Nantwich - Again!

Yes, another morning in Nantwich - this tie on a Saturday. \\\\\\\It was very busy but we managed to avoid people who had no masks on. If a shop seems too busy we declined to go in until a bit later when it was less crowded..........The market was busy and the toy man seemed pleased to see us but we didnt buy anything this time. He enjoyed selling things to our chum Tony he said. We are spreading the word about you we said. The Civic hall was busy but with spangly girls doing a dance-a-thon or something so we escaped to the charity shops. Not much in the way of bargains. We bumped into our old neighbour Katie just outside the market selling hospice lucky tickets or something. On the way home we stopped off at the hospice to have a mooch. Hazel found a tin of bobbins and spools of brightly coloured cotton and other sewing stuff. There wasa man singing "The Young Ones" - the old Cliff Richard hit in the market square ( outside the church ) very badly. I should have mentioned that earlier!

Organic Farm Shop Walk

We used to do this walk a lot back in the day - before the nasty Barrett homes were built on the green belt up the road. They blocked off the by-pass path for a couple of years but now it's open again so we decided to go. Such a nice sunny morning despite the cold wind. So quite once you get passed the by-pass although on Sunday it's not so busy thankfully. A friendly donkey came over for a chat when we got there. We'll have to take a carrot next time. The coffee was quite expensive but welcome treat - we sat outside for the lovely view of farm land in the distance and the just visible spire of Davenham church. After we had rested and used their fascilities we trudged home again. Not many vehicles in the lane - just one car passed us on the mile long road.

River Dane and Ponds

Nice walk this morning before the next storm arrives tomorrow (EUNICE) Dudley was pretty horrendous whistling down our chimney last night. Good to get out and breath some fresh air and stretch our legs. A bit muddy down by the fishing ponds but good to see a heron flying off (Hazel here pointing at it as it flapped through the trees ) and some coots hiding in the rushes. Nobody else about. Fishermen seem to have abandoned this place. Maybe the heron ate all the fish?

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Marsden

Popped over to Marsden in West Yorkshire for our chums 82nd birthday. The weather was atrocious! We only emerged from his house once to go to the charity shop to buy some old rusty shoe lasts ( or a cobbling set?) which will probably end up as door stops. The rain started coming down and the wind and stair rods, cats and dogs, etc. We had plenty of birthday cake as everyone who visited bought one! Hazel mended the cat flap - just new batteries needed. Rigo the cat seemed happy inside anyway. Didnt get much sleep due to weather pounding on the roof and velux windows. Good to get home to our own bed.

The Salt Line - Alsager

Nice walk and picnic today with Tone and Pene.

Trent and Mersey Canal

Nice muddy walk down the canal tow path until it got a bit too muddy and we turned round and came back to the park. We found a musical penguin. Hazel played it with her pen. She didn't fancy picking up the tethered hammers which were probably covered in covid germs! Squelch squelch! Thats not the music the xylophone made but the sound our boots made in the mud. The xylophone made a sort of plinky plonk sound.

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More sketchbook pages.

Blakemere

Sunny walk in the woods behind the miniature railways at Blakemere and a rummage inthe antique emporiums. Hazel bought me a stack of old 50's DIY mags to cut up for collage. Some great covers - bright colours. Some great adverts inside too. Could not resist for only 80p each. Peepeltree was closing down and having a sale so Hazel bought some cheapo smelly cones - for the cone sniffer. The fun fair was very quiet except for the horrible disco music. Home for mushroom pate on toast.

Conk Conk Path

Sunny walk this mornig to the post office and then down the conk conk path to the park - past the diggers and the kestrel pole sculpture. Sat on the bench made of old railway sleepers to enjoy the sky and the dogs chasing balls below. A nice South African stopped for a quick chat. Popped in the Co-op for some bits and bobs whilst it was relatively quiet.

River Dane Walk

This mornings walk up the road to the fishing onds and the River Dane. The community garden was getting some attention from some volunteers - making an "edible hedge". The ponds were lively with coots, ducks and seagulls having a good old squawk. 24th Jan. 2022.

Daily Doodles

More pages from my sketchbook. Try to do a daily doodle for the FB group of the same name.

Nantwich

Nice trip out to Nantwich this morning. Hazel wanted to see the quilts at the Quilters Fair in the Civic Hall. In the meantime I went round a few of the shops that were open on a Sunday and took a few photos of the wonky buildings and the wonky church. No bargains - only some wholemeal baps from the bakers.

River Dane New Years Day Walk

Nice to get out for a walk this fine sunny and mild day. The first of the new year. Hopefully an improvement on the last which was by and large pretty dire. Walking and enjoying nature has been a boon in these tough times. We are lucky to have these places within walking distance. We always feel refreshed in mind and spirit just looking at trees, flowing water and hearing the chirp of birds.

Happy New Year!

A quiet New Year's Eve away from the revellers. Hazel in her illuminated summer house listening to Radio 4 and me indoors watching David Byrne's "Utopia" that Archie bought me on DVD. I watched Jools "Hootenanny" upto midnight but by that time I was dozing off and wincing at Lulu murdering yet another favourite song! Lots of fireworks all evening - like being at the battle of the Somme! Glad to eventually get to bed at 12-15. Let's hope 2022 is an improvement upon 2021 which was mostly pretty crap.