Happy birthday to me

It was my birthday this week and I had a new camera!   There was nothing wrong with my trusty old Pentax but the sexy new  red Sony Cybershot was on offer and eldest grandson is hanging his nose over the Pentax so we shall all be happy.  I have  had a lovely week, I think I only had to cook one meal - how about that!  Had a glorious day with my Mesch companons in Marian's lovely romantic garden and she made Delia's Morroccan cous cous & roasted vegetables for lunch - delicious.  And we caught up with all the news which was great.

I had loads of cards - this one was from dear Sandra - one of her watercolour paintings of a 'Paphiopedilum' which she did at Kew where she is a volunteer. (I only know that because it is written on the back!)   It is exquisite.  We had a meal with Brenda & George next door, sitting in the garden until late and watching the huge yellow moon come up - very Van Gogh.  Then we went out with friends who were celebrating their wedding anniversary,   and we were out to lunch today with friends - this is a very sociable village! Of course,  none of this has done my waistline any good at all.  However, I still managed to do the splits on my birthday although I must confess it is getting more difficult to get up again  !

My garden is looking beautiful at the moment and the smells are divine.  We are having to water pots and vegetables but the rest of the flowers just have to cope with the weather.  I hope it is still looking good for Open Studios for which, of course, I am working hard at the moment.  Yes, I know I have left it all a bit late and working in this heat is not good.   It's my own fault.

I took some beautiful photos of roses and put them on to Picassa but I just couldn't down load them onto the Blog - these photos come straight from the camera.  I shall have to do a bit more research!  It is too hot and too late to struggle with it now.  We really appreciate the trees all around our garden as we can always find some shade.
Speaking of computer problems, does any one else get these irritating comments in some outlandish hieroglyphics?   I suspect it is Japanese and I thought they were supposed to be very polite people, but I think it is extremely rude to write something which you know perfectly well cannot be understood.  I don't want it to be translated as I have a feeling  it is nasty - otherwise they would write in English!!!  I don't always get the little dustbin symbol up - any answers?

Junior grandson has just come back from a school trip to Berlin - and he told me that he brought back a vuvuzela with a German flag on it!  I do hope he doesn't bring it down with him next weekend.

I am struggling with our Book Group choice this month - Susan Gregory 'The Hand of Justice'    I was really looking forward to reading it as it is set in 13th century Cambridge and it has a map in the front! I have always loved books with a map -  must be memories  of Milly Molly Mandy.    I am off to bath and bed now and will try to read another chapter, it must be the heat putting me off.