We packed and were ready to load the car before we went to breakfast. Our table was in glorious sunshine, leading us to linger a while before loading the car and checking out. As we handed in the room keys we were asked if  we would like complimentary coffees ‘to go’. Mr C declined and asked if it was possible to have some bottled water instead to which the answer was yes.

We had intended to buy water and sun cream before the festival opened, now we only needed to obtain sunscreen. We arrived in town too early for the Sunday opening hours so we parked at the festival site (we were almost the first to arrive) and walked back into town. As we walked past the visitor information center we noticed it was open so I was able to purchase the walking leaflets I had hoped to pick up the day before. Whilst in town I purchased a scarf to shield my neck and shoulders from the sun. The one I had brought with me was not fully up to the job.

We called in at the Touching Souls tea rooms for refreshments before heading to the festival ground to meet with our friends and to join one of the battle field guided walks. After the walk we had lunch, then we split up to explore the event independently before meeting up again for the battle re-enactment. ‘The boys’ stayed to see the battle whilst I returned to the town intending to explore some of the alleyways and heritage trails on one of the leaflets I picked up at the tourist information center.

I entered Victoria Gardens and found a shady spot to ‘rest a while’ before setting off into town I noticed a signpost to the river walk so I set off in this direction, passing the Abbey Mill and some other interesting features before returning to the Touching Souls tearoom on the off chance that it may have stayed open later due to the festival. It wasn’t but I lingered a while to rest my feet before setting off on my next adventure which turned out to be short-lived. I had just managed to dodge the cars and cross the road when I received a text from Mr C, ‘On my way. Meet you at the Abbey tea shop’. I renegotiated my way across the road which had become even busier and returned to the shady bench that I had recently vacated.

The tearoom being closed led to us stopping at a motorway service station for the much needed refreshing, rehydrating drink.

Back home, bags unpacked, we enjoyed fine dining on the patio. We lit the two RAF blue memorial candles given to us at our friends funeral and watched them fluttering in the wind as the sun went down.

Click on photo to see video

Nottingham May 2013:

• Cherry on Her Travels – Nottingham
• Cherry on Her Travels – Nottingham Gallery

His journey’s just begun

Don’t think of him as gone away
his journey’s just begun,
life holds so many facets
this earth is only one.

Just think of him as resting
from the sorrows and the tears
in a place of warmth and comfort
where there are no days and years.

Think how he must be wishing
that we could know today
how nothing but our sadness
can really pass away.

And think of him as living
in the hearts of those he touched…
for nothing loved is ever lost
and he was loved so much.

Ellen Brenneman

When we live in darkness, our human life is a constant want.
When we live in Light, our divine life is a constant achievement.
Light in the physical is beauty.
Light in the vital is capacity.
Light in the mind is glory.
Light in the heart is victory.

Sri Chinmoy

I really wanted to post a photograph of the sun but I seem to have shared them all with you already. Candles do however fit the theme as well and I know I haven’t posted this photo before.

For more of this weeks PhotoHunt pictures check out tnchick.

Below is a photo from a nice relaxing Friday evening.

Testing Mobile Email to Flickr to Blog, originally uploaded by KirscheTortschen.