Knutsford

This mornings walk around the narrow streets of Knutsford ( where the Knuts live!). They all drive round in massive 4 by 4's and pedestrians are treated like bollards or skittles. You have to dive out of their way. The usual charity shop run. No bargains. Newly refurbished Oxfam looked horrible with nasty cheap wood scraps shelving. Ugh! Dogs and annoying old folk getting in the way! (Victor Meldrew mode gets switched on!) Hazel posted a parcel in the post office at the back of Sainsburys and it took 20 minutes to fill in a customs form! I went off to buy some capers. I should have got onions too as we have run out I discovered when we got home. Also went and sat in the Tatton Park as it was lovely and sunny - to watch the enormous planes fly over from nearby Manchester airodrome. Lost of crocus and daffodils in evidence. Popped in a church to look at the stained class. A posh bloke gave us a guided tour thinking we were local. "These photos show the floor being dug up and the underfloor heating being installed". When he saw us taking photos we were kindly asked to leave as the choir was about to practice.

Marbury Country Park

This mornings walk around Marbury Country Park and the Garden Centre with Hazel. We spied a few birdies including a cormarant and a dunnock. Some twitchers nearby were discussing Britains Got Talent "...then he got these chains and attached them to his ears - I couldn't look!". Lost of dog walkers and joggers for a Monday. Hazel bought some plants at the Garden Centre. Home via Lostock to drop some things off for Hazel's sister and empty her various bins. Hazel planted some primroses and pansies.

Walk To Park

Nice to have Archie and Meriel at home for a few hours before they fly to Dublin for a few days. They are back again next week to pick up the car. Had a nice meal last night with some wine Archie got sfrom the co-op. DADA - seemed very appropriate! A cheeky little number! Archie filled some of the cracks in Hazel's leaky workshop. A quote for a new roof was over £7,000 which seemed crazy expensive. So a tube of filler squirted in the cracks will hopefully save her some money in the short term. Fingers crossed!

Rode Hall Gardens

Delightful day in the sunshine - full of the joys of spring and Valentines Day. Lovely trip to Alsager via thingy market and charity shops. Got a few bargains including some old copies of Record Collector mag. Hazel found some old green plates for Archie and Meriel. Lots of do and see. Busy at the Rode Hall Snowdrop Walk - cars lined up for ages. Eventually got in and wandered around with the snowdrop loving throng. The wire sculptures and animals and fiaries were a bit naff but otherwise and treat for the eyes. My photos don't do it justice really. The cafe hada bif queue so we went back to Tone and Pene's for a late lunch - using the oat cakes we bought in thingy. Yum! Pene had made a delicious lemon drizzle cake for pud.

Trent And Mersey

This mornings muddy wanderings along the canal and round to the park and ending up at the Co-op for some milk, onions and other things we thought we might be short of. Lots of twitterpated birds in the hedgerows and undergrowth. Swans to avoid and made whippet bouncing down the tow path. The fascinating close -ups of detritus , bottle tops and suchlike vanished for some reason? Ah the mysteries of the Samsung W8150F.

Swan Feeding

This mornings windy walk to the fishy ponds and the River Dane. Bbbrrrr! A bit nippy but nice to get out and stretch our legs. Saw a man with a bucket and trowel. We thought he was feeding the swans but he was very wary of the swans as they waddled towards us looking menacing but all they wanted was Hazel's frozen peas. Luckily she used them as a decoy and the man with the bucket ran passed and vanished into a hedge. What would he have been collecting I wonder? Mushrooms?

GRiffiths Park

This mornings walk to Griffiths Park and the muddy paths . Took a closer look at the detritus we found on our way round - lots of bottle tops, ring pulls, rubbish, tat and ephemera. Then to the Co-op to get some spuds, washing up liquid and bits we were running out of. Nice to get out to stretch our legs despite the dull weather.