WHOOPS! The birthday surprise for my dear friend turned out to be more of a surprise for me when we arrived at the popular pub for a meal only to find the kitchen closed for meals that week ... and it was difficult to explain we couldn't just drive away because he was unaware that other friends were to join us. Tricky moment! Luckily two friends arrived just in time and we agreed to go to another place just up the road which would be easy for the rest to find. We all eventually gathered with the surprise guests a great success and enjoyed a delicious meal followed much later by a slice or less of birthday cake (hidden in large bag).

Earlier in the day we had packed up a hot winter picnic and driven to Charmouth where we were not so lucky this time in finding fossils. Last January, after the stormy weather, the fossils were just lying there waiting to be seen. It was warm enough to sit and soak up the bright sunshine and enjoying the gentle lapping of the waves. Hot soup and warmish pizza slices warmed us up again as we had cooled down from sitting on the beach for rather a long time. There were quite a few people strolling along the shoreline and fossil-line looking for treasures or simply enjoying the peaceful scene.

On the way we saw many new lambs also out and about enjoying the warm sunshine. They are just so cute and woolly and simply asking for photographs to be taken. I must remember though to buy some fleece to cover my camelia with before the frosts really get into the tender buds.

SCRAPING the ice off the car windows one evening, I thought "Why?". Looking up I knew it had to be done. It was a clear cold night, just right for observing the wonders of the starry night and so we duly wrapped up warmly before setting out to the Observatory. My group had the pleasure of seeing Jupiter together with at least four of its moons as well as the ever popular Orion Nebula. Having gloated over finding Jupiter myself, I then had difficulty refinding it when the telescope did not track the planet properly ... and so the group had to patiently wait for someone more expert than me to find it again. We were well-rewarded by the sparkling stars in Orion, the newly formed stars shining amidst the cloudy gas.

Scraping the ice off the car windows in the evening happened the following night when I needed to drive around Exeter collecting offspring. This was hard as we had been relaxing with a film and a hot coffee in the warm and were all relaxed and snug, not conducive to going out late in the evening instead of sloping off to bed. We warmed up with hot chocolate on return and had seen a glimpse of Mars in the night sky as a bonus.

It was disturbing to read Catherine Fraser's report regarding the decision by the Arts Council not to fund the Northcott Theatre, after it had helped fund its refurbishment. A friend remarked that, of course, Exeter does have Westpoint which offers large scale events. Not exactly in the city centre, but it is a good amenity to have. Other friends have reminisced over the old Theatre Royal including memories of how a show continued despite air raid warnings going off! Let's hope the Northcott's varied programme will attract lots of people to fill the seats. Next week I hope to fit in another visit to the museum now that I have had my appetite whetted by my fleeting visit when it reopened.