Postcard from the butterfly house

Sorry, no time for a proper post at the moment. I've been too busy getting out and about taking pretty photographs. See above from the Butterfly House at Berkeley in Gloucestershire. Such a beautiful colour, and prepared to sit still and show off while I faffed about with the settings on my camera!

Postcard from the Festival of Britain

You're right, the Festival of Britain was in 1951 and I don't own a TARDIS. So it's kind of the people at the South Bank Centre to put on a commemorative event for those of us not quite old enough to have experienced the original. There's a beach, a roof garden, really cute 1950s-style ice cream vans, and what you're looking at in this picture is world record bunting. As made by 21st century school children.

The 1951 event was intended to perk people up in a period of post war austerity. Let's not talk about the current state of the economy. Look at the bunting fluttering in the sun - doesn't it just make you smile?

Postcard from the parterre

I'm no fan of gardening, that popular bank holiday activity. The hard work the National Trust are putting in to restore the formal parterre at Hanbury Hall is impressive though and I admired their results. With the weather as it was this past weekend, the lawns were more popular with picnickers such as me. I'd rather laze in the sun than worry about gardeners' backaches as they trimmed the topiary.

My favourite aspect of the parterre was the frilly edged petals and raspberry stripes of the tulips. And with a picnic comprised of leftovers from a Royal Wedding party, the food was fun too.

Those of us who live in flats are always appreciative of a pleasant outdoor space. The parterre was pretty, but finding a sheltered corner to spread out a rug, with a vista of mature trees, warm sunshine and a cool box packed with treats makes a bank holiday in Britain great.