Bicycle Race

Well, that was an exciting morning!  Stage Four of the Women's Cycle Tour came through Hertford today en route from Broxbourne to Buntingford - so I was up early (gardening at 7.20am, no less) and then up at the top of my road to see them come through.  There's a very steep hill coming out of Hertford (it can be a tad tough on your legs walking up, never mind cycling at full pelt)  

I stood at the Queen of the Mountain stage finish - or just opposite the Co-Op in real life.

There was no end of motorcycles and support vehicles, and I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

And then the cyclists appeared - and they were still peddling furiously (I'm sure I'd have had to get off and pushed my bike up the hill, which perhaps explains why I wasn't taking part)

 They whizzed past in a flash ....

 And then they were gone.

As cycling is so popular with the masses now, I'm surprised that more people hadn't turned out to support them or just to enjoy the spectacle - it certainly doesn't happen every day.
I'm just glad that I did.

Bicycle Race - Queen

Glasshouse

No stitching this week I'm afraid, but I've still had a lovely week - my parents have been visiting and I took my Dad for his belated birthday present into London and up The Shard.  It's very tall.

Not a very sunny day, but nice and clear, so we had fantastic views - to Canary Wharf

the Olympic Park

the Tower of London

and down into little gardens that you'd never normally see

We spent about an hour and a half trying to pick out particular buildings and we both really enjoyed the trip. We worked out that Dad hadn't even been on a train for about 25 years, so the whole day was an adventure.  Dad declined the offer of a window cleaning round though.

Still, I obviously couldn't allow him to laze about enjoying himself for the whole week - so on Thursday, Dad (87) and I (old bird, rapidly approaching buspass status), with considerable assistance from my friend Jill's husband (70's) built a shed! 

It was delivered on Thursday morning, we started work after lunch and by tea time it was built and the roof was felted.  Not bad, eh?  

The only job remaining on Friday was to glaze the windows.  Fortunately, my cousin and her husband came over to see Mum and Dad so we called upon Mick's glazing expertise to help finish the job.

There IS no such thing as a free lunch!

I have to admit, when I saw the size of the shed 'kit', I did wonder if I should have employed a professional to construct it, but having done it, I'm really glad we did it ourselves. I think it rates as one of my best "Me Mades"

The photo was taken on Friday, after we'd tidied ourselves up a bit.

And, just so that my Mum isn't left out - here she is enjoying the sunshine in the garden.

The week finished well too, with the week's second trip to London to meet Zoe and pay another visit to the Alexander McQueen exhibition at the V&A.  It's the third time I've been, but I dare say it won't be the last - there's such a lot to take in.  It was really lovely to meet Zoe in real life too!

Glasshouse - Young Knives