April - where did it go?

April is the time of year when change is in the air. Daylight saving time means light evenings, it's a time of big tides and almost every day trees and flowers are starting to awaken from the winter rest.

 Our family April was much the same, we started the month with a very cold and overcast visit to Bruges in Belgium. It's a lovely city with much of the center still retaining it's many medieval buildings. Hats and gloves were the order of the day and a stop off at a cosy coffee shop for hot chocolate and cakes was definitely in order.

We were passing through Belgium on our way to an area of Germany called the Sauerland, a fantastic area in North Rhine-Westphalia, in parts heavily forested, low mountains and lakes.

 We were welcomed with clear blue skies but at 400+ meters above sea level it was still a case of winter woollies.

However by the end of the week and just in time for a 6th birthday, the mini heat wave that we've all been enjoying recently had made it to the Sauerland. Young Darth Vader was a bit hot wearing his new birthday present but there was no way he was going to take it off.

On the way back we stopped off at the beaches along the Belgium coast, south of Oostend , the beaches stretch for miles as does the promenade complete with modern tram. There was a sea breeze blowing off the channel so it was a little cool in the early evening when this picture was taken. I had no hand in building the magnificent sand castle which we discovered while walking along the beach.

Back at home the fine weather continued and despite some strong winds we managed to get out sailing in near perfect conditions.

For my part I had to rush off on a business trip for a week, which was good, but I've come back wondering where all the time in April went. It was a great month, lots of family time but it all seemed to go by a little too fast.

They just can't help it

Three motor boats going up a narrow channel on a peaceful pleasant evening, one to savor and enjoy.

But no they have to race up river three abreast trying to overtake each other.

Please excuse the poor photo quality I was rolling round in the wash they left behind.

Rula

One of my favorite boats on the river Rula is a Norske 35, I've written about her before.

Back on her mooring with some fresh paint and varnish, looking really good and ready for the season.

Dazzled

I took the rare opportunity between meetings to walk along the Thames South Bank and although I've seen HMS President before, it always makes me smile.

Built in 1918 the ship originally HMS Saxifrage, was "camouflaged" by the artists Norman Wilkinson and Edward Wadsworth, the latter one of the vortist movement. The idea was to confuse rather than hide the ship, the graphic and modernistic forms will be instantly recognisable by anyone who studies art and design history, ironically described as modernist despite being 100 years old.

The modern recreation was carried out by Tobias Rehberger

Fly fishing on the Hamble

Not something you see that often, but it seemed like conditions were right an a glorious spring evening down at Swanwick hard.

I'm not sure why coastal fly fishing  not more popular here, I've even seen fly fishing for big fish out in the Caribbean, imagine trying to land a 100lb Tarpon.

Eggcelent

We were away over Easter but returned to a nice surprise, Joseph had won a giant Easter egg in the local charity raffle.

It was an egg of serious proportions, which was delivered while he and Erica were away visiting grandma and granddad, so it was quite a while after Easter before it was time to crack the egg, and of course it required a hammer of equal proportions.

Just one more

I know I've probably done folk boats to death, but this one just looked fantastic in the evening sun.