Walk To Co-op and Park

This mornings wander around the park and dumping plastic off at the local Co-op shop. Also got some milk and bread etc. Saw our neighbours and their barky dog Sparky going off to the park. They were enjoying the relative cool weather like us. Home to make some collages and sardines on toast.

Archie and Meriel Visit

Lovely to see Archie and Meriel for the weekend. We were worried about the trains but they were fine thankfully. Went to the garden centre at Marbury to buy some plants for Auntie Audrey's and Hazel's birthday next week. Having an early celebration. Nice take away curry last night and watched DVD that Meriel bought me for my belated birthday - The Duke with Jim Broadbent and what's her face? Very funny and charming British film - the sort they rarely make anymore.

Whitegate Boot Sale

Slim pickin's at the Whitegate boot sale yesterday. Lots of cars and people but mostly plastic rubbish. I bought some ancient broad beans and some sweaty courgettes from one guy who obviously has an allotment. Hazel found some old tools for Archie. Also other useful stuff. Still, it was nice to get out for a drive down the country lanes of Cheshire and try and avoid the cyclists. Warming up as the morning progressed. I stayed indoors mostly printing a new zine - that Ron Bookless and I collaborated on. Folding, cutting and stapling etc. A good brainless task to do when it's hot! Our pantry seems to have sprung a leak so Hazel cleaned it out and discovered an empty moisture catcher which could have been the culprit. How it emptied itself is a mystery!

Marsden

Nice coupe of days in West Yorkshire in Marsden and Slaithwaite. A bit cooler thankfully. Walks to the old mill and resevior. Tripto Slaithwaite and the lovely artisan bakery to get pasties and bread. Sadly the delicious croissants had all sold out! Fish and chips in the park. Popped in a few chairity shops - got Archie a badminton racket. Some cheap DVD's. Drive back via Glossop.

Daily Doodlers

More pages from my sketchbook. "Daily doodles" that I put on the FB group of the same name.

Barmouth, Ruthin, Dolgelleu

So many photos - can't possibly add them all there. Some on Facebook if you want to see more. Lovely two days in North wales in Dollgellau near Barmouth. Visted old friends who live the good life in the hills surrouned by chickens and cats and bees. They gave us two jars of their honey. Had anice tour of the gardens and bee hives etc. Lovely meal from homemade produce. Sorting through pottery shards they found in the stone walls. Fascinating history lessons. Lovely weather. the next days we went to Barmouth by the seaside. looked round the shops. No fish and chips so went to aother town 26 miles awayto find some! Had egg and chips instead. No sure why. Lots of junk shops and charity shops to look round. Long drive back to Dolgelleau and B&B. Why did that go red? Lovely walk to the Torrents. waterfalls and rushing rocky streams- sat on a mossy rock to eat our picnic. Took more photos - a small portion here.

North Wales

Cheshire Showground Antiques Fair

Nice day for a trip out to the Cheshire Showground - about 3 miles from us down some pleasing windy lanes. The sun came out which it improved it a great deal. The weather has been very changeable just lately. Didnt find any bargains but had a good rummage through all the junk. Had some expensive chips from a stall for our lunch sat on a grassy noel. Hazel found some metal number stamps for £10 which she seemed pleased with. Will be an early birthday present to herself.

Blakemere Boot Sale

This mornings bargains from the boot sale at Blakmere. All Hazel's finds I might add - I didnt get anything ( getting more fussy in my old age!). A bit windy but the sun came out once or twice. Hazel's favourite find was the ceramic "Egg Seperator". Other finds included a mixing bowl, two tin jugs, bag of rhubarb, bag of home grown spuds, spinning top, biscuit tin, brooch, lead wheelbarrow and gardener, postcard/envelope wallpaper roll , etc etc..

Community Garden and Fishing Ponds

This mornings walk to the River Dane, fishing ponds and the community garden. Berries still a bit green. Saw the coot family and young ducks. No froglets. 25th June 2022.

Alsager and Salt Line

Lovely day with old chums Tone and Pene in Alsager. Took a picnic along to eat in their sunny back garden. Went for a walk later to the Salt Line and the little lily pad covered pond. Tony found his old vinyl copy of the Mikado to play as we had mentioned the wonderful film by Mike Leigh of Gilbert & Sullivan - Topsy Turvy - that we had watched on DVD recently. Phew! It was a warm and muggy day. Got home at 4.30 just as the welcome drizzle was coming down.

Birthday Walk To Anderton

Nice to have our boy home for father's day and my 75th birthday. Blimey - how did I get so old? Thankfully I still have most of my marbles - although some might disagree! Lovely walk over the Anderton Woods and the fishing ponds to see the damsel flies and the coots. Lily pads blooming. Nobody there so we had the place to ourselves. Had to take Archie to the station today as he was headed back to London. He wanted to stop until tomorrow but the impending rail strikes put pay to that.He said the trains back were very quite so that was good.

Archie Home - Off To SeeThe Baby Coots

Nice to have our boy home for a couple of days - for Father's Day and my birthday. Phew! A very warm walk this afternoon to the fishing ponds to see the baby coots who all seemed to be doing well. Back home again to our cool house and a cool drink!

Walk To River Dane

This mornings walk to the Community Garden and the fishing ponds - trying to avoid stepping on the froglets. Not as many as last year. The coots were still doing well though one family seemed to have lost a few. Hopefully they were hiding in the reeds. 12th June 2022.

Tattenhall

Gosh we are being sociable this week! Making up for the last two years being stuck at home. Popped over to Tattenhall to see our friend Beth for a walk about the village and a vege burger lunch from a take-away place. Also the crafty/artisan mini market at the sports hall. Nice sunny day for a drive down Corkscrew lane and other windy roads of Cheshire.