from people looking for 'Parang' or 'Hangy Boobs'. With occasional hits by demented Edward Lear fans. Not sure if this bodes well for humanity.

I need a challenge. I've been doing LOTS of writing, secretly. I'd really like to submit a few articles to magazines but I'm terrified! Tell me my faithful readers. I know it's been a while since I wrote anything here that was "good", but if you think waaaay back, what do you think is the best of my writing? What could be re-vamped and sent in to an editor? What kind of writing would you like to see from me in the real world?

Failing that? Entertain me. Tell me a joke. What are you there for anyway, your looks?

My Computer is Working, A Newt, and Spring!

Sean changed my laptop screen, following instructions on YouTube. YAY! I knew it wouldn't be too difficult, because I've watched the Dell guys do it here when we had damage that was covered by warranty. (Hint: if you stand on your open laptop screen, that's not covered by your hardware warranty.) Anyway, IT WORKS! Thank you amazing husband!

Yesterday was Mothers' Day in the UK, so I lolled on the sofa and accepted gifts of chocolate, foot rubs, tea, toast and omelette from my industrious children. They also remembered to tidy up after themselves AND told me I was wonderful. They are so well trained! Later we all went to see 'Rango' which was really good, and I recommend it, especially if you liked 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'. Johnny Depp is amazing! Then we walked in the park and the boys climbed trees while Sean and I had tea and watched a nearby tennis match, very peaceful. The trees are getting leaves and flowers, daffodils are everywhere.

On the way home, we found a newt, who had finished hibernating and was trying to get to water via a busy road. We brought him home and did lots of newt-oriented research. Found out that he is a 'she', and named her 'Moist Lipwig'. I was hoping that everyone would go to bed early, but Moist thought that was a bad idea so everyone stayed up making a perfect home for her out of Schrödinger the snake's old terrarium, which he has outgrown because he is GETTING HUGE. Schrödinger now lives in a fabulous mansion with RUNNING WATER, if you please. Chas has pictures on his blog here.

This morning, Moist is looking much more perky, and soon she will be released back into the wild but not here near the roads. We will probably make a trek to Hengistbury Head, which Chas says is more Newty.

Spring is definitely coming! Keep thinking Springy thoughts, and hang in there!