Six Word Saturday

Six word Saturday

Seeking new memories, in the Algarve

Castle walls, Lagos

Old harbour, Lagos

Mertola

Over the garden wall, Mertola

Another fountain candidate? Silves

Pego do Inferno

Cascades nearby Pego do Inferno

Grab a table at Mesa do Cume

Palace gardens, Estoi

Look, but don't touch! Vilamoura

Waterside at Cabanas

Easy to see why I keep going back, isn’t it?  I’ll be in the Algarve next week, making new memories to share, so I’ll miss the next Six week Saturday.  Why not join in with Cate?  Everybody’s got a story to share.  Follow the link to see what it’s all about.  You can click on the button below to see my previous posts, and I’ll look forward to seeing yours.

Six word Saturday

Looking back on those golden days

It’s been a dreary week weatherwise so I haven’t been out and about as much as usual.  I’ve used the time well though and written a couple of Italian guides.  The old albums came out and took me back down Memory Lane, and I thought that you might like to come too?

Malcesine from Monte Baldo

Lake Garda was a family favourite when James was small.  Icecream, pasta and pizza- need I say more?

He was quite keen on the Power Rangers too!  Remember them?

We stayed that first year in a small family run hotel in Bardolino.  Our welcome was warm and the food memorable.  A simple tomato sauce with the pasta was the best I have ever tasted.  The tureen went round and around the dining room, till everyone was stuffed full.  You just couldn’t refuse!

Our days were spent hopping on and off ferries to explore the lakeside towns.  James especially loved the hydrofoils and his face would light up whenever he saw one.

Gardone Riviera

Limone del Garda

Castello at Sirmione

From the battlements at Sirmione

And then there was Gardaland!  Not on a par with Disney, but it was a good old family romp, with pirates, parrots and sealions.  The day ended following the procession, led by the park mascot, Prezzemolo (Parsley), a friendly green dragon.

Sunset in Bardolino

We had so much fun in Bardolino and still had lots to see, so the following year we returned to the top end of the lake, staying at Torbole.  This time we had a pool but the water was FREEZING!  James ventured in with his blow up dinghy, but I much preferred the ferries.

Torbole sul Garda

Windsurfers on Garda

A much younger Michael, lakeside at Riva del Garda

The moat at Riva

Torbole is the windsurfing centre on Lake Garda and some days the wind was quite fierce.  The surrounding scenery was spectacular however, and one day we went on a walking trip to Arco.

Spectacular Arco

James was mostly just impressed with the icecream, and playing in fountains, of course.  Another firm favourite was a tabletop game, a bit like pinball but played with a cue.  We’d seen it before in Austria.  Anyone else played it?

The following year we couldn’t possibly return to Garda again, so we went to Lake Como and lovely Bellagio instead.  More ferries to ride.  Still in love with Italy, Sorrento came next…. but perhaps I should save those memories for another day.

Hope you’ve enjoyed my Six word Saturday.  It’s all down to Cate at Show my face, who had the idea to share your week in six words. (which often lead to many more)  Go  check out her page so you can join in?  Use the link or my header above.  The button below will take you to my previous 6WS posts.  I promise to be briefer next week!

Six word Saturday

A Wedding Invitation and a Hug

It’s no secret that I have a talented and very artistic daughter.  Her cards often arrive late, but are always a pleasure to receive.  The Easter card shown above brought particular joy because out of it slipped a small black invitation card.

 Lisa has led an often troubled life and has had much to overcome.  I am enormously proud of her, and can hardly wait for this most special of occasions.  Slight doubts though, as to what the mother of the bride wears to a Steampunk Wedding?  The honeymoon will be in Venice, for Carnavale, lucky girl.  To attend is a lifelong dream of hers.  I wish them all the love and luck in the world.

Lisa, my tea and cake girl, at home in Nottingham

As if this wasn’t enough to gladden my week, I have also been awarded a Hug from Francine in Retirement.   I’ve long been an admirer of Francine’s blog so was truly humbled to receive this nomination.  Not being sure of blog etiquette in this matter, I need to point out that I had previously been nominated for the Hug Award by Alyson Sheldrake of The Thought Palette.  On that occasion I wrote A hug a day in acceptance of the award, and nominated a couple of blogs.  I plan to extend that nomination today to:

Ana at 1001 Scribbles

Patti of Read Me

Elisa at Fun and Fabulousness

Sonel at Sonel’s Photographic Corner

All of these blogs give me enormous pleasure.  I should also say thank you to Conny on A Hope for Today who originated the Hug Award.

Please join me next week on Cate’s Six word Saturday and we’ll see just what the week’s brought.  You could even have a little fun and play too?

Six word Saturday

Happy Easter

to one and all

Joyful Easter

Happy Easter

Happy Easter

Happy Easter

Happy Easter

Happy Easter

Easter blessings

Happy Easter

Happy Easter

So many ways to say have a happy and joyful Easter.  Thought I’d share with you some of the cards from my Polish family.  They are especially poignant this year because on 31st March, my Uncle Włodek’s wife Janina died, quite suddenly, of cancer.

This post is to celebrate the memory of Janina, who, in the precious few years I knew her, sent me some beautiful cards.  God bless and keep you always.

Have a peaceful, joyous Easter!

Don’t forget to come back and play Cate’s Six word Saturday next week.

Six word Saturday

Celebrated landmark 50th post this week

https://restlessjo.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/k-is-for-krakow/

Wawel Cathedral

Thought I’d share with you just a few more images of my favourite Polish city.

Jewish Cemetery- the wall is partly reconstructed from smashed up tombstones

Section of the town wall that doubles as an art gallery

Collegium Maius- the prettiest ticket office lies just through those arches

Wasn't sure what to make of this outdoor exhibition but I liked it. "Lady with the ermine" reference?

