Park and Co-op Walk.

This mornings short walk to the park and the Co-0p. Brrr! Freezing cold wind again - not quite as bad as yesterday that felt like arctic conditions. Not any time to take any photos. Was reluctant to take my hands out of my pockets it was that cold. Nice to get into the warmth of the co-op and buy some butter, mushrooms etc that we were lacking. I even found a huge tome "Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide -1853" that is a facsimile edition complete with old adverts of luggage and hair dye that I considered cutting up for collage material. But looking at it again I can see its mostly wordage and probably not even of interest to the most enthused railway buff!

Trent and Mersey/ Griffiths Park

This mornings wanderings along the Trent & Mersey canal towpath . Lots of canoodling ducks and dog walkers. Sat in the local park listening to the birds. Hazel found a few on her Merlin app. Surprising how many breeds there were - crow, robin, dunnock, eurasian magpie, dove, etc. Then to the Co-op to get a few bits we were lacking. Bumped into our neighbour Richard and his dog Sparky for a brief chat. He'd just had his second eye op. and was wearing dark glasses.( Richard was wearing the glasses not Sparky!)

Tone And Pene For Lunch

Lovely warm day here with bees and butterflies popping up around every corner. Nice to see our old chums Tone and Pene - here for lunch ( vege lasagne and salad) Hazel made the bread and butter pudding with lashings of custard! O dear - back to the diet tomorrow! Had a pleasant walk to the fishy ponds and saw a swimming frog - at least we thing it was a frog? Sadly only one swan remains. Not sure what happened to the other one. Home for some banana cake and tea in the summer house. Yum!

Walk To Organic Farm Shop

This mornings walk to the organic farm shop and cafe for a massive coffee and sit down on a comfy sofa. Nice day for it. Sunny, if a little breezy. Glad I wore my duffle coat. Lots of sheep and lambs in the field by the farm. Also an alpaca.

Nantwich

This mornings wanderings around Nantwich. A bit of a grey day but nice to stretch our legs around the charity shops and market. No toy man today - he seems to be away on holiday again. Got a few films on DVD - Orson Welles "F for Fake", Noem Chomsky doc. and a French flick I forget the name of. Hazel found a pink blouse which is most unlike her and some fancy envelopes and cards to collage on. Popped into the hospice warehouse on the way back (roadside awash with daffs!) but no bargains this time. Home for yummy Linda McCartney burger and burnt onions on a bun! Yum!

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.