Happy Tree

I am in Stratford-upon-Avon today - Shakespeare country. Coincidentally, I am related to the Shakespeare Family. In the 1800's there were two brothers. The first, William Shakespeare Manton moved with his family to America. The other, John Shakespeare Manton stayed in England and many years later I appeared! But I stray from the subject in hand. During a coffee break at the conference I am attending I noticed some trees outside. Here is the first which impressed me no end with its happy smiling face!

Beachcombing can be such Fun!

I think this pair of beachcombers are having a lot of fun and wonder if they saw any shrimps or crabs in the rock pool. I notice they don't have a bucket or net. How I used to love visiting Devon beaches and peering into rock pools. It's surprising what they contain. I must do it again sometime and relive those memories from so long ago. I must be starting to enter my second childhood - the other day I wanted to skip along the pavement and . . . when I was sure no-one was looking I did. Does anyone else do such things or wish they had the courage to do so? Next on my agenda is making sandcastles - hurrah! Now - pass me my bucket and spade!

Just A Boy On A Bicycle

This boy is happy. It is his birthday. He is 11 and is wearing long trousers for the first time to get used to them when he goes to senior school in September. He smiles broadly because he has been given his first ever bicycle of his own. Second hand it may be, but he doesn't care. He is now an independent traveller for the first time! He loved that bike and rode it for hours and hours. Who is he? Why he is me! Oh, how I wish I was a time traveller and could go back to that day and relive it again. Nostalgia is a powerful thing and I could cry as I remember what a wonderful, joyous, happy childhood I had . . .