Total Pageviews

Sunday 5 May 2013

Sunday Snaps!

Hello everyone.  It's your little friend, thisisme, once again popping in to say Hi, and to hope that things are going well wherever you might be.

We have been blessed with glorious weather this past week and, oh my, what a difference it makes.  The family are here from France (and will be for another week), so it's lovely to have some warm sunshine for them.

Well, as most of you know, the local elections were held on Thursday, and on Friday morning, we drove up for the Count.  It always is a really nerve racking process, watching all the votes being counted, and seeing the opponents' piles mounting up.  The turnout was SO low - unbelievable really.  In our constituency, only just over 27% of people bothered to turn out to vote.  Can you believe that?!  This Local Election purely concentrated on our local County of Devon, so, really, it is almost as important as a General Election.  

I guess this really does reinforce peoples' total apathy towards politicians at the moment.  Strangely enough, the people who will complain the loudest should things go wrong, will be those very people who didn't bother to register their vote.  It was lovely this time with Emma and Eleanor being here, because they were actually able to come along and follow the whole process.  Here we are, just before we left home.



My facebook friends know that hubby was re-elected to serve again for another four years.  He gained just over 40% of the vote - so relief all round, I can tell you!!  His Party also retained control of Devon County Council, so he will still remain on the Cabinet as well.  I had thought that, at age 66 and 69, we would be having lots of holidays and spending time together, but it hasn't worked out like that, as this really is a full time post, including evenings.  Still, at least he is happy.  He has always been a workaholic and would be so miserable, I think, if he didn't have the work to do.

With the sunshine of the past week, the garden really has come on all of a sudden, and it's lovely to see all the flowers and colour appearing everywhere - at long, long last!  Shall I bore you with a few more garden photos?!  



I still think he looks as if he is talking on his mobile phone!
See my little friend in the background, enjoying the sunshine?!








14 comments:

Claudia Moser said...

Emma announced it proudly and I was happy for all of you! Well done Mr Croad!
Your garden looks amazing, the nature is really in full bloom, sadly Germany is not so far but in Romania the nature has exploded!
Happy Sunday, we are off again!

Duncan D. Horne - the Kuantan blogger said...

You have a lovely garden, Diane, and congratulations to your husband on beibg re-elected! Have a great Sunday :)

Unknown said...

Hi Diane, I was reading on FB about the re-election, he must just be so relieved and happy about it, congratulations!

Your garden looks really gorgeous and look at all the flowers blooming.

Nice pictures of you all.

Enjoy your sunday!
Hugs x

orchid0324 said...

Dearet Diane,
Congratulations to your husband on being re-elected☆☆☆ You both must be feeling quite relieved now♡♡♡ I think it is a bit sad to know the voting rate is low as I think is is one of our duty as a citizen.
Oh, your spring garden is SO fabulous and beautifully blooming♬♬♬

And thank you SO much for your sweet comment. I should say many people continue to work kind of as 'non-regular staffs' even after 60. Yes, our pension money is getting reduced with the same reason you explained to me in Japan as well. Haha, Japanese men seemed to be baby again like the 12 animal zodiac circle I wrote. I keep fetching things for my husband p;)

Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

Shady Del Knight said...

Hallo, dear Thisisme! I'm so pleased to read all this good news. Congratulations to Roger in the election. Mrs. Shady is just like him - a multitasking workaholic who would be miserable without lots of work and other things to do. I am also overjoyed to learn that the pendulum has swung the other way and fine weather has returned to Devon coinciding with your family's visit from France. Your garden is exploding with color and I wish I could sniff those blooms along with my buddy Alfred who seems very pleased with the warm, sunny weather. I'm so happy that you're happy, dear friend Thisisme. Have a wonderful Sunday and a safe, healthy and happy week ahead!

Unknown said...

Bore me?? Never my dear friend and as always your post is absolutely gorgeous and so well done. You were surely born to blog and all can learn from how well you do. The family shot was awesome and your flowers are stunning. Roger and I are a lot alike in that we could never just sit around the house day after day. That low percentage was a shame but I am happy that the outcome was a success. After all the gorgeous weather we had the cool, cloudy spell is hanging with us this morning with temps in the low 50's (F). Say hi to everyone for me and have a wonderful rest of your Sunday. ((((HUGS)))))

Shelly said...

I'm so glad your hubby will be returning to the public service her does so well! The pics are lovely, and I wish I knew the names of all the flowers you have shown us today as they are glorious. Can't believe how tall your granddaughter is getting- she is stunning!

And little Alfred looks like he's thoroughly enjoying the sun~

Grammy Goodwill said...

I'm so happy that your husband won re-election, but, like you, I am saddened by such a low voter turnout. You are so right about the complainers being the non-voters. I just don't understand why people don't exercise their right to vote.
Your flowers are gorgeous. My irises are blooming right now, and that makes me so happy. I moved them from our old house, so I have a bit of that with me.
Also, so glad you have some family time together again.

Suzanne said...

Happy Sunday to you Thisisme! And, once again, congrats to your husband! He clearly is well loved in your community and city, and trusted to do the best he can for the wellbeing of citizens and community. It's great that your girls are there to celebrate with you! And, of course, Albert! I love your flowers, the daisies and scabiosa are gorgeous together.

Hope the sun remains brilliant while your family are there, have a wonderful week!♥

Unknown said...

Hi Dianne,

Nice photo's and yes it is great to see all the flowers blooming now and the blossom on the trees.
Hope you have a good week

Linda O'Connell said...

Spring and sunshine may be on its way this week here in the Midwest. Your family and garden photos are lovely.

Sally Wessely said...

Congrats again on the win!

Your flowers are not boring. I loved seeing them. I am envious. I really must get over this garden envy. We have a wee little garden area now. We will be restricted on what we can plant because we have so many deer. i am trying to adjust. In the meantime, keep the photos of the flowers coming. They are really, really lovely.

Unknown said...

Hi Thisisme! Yay for your husband returning to his post. People who devote their lives to public service are very brave. They respond to a calling to help sort out problems that most of us feel completely powerless to attempt. I have much respect for most people who serve. It's unfortunate that the media only focuses on the negative things or the scandalous things that people in the spotlight do. Your garden looks beautiful! I'm so happy you have sunshine.

Denise said...

Hello from Rancho Cucamonga! I'm so happy for both of you.What a welcomed relief for you and the weather is helping you celebrate.I have told you before that I dream of living in Devon.At least someday hope to visit.You are blessed sweet Thisisme with a loving beautiful family and home-ENJOY...Denise