Our first picnic of the year.....

 

     .....took the camper van for an outing to Chasewater this afternoon.....eating his sandwich in the sun, still wearing a coat though....

         

        Watched over by a not really hungry dog, but always happy to share....

     .......a walk along the waters edge....so many swans and birds....and dogs, hundreds of them, all shapes and sizes.

      ......and a quiet few moments enjoying the warm sun in the bare treetops.

All seems well after the long damp winter - nice and dry inside and no problems with the engine.  

Now all we need is for things to warm up a bit more and we will be off, must try to actually sleep in the thing this summer, instead of just taking it out for days and picnics.

     Good job that dog can't read, he absolutely hates camping....

      .....a few days out...... but always heading back home to sleep in his own basket.....are far more to his liking.  He is absolutely terrified of the roof been raised on the van, and we always make sure he is fastened up away from the vehicle before we raise or lower it.  He panics, just as he does if we take him in the tent and the wind moves the canvas.  

        Not a brave outdoor type of canine at all!

     We have suddenly gained a squirrel in our back garden, haven't had one at all for a couple of years and now all of a sudden, this one appears, same time every day, between 3 and 4pm.  He sits in the pine trees until he is certain Joe is inside, then a quick raid of the bird table and away until tomorrow.

     Speaking of things in the garden.....

       .....four pairs of sunglasses as he tries to see the eclipse!