World Naked Gardening Day

World Naked Gardening Day 2015

Today is World Naked Gardening Day and that little bit within me that likes to push the boundaries and be mischievous couldn't resist joining in the fun. But what exactly is World Naked Gardening Day? Having done a bit of reading on their website I thought the following quotes explained their aims quite clearly:

“People across the globe are encouraged, on the first Saturday of May, to tend their portion of the world's garden unclothed as nature intended.”

“Moreover, our culture needs to move toward a healthy sense of both body acceptance and our relation to the natural environment. Gardening naked is not only a simple joy, it reminds us--even if only for those few sunkissed minutes--that we can be honest with who we are as humans and as part of this planet.”

I have reached an age, or maybe a stage of my life where I can happily accept my shape. I may not have a perfect body, but it's curves and lumpy bits are part of me and after years of negative feelings towards my body and very low self confidence, I'm now proud of who I am and happy with what I look like. It is a celebration of my confidence that I can even think about striping off and sharing, although I have tried to ensure my pictures are tasteful and won't cause any offence. Today has been a rather damp day, but despite the weather I have done my bit, although I would have experienced far more joy if the sun had been shining like it was in 2013 when I first discovered World Naked Gardening Day. Here's hoping for a sunny May 2016 to carry on the fun.

World Naked Gardening Day

Silent Sunday

Welcome to another week in pictures - bike rides, bees, books and baring all!

A local church visited on a bike ride

Cycling past the colza fields, so bright and cheery

When bees invade the bedroom

Although not a swarm we were invaded by quite a few large clusters of bees in our bedroom. It was so sad to see as they were very weak and many of them have died. We moved out for the night and left the windows open in the hope that those that were able could fly off, but I don't think many have made it. The blossom trees have been alive with bees, so I have always thought we had a good bee population here. Although we have had bee trouble with moving swarms before I have never witnessed so many dead bees.

Dog on the bed

Mini was delighted the bees resulted in us sleeping in the downstairs guest bedroom and couldn't contain her excitement, leaping through the open window and flying across the floor to land on the bed.

Perfect afternoon, sun lounger and books

May seemed to start off as Grey May but now the weather has picked up I indulged in a lovely afternoon of relaxation.

World Naked Gardening Day

Well, as a bit of fun I posted this picture to Facebook to celebrate World Naked Gardening Day (first Saturday in May). I have shown more flesh in pictures of me in vest top and shorts, but in 24 hours this 'naked' picture has been shared by almost 100 people and viewed by over 9000 - not bad when the page has 2600 likes!

Book Worm Wednesday

For today's Book Worm Wednesday I am going to review two short but fun holiday memoir ebooks I picked up for FREE on Amazon: Three Yorkshiremen in a Boat by Christopher More and Going Bare!by John David Harding.

I have already read a couple of books set on France’s waterways, both of them traveling from the north to the south and on into the Mediterranean, in Three Yorkshiremen in a Boat they are making the return trip north to the UK. Captain Dave, Jade (the boat) and his fiancée had spent the summer cruising the Mediterranean but having over wintered the boat in Aigues-Mortes, Provence, time is running out to get her home before their wedding – she is stocked up with reception booze so has a vital role to play! This book is the journey Dave, his father Jack and brother-in-law Christopher make to return to the UK in Jade.

Written by Christopher with the help of the diary Jack kept this is a short, witty account of the trip that has loads of Jack's great colour photographs too. I enjoyed the style of writing and it was a quick and easy read that kept me entertained. There is also some useful information for anyone thinking about making a similar journey, but if you were I’m sure you would need to do some more research too. For me it was nice to be back (virtually) travelling in the east of France as it is an area we used to holiday in frequently before moving to the west of France. I also spent some time near Maçon on a school French exchange many years ago and one day I really will get to Lyon in person. Although this was no life changing adventure, it would be true to say that having returned to the UK none of their lives were ever quite the same again – but you will have to read the epilogue to find out why!

Me on the Rhone in Tournon the home of Hermitage

Going Bare! is another holiday account, but of a very different type of holiday. It tells the story of a family's first taste of a naturist resort, written by the husband (whose idea it was). He admits his wife was not too enthusiastic, but was happy enough to give it a try. Their chosen resort was on France's west coast, just south of Bordeaux, so not too far from where we are. Although we have never holidayed in a naturist resort we have thought about it and are happy to spend the day on our local Atlantic coast naturist beaches. For this reason I was quite interested in this book and looking forward to getting some useful information on what goes on and is the 'norm' on resort. I know being naked in public isn't everyone's idea of fun, but it doesn't bother me or Ade, but being stuck in a resort and not knowing the form or what to expect does! It certainly reassured me and it seems so long as you pack large towels that you keep with you at all times (to sit on), everything will be fine. We may just give it a go as there really is nothing quite like the freedom of nudity, especially when swimming.

Please note that although I picked these up for free on Amazon, they may not always be free.