People outdoors!

I've brought you up-to-date on our garden but real people sometimes use the great outdoors, and here's the proof!

Yes, we brought the little pool out of hibernation. Here's how the bottom looked just after starting 'hoovering'...

...and just a short while later.

My more curious faithful readers might wonder from where this photo was taken!

He's in...

...but not for long. Water at 22ºC is pushing it slightly!

Meanwhile my indefatigable mountain goat goes about her business...

...and Matt & Sacha enjoy a bit of snooze-time on the hammock!

Outdoors

We seem to be spending more and more time outside. Although we've yet to see the big heat of summer, it's probably my favourite time of year.

Irises obviously like our sandy soil, but these were very special  coming into flower on the anniversary of the terrible Bradford City FC fire, and displaying the club's colours.

An old friend is back: the green lizard. I actually saw two together but the other made a hasty retreat.

We love this unusual 'single' dahlia...

...and a bargain Super U phoenix canariensis (he said, reading the label)!

The two hexagonal tubs are very bright and cheerful at the bottom of the garden

Garden produce

We're always being asked how the garden is, so after recent good weather here's an update for your delectation:

Broad beans (fèves) have been a great success this early summer, looking after themselves all winter too!

We're really happy with the raised beds, now all in action. Here we have red & white onions, and garlic...

...sweet and chilli peppers, aubergine, beetroot, spring onions and salad leaves.

Mmmmm, strawberries - not had any yet though!

We'll be planting more Swiss chard (blette in Vendée) as this winter's plants are getting a bit older now

Leeks are now in, and climbing French beans are peeping through

Give it a few weeks and this section (often under water in the winter in recent years) will be a courgette/pumpkin/butternut squash jungle, hopefully the tomatoes at the other end will survive!

Now will summer visitors appreciate our efforts?

The last few days

All good things come to an end, and soon it was time to pack for our return journey...

...but not before a call at Valley Parade to find a Bradford City vest for young Sacha 

Jim & Les came to visit. Note the hat protecting Jim from the sun!

We had a lovely evening chez Helen (sadly Mo was away) with apéritifs outside

This was the view from their house!

Ok, it wasn't 25ºC but a good siesta in the sun can't be beaten

Down to Portsmouth for the return ferry, and a last good pint of English ale for a few months

Safely on board and planning our evening meal, a beautiful sunset was arranged for our enjoyment

The Potting Shed

Matt's favourite Bingley pub back in the old days was the Fleece (can't say I liked it much, to be honest). It had been closed for quite a while but there's been big investment made and a lot of work done. In its place there's now the Potting Shed which has been very busy since its opening a few weeks ago. It's good to see Bingley returning to its night-out destination.

Looking out on the beer-garden...

...and looking in...

...with  a spiral staircase to the upper floor.

Your faithful blogger doesn't look so sure, despite a pint in his hands!

Meanwhile Tine was seeing stars... 

...or perhaps reminiscing about her first job in Bingley, just over the road, the canal & the railway line!

Wentworth Garden Centre

We must be getting older if a day out is a trip to a garden centre! However Wentworth was well worth the visit, with its 'farm', expansive gardens and a very pleasant café. Plus we arranged to meet Nadine, Simon & Alfie, Philippe, Jim & Les and Pauline & David, so a fun time was assured.

There were plenty of activities for Alfie...

...but nothing as good as the animals

There was even a fox, but fast asleep

Another big draw was the tractor

Luckily Jim took look-out position to guide us through the maze...

...whilst Tine made a special friend in the gardens!

Out and about

Our timetable was pretty full as usual and we couldn't see everyone, or do all the walks we would like to have done, but we did manage several excursions:

We took Kate down to Cheshire to see Silv and were rewarded with a wonderful lunch at the local Italian restaurant, and a lovely relaxation in the sun

Another day we did one of the walks along the River Aire in the Charlestown area of Baildon...

...spotting many primroses...

and the fascinating St James Church which was moved from Essex in 1905!

Of course there's always time for a bite to eat and a beer (well, for me!) this time with Pete & co and Kate as well 

On one of our walks I took this photo of Crook Farm Caravan Park from above Shipley Glen. Look at the sky!

But it's always good to get back to our Yorkshire château with the excellent view and beautiful daffodils.