It was Anna’s birthday today so I took her over to the market town of Wareham – where the River Frome slides past and a busy kayak and boat hire business is doing very well indeed. Anna wanted a kayak, and I’ve enjoyed two previous trips here, and so we found ourselves gliding out into the current on the top of sit on plastic kayaks for an hour.

Perfect for the tail end of the heatwave that came suddenly upon the lower British isles over the last few days. Never have I been so happy to sit in a pool of water and be mere centimetres from the dark depths of the current.

After an hour we glided on to the pier and I gracelessly found my legs again and the two of us changed into dry clothes in the public toilets nearby.

Not much further along the road we found a new cafe which broke from tradition – NOT serving cream teas, soup, or sandwiches, instead offering smashed avocado on wholemeal bread with other toppings and their own wholesome smoothies. Delicious!

Anna’s Mum and niece were keen to join the birthday revelries and so we drove to the stately home of Kingston Lacy where we picnicked on strawberries and sipped champagne. Then we perused the four floors of this interesting ancient home, full of copious paintings (Titan, Van Dyck, Rubens, Brueghal) and artefacts, and richly decorated. There are gardens and extensive grounds as well but I’ll have to leave them for another trip.

Tonight I’ve caught up with two more beloved women who live nearby: Silke and Natalie, and am ready to face another, cooler, day in Bournemouth tomorrow.

Good night all.