The summer is a dim and distant memory now but I still wanted to share how I got on with my summer to-do list.

1. Eating
I wanted to eat in a restaurant every day for seven days, be it for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. I thought that this would be a good way to celebrate my birthday but after just two days of eating out I was done. It probably didn't help that on my birthday I had a cooked breakfast in a local cafe, a roast lunch with family, and then went out for Italian food in the evening. The next day I had a pub lunch and that finished me off. But I do still like the idea, it feels like a very decadent way to celebrate a birthday. I think it's doable, I just need to be a little more sensible about it.

2. Camping
I went to Latitude for a day this year, and I camped at a local campsite in Dunwich on the Friday and Saturday night. Dunwich is lovely, and the campsite is next right next to the beach. I went early to set up camp and when my friend went to pick up his kids from school I had a stroll on the beach, read for a while and had a bit of a nap. Walking back I picked up feathers and shore flora and made a beach bouquet. Typing this feels really familiar and I think I probably already wrote about this in a weekend post.

3. Going Coastal
I wanted to spend a day at the beach, 9 to 5, eat ice cream, and fish n chips. But I decided to stay away during the summer holidays. By the time the school term started the weather dipped into clouds and high winds, by the time the weather improved the summer was over.

4. Hosting
I wanted to invite friends for afternoon tea, but I failed to make a plan so it didn't happened.


5. Reading
I wanted to read 12 books over the summer months, but I haven't been reading as much recently. I managed only 10 books with September taking all of September to get through! I did survive the Zombie apocalypse, and loved reading 22 Britannia Road. My friend used to live on that street so I know it well. I could visualise the house and garden, and when he talked of cycling up a hill on his way home from work, I knew the hill as I'd cycled up it on my way home many times. The labels on June irritate me, but I did forgive it for being a hardback book (not stated when I ordered it) as it was an enjoyable read.

6. Decorating
Our bedroom has been at the planning stage for about two years now... and Andy threw a spanner in the works just as I was about to buy the paint and make a start, more on that in another post.

7. Exploring
I wanted to give Geocaching a go, locally at first, but again plans weren't made ...


8. Attending
My intention was to visit the Hemingstone Flower Show. But it wasn't on until the early autumn, so I went along then instead. It was very quaint, the flowers in the church were beautiful, I was particularly drawn to the dahlias.

Afterwards refreshments were available in the Hut, which is a WW1 hut given to the village by Rendlesham Forest in 1920. It's the social centre of the village, which has no other amenities apart from the church.

I thought I heard an almost imperceptible lull in conversation as I entered the Hut. I felt like an interloper, never seen before, it tickled me and I had to try hard not to laugh - was it just my imagination? Luckily I saw a friend of mine and in talking to her I hope I gained some credibility with the locals. I had a delicious homemade tomato and basil soup which warmed me nicely for my walk back to the car, and I bought a huge slice of chocolate cake for Andy for £1.00. I hope to return again next year.

9. Concocting
I wanted to make lemonade from scratch. But I didn't due to the amount of sugar involved and I'm trying to limit my sugar intake.

10. Utilising
I wanted to get a book from the library, I joined last year and have yet to do so. I really should, I really want to, but I didn't get around to it.

For all the things I didn't tick off the list there were several things I did do. To name a few I dined out with friends, with family, spent an afternoon on Southwold beach with my young nieces and nephew, celebrated my oldest nephews 18th birthday with a family BBQ, discovered that I like love figs, avocados, and creme brulee. I developed an obsession with pom poms and spent a lovely afternoon teaching my sister in law and her children how to make them. I celebrated my birthday with two birthday cakes (double the wishes when I blew out the candles). Caught up with old friends over a chili and a scary movie, and with others over coffee. The summer was fab, and I hope autumn will be equally as sociable. I haven't written an autumn list, but plan to look back and write a post about the ten best things I do this autumn.