Autumn leaves and man-eating hedges

The days are getting shorter and we need to make the most of the great outdoors while we can, so yesterday we went out with Ann and Jonny to Elvaston Castle.

A lovely long walk amongst the autumn leaves with my family and my camera was just what the doctor ordered (for me anyway ~I'll make outdoorsy people of them yet!) Elvaston is a really pretty place with some amazing topiary ~ some of which tried to eat Tom!

Thankfully, he escaped unharmed.

Hannah and Ella relished having space to run around. In the little churchyard they wandered around the graves, one of them announced that they were "looking for Michael Jackson".

I loved wrapping up warm and being outside. Ann was saying how she loves the variety of weather we get in this country and we both agreed that with just a bit more heat in the summer and a bit more snow in the winter, it would be perfect.

We rounded the day off with a leisurely coffee and newspapers in Starbucks, followed by spag bol cooked by Jonny and then a trip to the cinema with our friends Phil and Liz whilst our older kids babysat for the little ones. We went to see The Invention of Lying. I love Ricky Gervais and whilst I thought the film had a lot more potential than was made of it, there were plently of laugh out loud moments. I mentioned to Peter that Ann and Jonny are planning to walk Dovedale with Joo and Dan in a couple of weeks. He says he hopes they have a nice time....not quite the response I was hoping for. Wonder if he can be persuaded....