Always Time for a Coffee

Had a bad night's sleep last night ... didn't fall asleep until 3am! The last couple of weeks have been a bit manic with various jobs for badminton that needed sorting (and would wish others would be a bit more proactive!) and sorting out a Quiz for a badminton club fund-raiser this weekend (my fault for leaving it until the last minute) alongside everything else that's been going on. Was up late finalising some questions so guess I was still buzzing. Callum (& Jon) were both sound asleep!).

Met up with one friend in Starbucks (it looks a s though it is THE place for mums' to meet up - full of pushchairs) then went onto Tescos to do the weekly shop. Bumped into another friend & her son there ... and went for another coffee! Guess tonight might be another late night with all the caffiene I've had today.

Oh, and our Sparrowhawk came back today. This time her victim was a collared dove. Got into trouble with Jon for scaring it away when I walked into the conservatory.

Trip Up North

Our plans for a trip up to Newcastle were pulled forward by two weeks - sadly, as Jon's gran passed away. The mass and the hymns were lovely and very moving. At 95 she lived a very family oriented life with 5 children, 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 1 gt-gt-grandson.

Callum was as good as gold during the service - you wouldn't have known he was there (we're sooo proud of him). He was mesmerised by all the goings-on and turning the pages in the hymn book very gently (which is most unlike him).

We took Callum onto the beach at South Shields too. It was a sunny day, but the wind whipped up a fair sand storm. Took refuge and had a fish & chip lunch before heading over to the Quayside. The whole area has been regenerated and looks fab with the new Baltic Centre and the Sage. We just missed the bridge tilt times by 30 mins but it looks great (bit wobbly to walk over, but nothing like it's counterpart in London!).

Caught up with Michael, Laura and Pat too for a bit. Hope you managed to figure out how to reset the clock on the oven, Laura! Callum figured out how it worked, but the rest of us didn't have a clue.

Lunar Eclipse

For the first time ever, I managed to see a lunar eclipse last night. Not through lack of trying - when I've remembered in the past, it was cloudy. Last night had perfectly clear skies and I drove Jon nuts by asking what settings do I need to use on the camera to capture the moment. Through trial & error, I think I just about got there.

The moon started off by being nibbled away. It then disappeared for a few minutes before it emerged bathed in an orangey-red light. Eventually the moon gradually reappeared as it's familiar self.

Here are two of the better photos I took ...