News & Updates from Joanna Swinton · Page 11

On Sunday hubby and I went for dinner on the canal. My daughter had bought us the tickets for our Silver Wedding Anniversary. We got up in the morning to a lovely sunny day and it was nice and warm too.

We waited in the sunshine for the narrow boat to arrive. The canal was motionless except for the soothing waves caused by the geese and other boats. We went for a tour of the canals and saw loads of places that we had never seen before while we ate our lunch and chatted to other people on the boat.

There was a couple celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary and a lady having her 70th birthday. We were all having a great laugh and sharing our experiences. Occasionally we rick shaded off the canal bumpers that sent the boat into a rocking motion, causing things to fall off the tables.

We spent some time stood on the front of the boat in the sunshine and taking some pictures till we arrived back at Brindley Place in Birmingham.

These Christmas cards are quick and easy to make and look really stunning, as can be seen by Julie's beautiful cards.

Last week was our Silver Wedding Anniversary. We decided to go away to East Sussex. We had a great time and did the tourist things. The photo is of our visit to the Yester Year Museum.

I have to say there were things in thee that I remembered like the little golly badges we saved up for off the marmalade jar.

I?m pleased to say that most of it was before my time. We also visited the Smugglers Caves and that was quite educational. After visiting a few more places our cameras were full of great photos of our lovely time together for our very special day.

Thanks you to everyone that sent us special wishes

The new library was opened this week by Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban.

She said "A city without books in a city without a library is like a graveyard" The new library is declared as the biggest in Europe with 200 public access computers, theatres, an exhibition gallery and music rooms.

It also houses all the newest technology. This is the second public new build after the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital that houses soldiers injured in conflicts.

Birmingham has a new railway station being build to bring it into the 21st Century. A new set of 10 different cards that open out when pushed together but are flat for posting

Sunday was a bright sundrenched day in Birmingham so Hubby and I went off to the stimulating Botanical Gardens; he needed pics for his course and mine for card making.

There seem to be a lot of various wedding parties there, although one at a time.

These gardens are very immense and compact with the exception of the unlevel grass area, ideal for picnics. This is the location of the striking Victorian bandstand surrounded by rows of small delicate flowers. We leisurely made our way round some of the sweet smelling locations taking lots of photographs being armed with a camera each.

The flowers were spectacular in their blossoming hues, some made up with soft delicate mixtures, while others almost shouted out demanding the visitor?s complete attention.

By dinnertime we were sat on the vast grass area. I lay down and closed my eyes. The relentless sun warmed my appreciative thankful skin. The band was filling the sound waves with well known melodies along with striking cadence and tempo.

Faintly, in the background the birds were struggling for attention with diminutive success. When the music stopped, they all seemed to shout at once rebelliously, struggling to be heard. It was a lovely day out. We came back feeling contented and invigorated. 2 lovely designs made mainly from my own images so they are exclusive to CUP

While at Sutton Park last week, it would have been hard not to notice the amount of rabbits bobbing about.

There suddenly seemed loads of them.

While the weather was so hot one or two could be seen hiding in the shaded grass, trying to keep cool, but now they are out and not very shy at all.

In the area where the photo was taken there was at least a dozen. It's so nice to see animals out and about, not just the ducks and swans on the lake. Roll on Summer. A beautiful time of the year with lots of flowers and wildlife.

All the graphics in both of these cards are my own work and are exclusive to CUP and myself