Bee in evening light

It's Frieda's birthday today - 2. In fact we celebrated with them all yesterday, as today Jack, Marianna and Frieda were due to meet up with some other parents with kids of the same age. No birthday photos, for yesterday, as I hadn't been able to download them in time. But it all went very well. Small kids + sunshine + paddling pool = fun for all.

Today Richard and I braved the M1 and went to have lunch with his niece Erin (daughter of R's youngest sister, who lives in S Africa). Erin lives near Loughborough.  She has had some real ups and downs with her health, and we try to keep in touch as best we can.

Then we finished off the day in the garden... filling a paddling pool ready for Luca's day with us tomorrow... and, in my case, watching the bees and hoverflies at work.