Sunny Days.

I know I've been really lax on the blogging front recently, but to be honest I've been very lax about everything that doesn't involve spending as much time as possible outside in the glorious sunshine we're having here in South Yorkshire at the mo.

We've been on walks, eaten picnics, had lessons in the park, camped out overnight, spent lots of time in other people's gardens ( we only have a tiny yard), had a sneaky afternoon in the pub beer garden and a day out at Hemsworth Water Park.

 



We've seen geese standing on one leg, ducklings with their Mum and an inquisitive plump hedgehog! 

 



The sunsets have been magnificent.

 



 

 

And there's been lots of time for some lovely al fresco crochet! 

 



And that's it...a short but sunny post this time, keep watch though...I've got some interesting news coming up soon.

See ya

Em xx

Edited with BlogPad Pro

Zombies and Tennis Anyone?

There's nothing much can beat a summer weekend when there's nothing much to do except relax and enjoy the sunshine.

Evie spent most of the weekend chasing around with Hermione and some friends, soaking each other with water pistols or squeezy bottles filled with water, which is what we used for water fights when I was a kid! 

Me and Scott spent sometime painting at the village studio 'Les Cadeaux ', we went to see 'World War Z' and we spent all this afternoon watching Andy Murray win Wimbledon! 

World War Z was a really good film, I wanted to see it because I love anything with zombies and as I read the book recently it made me want to see it all the more.

I really, really enjoyed the book but couldn't see how it would translate into a film as its just a series of interviews with survivors of the zombie war, but if you haven't read the book or you can detach yourself from it and accept the film  as a story in its own right then it's a bloody good film! 

 



 

We saw it in 3D and all I can say about that is...3D zombies...wowzers!! There was one point early on in the film where I jumped like I've never jumped before as a big scary 3D zombie suddenly popped up in front of me, and I do not usually scare easily! 

 



 



The film was tense from the start and had a bit of a nail biting edge to it all the way through, the ending was a bit predictable and sentimental for my liking, I know I'm awful but I love miserable, depressing, unhappy endings (my all time fave film is 'Requiem For a Dream).

Anyway if you like a bit of zombie action or a bit of Brad Pitt or just a good, jumpy story go see it! 

In very brief other news, I shed a few tears when Andy Murray won the tennis this afternoon, I'm so happy that he won, he always seems so very serious and he's such a nice guy...I hope he lightens up a bit and enjoys his moment of glory! 

 



Until next time 

Em xx

Edited with BlogPad Pro

Saltaire.

Evie's project this week is Saltaire and Sir Titus Salt, the wool manufacturer and philanthropist from Yorkshire.

Sir Titus Salt built the model village Saltaire on land he had acquired near to Shipley, he decided to relocate his mill and workers out of the it's of Bradford after a cholera outbreak killed over 300 people in Bradord.

 Salt built houses for his workers, a church, school, hospital, an educational institute and almshouses for retired workers as well as his magnificent mills.

Saltaire had everything a good village in the mid 19th century should have except a pub! Sir Titus Salt was a strict teetotaller   and insisted that his workers remain sober as well.

The streets of Saltaire were mostly named after members of the Salt family and two architects who contributed to the design and building of Saltaire, a few notable exceptions include a trio of streets named after flowers popular at the time and some streets named after royalty.

These days the mill hosts an exhibition by local artist David Hockney and some excellent historical information.

 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] David Hockneys Art at Salts Mill.[/caption]
 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] A Mural of The Process of Woolmaking.[/caption]
A brilliant restaurant and some rather lovely shops! 

 



And the houses once occupied by mill workers are now highly desirable properties and the shops are mostly either speciality shops or sadly empty, although we did see one, 'Salts Village Bakery' where my Grandma worked a long time ago, and where they make and sell the most deeee-licious spinach and feta pasties! 

We also found the street where my Dad lived when him and Mum first met and where my Grandma still lived when I was first born and we spotted houses where various relatives have lived over the years.

 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Memory Lane[/caption]
 

We had a yummy picnic in Roberts Park and a good walk around it, culminating in a run around (for the kids) in the playground...although I had a quick bounce on a trampoline and our friend Helen slid down the slide a few times, looking out over the river Aire from the playground we could see a weir in the river where as a child I begged and begged to be allowed to play with all the lucky kids who were allowed to play in the water...I was never ever allowed though!! 

 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Around Saltaire and Roberts Park.[/caption]
 

The weather was on our side yesterday too which helped make it yet another lovely day out! 

Until next time 

Em xx 

Edited with BlogPad Pro

June Review.

I know I've only been writing this blog for a week but I want to review the whole month of June because its been a great month all round.

We've had some great days out, The Magna Science centre in Rotherham, Experience Barnsley, the open studio and walk around Skipton and the end of year exhibition at Batley Art School.

 

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Magna Science Adventure Centre.[/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Skipton.[/caption]

 

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Experience Barnsley.[/caption]

 

We've crafted loads.

 



We've started our homeschool adventure and completed a very successful first week.

We've had five amazing days in Portugal, we lost a day and a half because of the French air traffic controllers strike.

 



 



We've eaten some lovely food and I've drank endless good coffees! 

 



 



We helped out at a local litter pick to make our village a nicer place for everyone and we met Dan Jarvis our MP when he unveiled a plaque commemorating the Queens coronation.

 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Coronation Plaque and Darton Litter Pick.[/caption]
 

And most importantly we've spent lots of time with our amazing family and friends, we celebrated a 71st birthday, we had a goodbye party for my sisters mother-in-law and my good friend as she's just moved to Exmouth, and we had a visit from our middle daughter Mica.

 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Goodbye Grania.[/caption]
 



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Happy Birthday Harry.[/caption]
 

All in all Junes been a brill month! 

Em x 

Edited with BlogPad Pro