Wawel Castle from Kanonicza

Loved this gate

Aren't the shapes just magical?

Up, up and away! Balon Widokowy from Wawel Castle gardens

Hope you enjoyed these as much as I did.  Read the Krakow guide and tell me what you think if you have time?  Have a good weekend and don’t forget to play Six word Saturday with Cate at http://www.showmyface.com/2008/01/six-word-saturdays.html  Click on the button below to see more of my Six word Saturdays.

Six word Saturday

Flat Ruthie lights up my week

I always loved playing with cardboard cutout dolls when my daughter was small, so I was enthralled when I came upon the website Cardboard Me Travels, while indulging in a little armchair travel myself.

Flat Ruthie meets Snoopy and Old Bear

I hastened to http://cardboardmetravels.com/about/ to find out more, and in no time at all a pink envelope was slipping onto my doormat, all the way from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  My introduction to Flat Ruthie was complete.

This young lady doesn’t like to stay in one place too long, her restless nature being on a par with mine, so it was off to Hartlepool marina on the first sunny day available.  Just look at that blue sky!

Flat Ruthie boarding PSS Wingfield Castle in Hartlepool marina

And "hanging out" with boats

I had great fun with “the shoot” and it made a lovely post. https://restlessjo.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/flat-ruthie-captures-hearts-in-hartlepool/ I couldn’t help but notice there were Six Words in the title.  Hmmm!

It didn’t end there.  Through the week Ruthie accompanied me to t’ai chi, Nordic walking (no suitable miniature poles for her, alas) and even zumba, making fans along the way.  She was even responsible for introducing me to Flat Stanley.

Flat Stanley, from Wikipedia

She also tweaked my memory and caused me to seek out another awesome blog http://themiddlestsister.com/ that takes me back to happy days playing with Fuzzy Felts.  The child in me is reluctant to take a back seat, and I am a lifelong Snoopy fan.  What better way to end this post.  Huge thanks to Flat Ruthie for brightening up my week. (And to “Big Ruth” of course- I’m sure she’s really not!- without whom none of this would be possible)

"Oh Snoopy, I love your nose"

Thanks also to Cate at http://www.showmyface.com/2008/01/six-word-saturdays.html whose blog I am just about to visit.  Why don’t you come too?  You might just get hooked.  Follow my other Six word Saturdays on the logo below.

Six Word Saturday

 Donkey jacket,

woods and

Robin Hood!

What a week!  One minute it was cold enough for a donkey jacket, the next I was sweltering on the beach at magnificent Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Yorkshire coast.  I hadn’t been there for many years so it was a rare treat to see it in all it’s Spring finery.

Weatherwise we’ve had everything in between too, but clambering through the woods in the good company of my rambling friends was a highlight.

What’s the Robin Hood connection, I asked myself?  Apparently it’s pirate related.  No surprise that, for this neck of the woods.  Seems he encountered French pirates pillaging the village, captured them and returned the loot to the villagers.  It’s just a legend of course, but it seems to’ve stuck.

More happy wanderings next week on http://www.showmyface.com/2008/01/six-word-saturdays.html.  You’re welcome to join me, or indeed to join in yourself.  Just follow the link or click on the header.

Six word Saturday

Guess what I did this week?

No, don’t be silly!  Have you SEEN my matchstick men?  I interviewed Alyson Sheldrake, whose “Breakwater- Lighthouse” in acrylic paint appears above.  Lovely isn’t it?  She had previously interviewed me but I only had photos of my native north east coast to trade.

https://restlessjo.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/an-interview-with-alyson-sheldrake/

Alyson Sheldrake

 Are you joining in Cate’s 6WS this week?  Look forward to reading yours.  You can find all of mine by clicking on the button below.

Six word Saturday

Symbol of Spring

A crocus carpet

Crocus ochroleucus by Gideon Pisanty for Wikipedia

Saved by Wikipedia again!  On Wednesday, as I walked back from meeting a friend in town, the sky was blue and our local council had excelled themselves with the swathes of crocus woven into the grass edges.

I climbed the path through the Old Cemetery, as I often do, for the view across town.  There too the crocus greeted me on every side.  I had that soaring, wonderful Spring in the air feeling, but of course, no camera!

I resolved to return to capture the moment later in the week, but you know what week’s are and I didn’t make it.  Had to make do with one rather feeble shot taken wearily at the end of our road on Thursday, after an 8 and a half mile walk. (through glorious woodland but not a crocus in sight)

Thought I might manage today, after zumba, but the skies are grey and not at all promising.  After a beautiful sunny week I can’t complain.

So what’s a girl to do?  Credit my good friend Wikipedia and Gideon Pisanty, Kenpei, Meneerke Bloem and Bernd Haynold respectively.  Thanks a lot guys.

Do you have a favourite?  Mine’s the exotic “blue” from Japan by Kenpei.  Don’t think our council planted any of that!

Anyone up for a bit of sharing on a Saturday should visit Cath’s http://www.showmyface.com/ website or click on the header.

Six Word Saturday

Music in the Churches of Tavira

Sao Sebastiao Church, Tavira

The Tavira Academy of Music have been running “Music in the Churches” for 5 years now.  It’s a wonderful opportunity and also a huge pleasure to lend support to the community, for just 2 euros.  Last Saturday we were treated to a superb performance of Mozart, Chopin and some of his own work by pianist Luis Conceicao. (wearing an overcoat and woolly muffler, bless him- it was a little “fresh” in the church)

I would love to be there for this weeks classical guitar performance by Rui Mourinho- alas I’m back in England, but with some lovely memories.  If you’re nearby he’s at Sao Sebastiao Church 6-7pm this evening.  The venues vary week to week.

Why not join in with this Six Word Saturday challenge?  The details are all on http://www.showmyface.com