The Gleaming Spires of Ox-Bridge

The Grapes  Oxford

Christ Church College Oxford

Lewis Carroll attended Christ Church 

St Johns College Cambridge

The gatehouse to St Johns

The Round Church Cambridge

The popular pastime of Punting on the River Cam. 

24th July 2013

Woke this morning feeling somewhat relieved that August is nearly over. It's been a very busy month rather demanding but never the less, enjoyable. I  am always saying  as I get older that I need to slow down, I expect we all say that, but do we ?   I like a challenge and set them quite frequently to keep me  focused, have something to strive for, but within my capabilities is important to keep me marching along this road leading to, well  you work it out.
Those of us who are of a certain age should  be enjoying this  'Age of Enlightenment' in spite of all the restrictions and complexed issues in the world today. To follow our instincts, requiring no instruction or help in meeting our own wants and needs. It might sound a bit selfish but looking back on  my life, on who I was and what formed me into who I have become, I  feel deserving of this life.
Where did all this musing come from ? Well I have just returned from  a few days visiting Oxford and Cambridge the seats of educational  excellence in the UK today. May be it was in the air as I walked around these magnificent  old buildings and marveled at their history, probably absorbed some intellect thinking about the opportunities that are out there for many young men and women today that where  in many ways denied our age group. But I have a good life and cannot complain.
Yes the trip was good but the drive down there was horrendous, the increased traffic, Juggernaughts and the constant delays,the extra hours on the road took their toll, I was drained.  I  should  let the train take the strain and stop being so independent.  Hahaha

Also this month my two awesome grandsons celebrated their 21st Birthdays, one day apart.  It was an exciting time for us in 1992,we already had our wonderful grand daughter and now we where blessed with two incredible baby boys,what more could a Granma ask for, amazing.

Yesterday myself and a friend drove over  to the Village of  Slaidburn in the Forest of Bowland a beautiful area, nature at its best, to meet up with  good friends  from “Way up North” who  where staying at the  Local Youth Hostel with another friend of ours who was the Volunteer Warden for the week. It was a great reunion  and  we where rather late getting home.

My garden has been a real joy this year as the weather has been stupendous.  I have 21 sunflowers in full bloom, grown from seed that greet me every morning with a cheery nod. I  just love them and call them my big boys, talk to them and I swear they understand . I am  also cultivating a  tomato plant in the front porch because the  front porch is an ideal hot house. Since I gave my greenhouse away I sometimes find I miss it ,but the feeling probably won’t last.   Anyway it is growing well and I have enough tomatoes for my needs.  

At the bottom of our  road is a meadow full of  wild flowers,  most are knee high, a sea of  blues, pinks and yellows planted by Bolton Council and repeated all over the town where there is green space.  The result has seen an obvious increase in  Butterflies since the flowers bloomed, a real delight and one I hope will be repeated every summer.

My Big Boys

The Summer Meadow