Birthday outing

 So here I am, still as handsome as ever at the age of 57. And it's my birthday outing to Whiteford Burrows. Mum has made a huge effort for me today and given me gifts and sweets and lots of love, making today a special day. Speaking to you in the morning was a fine birthday treat, I normally see you for 2nd Sept.

so with new T shirt on ( or off ! ), we set out in the rain for our day out. Quickly the weather cheered up and the long walk out was full of interest as usual. Although it did take it out of me and as mum clicked away at the dancing swallows, I took a nap.

  We had already eaten our gorgeous salmon and goats cheese bagels and with the sound of birds wings flapping and dragon flies buzzing, I snoozed to the click click of mum's camera as she shot hundreds of times trying to capture the awesome swallows. Quite a task as the birds whiz around frantically feeding with mum shooting with a telephoto lens!

Time to wake up and time to give that shutter a chance to cool down!

And what a place to take a nap. As my eyes become accustomed to this dreamy place, I am confronted with skies of delight.

And looks of delight

Time to wake up old man and get on with our day. 'Am I the maiden of your dreams? ' Mum asks?
Of course
So on with the walk and we step into the Hebridean landscape not quite believing our eyes.

On turning around, a horse poses for us, as if he's waiting to be paid!

And on we go, rounding the point and starting our long walk back towards Cwm Ivy.

What a beautiful place we live in, we are so lucky. With the lighthouse in the distance, I remember as a lad that these dunes in the foreground did not exist! The have formed in my lifetime. As the main dunes erode in the wind and tides, the sand is brought by the currents and deposited here. With time the Marram Grass takes hold and a new landscape is born, only to be eroded as time passes. Life is ever changing.

As we are, yet your Mum remains as beautiful as ever ( as long as she's in a good mood !!! )

Here is a shadow in time of your Mum with her birthday boys!

Hand in hand we walk this life together, through thick and thin, up's and down's and we're still here, daft as ever, loving you forever.

We're picking blueberries in the dunes as the sun gets lower, finding enough to make 3 full jars of jam, one of which I shall keep for you. I love berry picking and making the yummy jam. In the dunes here are lots of fruit without any spikes, unlike blackberries which you have to pay for with your blood1

And as the sun starts to set, your mother is found gaily wandering off into the woods with one of her boys

Only to be caught canoodling up against a tree!

And this brings to an end a lovely birthday. I'm 57, healthy and I'm going to be around for many years to come. At least, that's my intention.

Happy Birthday to Me!

LOVE XXX YOU