Our garden features a long narrow strip of lawn, bordered by a path of decorative stones. I. enjoys constructing "bases" and making patterns with the stones on the grass. Of course, like all the grass in this country, it is burnt.
Recently I. and I had discovered a new route from our house into the town, following the canal. I took the children on a day's outing along the canal, armed with paper and watercolours, to sit and do some painting.
We strolled down to the canal to find a suitable spot.
This is the path alongside the canal.
First the children wanted to play in the playground. Mercifully, at this morning hour there was shade. On afternoon visits it is scorching without a spot of shade to escape to. I usually hide in the bushes like a dodgy pervert.
This see-saw head possibly inspired by Pitt Rivers objects.
The view from my pervert hideout, where I. likes to hide and growl at passersby.
An inspiring weeping willow.
We sat here and painted the boats, trees, and canal.
Some lucky local residents have houses that back onto the canal, some with small boats.
Further on, nearer the town's centre, the canal splits off and joins the Thames. Swans swam nearby.
A shop named after a 2 Ronnies sketch.
Buddhist boat.
It is very nearly blackberry season and beside the canal we hit paydirt with the best blackberry bush we had yet encountered, truly bursting with ripe blackberries. We ate many and brought home 2 very large bags full, with which E. made frozen blackberry yoghurt.
Thistles.
