Thank you for such a wonderful response to my giveaway, and for an abundance of happy and delightful comments. There is still time to enter, should you so desire!
This weekend has been as busy as the week that preceded it, but none the less enjoyable for it. Yesterday, we visited my good friend Debora in her new house in Sheffield. It was the most perfect autumn day and on the way to her local park we picked brambles and I collected leaves.* The weather has been mostly gorgeous here this last week; crisp, clear days which start off cold but are glorious when you feel the sun's warmth.
Today, while John worked, Bella, Angus and I went into Bradford to buy books among other things. We noticed how the trees are starting to change colour. I said the pattern in my coffee looked like a leaf. Bella disagreed and declared it was clearly a love heart.
The kids played on the big metal sculpture. We walk past it every time we go to Bradford but today I really noticed that it is actually a leaf.
Then we walked over to the fountains. Despite the fact it was quite chilly, the kids jumped in and around the fountains with the joy and abandon that only small children have. Water! I must splash in it RIGHT NOW!
Layers of clothes were gradually shed, while I sat there shivering with my camera. It is Curry Week in Bradford and the air was filled with the most wonderful smells from all the street food on sale there. Indian music was playing from some loud speakers and there was a lovely, bustling atmosphere around the fountains.
The last time we came here was that really hot weekend we had at the beginning of September. The water level in fountain area was raised so that it resembled one huge paddling pool. It was full of of children in their swimsuits, shrieking and splashing, generally having a fabulous time. Our kids didn't have their swimming things, but we paddled for ages and enjoyed the sun. That was only a two weeks ago but it feels like longer. Then it was Summer. Now it is definitely Autumn.
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* I used those leaves in my new Autumn blog header - what do you think? The blossom and blue sky I had before was just offensively summery. I like the idea of ushering in each season with a new header, something to reflect what I am seeing around me at the moment.
What a great post and I love your new Autumn header too :0) x
ReplyDeleteThank you! I made three and couldn't decide which one to use. I made hubby choose for me - he chose well! x
DeleteGreat post- love the heart on the coffee and the new header, Jxx
ReplyDeleteThanks, I am chuffed with how the header turned out. Yay for picmonkey! x
DeleteI love your new header! What fun the littles had in that water!
ReplyDeleteLittle ones love water, don't they, even when it is quite cold!
DeleteOh this is so nice to read! Bradford is my favourite city in the world, I lived there for 7 years before leaving a year ago, it's great to read positive thoughts about Bradford from someone I don't already know
ReplyDeletehttp://ahandfulofhope.blogspot.co.uk/
Hi Helen - thanks for stopping by! We live in Leeds but regularly pop over as it's not far from us at all. It gets too much bad press. We love the architecture, the book shop and the amazing curry houses.
DeleteLove your new header! Children and water - they're attracted to each other like magnets. What a fun time they had.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week.
June
So true! Even though they were really cold they wouldn't come out of the water. I had to bribe them.
DeleteLoving the new header ... what pretty colours the leaves are ... we went our for a walk earlier and came across beautiful red leaves too ... I love this time of year ... the weather is really nice here too ... crisp but bright and sunny ... love the photos of the little ones in the fountain ... sheer joy ... Bee xx
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad we made the most of that weather as it is awful here today. Non stop rain and the leaves will be all soggy. x
DeleteI love your new header & all the leaves, but the little ones in the water win hands up!
ReplyDeleteLx
Thanks! What is it about kids and water??
DeleteI love the new header...so perfect for fall! It looks like you all had a lovely weekend. I can only imagine the wonderful smell of curry in the air (my husband would be in curry heaven!) Love the photos of your little ones playing in the water. That's one of Charlotte's favorite things to do.
ReplyDeleteI really wanted to buy something but I didn;t have any cash on me and the queues were long and the kids were running around like lunatics. But it did smell good. Bradford has so many great curry houses.
