West Yorkshire

Early drive over to Lostock to pick up Audrey who hasn't been very far for ages so a bit of an adventure for her. Nice for her to see Archie and Meriels new home too. Started off at 6-45am and the sun was coming up. Hazel had to wear her special glasses as not to be dazzled too much. The weather changed several times during the day - sleet = sun - hail - sun - cloudy - rain etc. Typical Yorkshire weather! Archie cooked us lunch and Tanya came too as she was driving Hazel over to Huddersfield to see the solicitor. I had a brief shuftie round the charity shops but didnt get anything. Brrr! it were right cold! Back home again around 2 so we missed the school run. Always seems faster going back for some reason.

Dropped Audrey off and went in for a cuppa and biscuit. Home by 4-30.

River Dane and Community Orchard.

Photos from this= mornings walk to the River Dane and the community orchard etc. Very warm and felt very overdressed in a coat and hat!

Anderton and Barnton

This mornings walk to Anderton Boat Lift and the canal via the garden centre to get some seeds. Nice and sunny again despite the cold. Popped into see Hazel's sister and have a cuppa and chat on the way back.

Knutsford

Nice wander round Knutsford this morning to see the crocus's and daffs in the churchyard and mooch around the charity shops. Got a few CD's including Fats Wallers Best Of, Ry Cooder's best of and a Vince Taylor comp. Hazel bought some postcards and cookery book. Then to Audrey's to hand over a CD jewel case she wanted for some project or other - a quick chat and home for lunch.

Walk Along The Trent & Mersey Canal Towpath

Signs of Spring along the banks of the Trent and Mersey canal this morning. A muddy walk in the sunshine. Spotted some daffs and tete a tetes and blossom. The ducks and swans looked very frisky. We ended up in the local park and finally the Co-op to get some yoghurt and lemons ( Pancake day on Tuesday!)

River Weaver - Hartford

Lovely walk this morning despite the cold and the mud! Seems even wetter down the lane than usual - did it rain last night? We didn't hear it. Anyway - lots of folks had the same idea - walking their doggoes and cycling their pscychos eyc. Down the locks and back down the other side of the river. Afterwards to the antique emporiums at Blakemere. No bargains sadly. Just some dark choc ginger biscuits to have with our tea later.

Saturday Walk

Down the road to the comunity orchard and the fishing ponds. A bit nippy but no frost thankfully. saw a few ducks, a coot and a seagull. Hazel thinks she saw a heron flying off in the distance ( she's pointing at it in the photo ). The twiggy horse was looking well and the apple trees have been pruned for next Springs growth. I did some pointing too!

Archie had a guess as to what I was pointing at!

West Yorkshire

Lovely day out to West Yorshire to see how Archie and Meriel are settling in their new abode. They have done wonders so far but so much more to do. They are young and have the energy to do it. Meriel made a delicious tuna and tomato orzo pasta with salad and feta cheese. Yum! Went for a short walk to the weir and the local church yard. Sundays are best for driving early down those wiggly country lanes. Going home was a bit busier with a few idiot Sunday drivers to keep an eye out for.

Walk Around Marbury Country Park

Busy morning shopping in town and then a run over to Marbury to get some pansies and wall flowers from the garden centre which was very quiet. Then a walk round the lake edge and through the woods for 45 mins before lunch. Sunny and quite mild for a change. The car park was full surprisingly - mostly volunteers it seems we spotted every so often raking up the leaves and mending fences etc.

More Snow

Nice to get out for a walk in the snowy wastes of Cheshire this morning. I took a few photos but then my camera ran out of juice. Its charging now so I'll post some boring snow photos later. Also went to the Co-op to get bagels and vege sausages. Discovered that they were selling off lots of Xmassy things really cheap. Chestnuts that were £2-75 for 50p. Wow! dated to 2026 too! Hazel bought 8 packets! Also cheap biscuit selection. Making a nut roast later with some chestnuts and sprouts. Yum!

Blakemere - Pete Waterman's Train Set

Nice drive over to Blakemere this afternoon to have a wander round the Pete Waterman's Train Set ( only it's not called that ) in a barn. A bit pricey but amusing for kids of all ages - especially if you like model trains. Plenty of people do apparently by the queues of folk trying to get in. We lasted 20 minutes and that was enough. Hazel said she spotted Pete chatting to the punters but all these chubby balding middle aged blokes look the same so it could have been someone else? Anyway, afterwards we went round the antique emporiums which were also crowded so not much to see and no bargains. We came home and had tea and chocolate log.

Xmas Eve Walk To River Dane

The joys of Xmas Eve down the River Dane. The willow horse ( or is it an aardvark? ) was a treat to see. We arranged some of it's mane that looked a bit wayward. A few coots and ducks on the pond but no swans swimming or geese a laying. Phew! It was quite warm and I felt very hot in my duffle coat, furry hat and scarf! Not been out for a while being poorly with a cold ( or man flu?) so nice to stretch ones legs. Now the nut roast to make for tomorrow. Its all go!

December

Here we are in December already and nearly the festive season. It soon comes round when you are full of colds and bugs. Its been a nasty few weeks of Covid and now man flu ( or lady flu ? it's hard to tell them apart ) The booster jabs have little or no effect. Anyway I wont go into the gory details. Lovely to have Archie home for a few days - here he is with his Mom - lighting up the traditional fuse. Or trying to. Soggy paper? Soggy fuse? maybe just a impregnated doily? A coaster? We shall probably never know. Anyway we shall attempt to eat drink and be merry despite all the germs and bugs. Same to you!