How lovely to have a three day weekend, especially when the weather is as glorious as it’s been here. We took full advantage by going out most of the time. On Saturday we took delivery of a new car so of course we’ve had to try it out! On Saturday we spent the day in Cambridge, something I’ve been wanting to do ever since a new shopping centre opened there a while back. It didn’t disappoint, but then Cambridge has always been a great place to shop, full of all the best of stores plus lots of unique little places where you can buy unusual things. I took a photo of a sneaky peek into Jesus College courtyard where a wisteria was in full bloom, and then a very subversive photo of the new shopping centre. Subversive because I risked being accused of terrorism or some such dastardly act! No I’m not joking…..there have been incidents in the UK recently where completely innocent people have had their cameras seized for just that reason. Article here.
The car did us proud and is a lovely ride…smooth, quiet and with a bit of oooomph! It’s a Vauxhall Astra estate and is a couple of years old. Lots of room for our dogs 
Yesterday Dave decided to shampoo the carpets in the house …. with two dogs and two cats it’s a very necessary task! After all that hard work I treated him to a meal out at one of our favourite Italian restaurants. Then today we decided to go to the Burghley House Country Show. It was good to be on the ‘other side’ and not grafting away selling beer like we usually are! We took the dogs for their first outing in the car and they were as good as gold. A country show without the dogs is never quite the same as they’re always jammed packed with them….mostly spaniels as well Burghley House is quite close to us and is a stunning 16th century stately home. All sorts of shows are staged there, the most famous being the Burghley Horse Trials.
Lastly I must post a couple of photos of the most amazing tree peonies my mum has in her garden. I think this year has been a particularly good one for them, the flowers are larger than dinner plate size!
Great post, Nikki! Congrats on the new car. Your area sounds lovely for weekend drives – so many wonderful destinations. I’ve seen the amazing Burghley House on TV – it’s quite well known even over here. I’d love to see it in person! Or Cambridge itself for that matter. You just make me drool sometimes. Hope you’re having a good week. Hugs.
How great you getting a new car and having good weather to enjoy, our weekend was dull and yuck.. although to day beautiful.. typical lol..
Oh what a lovely setting for a county show.. I love shows like that.
Oh my at the peonies they are stunning..
Hope you don’t mind me saying this, I had two of my birthday cards opened at the post office end and one had money in.. hence that went missing.. so if you send me anything.. seal it real well..
Hope today back at school is a good one
Luv n hugs Pixie xxx
Hi Nikki & thanks for stopping by
Warmest congrats on the new car, the dogs must be very happy too !
Aaah Cambridge … i have lovely memories walking in the streets, it’s a very pretty & pleasant town. If we do go back to England one day, I’d love to show this town to Chris. He’d love it too.
Oh my goodness, what stunning & huge & gorgeous peonies your mom has in her garden. Peonies are such pretty flowers.
Oh shampooing the carpets is certainly not a pleasant task, poor Dave. Must be super clean now !
Have to go now. Big hugs to you. Have a great day today. Enjoy your beautiful weather. It’s lovely here too. XOXO
I must have been under a rock for a couple of days, how come I missed your post?!
Anyway, am caught up now. I didn’t know that about the photos! (also did not know that LD switched on the lights, but there we are..living under a rock!) that Wisteria is stunning. Ours has a looooooong way to go until it gets even half as gorgeous as that. I bet the smell was fabulous too, wasn’t it?
thanks for your email this a.m! Took me over an hour to get any connection today, good old ‘super fast’ broadband, hey?!
my WP says rain! Methinks she is lying through her teethlets.
I am so excited, and feel v. organised to have sorted it out already.
ooh, have pre ordered something that won’t be available until September
girl calling. must scoot.
hope your day went well xxxx
hello. back again!
I am trying to remember the last time we went to Cambridge, and I can’t! Must have been Pre-Humbug. I do love it there though, some superb shops and just a nice feeling overall. Have you ever been to the teddy bear shop near the college? Not sure if it’s still there, but it is absolutely lovely to visit.
do try the recipe, promise you will love it. I am not an ice cream person either, and usually only eat one or two cornettos a year and that’s it! Never really understood people diving into tubs of Ben & Jerry’s, I’d rather have a slab of stilton and some crackers!
bet it was hot at school today. It has been v.warm and muggy. Didn’t get any rain, so WP was being a big fat liar! Mind you, my mum was rambling on about snow yesterday. She looked at me all sinister like, waved a finger in the air and said ‘they reckon next bank holiday we’ll have snow’. Am sure she was a witch in a former life, but who are these ‘they’? I’ve not heard anything about snow soon!
got to go. xxxx
Congratulations on your new car, I love going for ride & shopping, what a great weekend! Our Magnolias have a very sweet smell & bloom at the end of spring or beginning of summer. They are Southern magnolias or magnolia grandiflora. Here’s a link for more info
Magnolia
I hope your week is going well, hugs
hello! thanks for your email *sigh*
just tired of it, and yes, want to be left alone for a while at least.
been hot again today hasn’t it? weather people said it would be more cloudy than earlier this week. It started off with a touch of cloud, but that soon burned off and it’s been blistering sunshine ever since!
Have a lovely weekend. Will remember to stop by and see if you post!
xxxx
how are you enjoying the weekend? v. hot here this p.m, i’ve booted Bill out. He’s gone to the beach hut at Frinton, I wish him joy of it!
Me and the girl are home, I’ve just put water in her paddling pool, so when she wakes up, I’ll dunk her in it. She’ll love it!
have a great Sunday, will pop back later xxx