Family get-togeher in Glastonbury.

Last Friday we spent the day with my brother Alec, his wife Jenny (yes, two Jenny Peets in the same family), their daughter and son in law and their lovely little daughter. They were holidaying on the north Somerset coast and had never been to Glastonbury, so we decided to meet up there. We had not seen them for over a year and had a great time catching up with each other's news and doing the tourist trail. Tradition has it that Joseph of Arimathea, the uncle of the Virgin Mary, came to England several times to buy Cornish tin and Somerset copper. On one occasion he brought Jesus with him and together they established a small church in Glastonbury and planted a thorn tree, a descendant of which is still growing today. Ever since then Glastonbury has been a place of religious pilgrimage and mystical significance - its even reputed to be King Arthur's "Isle of Avalon". We visited the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey and saw the thorn tree, looked in the windows of the many shops selling mystical artefacts and books, visited the Museum of Rural Life and climbed Glastonbury Tor (or hill) where we had our photo taken trying to shelter from the wind by the old church tower. Before the Somerset levels were drained to create farmland they were flooded for much of the year and The Tor and surrounding highpoints stood out as islands in the water - no wonder people thought they were magical.

Southampton Boat Show

We spent all last Sunday "volunteering" for the international charity, Mercy Ships, at the Southampton Boat Show. This show, one of the biggest in the world, attracts tens of thousands of visitors to see the thousands of boats on display and the acres of stands selling everything a sailor might need. The cheapest boat we saw was a £500 kayak, the most expensive a huge sailing yacht costing £2.7 million. We were on the Mercy Ships stand, encouraging people to volunteer to serve on the hospital ship, Africa Mercy, which offers free medical aid to the poor of the world. Primarily we were looking for people with sea-going skills and qualifications to volunteer but we also interested doctors, dentists, nurses, engineers, teachers and gap year students. We believe that some of the seeds which we sowed in people's minds will bear fruit one day. If you would like to know more about volunteering on the Africa Mercy log on to mercyships.org.uk

Romsey, Hampshire

Last weekend we spent two nights in a superb bed and breakfast place near Romsey in Hampshire. We spent all day Saturday exploring Romsey and all day Sunday at the Southampton Boat Show (see next blog). Romsey is a charming small town with an ancient abbey, lots of charming houses from many different periods of history, a street market, an excellent museum and very friendly people. It stands on the River Test, one of the best trout fishing rivers in England. The photo shows Jenny enjoying the sunshine on a bridge over the Test and one of the river's trout trying to hide from the sunshine!

Our great niece, Melissa.

When we were up in Yorkshire last week we had lunch with our niece Tina, her daughter Melissa and my sister Joan. It was the first time we had met Melissa, who was one year old last Saturday. She is a lovely little girl and it was lovely to see her with her Mum and Granny. Photo shows Melissa and her proud Mum, Tina.

Giant vegetables

Recently we went to the South West Gardening Show at the Bath and West Showground near Shepton Mallet in Somerset. It wasn't as atmospheric as our tiny village show but we saw some of the biggest vegetables we have ever seen (see previous blog).

Giant vegetables

Recently we went to the South West Gardening Show at the huge Bath and West Showground, near Shepton Mallet in Somerset. The Show draws exhibitors and competitors from all over the country. Perhaps because it was a cold windy day the atmosphere was not as jolly as it was at our tiny Village Show but we saw some of the biggest pumpkins, cabbages, carrots and parsnips we have ever seen. The photos say it all.

Summer Show

Two weekends ago it was our Village Summer Show, organised by the Gardening Club. The committee (of which I am a member) worked hard to set up all the tables and display shelves in the Village Hall in time for the arrival of the entries. There were classes for fruit and vegetables of all kinds, flowers and floral arrangements, home made wines and drinks, jams, marmalades and chutneys, crafts, sculpture, paintings and photographs. Then the judges came and carefully deliberated. I was pleased to win first prizes for a turned boxwood sewing kit and thimble I had made and for my damson gin - the gin also earned me the Longclose Cup for the best entry in the wine section. It was a lovely village event.