I’ve been in a dark room all day today in Wales (yes, Wales the country, Newport to be precise) at our industry conference. After the last ‘exhibition’ slot ended I packed up the stand, packed up the car and came home. A number of good things happened…

Firstly I finally managed to find the butterfly that had been trapped in my estate car (station wagon) for two days. Whilst I’ve been driving, I’ve seen the poor creature almost kill itself trying to fly through the glass of the tailgate. Every time I’ve stopped to try to find it it’s nowhere to be seen. I caught it just in time – it seemed really weak. I carefully put it onto a plant then stood and watched it for a few minutes while it gathered its strength up to fly away. Cool.

When I finally got out of the horrible concrete mass that is the Celtic Manor Resort (it’s a luxury hotel that has been designed to look like a prison for some reason) I realised it was sunny and mild, balmy almost – completely gorgeous weather. Driving back over the Severn Bridge I wished someone else was driving so I could have been taking a photo of the day.

When I got home, David was anxious for me to look at the PaD recently updateds….I couldn’t understand why. When I looked I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It was just so brilliant to see so many feet and shoes – all artistically and sartorially different. Wow, was I flattered or what? I rushed through leaving comments everywhere and only then went back to read text and others’ comments. What a brilliant group of people you all are. I am so honoured. I had to think fast….how could I repay you all?

Well, I got home in daylight and the evening sunshine was still shining in parts of my garden. You know how I love that patch of earth – I grabbed my camera and dashed out looking for a good subject to capture for you all. This is it.

It’s the first two blooms to open on the sloe tree at the bottom of the garden, so that’s very special. Bathed in evening sunlight. I photographed buds on it recently and I’d actually checked to see if there were any open flowers at the weekend. None. Yesterday’s weather was so horrible I don’t think any sensible flower would have opened up then so I believe these opened today.

They are my gift to you all for friendship, solidarity and fun. Throughout the summer, they will get pollinated, grow into sloes and in the autumn I will pick them for the next batches of sloe gin and vodka. These wonderful, social drinks can’t be hurried – they take about eighteen months to mature into a delicious drink, just right for sitting by the fireside in Cornwall at Christmas in 2005. Then I will find something good about Christmas.

There are sloes steeping in gin and vodka in the kitchen now that will be ready this winter. To my friends (both in cyberspace and in real life) you are all welcome to come and share a glass with us whenever you like. Oh, now did I say SHARE a glass? That’s very unhygienic – well, perhaps I’ll let you have one of your own!!!

Today I have a roll of honour to make….

Jill – sexy or what
Jeanne – Simply marvellous
Angela – very shady behaviour
Ann – always comforting
Ian – such a cool Cat
Ray – cleanliness is a loafer on a sofa
Julie – Sunny All-Star
Simon – night rider
Chris – holey cat, Batman!
Larry – PAD united….or is that untied!
Gregg - another sole mate
John - badgering us about hygeine!!
Penny - rural shoe scandal
CJ - run with scissors - no more to be said!
Carolyn - Californian writer
Jonathan - holey PC Batman!
Danny - American Idol
Jude - heel stomper
Stephanie - dogs on her love seat too - shocking...
Pete - The coolest Virginian since....well, the Virginian!
Lara - our own middle eastern goddess
zzcat - monitoring filth
Wesley - unknowingly supportive!
Scott - smokin...
Eric - no sole at all
floradoragirl - furry nice!
And of course David – his Shoei helmet never looked better!

Your shoe pics made me laugh and made me feel like a million dollars. You are all wonderful.

Also, thanks for yesterday’s kind comments to all who made them, whether from within or outside the PBASE community. You are the reason for doing this.