Here Comes Summer

 Well, we're nearly there. Term ends next Wednesday and it can't come soon enough for any of us. The last few weeks have involved many university open days - some more successful than others - along with the usual end of term events and deadlines. Daughter number 1 came back home after finishing her Law degree at Oxford - she was so exhausted by the end that I think she was just relieved that it was all over. I seemed to be more upset than she was as we emptied her rooms for the final time. The last 3 years have just flown by and it only seems like 5 minutes since we were dropping her off for her first term. I was so lucky that she went to a uni only 30 minutes away and it was never any trouble to nip up with forgotten items (coats for the Michaelmas term and bedding being the most memorable!) or just to see her and take her out to lunch. I'm not sure I'll be able to do the same for E, especially as her current favourite appears to be Durham which took us a good 6 hours each way at the weekend.
Anyway, here are a few photos to sum up the last week or two:

Admiring the views from L's rooms for the last time:

 Having Vegetable Dumpling Soup for lunch at our local Tea Bar:

 L finally being able to relax with a non-Law book and falling asleep in the sun:

 Buying a Medlar tree for a friend's birthday:

 Having an Origami moment with the girls - mine is the deformed yellow one!

 Durham Cathedral:

 Enjoying a Lebanese meal before heading to our B&B for the night:

 Getting a brief glimpse of a ripe strawberry before E swooped in - I can net them against the birds but have yet to find something to keep daughters off!

 Enjoying this week's blooms:

 Going for a walk on Greenham Common with L. These cows looked very happy in the shade:

 Making Elderflower Cordial. Our tree hasn't recovered from R's pruning last year and only had a few blossoms right at the top where I couldn't reach. These were overhanging the wall of a local church - I hope they don't mind!

Finally, R is having a go at making some wine. Meet Morrison (as in 'Vin'!) which is currently fermenting quietly in my kitchen. It's quite companionable sitting there glugging quietly to itself. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Like the rest of the UK it has been rather hot here for the last few days. It does feel muggy today though and the barometer is swinging round to rain, so I'm hoping for a storm - I do love a nice bit of thunder. I'm just off to bottle my cordial then do the ironing and watch a bit of Wimbledon. Enjoy the rest of the week.
Toodle Pip for now. x