June Roses

I love June when the roses are usually at their best and I never get tired of looking at them and taking photos.  We've had a lot of rain this month and the roses in our English garden are just coming into full bloom, but there has been a wonderful display in the rose garden in front of the library in the park.  It was a joy to see them when I went to the park on our return from our time in Italy.

Here are some photos taken on that morning in the park on a rainy day as well as our own patio bush rose blooms.  The last photo shows the floribunda rose bush we bought at the time of our anniversary last year called 'Joie de Vivre', which is doing well in a pot.

roses in the rose garden in the park

and below roses in our garden

    

June Celebrations (4)

The London 2012 Olympic torch began its 70 day tour of the British mainland and islands in May. Community celebrations have been taking place as it travels around as it has been coming within 10 miles of almost everyone in Britain.

For the past 10 days the torch has been travelling around Yorkshire and yesterday, on a sunny day, it came through the surrounding villages and suburbs of Sheffield before arriving in the main square in the city centre for the evening event of lighting the city's Olympic cauldron.

All the torchbearers have been nominated by someone they know because they have done something extraordinary in their lives, as well as in the sporting field, and there was a great turnout by local communities to cheer on each man, woman and child who had been given this honour;  the Olympic spirit being one of friendship, unity and peace.  An average of 115 torchbearers a day carry the torch for some 300 yards before passing the flame onto the next runner and the last bearer will light the cauldron in the Olympic stadium in London during the opening ceremony.

We were able to walk down to our local park where there was a large gathering for the event as the late afternoon timing meant that the children were out of school with their families and friends. We enjoyed the sense of history and the anticipation of the arrival of the nominated, local torchbearer and the Olympic torch team escort.  Finally, the Olympic bus carrying the official team came into sight, moving slowly down a narrow road by the park.  Knowing that the torchbearer was going to cross the park, we had been waiting at the entrance gate for quite a while when suddenly there was a flurry of activity and in a matter of seconds the runner had jogged passed and on towards the crowded streets of the city centre. I was able to take some photos (some clearer than others) as a personal record of a very special, one-off occasion in my life-time.

The school children had been learning about
the Olympics and  had made torches to hang on the school fence.

June Celebrations (3)

    A wedding in Italy during June!  A much loved niece was married

in the local abbey and we were guests on this special day.

It was certainly a day to remember!