Perfect summers day

I drew back the curtains in our bedroom with a flourish, and amidst jumping up and down, proceeded to give my (now common) weather forecast. There was not a cloud to be seen, and the weather forecast noted that it was to be a perfect summers day.

We started with a car boot sale [ceramic owls for Nonna £0.30, hand knitted jumper for Gareths son £1, new wellies for me £3].

The owl mans’ stall consisted entirely of ceramic owls, I asked if it was his collection- "Yes… well, part of it!… I just ran out of room in my house, so I need to get rid of some of them".
I commented to the knitting lady, how cheap her items were- £1!!! She said, all the yarn is recycled, so her materials are cheap… meaning, she gets old jumpers, unravels them (!!), and knits them into new childrens items… I asked her about labour and she laughed and said she never worries about that.

On the way home we passed pick-your-own farm, and pulled in for some raspberries. I was thinking of getting a modest pail, but Steve was feeling more ambitious, and wanted to fill the giant basket we were given for picking.

You get the most satisfying feeling as you pick raspberries. When the berry, comes clean off the vine, and there is the impercepitble plop of the core being removed.

All this raspberry joy was short lived, as we went to the ‘weigh station’. "£15 thank you" I thought Steve was taking it terribly well, as he handed over the money without so much as an imp. Back in the car, he just sat glazed over and staring blankly ahead. It seems he was still in shock, and as it wore off it became apparent he felt more like throwing the pail at the sweet-but-crafty-old-raspberry-lady than making crumble! I tried to counter with my usual- well we’ve picked raspberries now, we can cross that off our list!

On to Dartington hall gardens, organic loaf, sun-dried tomatoes, avocado, baby spinach and salt & pepper in hand. We sat on the steps of the grand lawn amphitheatre, kicked off our shoes and ate our delicious lunch in the growing sunshine.
With full bellies we stepped down into the centre of the ampitheatre, treading on squishy clover and buttercups, to play frisbee. I kept taking off items of clothes, but still I was hot!
"A swim, a swim, I want a swim!"

Stevie kindly indulged my insanity and took me to a beautiful part of Ashburton, where the river dart, rapidous and gurgling, runs through some lush woods. The woods were cool and damp, and I was not quite so keen to get in… but I didn’t feel able to reneg. this late in the piece!

I stood on an immersed rock, and felt the chill- instant numbness, which quickly turned into pain. I hopped out to deliberate, then feet in again, then out, then in, then out, and finally, with Steve almost falling in from the banks through laughter, I glided in fully.

I emerged making primordial sounds, part scream, part laugh, shouting "It’s so cold, it’s so fast. Oh-my-god it’s so cold!" Then returning to the shore, promptly asked Steve if he was going to join me. Feet in he tried to protest "But I don’t even like swimming! Honestly, I really don’t!". Screaming, he bravely dove in, and quickly made his way out. By this time, I must have been near manic and certainly numb, I was, what only could be described as frolicking. Diving under to the bottom, and up again, swimming against the rapids, and finally emerging from the river, with a rock from the middle of the dart!

Evidently the cold affected my brain and voice!! :)

Home to make a salad and apple (and ahem raspberry) crumble, then on to Steve’s old home for a BBQ with his friends.
The BBQ was in an icredible dome of twisted willow, with a circular opening at the top, where the sky could be seen… below were pavers, with a pit fire in the centre, and cushions all around. Two other couples joined us, and we feasted on elderflower cordial, chile marinated kebabs with mango (unusual but delicious!), salads with divine tahini dressing, and the best apple raspberry crumble! (Made by Steve).

It seems the weather lady was right, a perfect summers day!!