Easter Picnic

Although I had planned a full day of study today, the weather dictated otherwise. I have been on leave all week and have managed to get precious little done in the way of acadaemia...my children and my weak-will have taken care of that. Oh, what are school holidays for but to be spent socialising your children with other people's children whilst you have an (albeit interrupted) conversation with another parent? That's pretty much all we've done this week until the Friday Bank Holiday arrived and then we socialised with the fourth member of our family as he was also off on leave. Saturday was reserved for 'Down West'. This is where our cottage renovation project lives which progresses like a slow growing oak. It's habitable but not quite finished. And when The Grandparents and The Uncle have come to visit then any thoughts of getting any work done gets brushed away with the resident leaves. Barbeque, beer, wine, story-telling, window-shopping, belly-aching-laughter, tree-climbing and grave-reading filled the day instead and the cottage was a lot happier for the company. The sun has been shining since school broke up and it unexpectedly continues - hence today's picnic. I did study either side of it so there was no guilt as we trooped up to the Brecon Beacons, dogs and cooler box akimbo, slapping the sun cream on the way. We marvelled at the views from the top of chosen mountain, red kites and peregrine falcons riding on its thermals, before enjoying the downward gradient and gentle breeze back to the car.