Marbury and The Broken Cross

Nice sunny day again and more like July than April! Went out with Stella and Brian again to Marbury Country Park and had a picnic after a walk n the woods to see the bluebells which were just beginning to bloom. Better next week probably. Park was full but easy to escape the crowds. Then to Winnington to the garden centre to buy some herbs and looks at stones and rocks for £6 each. Archie has about 100 in his back garden!. Then to weird warehouse nearby that sells bankrupt stock or slightly damaged packaging returns from Amazoom etc. Hazel got a lot of crafty stuff, brown paper, fabric paint, hooks, wrapping paper etc. going cheap. I found a roll of stickers with bees on to decorate my envelopes. Then home for a welcome cup of tea. Later went to the Broken Cross pub for a drink and pub grub. The place has improved since we last bought a dry curled up sandwich there about 15 years ago! its been through a couple of managers since then. Very nice squeaky cheese burger and fries. So much for the diet!

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Lovely couple of days in West Yorkshire visiting Archie and Meriel. Got to see the wonderful William Kentridge exhibition at the YSP before it finished at the end of the month. The video installations are particularly excellent. Lovely food and meet ups with old friends and assiociates. Weather was kind to us on Thursday but a bit grim yesterday. Good to see the house coming along. I took a few photos but camera ran out of juice.

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!