Swans Again

This mornings walk to the postbox and then the fishing ponds to say hello to the swan family hiding in the reeds. They came out after they saw we had some bread crusts to feed them. They were obviously well fed as they pecked at the soggy bread and turned their beaks up! I can't blame them. Not the same as swan pellets or whatever it is they have been getting.

Walk In Marbury Park

This mornings wanderings around Marbury Park and garden centre. Hazel got some pansies for the hanging basket. Nice walk along the lake - laughing at ducks. Pleasant sunny Autumn day - felt a bit overdressed with a scarf. Not too muddy despite all the recnt rain. Saw a white squirrel. The bird hide was packed with twitchers showing off their longest telephoto lenses. We couldn't see much - a few coots in the distance. Back home to discover an idiot van driver parked right in front of our parking space.

Wine Making and Gin Flavouring Workshop

It was fun to see at last the secret gardens of Rod who gave his lovely allotments and sheds to the local community after he died. Transition Northwich have taken it over now and they had a workshop on Saturday morning run by knowledable Mike telling us how to make wines from fruit. Also some sampling of his delicious damson and greengage wine and flavoured gin. We all got a bit tiddly and it became rather an al fresco party! Those jolly ladies who attended got jollier and jollier! It was a hands on workshop so two tubs of fresh wine were started and people were encouraged to get their hands messy , squilshing fruit and sloshing the sugar and water about. What fun! Some nice crackers and cheese for lunch and the promise of some wine in the future when it has brewed.

Walk To Old Warrington Road.

After some shopping in town we went for a wander round the woods down the Old Warrington Road behind the council tip. Lots of sweaty bedraggled runners were returning from a circuit via Carey Park. Also lots of dog walkers. We spotted some slugs and some blue flowers. Pointed at some berries and leaves falling. Autumnal nip in the air.

Community Orchard and Swans

Nice afternoon with Tony and Pene who came over for lunch and then a walk to the fishing ponds and community orchard. Got some apples and tasted some raspberries. Bumped into a girl feeding the family od swans nearby. She said they had been rescued and she was feeding them twice a day with floating pellets. Apparently they were being bullied by other swans at the flashes nearby. They transported them one at a time in dog crates. Seemed like quite a job. They seemed happy enough in their new abode. We noticed them the other day but they hid in the reeds so didnt get too close. We thought it unusual for swans to be there with signets. Then back home for pudding.

Griffiths Park

Pleasant cooler walk to Griffiths Park this morning. Bumped into Richard and Sparky from over the road. Then to Co-op to get a few bits including reduced tea bags. Feeling a slightly more humid now. Phew!

September Comes Around Again!

Very warm and muggy today. Traffic chaos due to sinkhole on the bypass - a colapsed drain. All the big lorries going via Lostock which makes life difficult if you are travelling thet way. And we did today. Went to town first to drop off some stuff at the charity shop - old records and DVD's. Hazel went off to do some shopping and I went round the charity shops to collect more CD's and toys to fill up the spaces left - not that there is much space! Still, it's for charity. They win either way. Then to Lostock to help Audrey with some flowerpopts that needed a claen and have a chat to Granma who is very deaf so looked baffled at me waffling on most of the time. Phew it's hot!