Meeting old friends and more flowers...

We had a nice day last Sunday, as Maria,  my friend from Canada, was over in England and we went to spend the day with her and her friend Nicole. I had seen her last year, so wasn't expecting her to come this year as well, but she did!  Maria and I have known each other since we were four and we just pick up where we left off every time we meet up.  Friends like that are rare and need to be held on to!   

We went to Uppingham, a small market town in Rutland, which is where Maria was based.  Above is the town square. When I was little, Uppingham was the nearest town to where we lived,  so it has fond memories for me.

Here is an ironmonger's shop, where a multitude of useful things can be bought.  It was Sunday, so some shops weren't open, but we had a wander round an antiques centre and then a gallery.

Maria gave us some beautiful flowers, which we are enjoying. Sunflowers, Chrysanthemums, a Red Hot Poker,  Alstromeria and a rather interesting flower which looks a bit like a miniature artichoke, but with an orange head.

You can see the interesting flower on the right.  I am very lucky to have another lovely bouquet to enjoy and it was a wonderful day.