Marbury Park

Lots of rain during the night so any boot sales were cancelled so we didn't go to any. It brightened up as the day wore on. Nice afternoon walk in Marbury Country Park before the weather turned a bit wetter. Autumn just around the corner. Saw lots of squirrels - some with nuts. Mad dogs and englishfolk go out and scare the ducks - the swans hissed back. Round the lake to the garden centre. Hazel bought a couple of plants. Then to Granma and Audrey's for tea and coconut cake.

North West Phillumenists

Nice wander round the artisan market and then onto the North West Phillumenists meet up at the Memorial Court ( on until 4 I think ). Excellent displays of cigarette and matchbox related ephemera and some going for very cheap prices. Hazel even got a nice book given to her for nothing! Bought tons of labels for our collection and few boxes of matches too. Very friendly folk all willing to chat about their intriguing hobby. Could have spent longer there and bought more stuff but an hour seemed long enough and we had plenty to sort through when we got home

Chester

Nice wander round Chester yesterday morning. Got there early and witnessed and exciting police chase on the A53 - mad car driver going 90mph down middle of road closely followed by two cop cars , sirens wailing. Glad the road was wide at that point! They vanished from view and we never saw them again. Nothing on the news - must happen all the time. No bargains in Chester except for two old packs of Snap cards from the 50's or 60's. I was going to use them for collage but they seem far to nice. We have a few Snap cards already so will go in the collection. Hazel bought a new dress and some post-it notes for the archive sorting. Got some lunch in the Barrista we always frequent - tuna melt and de-caff capacino. The drizzle never stopped but just as we were going home the sun came out - typical!

Boot Sales at Vagrants and Weston

Our boot sale bargains today from Weston and Vagrants near Crewe with Hazel and Beth. Vagrants proved more fruitful for me with a couple of DVD's and CD of "The Band"'s fist album which I probably have somewhere already but it was only 50p. Not sure if we've seen the Terry Gilliam film "Tideland" but that was 50p too. Also "The Piano" which we saw many years ago at the cinema but haven't seen since. Hazel got a few bits including a rusty file box, a small suitcase, a circle maker, skirt lifter and some plants etc. Beth gave me the A1 tobacco tin as she bought several. Rather dull weather but at least it didnt rain.

Boots at Blakemere and Moss Farm

Two rather grey and drizzly boot sales this morning with Hazel and Beth. The first at Blakemere was very quiet and the new landscaping seemed much like the old. Hazel got some file boxes - a quid for the lot! The one at Moss Farm was much bigger and I got some DVD's and an old sepia postcard of Westcliff. Hazel got more file boxes, plants, pencils, a trio of egg timers ( different times ) and plastic wallets. There was another boot sale at Lostock but we decided two was enough.

Marbury Walk

Nice walk in Marbury Country Park yesterday. Once the rain stopped it bacame quite a fine day although slightly muggy and overcast. Found a strange hairy seed pod on one tree - not sure what it was? Also Hazel insisted on going to the garden centre to by yet more plants. Home via Granma and Audrey's for a slice of carrot cake and tea.

Glossop and Marsden

Just back from a nice couple of days in Yorkshire. Stayed at our usual B&B and visited Dave who finds it hard to get around these days. Hazel cleaned up his kitchen and sorted loads of stuff for the tip. Nice fish n' chips with Dave and ex-interactive arts student Tanya who lives nearby. Went to Emmaus in Mosely and got a few things including a wooden elephant puppet Hazel bought. Hairy ride over the moors but we made it back in one piece.