Finally, it's summer...

...and what better place to be than sunny Weymouth? Hurrah! Saturday was chilled out, a nice potter along the sea front and some browsing in 'Books Afloat' (wherein Kate spent more than I did for the first time ever). In the afternoon we joined the pink hoards of grockles on the beach - Kate, like many fellow beach-goers, continuing to read the latest Harry Potter. I joined thousands of other non-residents in the sea...

(Picture taken post-swim)










...later on we took Moss for a stroll - a more detailed account of which can probably shortly be found on the Moss Blog. Needless to say she proved as stubborn as ever...

On this occasion wanting to join in someone else's game.






...but the light was beautiful and Weymouth was looking picture-postcard perfect on what was for me the first proper weekend of the summer.

Weymouth Harbour (not the first time this view has featured on the blog).





In the evening we took Steph and Harry out for a meal at the Mexican restaurant ('El Mexico'), which seemed less impressive than the first time we went (although we were arguably more sober this time). Full marks to the staff who were clearly very busy and apologetic for non-existent delays. Good customer service, even if the food was (at least on Saturday night) somewhat average.

On Sunday we took refuge from the hoards of newly-pink people in Weymouth and visited Lyme Regis. Partly in honour of Sir George, and partly to continue this most recent spate of book-buying (soon to end not least due to lack of funds). Lyme also had its fair share of tourists, but few of them seemed interested in books. The newly-refurbished gardens were quite impressive, last time I was here (in December 2006) the whole lot was undergoing complete re-landscaping. The weather since then has been less than helpful, so full marks to (presumably) the local authority.

Pink flowers overlooking pink people.








From Lyme we headed back towards Weymouth. This was the first run for the Hippo for a long while; since Kate started her job in London the Hippo has been largely laid up outside Meg's flat. En route we stopped briefly in Charmouth, on the trail of 'Lighthouse Books' which was in fact closed. After spotting this amusing example of clerical illiteracy...














...we bought some food in the village shop and then returned to Weymouth to grab Moss, and then on towards Lulworth to meet up with some of Kate's friends for a 'picnic' at Durdle Door. This was another fantastically glorious day with cloudless sky and temperatures in the mid or even high 20s. Marvellous. More swimming and general lazing about...

The picnic party (Moss of course taking centre stage).

Me, with approp- riately -named beer.

Glamour photo of eponymous beer - a very nice Weymouth- brewed ale.

Matt bravely hurling himself into the sea.

Sunset over Durdle Door and Portland.









All in all a fantastic weekend, an extremely relaxing break. Many thanks as ever to the usual culprits, and it is sad indeed that work and life prevent us both from spending more time in Weymouth, probably the most perfect seaside resort in the country.