Deletei love your new header gillian. i hope all is well. i haven't been by in a little while. xo
ReplyDeleteHi there Veronica! Good to see you here. xx
DeleteLove your autumn leaves header, how clever of you!
ReplyDeleteHow clever or Picmonkey...I love that website! Just upload a photo and the creative possibilities are endless...
DeleteHaha, love the pictures of Angus & Bella paddling, they look like they're really enjoying themselves. Bare legs and wellies is such a cute look!
ReplyDeleteGreat new header too.
I know, so cute, in his little white pants and chubby legs all blotchy with cold. There was about an inch of water in the bottom of his wellies, I had to wring his socks out!
DeleteWhat is it with children and water? It's like a magnet to them. Love the new header, though I don't know about autumn, it's like winter here today.
ReplyDeleteHorrid here today too - cold, wet and windy. So glad we got out and about in the sunshine over the weekend. x
DeleteI look at your children splashing in the water and today is cold and pouring with rain here!(Gloucester)so I've been splashing too but not intentionally and not with bare legs!
ReplyDeleteBTW I like the new blog header!
I know, what a difference a day makes. We did puddle splashing here today with coats, scarves and umbrellas!
DeleteLoving the new header :D
ReplyDeleteMy back garden currently looks like that fountain area it's raining so hard, sans small children of course. Hard to believe it's only a few weeks ago we finally felt as if it were summer, autumn has definitely set in here!
Some great memory making going on in those lovely pics ... happy kids!
Thank you Annie. I used the manual setting and everything! x
DeleteYour header is great, I'm going to try and change mine! Gulp! The kids had a great time splashing! They really don't need expensive toys do they! Ada :)
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, but the free things so often depend on good weather! Although we did a lot of puddle splashing today - the weather has been awful. x
Deletebeautiful autumnal header! The weather has been so vile here we've been hiding in the house - lovely to see you guys outside enjoying yourselves!
ReplyDeleteToday, in between getting soaked and numerous changes of clothes, we hid from the weather. I think it must be working it's way north. x
DeleteGreat idea with the new header, I want to do something similar. but alas my photography is rubbish. so will have to fashion something similar to what I have at the moment!
ReplyDeleteYour photos aren't rubbish! Have you used picmonkey? It's a great free online photo editing website - you can upload photos and play around with them, add text etc. Lots of fun.
DeleteGreat photos as ever Gillian! In the coffee, it has to be a heart-leaf so you are both right! Kids look so happy and giggly, nice to see. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIvan
Thanks Ivan. Heart of leaf, who knows, but it was good coffee.
DeleteDear Gillian
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of celebrating the seasons with a new header - it will work really well. It is definitely autumn now - even in the sun, there is a chill. Central heating, an open fire, hot chocolate and cosy socks are all calling!
Best wishes
Ellie
Yes to all of those! I bought new slippers today - it must be autumn.
DeleteLoving the bare legs and wellies look.....AND the new header! Xx
ReplyDeleteI wish I could style out bare legs and wellies like Angus! Although I did wear my wellies today (with leggings) as it was SO wet and horrid.
DeleteThat looks like so much fun though I wouldn't want to go for a paddle today - the heating is on and I've almost succumb to my second hot chocolate of the day. This is the season where my waistline widens 'big sigh'
ReplyDeleteNina x
My waistline is widening beautifully. Not helped by the double helping of macaroni cheese I had for tea. Tis the season of comfort eating! x
DeleteWhat fun was clearly had! And i think your new header is very stylish - those leaves look beautiful. E x
ReplyDeleteit definitely feels a lot colder than a couple of weeks ago... brrr! I love that metal leaf sculpture, how cool. Hop over to my blog when you have a moment, you have something to claim :) x
ReplyDeleteOooh how exciting - I am on my way! x
DeleteI love the new header - very seasonal! x
ReplyDeleteThank you - so glad I collected some leaves before the deluge of rain we've just had! x
DeleteI love the new header! Very good idea to change it to reflect the seasons! x
ReplyDelete