Why so special is this month? Well the day I published my last blog was our wedding anniversary and at our age you enjoy every one of those and this weekend it is my wife’s eightieth birthday and so the celebrations continue. Firstly meeting her cousin and family in Carlisle for a pre birthday lunch, then a mystery tour for her on her birthday and who knows what else.
19th.
Had a couple of hours in Carlisle before our lunch and had never been to the cathedral before and was in for a treat, a magnificent building and surrounding ones as well, so below are a few shots I actually took on my phone, the first time I have done this on the blog. Of course not as good as my camera but I am still learning the use of a phone for photography.
Externally the church and surrounding buildings reflect its age with the original building dating back nine hundred years.
As I entered the cathedral I wa met by a wall of sound from the organ , as a young Swedish organist was practising for an afternoon recital, these were the pipes facing the entrance and the next shot shows those on the other side of the wall/
The organist is where the light is in the centre of the shot so it just gives you some idea of the size of those pipes.
The columns and ceilings are incredible, the craftsmanship that went into building such roofs is incredible.
The stain glass and altars are incredibly decorated and again you can only envy the skill that people have to produce such beauty.
Well worth a visit if you are in the border district.
20th.
I am sure I have shown you a Common Darter before, but this one was posing for me so I obliged it by taking this shot.
22nd.
What the whole month has been building up to the wife’s eightieth birthday and the two trips my son, partner and myself took her on were a total mystery to her and I am glad to say they were a success and even the sun shone all day.
First surprise was a fifty minute ride down into Dumfries to Drumlanrig Castle, with some incredible gardens and a good light lunch.
Two shots from the rear of the castle and one from the front .
The impressive driveway in.
The surrounding countryside.
The gardens were spectacular and so full of wonderful insects that need as much attention as the flowers.
An Artichoke head shining in the sunshine.
A Ruby Tiger Moth caterpillar.
26th.
Our house has been totally taken over by gifts from friends and neighbours including chocolates , bubbly and flowers, plants and bouquets, so here are some of the flowers now adorning our home.
Plus a total of 33 cards.
Going to take a while to get over what a hectic, enjoyable month this has been. But worth every second. looking forward to the wife’s nineteith now.
Thanks everyone for your contribution.
29th.
Can you believe it this week we started our second year of living here and the first village event I covered in my blog was the annual flower show, which we went to again this year. A true coming together of the village which next year I am determined to enter some of my greenhouse veg and some photos. Below are a few of the beautiful blooms that I could never compete with.
That ends a very busy month, looking forward to a quieter month in September, but you never know what is around the corner do we?