The Big Freeze Goes On!

Some photos from this morning and some from yesterday sorting our a dusty box of old stamps that Hazel found in a cupboard or under the bed or somewhere? It was like opening a creaky tomb ! Not quite a set of alphabet stamps and a full set of numbers. The rainbows were from today - shining through the back window and tinkling the glass danglers.

Snow Snow Quick Quick Snow!

Unusual to have so much snow in Cheshire where it mostly melts as soon as it falls or gets dumped on Wales or the Peak District. We went ot for a crunchy walk around the block to celebrate the winter wonderland. Amazing how it transforms even the most dreary suburban landscape! Its all melting now ofcourse and will be horrible grey slush tomorrow I expect. Such is life!

Marsden and West Yorkshire

Just a few snaps from our trip to Yorkshire on Monday and Tuesday. Stayed at our old chum Dave's place in Marsden. Brrrr! It wasa bit nippy. Nice wals around the town at night to see the Xmas lights and even a quich drink in the Railway Arms. Also a quick jaunt to Glossop on the way and around the charity shops. Got a stack of DVD's including Solaris, Confidential Report (Mr. Arkadin), Planet of the Apes (Tim Burton) etc. Also a trip to Slaithwaite to get some lovely vege pasties for our lunch. Although the natives were very hostile for some reason - nearly got run over in Aldo car park by some grumpy bloke going too fast and got a fist waved at me from a window as I briefly stepped into his garden to avoud a large crane lifting girders by the canal bakery! Ah the great Northern sense of humour!

Frodsham and Lady Heyes

Nice wander round Frodsham's charity shops this morning. Got a few bargains - mostly DVD's for £1 or less. A Mike Leigh boxed set in Spanish. Lincoln with old thingy. Laurel and Hardy. etc. Hazel found a long mirror and a stained glass window. This photo is from a previous visit when they had a big book shop - now an antique empoium at Lady Heyes. Cloudy at first but soon brightened up and then blinded by sunshine as we drove home!

Collage and Curiosity exhibition - Chester

A few glimpses of the PV and our day out in Chester yesterday at the Grosvenor Museum and Roman Gardens in Chester. Tone and Pene came along and we had a picnic in the park.

Grosvenor Museum - Chester

In Chester yesterday putting up this three handed exhibition in the small gallery upstairs. A bit stressful but we managed to do it in good time. Charlie Holt is showing a big collage on one wall with many smaller collages attached. Mine are in frames dotted higgledy piggledy on two other walls togther with Hazel's collection of home made gadgets and found objects that influence her work ( in two long flat cabinets ). I also put up some mail art and filled a cabinet/show case full of postal ephemera, ATC's, rubber stamps and postcards. All a bit of a hodge podge but thats just how we like it. Starts of the 19th November and goes on until February next year.

Shackerley Mere

Pleasant wander round Shackerley Mere on Friday before a pub lunch in the nearby hostelry - a late celebration of our 39th anniversary. Sadly the seafood chowder was off the menu so we plumped for the seafood platter which we shared. Freindly pub with nice atmosphere . Not too crowded. A bit pricey but then all pubs are these days.

Selling Christmas EP

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Walk to River Weaver - Fireworks

Yesterday we drove to the bridge at hartford that crosses the River Weaver and squeezing onto the very small car parking space down a rutted track we had a nice walk over the bridge and down the steep incline to the river bank path below. Saw some swans, ducks and fishermen. Noticed the weeds on either side of the river were increasing. There was a boat with bulldozer contraption for removing the weeds but seemed to be fighting a losing battle. Ten more such craft would be useful. Croosed the river at the locks and up the woody path back to the rutted track where we were parked. Amazing autumnal colours all around, reds, yellows, russets and greens of varying degredations. In the eveming we went to the firework and bonfire soiree at the local park.£1 entrance fee. What a bargain! What it does for global warming one isn't quite sure. Not good we suspect but hard to resist a night sky full of sparks and whizz bangs! Reminded us too of our first date many years ago.

39 th Anniversary

A few random photos of us both from over the years - 39 to be exact! Blimey - time flies!

Harry Hill at Crewe Lyceum

Lovely to get out for an evenings live entertainment after nearly 3 years of hardly venturing far from our sofas. Lucky enough to get some free tickets from our old chum Magda. We were a bit nervous about mixing with crowds but decided it was possible now since the covid rate seems to be levelling off. We did go to Dublin in the Summer and survived the trip so had high hopes all would be well. Anyway, first the good news - Harry was very funny and we enjoyed it very much. Even got to have a drink in the bar and eat our vege sausage roll and cheese and onion pastie (from Greggs) on the bench outside the theatre whilsy this inflatable Harry flapped about wildly in from of us sounding very much like a jet engine! Crewe seems to have improved slightly with major work being done on the shopping centre and markeyt hall buzzing with late night eateries and bars etc. Long waits for food though hence the Greggs snacks! The down side was Hazel now has a rotten cold which we assume was caught in the bar or theatre. First cold for 3 years. Just goes to show you - can't be too careful. I feel fine so far - touch wood.

Old Warrington Road Woods

Nice walk through the Autumnal woods down the Old Warrington Road. Very mild fro the time of year - I had to take my jumper and scarf off! There wasa sign that said "Walk This Way" which we had fun with. Very leafy and colourful - all yellows and browns. A few dog walkers but not terribly busy. We are lucky to have such lovely walks close at hand.

Blakemere Woods and Antiques

Nice wander around Blakemere Woods and the Antique centres this morning. Lots of fungal growths of various shapes, sizes, colours. Some like tiny parasols, others like dirty bagels, and others like aliens from another planet! Non of them edible probably - anyway we didnt take any home to try! I got a postcard of Westcliff seafront from the 60's ? for a quid. Last of the big spenders! Hazel bought some naughty seaside postcards and one to send to a friend of our sons who collects postcards of people sleeping or dead? One is never sure. Hazel also bought some flowerpots - old crusty ones with strange markings on.