Walk To Local Park

Very humid - so short walk to park and up the hill to the bench to look at the clouds. Wasps, bees, butterflies on the thistles.

Walk To Local Park

This mornings wanderings to the local Co-op and the park. Bit grey clouds looming overhead but thankfully the rain held off.

Blakemere Boot Sale

This mornings finds at the Blakemere boot sale. Only half the usual punters but still a lot to rummage through. I got a set of alphabet stamps for 20p. Hazel found a few things including some magic tricks, a brooch, a plant, a smelly candle and some old cigarette cards. Still very humid and nice to get back to our nice cool house.

North Wales

Nice couple of days in North Wales to celebrate my birthday. Went to Ruthin, stopped off to have a coffee and walk round the charity shops. Then on to Dolgellau and Barmouth. Rain showers blew away and the sun came out - hoorah! Fish and chips in the park. Went for a nap in the dunes. Drove back to our B&B in Dolguelleu. Weve stayed there before. Close to the Torrent Walk - a bubbly stream that cascades over rocks. Usually more water but the rain has been few and far between this year despite the recent thunderstorms. Next day we went to our friends Linda and Ivor's who live the "good life" in a cottage nearby with 5 cats , 6 chickens, hives of bees etc. Went for a walk to the lake via the Precipice Walk. Delicious lunch of home grown salad, cheese we took along, fresh boiled eggs, home made sour dough bread etc. Yum! Looked through all there recent "finds" and an amazing pelikan pen engraving machine. Stopped for a curry at tea time amd then off back to the B&B. Next day home via Llandudno and a sandwich on the pier.

Gardening In Lostock

A day of gardening and birthday cake over at Granma and Audrey's. A bit cooler thankfully. Archie is home for a couple of days. He enjoys a bit of gardening - lopping the very tall shrubs that have taken over at the side of the house.

Walk To River Dane And Community Garden

An early morning walk before it got too hot. Sat in the community garden admiring the bench doodles and detritus. Lots of green growth after all the rain the other day. No baby coots sadly - just one lonely coot struggling against the pond weed. Then to cornfield to see how high it was. Not yet up to my knee. A bit late this year. Nice to get home again and cool drink. Did some doodling and catching up with social media etc.

Do It Yourself

We aren't very good at DIY but decided it's been a while since we did any painting and the doors were looking a little worse for wear. Hazel has painted the outside loo door and the back door with some green paint we found in the shed. It was the paint we used for the front door about 5 years ago! Still two thirds full and servicable. Seems silly to buy new paint when the old is good as new. I tried going up the ladder but got in a right tangle. Laurel and Hardy came to mind! Hazel went up the ladder and I stayed at the bottom and held the paint can. Teamwork! It's all a bit rough and ready but we are going for that tatty look that is all the rage these days! That's our excuse anyway. Shabby sheik!

A Walk To River Weaver Locks

Sunny Sunday walk to locks from the Hartford bridge - along the River Weaver and back on the other bank. Lots of dog walkers and joggers. Some rowers on the river being taught by a man on a bicycle shouting instructions as he rode along the footpath. We were laughing a sausage dog as it ran passed us and the jogging owner fell over onto the gravel path. Ouch!

Walk To Woods - Old Warrington Road

Sunny walk to Old Warrington Road end of the Carey Park and Flashes etc. Listening to the buzzing bees and the chirpings of birds - even a cuckoo clearly in the distance. Sat on a bench to have a rest and soak up some sun. Lots of dog walkers about with various shaped dogs. Hazel prefers the smaller ones that are not so boistrous.

Curios Thing #40

Latest CT zine which coincidentally is the 40th issue and this one was a collabortaion with my dear wife. We have been together 40 years in a few weeks time so timely in so many ways. Reminds us of our collaborations when we first met all those years ago. We shared a love of postal ephemera, rubber stamps, decorated envelopes etc. and so after corresponding for 6 months or so we finally met and the rest, as they say, is history.

Chester

Pleasant morning wandering around Chester. Hazel went off to the clothes shops and I explored the charity emporiums. Didn't find anything. Had al fresco vege sausage roll sitting outside the old cross. Roads were full of plonkers over taking on roundabouts etc. Chilly start but quite hot now.

Trent and Mersey Walk

This mornings walk to the canal and along the tow path to the A556. Nippy start but soon warming up in the Bank Holiday sunshine. Who'd have thunk it? Saw a few baby ducks in the reeds - a bit too dark to take a decent photo. Looking for gravy powder for Hazel's Mom. Didnt find any along the canal but asked in an asian shop that was open. He looked rather puzzled and showed me some cheese sauce packets. O well - looks like Granma will have to rely on what she has lurking in the cupboard.

Blakemere Boot sale

A few bargains from this mornings rummagings down at Blakemere. Hazel found all of them. Nothing for me. I must be getting more picky in what I buy these days! The Xmas crackers will be useful in December. The squares of kids materials for future craft projects Hazel has in mind. A posh Buckingham Palace mug to drink her tea out of. She has one already but handy to have a spare in case the other breaks. A nasty clock but with a useful mechanism or so we thought. Also some geraniums and cigarette cards about household hints. It wasa nice sunny morning but now clouded over with a cool breeze.

Community Orchard and Fishing Ponds

Nice wander down to the community orchard and the fishing ponds this morning in the sunshine. Hoped to see some baby coots like last years but none to be seen so far . Ponds getting more clogged with weed - a sad sight. Hopefully they can be dredged like they were a few years ago. 21st May 2023.

River Weaver and Furey Woods

Nice sunny walk along the River Weaver to Furey Woods this morning before the shops opened. Went round a few charity shops but didnt find anything. Hazel went off to get things for her Mom and sister. Then to Lostock to deliver groceries and collect knitted squares.