Friends on Friday

A few photos I forgot to post yesterday...

Queen Victoria cruising by.

There were at least two of these that did a fly by.

We don't get sunsets here as we are facing the wrong way, but there was a definite glow over the sea last night.  Quite a contrast to tonight where I can't see the sea, as the clouds and sea mist has come rolling in with the wind.

You could even see the moon last night before it was dark.

This morning, a big bonfire was lit down the road - yup, on one of hottest days of the year - it was still smoking at 2 pm when I walked past.

This evening, I could STILL smell smoke in the air.  You have to wonder sometimes about the thought process some people go through when they light a fire on one of the hottest days of the year first thing in the morning... or perhaps there is no thought process at all, which is probably more likely.

Anyway it was a lovely day, albeit a bit smokey at times so I had to have the doors and windows closed for a few hours, but once it had cleared a bit I spent some time trying to see if I could see any fish.  No luck.

One of my lovely lilies.

The Gunnera plant.

A young damselfly nymph I think this is.

The sunflowers my neighbour gave me yesterday.

It was very hot walking to the Ventnor Gardens this afternoon where I was going to meet up with a friend who has recently moved to the island.

It was a  very hot walk.  The walk back was much more pleasant as a slight breeze was starting to build up so it was a lot cooler.

Sunning himself 

His little eyes are closed.

Gorgeous flowers.

We had a lovely couple of hours wandering around the garden and catching up with each other's news.

She used to live too far away for us to meet up much before, so it is nice to have her living much closer and we are planning to meet up again next week which will be lovely.

Managed to capture a lizard on film, which is not always easy.

We have some at our place, but I only see fleeting glimpses of them.

Total walked today: 4.5 miles.

Total walked this month...114.7 miles, so I think I have done pretty well indeed, and it has been fun to see if I could achieve my goal of 100 miles this month.  Especially when I look back to this time last year and remember how ill I was, and the fact I'd had the first of my A & E admissions. 

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Saturday

I had planned to spend the day in the garden today, I was looking forward to it... I'd just got the guinea pigs down from the shed to put in their new outdoor hutch and then I smelt smoke, next thing I knew both the front and back garden were full of smoke.  My neighbour had decided to light a fire and it was blowing straight over into my garden.  Needless to say after a very noisy week where it was not pleasant to work in the garden because of the noise, it was impossible today because of the smoke.  I had to make sure all the windows and doors were shut.  I was so upset, there was nothing else I could do but go out, so I packed a lunch bag and headed out.

This time I went to the beach at Brighstone.

It is a lovely long sandy beach.

I walked several miles along it and saw hardly anyone, it was bliss.

No smoke here thank goodness!

Holiday cottages on the cliff...

...falling down.

Sat on the beach for a while.

A cave.

Unfortunately due to the instability of the land around here, I didn't dare go in to explore it.

I could hear this bird of prey calling.

Collecting seaweed?

Rock pools.

Cliffs of colour.

A dead dogfish?

Looks so sad.

Paddling

Swimming

I then went into Brighstone and had my lunch and then a walk around.

A red beetle flew down and landed on the path during my walk.

It was just after 2 pm and I was getting tired so headed home.

Unfortunately it was STILL smokey so I couldn't sit outside and still couldn't open my windows.  It was so hot inside the house.

How can people be so inconsiderate?!

I put some music on, had a cry, had a cider, and then felt a bit better.

My finds on my walk today.

Some interesting stones

This almost looks like it has wood grain through it.  Very heavy.

When I was out a walking

I saw a little mouse in a tree

What a funny place for it to be.

The little mouse called out

from its branch where it sat

 'Who me?' 

'Yes you if you please', the little mouse said

'Take me home to treasure, I like adventures you see'.

So of course the Little Mouse came home with me.

The water lilies are looking lovely.  Four today.

When I went up to water my garden this evening (around 7pm) it was still smokey and I my eyes are now sore. I hope it has dissipated by tomorrow.  

I'm finding the garden a bit depressing at the moment.  The weeds are growing, which is natural and I do expect that... but with my being unable to do much in there for several weeks, and then this week not being able to because of the noise, and today the smoke, I am starting to dread going into it.

It is made even worse when my Kale is being completely stripped.  It is one of my favourite green vegetables and I was looking forward to growing and eating it this year.  It was doing so well and I had had several leaves, and now there are virtually none left!  I've got no idea what is doing the damage, I can't find any caterpillars on it.

My Little Free Library is proving popular with books coming and going which is good to see.

Well hopefully I can have a smoke free peaceful day at home tomorrow, otherwise I think I will completely lose the plot!