Radio Solent cricket commentary on
Vodka and coke on the table,
Sat outside at 20:00 and the temp still over 30 deg C
Mosquitoâs have all been eaten by the local bat population.
Grand kids with the other grand parents peace is all around.
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Final (hopefully) trip to the shops. Another craft ale acquired for when my bestie arrives Monday week, cakes all baked, gift basket for Church sorted.
Now a spot of gardening, some Ales and of course, the Season Finale of Discovery tonight.
All under a stunning blue sky, blazing sun & 20C, without Mosquitos/midges.
Yet
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Had an unexpected day wfh yesterday with a broken internet so broke the back of planned weekend gardening. Just finished off so the rest of the long weekend is for relaxing.
Had a refreshing beer and checked on the Lamb shoulder in the oven on low and slow. Smells fantastic already.
Just got out the sun lounger and am going to have another beer in the sun before people arrive.
Perfect.
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When you pack your winter thermals expecting a typical UK spring/Easter and end up basking in the warmest Easter for 70 odd years 
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Welcome back to the Motherland- word to the wise. The weather is always like this. We just donât tell many people 
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I think this is our 10th trip back since 2006, and all but one has seen some glorious weather. Itâs getting to the point that she isnât believing me when I tell her that the reason I moved to Queensland was for the sunshine! Iâm threatening her that we will come back in December for a family Christmas - that will soon show her the ârealâ England!
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It was a very mild winter this time so you my have no luck with that either.
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Yeah. I came expecting to be frozen. Not worn myreal winter gear since landing
Been in Tshirts & shorts all week
For those who who think theyâre a ficticious concoction of Ben Elton and Richard Curtis, hereâs a bad picture of a Black Adder. Unfortunately I only had my point ânâ shoot camera this morning.
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One of them killed my sisters cat
Trouble with cats being bitten is nobody ever sees it happen so when the cat goes down with a mystery ailment treatment is delayed until its too late. My Cocker was bitten on a walk, I saw it happen and he was at the vets in about 40 minutes. He had a jab of anti-venom and was fit and well the next day.
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Bad form that being caught with only 1 camera, did you not have a cunning plan?
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Where was this? I used to see adders quite often in Ampfield woods many years ago. I went there most days walking my Labrador. The locals who had lived there all of their lives called it âAdder woodâ. After one narrow squeak the first time i saw one, when she pushed her nose towards it as it was getting away after we disturbed it, itâs neck flashing yellow telling us, âfuck offâ, i screamed at her, she froze and came straight back. But i went back a few times with a mate who was a bit of a naturalist, an award winning wildlife artist actually and a Southampton lad. Always wore wellys, spent many hours looking for them and watching them. I must have walked past dozens of them without knowing on my daily walks, when you looked for them they were easy to spot. Fascinating creatures who get a bad press. My sister who lived in North Baddesley told me they were often seen on Baddesley common, she always wore wellys when she walked thereâŚ
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Just hidden 24 eggs in the garden for the grand kids to find when they wake up.
1 egg = 1 bar of chocolate redeemable at the kitchen table.
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Kitchen bar happen to have the XO rum in it, by any chance?
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Easter Mass.
Unpronounceable named village isnât big. It has a small Church, Mrs P_F wanted to go there rather than the bigger one in her parents village.
Obviously I have no idea whatâs going on all Hallelujahs and Hail Maryâs to me & bening down/standing up at the wrong times, Iâve learned to cope.
Anyway, Church was rammed, standing room only & by the time it kicked off or whatever they do there must have been close to 100 people taking part OUTSIDE the Church, seems to happen often here.
Anyway it is a pleasure to see a community come together.
And a lovely morning to stand still for 30 minutes doing nothing.
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Yep we walk Baddesley Common and Emer Bog. The Black Adder in the picture was taken on the grassy margins of the track that runs up from Emer Farm, Green Lane. Adders are common in these parts but dog walkers are particularly paranoid about them. My last Cocker walked over there an estimated 7000 times over his lifetime and was bitten once. A quick jab and he was fine the next day.
Actually it was telling you, âplease donât hurt me, Iâm a Grass Snakeâ 
This is a Grass SnakeâŚ
Easy mistake to make but the Grass Snake has those yellow flashes on each side of its throatâŚthe Adder doesnât.
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My mate Nick, who some of you met at Stable on my last trip back, lands here tomorrow week.
Iâve been collecting local Ales & craft beers ready for him to try.
Thursday, at the local Leviathan store the beer department guy suggested I try this craft lager 35p a bottle, 6.8%.
So I bought 2 - 1 for tasting for Nick & one for me to try before heading out yesterday.
It was lovely, but the pleasure? The bottle top had a message.
Yes, I won a free beer!
Damn I was gonna get more of them Tuesday anyway!
The pissed up chavs who have been doing a bank holiday bender without a top on and are completely sunburntâŚ
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Wet Monday.
Whole day is Dyngus Day in Poland and southern parts of former E Europe.
Kids throw water over members of the other gender & spank each other with Pussy Willow.
There are processions, boys dress up as bears and other traditions. Dates back before 15th Century.
Also observed & expanded on in the US.
Sitting on the balcony this morning hearing screams and watching the neighbours kids chasing each other with ice cold buckets of water.
Iâm staying out of it.
Iâd only get into trouble being seen anywhere near a Pussy Willow.