Westonbirt and Walcot Street

Spent the morning getting tiles on the kitchen floor - about half done before we headed off north into the glorious afternoon.

Went to Westonbirt, where Su took Bella off for a walk while I rested my ailing knee and enjoyed the view from the veranda outside the cafe

On the way back to the car, spotted this abandoned cardigan.

Looking back at the cafe and its living roof. 
Back to Bath, passing St Swithins church. 

 Down Walcot Street.

Parked opposite this fine fountain, with its unusual bollards.

An extravagant claim on this shop door. 

This day a year ago, we were again driving round Somerset.Walking Bella, I spotted this one flower with three bees on it.

Su's news story of the day (BBC website - click on the title for the full story):

Migraine sufferers' brains 'show structural differences'

Dodgy Knee, a Little Decorating and Snoozing

A quiet day for me - I did my knee in yesterday, so have not been out of the house today. I did manage to put a first coat of paint on the inside of the back door in the kitchen.

I crashed out this afternoon - while I snored away, Su filled in the skirting board where I'd removed the old tiles yesterday.

This day a year ago, we went on a tour of Somerset ending up in Wells for lunch and admiring many of their collection of 60 decorated swans. This one was outside the Town Hall.

Su's news story of the day (BBC website - click on the title for the full story):

University of St Andrews scientists create 'fastest man-made spinning object'

Skies, Flowers and Buildings

Last night's sunset furnished a pretty sky.

Woke up this morning to a lovely mackerel sky.

Went down into town via the London Road. In contrast to shops opening I've shown before, some are also closing down. 

Passed this nicely named launderette. 

Yet another helicopter surveilling Bath - there has been a lot of activity this Summer. It will be drones next…

On the Lower Bristol Road, this grand old riverside building impresses.

At the tip to get rid of the tiles from the kitchen, I ignored their no photography rule to capture this cockerel statue that had been rescued from scrapping. 

Then it was back to the kitchen floor to spend ages getting the last little bits of tile up from round (and under) the skirting boards - joy! Afterwards went out with Bella and spotted this upside-down bike chained to the railings by the bus stop.

This car has clearly been parked here for some time! 

A new tagger is at work. 

Saw the first golden rod of the year on their way. I also saw my first michaelmas daisies - a shift into late Summer/ early Autumn is definitely on the way.

 I've seen this flash car before - can't remember if the personalised numberplate (R111PPL) was visible then.

Some pretty roses poking over a high wall. 

This day last year, the skies opened several times - luckily not when I was out with Bella! 

Su's news story of the day (BBC website - click on the title for the full story):

Mystery photographer steps out from behind the lens

KItchen Floor, Stray Cats, Fruits and Flowers

Went over to UWE this morning for a practice of Left At The Lights. We convened in the Surround studio as usual - it was a bit full of stuff but we managed to make some noise and enjoyed ourselves.  Looks like we'll be playing the open mic night at the Golden Lion on Gloucester Road in Bristol next Monday

Got home to find that Su had been busy in my absence getting the kitchen floor ready for its new tiles.

Went out with Bella this afternoon, admiring the water lilies in next door's pond on the way out. 

Passed this rubbish bin with a bin bag full of household rubbish that somebody had dumped alongside it for cats/foxes to rip open. Why do people do this rather than just putting the rubbish outside their own front door?

The squirrels have been busy enjoying these hazelnuts. 

 The first elderberries of the season.

This Joe Pye weed looks lovely with the verbena bonariensis and grasses behind it. 

Came back to find this cat relaxing by next door's pond - keeping an eye on the fish, no doubt. Our neighbour from two doors up the terrace did a flit from his rented house in the middle of the night last week and left his two cats behind. Several of us on the terrace have been feeding them, and one neighbour has put out a cat box for this one who is the more visible of the two abandoned felines. Anybody in the Bath area want to offer a home to one or both of them?

This day a year ago, I was in Midsomer Norton to get my glasses fixed when I saw this most unusual sticker on a rubbish bin. 

Su's news story of the day (Telegraph website - click on the title for the full story):

Scientists achieve human 'mind meld'

Painting, Post and Plants

A day of decorating - decided that the kitchen could do with freshening up before the old tiles come up and the new ones go down, so that's been my focus for the day.

The post came with this letter - literacy skills are deficient at Vaillant!

Had a break from painting and went out for a walk with Bella into a lovely afternoon. Spotted this van, formerly used by the Cork First Aid Supplies as shown by the old lettering just visible underneath the red paint. 

Passed this stand of lavender which was absolutely festooned with different types of bees.

Down on Perfect View there are a few houses that actualy do have a view, where there is a gap in the trees behind these fulsome buddleias.

 This acer looked lovely in the sunshine.

Our clematis flowers continue to bloom and delight us. 

This day a year ago, I was also decorating (our bedroom this time) and Su brought me this gift from her walk with Bella.

Su's news story of the day (BBC website - click on the title for the full story):

Brain injury victim's family disgusted at 'work' letter

Bank Holiday Monday Tales

Out with Bella this morning, spotted this handsome creature on a car wing mirror.

Ben & Lena arrived on their way back from Car Fest South, just in time for a late breakfast which went on for the rest of the morning   Spotted yet another bee on our veronica. 

After Ben & Lena headed off back to Birmingham, the afternoon drifted past - with the sun having come out to make it most pleasant. Later on, we went down with Bella to Alice Park and saw this lovely bed of flowers there.

We got there just after the last show by Gifford's Circus. Or is it Giffords' Circus? Ambiguous without the apostrophe… one Gifford or several?

Walking round the park, I was struck by the new leaves on this tree. 

Disassembly of the big top and assorted paraphenalia was an entertaining diversion - Su thought this part of the tent being carried to its transport looked like a long wedding train.

Bella was most interested watching, and her tail kept swishing as ever. 

After that we came home via a caircuitous route round town. This shop on the London Road has been there for years. It used to trade 24 hours a day - not sure if it still does.

The top of North Parade heading towards the station. 

Coming round the Circus, we turned into Brock Street towards the Royal Crescent and the setting sun. 

Coming up Julian Road with the sun behind us bathing the street in a golden glow. 

This day a year ago, we were at the Festival of the Tree at Westonbirt where we saw this excellent helter skelter. 

Su's news story of the day (BBC website - click on the title for the full story):

UWE students refurbish computers for west Africa charity