We survived the year

We survived the year

Sunday, May 20, 2007

FA - what does that mean?


I woke up yesterday morning and listened to the forecast on the news - “It is going to be cloudy, followed by some patches of sunshine clearing to more sun, followed by a little more cloud, the chance of a light shower, a light breeze clearing to long sunny spells”……. And that was only up until lunchtime!

So not wanting to waste another lovely day we headed to the Swannery at Abbotsbury. It is the home to the only colony of nesting mute swans open to the public in the world (well that is what they tell you). May is hatching time so the kids had a great time looking at all the little baby swans (cygnets for those that care). There has been a swannery at Abbotsbury since at least the 14th century. The swannery may have been established by the monks of Abbotsbury Abbey, but it seems more likely that they simply took advantage of a natural swan habitat provided by the shelter of Chesil Bank.

Always one to find out some trivial facts that I will never remember again, you will be interested to know that still today Lloyds of London use quills from Abbotsbury swan feathers to register insurance losses in their "Doom" book.

Speaking of swans - well done swanies – I hear they won against Port Adelaide. And speaking of football, the afternoon we did what all good English do and went to the local pub to watch the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester United. It was the 126th FA Cup Final and the first to be played at the new Wembley Stadium.

It seems the media are reporting it as a dud game with very little excitement. If you asked the fans in the pub I think you will find they had more fun heckling each other than watching the game. But then again who would not be bored watching 90 minutes of something where even the goalies decided to sit down and read the newspaper during the game. The girls on the other hand had a great time in the pub. Not only is it mandatory to go to the pub to watch the FA cup final it also seems it is an essential requirement to take your dog and bring it into the bar. Isabelle and Bethany spent the time playing with all manner of dogs.
And speaking of the weather - they got it right - it was cloudy in the morning, followed by some patches of sunshine clearing to more sun, followed by a little more cloud, with a light shower, then a light breeze clearing to long sunny spells. God lov the weather forcasters here.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

ANOTHER SET OF CAREY TWINS EXPECTED! No, don't faint Kath, by now you should have received email that it is Tyshan and Laura expecting in July.
Great Swans game, much more action than that "girlie" game they call "football" where they hit the ball with their head often for a nil all draw! F..A.. is right!!