Woo hoo summer has arrived so here are some photos of recent summer fun.
- A day spent on our friends' barge two weekends ago. This was my one and only shot before my camera battery died.
- Courgette salad - low GI and a perfect way to use one of Aldi's super 6 this week. Yay to super frugal healthy food.
- Pots in bloom outside our front door.
- FUSE festival from last weekend. My camera stayed in the car whilst I had fun.
- The first fuchsia in our pallet planter.
- Blue skies.
- Strawberry cake. Almost too pretty to eat. Yay to post gym treats.
- Waiting for the first sunflowers to open.
- Strawberry picking. Worth it for the smell alone.
Sending you brief words but lots of love. Have a great week xo
Lunar is a small but fabulous festival that's steadily growing in popularity and caters for all age groups. Last Saturday, our second visit to Lunar Festival at Umberslade Farm Park, Tanworth in Arden, Warwickshire didn't disappoint (read my 2014 review here).Think seriously good music and tons of fun too.
The site was beautifully festooned. Come, take a look...
First stop: ska aerobics. Had to practise my classic ska moves. That's essential on a Saturday morning, right? Can you find me next to Wally? (in the pale green tunic sans bobble hat).
Next, some music. Daisy Vaughan at The Bimble Inn was a delight. !8 years of wisdom stirred into songs of love written from her Suffolk caravan whilst cooking soup.
This girl has wisdom beyond her years and she sang in Spanish as well as English.
Jane Weaver wrapped a sci-fi spell around the main stage with her space rock sound. I loved her sonic tunic (fantastic detail on the back not seen here).
Syd Arthur (influences: Syd Barrett and Arthur Lee) breathed fresh air into progressive folk rock. Jaunty hat too.
There were bubbles to chase, workshops to sample and a touch of fairground charm.
Beautiful people enjoying happy times.
Back at the Bimble Inn we watched Mark Radcliffe and his band Galleon Blast. The crowd lapped up the rum-soaked songs.
Wilko Johnson (Dr. Feelgood founder) was our next stop at the main stage. All ages were wowed by the incredible vitality and musical virtuosity from a man who was given 10 months to live when diagnosed with pancreatic cancer back in 2013. He chose touring over chemotherapy and outlived his prognosis. A remarkable spirit and talent he's since had radical surgery that's cured his cancer. His performance was victorious.
Getting a photo that wasn't blurred was difficult given his energetic moves.
Musical appetites appeased, hungrily we headed off for the Bhangra Bus for our vegetarian thali. Night time brought new vibrancy and Lunar became a dazzling citadel as people gathered to stoke their souls.
Headliners Public Sector Broadcasting kept us entertained to the end with their original visual material of old public information films accompanied by up-tempo music. Given Lunar's name the material from their latest album, The Race For Space, was the perfect soundtrack for this festival.
It all went too quickly. We love the atmosphere at this festival - a micro Glastonbury on our doorstep. We'll be back to sample more next year.
Today we had a celebratory birthday meal for my mum-in-law. As we sat down there was a heavy shower of hailstones but it was soon followed by bright sunshine. Hail British Summer Time!
I haven't taken many photos recently but this weekend I carried my camera around with me and found myself captivated by the beauty of spring and family gathering. I really enjoyed getting lost behind the lens once more.
This weekend's highlights...
♥ A wonderfully relaxing evening last night with singer songwriter Chris Helme (formerly front man of The Seahorses). An acoustic guitar, soaring vocals and great story telling made for spellbinding music.
♥ I brought this chick home with me from church. It was made by the 'Knit & Stitch' group to raise funds for Haiti. I have 2 others already and they all contain a chocolate egg. How could I resist?
♥ Gluten free lemon polenta cake made by my brother-in-law's partner. The recipe is adapted from Nigella. The best lemon drizzle cake I've tasted.
♥ My mum-in-law's pretty spring garden. The daffodils stood stoically like soldiers fighting off the fierce wind. The hyacinths are magnificent and the japonica is just opening. I'm very fond of this cheerful shrub.
♥ Stripes on stripes. This beautiful cat was never far from us this afternoon.
♥ Our seedlings are growing well and more will be planted this week. Our little garden is going to be well stocked this summer.
Thank you for reading, commenting and following Just a little less this week. Be well xo
