Swanny Pond

The sun tempted us out for a wander round the windy pond and feed the swans with frozen peas again. The smart lady swan found the peas on the grass but the male swan waddled up to us hoping to be fed by hand! We naturally backed off. Hazel got trapped ad I had to nip round back of the swan to join her. Swans can't see very well it seems. Later it swooped over the pond towards us making a very loud flappy noise! Wow! Sadly didn't get that on film. Then off to the cornfield. Hazel brougt along her clippers to trim off the ends of brambles that grab your trousers as you squeeze through the narrow pathways.Nice Mother's Day treat. Archie is phoning for a chat soon.

Marbury Country Park

Nice wander around Marbury this morning. The sun popped out occasionally but it was mostly cloudy and a bit nippy. Hazel got some plants from the garden centre. Saw the first bluebells of Spring ( early for Cheshire anyway!) which don't usually appear until the end of April. Good to have a wander and althougb the car park was full the woods were very quiet except the chirping of the birds and the distant bark of a labradoodle.

Walk Behind The Local Tip

Nice sunny morning for a wander into town and post some mail. Then to the old salt workings turned into a nature reserve behind the tip. Great to have some warm sun. Phw! I had to take one of my vests off! Lots of vapour trails - planes zig zagging all over the place. Making drawings in the sky. Ducks and geese in the background. Quack honk quACJK qurk!

Chester

Pleasant wander around the Roman walls and shops of Chester this morning which started off very misty but the sun came out eventually and now quite warm. Traffic a bit mad down the a556. Didn't find much in the way of bargains - just a DVD of "Out Of Blue" by "visionary director Carol Morley" ( who?) Anyway - its got Toby Jones in it so that's good enough for me. Hazel got some Tamarind sauce, fresh ginger, and garlic bulbs from the Chinese shop. Had an al-fresco lunch of cheapo vege sausage rolls by the Cathedral. We know how to live! Tried going in a couple of cafe's for a drink but the first had no idea that de-caff coffee existed and the second was where you dab at a screen that dozens of other grubby fingers have dabbed at in order to to order! Daft I calls it! So we came home for a cuppa and biscuit.

More Swan Feeding

Nice wander down the road to the sunny banks of the River Dane and the fishy ponds. Hazel fed the swans some sweet corn from a tin. They seemed to like it - so much so one swan tried to grab the tin! The swans didn't say much but the ducks and coots were very vocal "Hey where's our treats?" they seemed to be saying!

Tony & Pene Visit

Nice lunch with our old chums T&P. Good to catch up. I made a mushroom and tomato quiche/flan. Salad and riatta. Pickled bootroot from a jar. Thats shiuld be a beetroot! This G&T has gone tio my head! Hazel is back from her hooping class and this is a nice way to wind down after a busy day of entertaining friends and popping to Co-op for things we forgot to get yesterday. There's always something. Went for a walk after lunch - gosh it was so warm - a real Summer's day! Saw two dead frogs and two swans. Hazael fed one some frozen peas which had thawed by the time we got to the fishing ponds. The other swan was making a nest in the middle on a patch of reeds so hopefully some signets in few weeks time. The peas were greatly appreciated - the swan was licking his beaky lips! Home for some tea and cake alfresco in the back garden. Yum!

West Yorkshire

Early drive over to Lostock to pick up Audrey who hasn't been very far for ages so a bit of an adventure for her. Nice for her to see Archie and Meriels new home too. Started off at 6-45am and the sun was coming up. Hazel had to wear her special glasses as not to be dazzled too much. The weather changed several times during the day - sleet = sun - hail - sun - cloudy - rain etc. Typical Yorkshire weather! Archie cooked us lunch and Tanya came too as she was driving Hazel over to Huddersfield to see the solicitor. I had a brief shuftie round the charity shops but didnt get anything. Brrr! it were right cold! Back home again around 2 so we missed the school run. Always seems faster going back for some reason.

Dropped Audrey off and went in for a cuppa and biscuit. Home by 4-30.