Tomorrow (Tuesday) I am heading off here to see Rhoda - by way of seeing Aidan in London and flying to Toulouse on Wednesday. I have been tested for flying and am apparently 'fit to fly'.  I may be offline but I am hoping to get an internet connection there.

Map of the area around  Rhoda and Doug's place

Rhoda lives near Bagnere de Bigorre, which is where the main roads meet. I think their place is about where the word Bagnere is on the map. This is rural living, with vegetables, trees, chickens, sheep, pigs, dog and cats, not to mention the wildlife and vermin. The weather is said to be forecast to be good. Their adventures are here - http://laviealapetiteferme.blogspot.fr/
A bit different from urban living.

Me, my doll (Louise) and my mother on a beach - probably  Bournmouth - c.1946

1940's; a beach. I spent a lot of my childhood (when not being educated or otherwise transformed into an adult) on beaches. We moved to Southsea, which had a gravel beach like those in Suffolk. And I used to walk along the sea wall there just as I do here. And we went on holiday to various beaches in Devon and Cornwall, where we ran around in the sea and appreciated the sun (which always shone of course.)

I have done holiday stuff in sunshine this week. Two days on the beach and two days with boats. I sailed the dinghy for about an hour yesterday in modest wind. It feels safe to launch and play here without safety cover, a thing I would not have done on the North sea. I even managed to launch and recover without help through taking things very slowly.  I suppose I am getting used to the ramp although I do not launch and recover with much panache (yet). It has the advantage of a shorter distance to get the boat out of the water.

Lorna and brother - Roger - in the rock gardens, Southsea. About 1948

1940s: Roger was born in November 1947. I am not sure that this does either of us justice, but notice my dress. My mother was a dressmaker (so also 'good with her hands'). The smocking was all hand done, from gathering the material to doing the embroidery. I did learn how to make clothes and do embroidery from her - but rarely make such things now. But when I do make something, I get huge pleasure from it.
I also remember the shoes and the rock gardens.

On a beach - perhaps Bournmouth - with a boat.

1940s: I had to include this as it illustrates two of my life-passions - beaches and sailing (although I did not do sailing until I was about 40.). I think my father  made the boat - note the aluminium wheels - he often used aluminium for the things he made.

Me with Sid and a wonderful car.

1940s: He normally had a car around - usually a pre-war one which he spent a lot of time fettling. He also made a lot of things and was, as he used to say 'good with his hands' - a trait which my brother and I have inherited. I wish he had taught me about the inner workings of cars - but he probably thought it was not something girls did.

Me with Uncle John in my grandmother's garden

1940s: John is my mother's youngest brother - he now livies in Shrewsbury.

My father - Sid - with me. He was about 43 in the photos

1940s: I have one of him with me as a baby - but I have yet to find it.

I am planning to enter a few from each decade. I have spent a long time trying to sort out piles of old photos. It is surprisingly depressing, perhaps making one aware of lost opportunies - things not said -  teenage rebellions and the like.

In my grandmother's garden in London.

Joan Scammell with baby Lorna - 1942

C'est moi.
I am 70 today. Joan - my mother - was about 25 in the picture.

I do not normally acknowledge my birthday - the last time was when I was 60 and was taken up in the London Eye by my children for a fun experience. Today - I was intendimg to take a short trip out on the river - but - heavy rain and a bad forecast. So I am doing indoor things and hoping to go on the river tomorrow.