Trent and Mersey Canal

Walk down the canal path. Nice sunny morning. Lots to see. Very muddy so glad we wore our walking boots!

Community Orchard and Swans

This mornings walk to the River Dane and fishing ponds to feed the swans some frozen peas. They seemed to hoover them up like no business. A duck was telling a joke nearby - the Sid James of the duck world judging by that mad squawk! Nice and mild today. Felt too hot in my duffle coat and scarf. Nice to stretch our legs before going home to get on with stuff. Finishing off a small zine I started the other day.

Chester

Nice couple of days in Chester mainly to see the excellent Henry Normal at the Storyhouse theatre art complex. Hazel won free tickets with a collage she made on his FB group. We met him by accident before the gig in the eatery by the ticket office and library. Hazel gave him the collage and few other bits and bobs. She got a hug. Ordered a meal but forgot to ask about the "fish of the day" - turned out to be a whole fish complete with head and eye looking at me accusingly. Enought to turn anyone vegan! It was very boney too - not a great choice! Henry was good though - funny man. He showed slides of his life with poems and jokes. He wore his favourite orange cardy. The hotel was OK but strange noises in the night - banging and creakings! I didnt sleep well. Nice breakfast though. Walked round the Roman walls. Did some shopping - found a nice west African CD in the record shop. Hazel got some material and some dungerees for working in the garden. Got the train back on Saturday - must be a match on as hundreds of shouting singing footy fans came through the turnstiles. Blimey - what a racket! Thankfully not going to Manchester!

Knutsford

This mornings wanderings around sunny Knutsford. Sadly the Oxfam shop was closed for refurbishment but some other were open. Got a couple of DVD's inc. "Squid And The Whale" and French film "Villa Amalia". Hazel got a couple of things - a book and a badge that matched her coat. Walked to the gates of Tatton Park but it's closed on Mondays for some reason? Maybe the rutting deer need a welcome rest. A long weekend of rutting can take it out of you! Some mad drivers around - thankfully we got home in one piece.

42nd Anniversary

To celebrate we went to Frodsham to look round the charity shops and the antique emporiums. Didnt' find much. I got a couple of Japanese films on DVD. Hazel got some fabric and a jumper. Nice walk aroud Acton Bridge whilst waiting for the pub to open. Found this post box in the village. The Hazel Pear is very nice , quiet and friendly. Average pub grub.

Hazel's collaged card to me.

More Walks

Nice walk around the fishing ponds and community orchard this afternoon with our old chums Tone and Pene after lunch. I made a nut roast with all the trimmings and Hazel made an experimental apple turnover ( and whipped cream ) which was a great success. Quite mild out todays and felt overdressed in my duffle coat - phew! Home afterwards for chocolate dates and tea. Hazel made the choc dates ( with peanut butter and peanut topping ) which is a very healthy treat ( really yes, it really is!) . We watched the spider in the window spinning a web for Halloween. We like add on these extra entertainments for all our guests!

Walk To The Fishy Ponds

Yesterdays wanderings around the community orchard and the fishy ponds. One lone fisherman shooing off some inquisitive swans. "They are after my bait box!" Quite a rare thing - a fisherman - they usually go down to the river. Bright sunshine with ominous grey clouds in the distance. The rain held off thankfully. Nice to get out and stretch our legs. The willow horse has had a trim except for the antlers. Maybe it's a reindeer after all?

Nantwich

This mornings wanderings around the charming town of Nantwich to do some shopping and visit the market etc. There was also an antique market on at the town hall or whatever its called. Some bargains included some silly games, two postcards from Southend and Westcliff , a nice Ry Cooder CD that I'd never seen before - a live radio broadcast from 1974. Hazel found a few things too including some tapestries, a glass eye and a small frame. I had some time to spare before meeting up with Hazel again so went in the local museum for a look at the cheese making equipment and the shepheards smock.

Swan Feeders

This mornings wanderings around the local fishing ponds to feed the swans and ducks. They had some peas and grains already so rejected our stale bagels and who can blame them! The only bird interested was a passing seagull that swooped down and grabbed a chunk before the coots could sniff it. The corn has been harvested. Hazel expresseda desire for a metal detector after watching The Detectorists for the umpteenth time. It does look fun but not sure I have the patience for such things. Cutting up bits of paper is slow enough!

Reyjavik - Iceland

Nice few days in rainy Iceland. A lot milder than we imagined despite looking online for tips. Felt a bit too hot for a duffle coat! A good quality rain mac would have been preferable! We managed to avoid showers most of the time diving into shops, cafes and museums etc. The Penis Museum was particulary entertaining! Expensive though - like most things in Iceland! Everything seemed twice as much as the UK prices. Luckily the Air B&B had a great kitchen with some foodstuffs already supplied so most evenings Archie and Meriel did the cooking.

Lovely to see the Northern Lights ( bucket list ticked ) and place where the two tectonic plates meet, the massive waterfall with its own rainbow! My camera's battery ran out so didnt get a shot of any of this. I have to rely on Archie, Meriel and Hazel to supply those at some future date. Most annoying!

OK just a few. More soon!

River Dane Orchard

This afternoons walk around the fishy ponds by the River Dane. Fed the invisible ducks with our stale bread. Saw a couple in the distance but they flew off as did the coots. Maybe the voles and rats will eat it? It was quite warm out - for end of September. Not as much invasive Balsam as in previous years thankfully.

Edinburgh

Interesting two days in Edinburgh . Long train journey - bit of a nighmare going stuck with noisy family of mostly kids running riot. Arggh! Better coming back. Whilst Hazel was off chatting to Nigle Hivers I went off on my own to look round the museums and art galleries, of which there are in abundance. Especially liked the National Museum Of Scotland which was massive and crammed full of amazing stuff. Science, art, biology, fish, whisky, etc. etc.

Lucky with the weather - very sunny and quite mild. I was dressed for rain showers which never came - only on the way home on the train around Dunblane or Carlisle? the heavens opened. Edinurgh still crammed full of tourists despite being in middle of September - must be awful in the Summer! Feet ached from all the walking so took rests on park benches and people watched - pigeon watched etc. Worried Hazel wouldnt make the train home - got to Waverley station just in time! Gulp! Nice to get home eventually at 9.30pm and collapse into own bed.

Boy Scouts Boot - Knutsford

A few bargains from our morning trip to Knutsford on the Heath. Lots of punters despite the threat of rain. Got a great pile of DVD's including some foreign films on the excellent Artificial Eye label. Nice little pressed tin railway workers hut ( Hornby ). Hazel found some gadgets including a rare soap saver. Also a flour sifter. Then to Audreys to clean up a desicated mouse she caught in a trap about a year we just discovered! Ugh! Now the rain is really coming down - we were so lucky this morning!