Setting off

We were all up early, and by around 11 we'd emptied and cleaned the house (it's big, and a week's worth of comings and goings had left a patina of sand, toys and clothes all over the place).
What a stunning morning: hot sun, and a cloudless sky. Josh, Ruth, Jack and Marianna managed a blissful swim before we had to leave.  I'm sticking to the post-operative guidelines, and won't be able to swim until around October, unfortunately.  Frieda and Luca played contentedly for several hours in the garden, mixing soil and water to supply their make-believe kitchen.  Eben had his nose buried in one of the books he'd found in the house, and was determined to finish it before leaving.  Baby Simone circulated among us; really the star baby-soother is Josh, who managed to get her to sleep in his arms when she was restless. He's very strong, and also loves babies; I suspect they feel utterly secure and relaxed when he holds them.
I'd made an earlier decision not to try to drive home after the marathon house-cleaning session. So when we all left around midday, I took a leisurely route around the island to Plas Newydd, a National Trust property on the edge of the Menai Strait. After lunch there and a wander in the gardens, I went to a Bed and Breakfast near Newborough, wanting to visit the wonderful beach there and perhaps experiment with some long exposures. Then I'll do the long drive home tomorrow.
The photos idea didn't work out as planned, as heavy mists rolled in over the beach in the early evening.  But the light, and the groups of figures emerging out of the mist, had their own magic. Best viewed large, if you can.