Marsden

Nice couple of days in West Yorkshire again. Things to sort. A quick walk up the canal to delightful woody bit with bluebells and dry stone walls. Rigo the cat has returned after being lost for 5 weeks so that was a nice reunion. She needed lots of well earned TLC after being goodness-knows-where!

Moss Farm Boot Sale

A nice sunny day for a boot sale down at Moss Farm. Not many cars or stalls. I didnt find anything but had a chat to Bob who was there selling an odd selection of things - cameras, binoculars, DVD's, books, jewelry etc. Hazel bought some jewelry for her sister. Also some plants - lupins, hollyhocks etc. from another stall holder. We drove to Verdin park for a short walk up the hill and sat on a bench in the sun. A few dog walkers but very quiet. We noticed the extension to the hospital being built nearby. They seemed be using part of the car park which seemed rather short-sighted as it's usually full up! I neglected to take my camera so here is an old collage of a boot sale I did.

Griffiths Park

Nice afternoon for a wander over to the local park and see the charity football match being played in the sunshine. Lots of folk taking part in various activities, games, stalls, bouncy castle etc. We got ourselves an ice cream and enjoyed the match sitting on the bench on the small hill nearby.

Marbury Woods

We escaped from the nonsense on the TV to the green and twittering woods of Marbury. The sun came out briefly and so we had better weather than London it seems. The bluebells still looking good. Very quiet except for the twitterpated birds and the cavorting squirrels. No bunting or grovelling peasants in sight.

Llandudno

A very nice ,sunny for the most part, May Bank Holiday weekend in the lovely town of Llandudno - our favourite seaside place in North Wales. Made a nice change from the stresses and strains of previous weeks. Delightful wanderings around the town, the shops, the pier, the fun fair ( not too much of that - a bit noisy!) and relaxing in the Promonad B&B - excellent new owners - delicious breakfasts! Home again now and going through the dozens of photos we took. Here's just a few for now.

Marsden _ Dave's Funeral

In Marsden for Dave's funeral and wake. April 2023. Hazel and Tanya did an excellent job of sorting out funeral plans and admin that goes with it. Hazel cut some Camelia from Daves garden to decorate the coffin. Humanist service in Halifax at delightful crematorium high on hill with blossoming cherry trees all around. I should have taken a photo but didnt seem right at the time. Wake was at local cafe and later at pub beer garden by the riverwith ducks coming into land every so often. Even a fly past by tow low flying jets! Who organised that I wonder?

Bluebells At Marbury

This mornings wander around the gorgeous bluebells at Marbury woods in the lovely sunshine. We had the whole place to ourselves which was nice ( except for the twitterpated birds and squirrels!) 20th April 2023.

Griffiths Park

No boot sales today. A bit drizzly We did venture out to the park though and had a wander down to the canal. Saw one solitairy duck looking furtive on the other side of the water. More vans and diggers down by the TATA factory for some reason. Expanding their empire? Sat on the bench on the hill for a short while. Decided it was too cold and windy and wet to sit there for much longer. Home again via the Co-op to drop off some plastic bags.

First Boot Sales Of The Year

Slim picken's at the two boot sales we went to this morning at Vagrants and Weston (near Crewe). Nice sunny day but a bitter wind was blowing so made it feel quite nippy. I should have worn my duffle coat! The thin raincoat wasn't doing it for me. Hazel had a thinner coat too and wished she'd worn something more substancial. I found nothing at Vagrants and the toilets were locked so took ages to get the bloke to open them. He said the wind had blown it shut. The next sale was a short drive away on the way to Stone. Much bigger but mostly household stuff and kids toys etc. Found a DVD of a Bill Murray film I'd not seen "Larger Than Life". Hazel got a few things including a fancy magic set in a wooden box, a moustache cup inscribed to a "Mr Harry Jones", some plants, an enamel bowl etc. It was nice to get back to the warm car.

Alsager

Nice sunny day for a drive over to Alsager and lunch with our old friends Tone and Pene. Delicious pasta and tomato based sauce and garlic bread etc. A walk afterward to the Salt Line ( once a train track carrying goods to the potteries ) and around the pond nearby. Back to have pudding in the back garden. Yummy strawberry muffins and tea. A pigeon pretending to be a crow inthe tree above us. Quite warm now in thier sun trap of a garden. Good to see photos from their Australia trip at Xmas time.

Neumann's Flashes

More walks about the local area. Yesterday was over at Griffiths Park and today Neumann's Flashes on the road that goes behind the tip towards Warrington. Bright dazzling sunshine but a bit nippy - even some frost this morning. Walked through the woods and found a bird hide to sit in. Observed far way ducks or geese. We could hear lots of birds chirping but they stayed well hidden. Twitchers laughing in the distance? Not sure why they were so amused - we kept well away.

Marsden - Halifax

Another trip overnight to see Dave in hospital in Halifax. Managed to have a nice walk to the resevior in Marsden. Hair raising drive around the windy lanes of West Yorshire - daffs looking good at the moment.

Remembering Barry

Dear old chum Barry Wenden shuffled off this mortal coil a year ago or so. Can't quite believe he is gone. We lost touch over the last few years - life getting in the way as it does. Here we are with another old chum Trevor out in the wilds of Cheshire (funny how things go round in a big circle?) back in 1968 0r '69 maybe - three hairy art students in the green sward. This colourised photo popped up recently on my FB page. Incredible String Beans or are we the Pixie Ruralists? Anyway, it seems a hell of a long time ago now looking back through green coloured glasses. Here's a nice email that Barry sent me before he got poorly remembering our lunchtime trips to Shude Hill book market in Manchester when we were spotty art students. Halycon days!......................."Many thanks for this - all wonderful stuff!! Just as I remember it. It was great to escape the art school (well the staff) and venture up at lunchtime - really enjoyed it. Bet we missed out on some rare first additions that all those book dealers were scavenging and rummaging for? We were looking for Rupert, Chicks Own, Rainbow and Toby Twirl!! Seem to recall a lorry turning up once and up-ending its content of books on the pavement. Did I also get my deck there - probably? We were like two peas in a pod but I only have a faint memory of timidly going back and complaining. Although for the life of me I can't think why? What on earth did I use for an amplifier? Did I plug the deck into my radio and run that off into some of my 1930's sun-ray speakers? That's a rhetorical question as I'm sure my memory is as fuzzy as yours? It'll all come back to me when I'm in my wheelchair. I seem to recall saving up (I think Mum helped) to buy a Prinz (rubbish) Amplifier from Dixons but I think that may well have been later, when I bought my Denon Speakers and made the plywood boxes for them - goodness they're still here beside me in this loft studio! The things we did!"......................

Trent and Mersey Canal

This mornings drizzly walk to the canal and round to the by pass. Fed some ducks with some stale bread but a couple of paddle boarders frightened them all off. The rest went into the hedgerows for the birds and voles. 25th March 2023.

Walk To River Weaver

This mornings wanderings down the muddy track next to the River Weaver near Hartford. It wasa bit drizzly but we ventured on through the elements. Then to Blakemere to sort through some old postcards. Found one of Southend pier. 23rd March 2023.

Mother's Day

Nice walk to the fishing ponds and the River Dane to start off our day. I had orders from Archie to get some tete a tetes for his Mom for Mothering Sunday. he sent the aI card . He will phone later for a chat so that will be nice. All Mum's enjoy a good chat! A very dull day otherwise with the weather particularly - cloudy and with a threat of rain. Hazel has gone to sort out her drawers she bought yeserday at the antique fair. They are in the workshop now and just the job she says.