'Evening stroll' by Me

Photo Credit: PhotoPuddle on Flickr

Last week we had a short break away in South Wales. The weather was just wonderful and we spent most of the time on the beach. The beach was especially beautiful in the evening and it was nice to relax and watch the kids having such fun on the sand and in the water. They were made for the seaside. I took lots of pictures of everyone but tonight I am going to show you this random one of some nuns going for an evening stroll along the sand. When I saw these women I just knew this would make a fascinating photo and I think it really did. And I have not edited the colour in any way. Isn't that evening light just stunning?

'cafe : )*'by Momota.M

Photo credit: Momota.M on Flickr

Tomorrow is the last day of term before the summer holidays. I am having so many conflicting emotions right now. I am really happy because I am shattered and I could do with a change of routine. But I am also a bit sad because I like doing the school run. I like getting up and out in the morning, I like having a natter with friends at the school gates and like walking home and hearing all about my daughter's day. I am also sad because it's the end of my daughter's first year at school. It's been such a fantastic year. She has loved it and we've not had any problems with her work or her wanting to go to school. I don't think I am ready to leave the cosyness of the Reception playground and become a Year 1 mum. But I am excited because my little girl is excited. I know she'll do fantastically next year and I can't wait to see her continue on her school adventure. But mainly I am really looking forward to spending six weeks with both my children and having lots of summer fun together. I will deal with the fact they are growing up so fast in September. My son starts pre-school in September but I shall save that emotional wobble for another post!

I chose this photo today as it looks like a perfect place to take the kids for a summer lunchtime treat. Plus of course it is supremely pretty. I love the pastels. In fact never mind the children, it's a perfect place for me to have a lunchtime treat on my own!

'Summer' by Raffaele Camardella

Photo credit: Raffaele Camardella

I promised you more summer photos so here is a fabulous one that just bursts with colour. I love the multi coloured canoes but my favourite colour in this image had to be the beautiful turquoise sea. The picture fits in so well with how the weather is here today. It is what the tabloid newspapers might call, a scorcher! I think there will definitely be some paddling pool action in our back garden after school today. I hope if it's hot where you are you are enjoying it and it's not become to uncomfy.

Have a great weekend everyone!

'Last Day of Summer Picnic' by freckledfarm

Photo credit: freckledfarm on Flickr

Today is a proud mummy day. My daughter got her first school report and it was filled with nothing but praise. She has had an amazing first year at school and has excelled in so many things. I knew she was a fabulous reader and is great at writing but she also is bit of a bright spark when it comes to maths apparently. But the one sentence out of the whole report which made me the proudest was this one: "She is a kind, caring member of the class with many friends." It's great being bright but what we all want the most for our children is for them to be good people and happy people. This confirms to me what I already knew, she is a rather special little girl.

And to change the subject I feel like this blog isn't summery enough. I love all the pictures I post here but recently they've not been as bright and sunny as they should have been at this time of year. So let's kick off the summer love with this gorgeous photograph which is a perfect picnic image. The sun has been captured wonderfully. I feel warm just looking at this.

'Bognor Regis' by Joy Phipps

Photo credit: Joy Phipps on Flickr

Did you have a lovely weekend? Mine was great for so many reasons. Firstly it was productive. We did a good old declutter, sort out and tidy up in the house and in the shed. It felt really good. Place your bets though on how long it will take to get all messed up again! The weekend was fun for the kids as there were two children's parties. One of them I left my daughter at but the other we stayed at. My son had a great time playing with the big kids and I also got the chance to get together with some friends I've not seen in a while. Well I've seen most of them separately but due to busy lives getting in the way we've not been all together as a group since last year I guess. Then that evening I also went out with another group of friends. We had also not been all together for a while. And this weekend was also one of accomplishment as I did a fantastic run, even if I do say so myself. I ran 17km which is just over 10 and a half miles. It's the furthest I've ever run and it felt really good. Makes me feel a bit more confident about the half marathon I am doing in September.

This photo doesn't have anything to do with my weekend but it is gorgeous. It's a definite piece of art that belongs on a wall somewhere. I am now adding Bognor Regis to my list of places to visit as I've not been there in years and it's not that far away.

Hope your week has started well. Only four and a bit days until the weekend!

'Sadness' by Me

Photo credit: PhotoPuddle on Flickr

I love taking photos in Brighton and feel so fortunate that I live close enough to do it quite a lot. My very favourite thing to take pictures of is West Pier so it makes me so sad to see it crumbling away before my eyes. I am guessing it won't be around for too much longer. I wonder if will just keep falling apart by itself or whether the council will one day decide to just pull what remains of it down. I guess I just need to keep pointing my camera at it as much as I can while it's still there. This photo is full of sadness but it makes me happy as I think it's one of the best West Pier photos I have taken.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!

'Summer Picnic Shoot' by sushiigirl

Photo credit: sushiigirl on Flickr

I while back I was worrying about making sure my children had a really brilliant time in the summer holidays but I am not fretting about it any more. I have already got a few play-dates arranged, I have made a long list of places to visit and things to do and they will still be doing their gymnastics classes. I think we could also do with a few lazy days at home and definitely some lie-ins. Just hoping the weather gets nicer again. I've been so chilly these past two days I've been wearing my jacket out. This picture warms me up though. I love photos of picnics and this looks like a lovely lazy one. I imagining all the delicious goodies that are in that basket. (And yes I know this is probably a set up photo and the basket is no doubt empty but don't spoil the illusion for me!)

'Cocktails' by Greg Nairn

Photo credit: Greg Nairn on Flickr 

So how was your weekend? After a fun and busy Friday I started the weekend on a bit of a low because I had a really rubbish run that evening. Rubbish because I started off really fast but after 3km got a stitch that I really couldn't run through so had to stop and go home. So for the first time in months I had a weekend off running. I had lots of fun. Saturday night it was dinner and cocktails and the next day a lovely Sunday roast with friends. But now I am feeling positive and ready to run again. Half marathon training here I come!

Here is a cocktail photo. I am sure the drinks are lovely too but just check out that view. Now there's a place to relax and hang out on a Saturday night.

'In the padding pool' by Me

Photo credit: PhotoPuddle on Flickr

How is it July already? What happened to June? The fact that it's July gives me mixed feelings. It's well and truly summer now and I love summer. The school holidays are just three weeks away and I have been looking forward to these summer holidays since last summer. Last summer was seriously such a fantastic time. But there is a part of my that is sad that it's nearly the summer holidays because that means my daughter's time in reception is nearly over. It's been such a great school year and I am sad to see it over. I am also feeling the pressure to make sure that this summer is as absolutely fabulous as last summer was. I know I am probably just being silly. After all kids are pretty happy just spending the summer in a paddling pool (see photo above of my son) but I really, really want my children to have such amazing summer memories. Let's keep our fingers crossed for lots of lovely warm sunny days which I can fill with summer adventures and ice cream!