Raindrops On Roses - July

These are a few of my favourite things.

An anniversary bouquet. Mick and I celebrated our twenty seventh wedding anniversary earlier this month and I was quite taken aback when he surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers as we don't really celebrate our anniversaries. We usually get each other a card but that's it. The photo doesn't do the bouquet justice, it was huge and contained roses, lilies, carnations, alstroemeria, gerbera among other flowers which I don't recognise. He can be romantic when he tries.

Outdoor events at Lotherton Hall. I've posted many times about our visits to Lotherton Hall. This month there were two events which we popped along to. The first was an Edwardian weekend where there were lots of themed activities for families. It was a beautiful day but we only went in the morning so we missed the brass band which was due to play later on in the afternoon. We did make it on time for the Punch and Judy show though, not that I'm a fan really. There was lots of Edwardian fun for the children with sideshows including splat the rat, high striker and coconut shy, and there was dressing up in the hall as well as craft activities. Last Thursday we were invited to a Member's Summer Party. It was 6pm to 8pm and as well as a scavenger hunt, there was a barbecue and a live band. It was a lovely evening but we gave the scavenger hunt a miss, preferring instead to sit on deckchairs whilst we listened to the band and ate our hotdogs.

Bargain shoes. Clarks had their sale on this month and I managed to snag a pair of shoes marked down from £50 to £25. The great thing about this is that it's years since I've bought a pair of shoes, I usually wear sandals in summer and boots in winter and that's it. I've mentioned before how I've had trouble all my life with shoes rubbing my feet, so I tend to buy footwear and stick with them until they literally fall off my feet. Comfort before style every time for me. So, when I found these shoes, which feel really comfy, I snapped them up. They'll do nicely for the transition from sandals to boots. I just need to wear them in a bit now, plasters at the ready.

Shopping in York. I don't get chance very often to spend time alone just looking around shops, I won't leave Archie long on his own so if I go shopping, it's usually with something in mind and I'm there and back. With Eleanor being at home I've got the chance to leave Archie with her and please myself for the day. I went to Leeds last week but it definitely isn't one of my favourite places, there's all the high street names there and lots of designer shops, but they're really not my thing. I much prefer York which also has the high street names, but there's also lots of independent shops there too. Mick was working in York on Friday so I decided I'd hitch a lift, I was there about four and a half hours and I had a lovely time looking around the shops.

A Street Cat Named Bob. I'd read both of the Bob books and noticed that the film had recently been released on Sky so on Saturday afternoon, whilst Mick was at cricket and Eleanor was working, I sat down to enjoy it, and enjoy it I did. Based on the true story of James Bowen, a recovering drug addict, and his loveable ginger cat, Bob, it's an inspirational tale of how someone can turn their life around. When James met a stray ginger cat, he had all the inspiration he needed to get clean. Bob plays himself in the film and, of course, he steals the show.

What favourites do you have this month? How about joining me and writing a post about them?