Just because...

I must have flowers, always and always (Claude Monet)

Dear reader, I hope this finds you well, and managing to hit that sweet spot between “isn’t the weather glorious!” and “ummm, this isn’t right? 27 degrees in April?!”. Personally, I’m not entirely sure what that sweet spot is, I’m constantly trying to balance the scales of twenty-first century life, I hope you are doing better! Anyway, the sun is shining, the air is balmy, it feels like I’m abroad. In April! (Yes, you’re probably getting this in May, but what’s a day out between friends?)

Last Saturday was a beautiful day too. I spent my afternoon on Hilbre Island - 50% of my visits to this tiny little island have been in the past couple of months. Having lived in Hoylake for 30 years, looking over at the island from the end of my street, I kinda feel I should have visited more often. But, now I have both the opportunity and a good reason, being part of the BADA project Drawing out Hilbre Archipelago. 

Hilbre is a precious place, with (depending on the weather) a strong sense of sanctuary, it’s becoming something of a happy place for me. If you know me in the real, you might know that I often cite IKEA as my happy place (which may come as a surprise if we don’t know each other irl!). But Hilbre… in the right light, in the right weather conditions, it really is something else out there. It was incredibly still. Being mostly overcast, the shadows were softened and the light diffuse. Pockets of brilliant colour are found all over the island, and on Saturday, a subtle glow enhanced things further. Candy pink thrift, golden trefoil, the rich rusty red of the sandstone. Lime green alexanders provided a stunning backdrop for the unexpectedly brilliant blues of the bearded iris. 

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