Trent and Mersey Walk

Hazel's Birthday and Our Anniversary

Delightful wander with Hazel , Archie and Meriel -down to the orchard and fishing ponds after a day of wanderings. Our 12th anniversary and Hazel's birthday today - yesterday it was Audrey's birthday and some gardening and cake. A fun packed two days.

Walk To Pond And Community Garden

This mornings walk to the fishy pond and the community orchard and garden. All the berries had been picked but we found some wild bramble berries. Hazel trimmed the spikey tendrils with her handy seccateurs. A passing dog walker praised her initiative. Three baby coots on the pond and two angry swans who had been molting by the looks of it. Lots of white feathers floating in the reeds. A bit fresher today thankfully.

North Wales

Nice couple of days in sunny Wales visiting old chums Linda and Ivor in Dolgellau and various other places from Ruthin to Bala. Linda showed us her crops and new spaces for sunny porch etc. Bad year for bees so no honey this year. They gave us some home made wine and delicious soda bread that Ivor made. Yum! Popped into Mold on the way home for a look in the giant junk warehouse. Hazel found some cheap material for quilt backing. £2 for about 10 metres! Weather was very kind to us after a little drizzle to start. Boiling on our second day. Collected berries and played with new doggy Blodwin. They also have 4 cats and 6 chickens. (Or was it 6 cats and four chickens?)

Griffiths Park

This mornings walk around Griffiths Park near us despite threat of drizzle. It didn't feel very Summery but the flowers and thistles looked very nice. We are easily pleased. A few dog walkers and assorted pooches said hello. Hazel sat chatting to a new friend on a bench! Popped into the Co-op for some mushrooms and cheddar cheese as we'd neglected to get some at Aldi.

Boot At Blakemere

This mornings boot sale bargains from the Blakemere rummage. Lots of stalls despite the drizzle and cold wind. felt more like October! Brrrr! Bumped into Bob who had a battered trumpet on his table. he said it had a mouthpiece but he sold it online as it was a rare Foden's Brass Band one. Hazel did well with tons of plants. a shirt, zips, necklace, badges, a coloured glass for a candle, a penguin lighter, an ostrich pencil sharpener etc. I only found two badges and nice set of Rapidograph pens with spare ink.

Phillumenists Unite!

So this makes a nice change - a mysterious parcel arrives and it turns out to be a collection of old matchbox labels and magazines sent from France by a "friend" on Facebook. A nice letter explains he promised me these years ago but it's news to me. Seems he stayed with us once when I was a student in Manchester in the late 60's. A friend of one of my flat mates. What a turn up! I love old ephemera of course so happy to rummage through the box and even found one with Southend Pier on the front - all fuzzy and yellow and bearing the tell take marks of degraded sellotape. The box label not the pier - although it did look a bit shabby the last time I saw it. So heres a few photos of some of the more interesting examples. We usually pop along to the phillumenists (matchbox collectors) fair that sets up stalls and has an auction in the local leisure centre every September - but we missed it last year. Its amazing how cheap they are - 5p each for beautiful Indian matchbox labels depicting elephants, tigers, temples and exotic views of Kashmir etc. Anyway, it makes a nice change from our walks round the local park!

Walk In The Park

A short walk in local park after dropping off some plastic bags to the Co-op. Not sure who made this spider sculpture but makes a handy seat. It was quite warm - made a change from the dismal weather of late.

Hippy Birdbaths To Me!

Nice day for a birthday pub lunch with friends. Sat outside at the Golden Pheasant in Plumley. The spicey tofu burger was very nice with fries. Half a pint of bitter. With old chums Tone and Pene. Hazel too of course. Then back to our back garden for the delicious choc cake that Hazel made. Cherries and a leaf bug that wandered about the table inspecting our crumbs.

Walk To Orchard And Fishing Ponds

This mornings wander round the fishing ponds in the sunshine hoping to see some baby coots but none to be seen. Just the two adult coots ( or are they moorhens?) Lots of bees in the blackberry blossom which was good to see. The distant bells of the church near Vickerway park clearly audible when the breeze was in the right direction. We sat in the orchard looking at vapour trails and tiny aircraft 7 miles up wondering where they were off to.

Blakemere Boot Sale

This mornings bargain hunt around the drizzly fields of Blakemere. I didn't find anything but Hazel bought some perfume, candles, mesh bags and some measuring jugs.

Griffiths Park and Co-op.

This mornings walk to the local park to see the buttercups and dogs. Sat on our favourite bench - but not for long as it was breezy on that hill. Then to the Co-op to get some fizzy water and cheaper tea bags. Home again for some doodling and what nots.

Alsager and Sandbach

Lovely sunny day over at Sandbach to look round the market ad the shops. Got some oatcakes and pikelets. Hazel found yet another book about quilt making. Then to Alsager to have al fresco lunch with old chums Tone and Pene. Tony struggled with the sun shade but eventually it was up and flapping about in the breeze. Yummy quiche with baby asparagus from their allotment. Delicious rhubarb crumble for pudding with ice cream. Walked off some of the calories afterwards down the Salt Line - a former railway line.

Marsden Again

Nice but exhausting couple of days in West Yorkshire - sorting more Dave stuff and dismantling lots of Billy bookcases. Taking more books downstairs etc. Had time to have celebratory fish and chips courtesy of Dave's meal fund. Also looking out for the infamous Cuckoo Parade but we saw little sign of it. Also took Tanya along to the folk club. They allowed us to sit outside the sacred circle and listen for 30 minutes with a G&T ( Tanya had a lime and soda) . Nice bunch of folks. Hazel took some petals from Dave's garden to float in the river where Mo and his ashes were scattered ( 1st anniversary of his funeral.) Nice to be home again to rest our weary bones.

Arley Hall and Cheshire Showground

After 45 mins queuing up to go into the antique fair at the Cheshire Showground in Tabley we decided it was all too stressful and crowded so we drove to the exit and went looking for Pickmere only to find another line of cars. Apparently the fields were so waterlogged they were collectiong money at the gate so thats why it took so long. Normally we have to wait 5 mins after we have park in a field with a tent. Anyhoo- we turned down some wiggly lanes and ended up at Arley Hall that Hazel has been before but I had not. A long walk from the car park to the house. Once there we discovered it was very expensive to go in £24 for both of us and £3 car parking fee. So we enjoyed our little walk looking at the old buildings and the pheasants wandering about and went to see Hazel's Mom and sister who needed a few jobs doing.