Ellesmere Last Saturday

Saturday was a lovely sunny day the sort of day just begging for a drive out and a long walk - enjoying time out from the usual rush of things - in other words a wind down - so we decided to go out to Ellesmere and take a walk around the mere.

The Mereside area was really busy - lots of activities - that day in the information centre - scopes were in place to view the herons out on the island returning to their nests - just one pair on Saturday - but more are expected - a CCTV screen is in place in readiness to view the nest activities.
Also as we walked alongside the water - we were able to watch a mallard being ringed - this was a first for me - I have always wondered how this was done without harm coming to the bird - the guy was talking to some people and was casually throwing duck food into the mere - and then suddenly out his arm swung and a net plunged into the water and out came a duck .
The guy ( I was so shocked I never asked his name )!! calmly held the duck who remained calm and did not struggle - but he did pooh down the chaps trousers - well would you blame him ! anyway apparently different sized rings are made for each species - the ring was carefully put in place and then checked to see that it moved easily round the leg and was not to tight or to loose to catch up in anything - the ring no was recorded( see book in the corner of the pic) and the duck was then released back onto the mere - there was much quacking from all parties and off he swam.

I really don't want to be here!
My My - thank goodness I put on my best undies
Lets' get out of here!

Out and about on Sunday

Out and about on Sunday - yes we decided we would go out for a drive - so two of us and the dog headed off towards the Wrekin - we have never climbed to the summit yet and so this was an option - but B cried off on that one - saying is back might not be up to it - so we turned off the other side of Atcham - past Wroxeter - another place to visit with its history and onto Ironbridge - fully intent on making a stop there - but anyway due to circumstances - parking etc - I was driving! we came through on the other side and found we were heading towards Much Wenlock.
We have never been to the Abbey - so that is what we did - we parked up and off we went - the Abbey belongs to English Heritage so in we went audiotapes at the ready - it was a bright sunny day so ideal for a few pics.

The abbey according to the records was founded in the seventh century and its first abbess was St Milburga - daughter of King Mercia - it is very impressive - in the summer plays are held in the grounds - that must be magical - we spent quite a long time listening to the tapes and imagining what it must have been like in those times - we looked at the Lavabo - this is where the monks washed - out in the cold - it must have frozen their bits off in the winter!
The plants in the grounds were beginning to come alive and the catkins and snowdrops gave a promise of Spring






On the way to the Abbey we passed the Church of the Holy Trinity - walking through the grounds - we gazed up and saw the owl on the roof - I couldnt resist a pic of that one - well it was the rspb bird count weekend - i somehow think he will be there next year for the bird count!

In the grounds there was a remembrance plaque for Mary Webb - presented by the Mary Webb Society at the Millenium - I came home and searched in my books for the connection - Mary Webb lived locally at Leighton as a child and was confirmed in Holy Trinity Church at Much Wenlock
As a child she was taken out by her father a retired teacher to many places of note - one of them being Wenlock Edge nearby - legend tells of a spot on the Edge called the Majors Leap - where many years ago Major Thomas Smallman was being chased by Cromwells men on horseback he came to the Edge and jumped his horse over - the horse was killed but he managed to grab a bush and was saved - it is said that this story so influenced the young Mary - that the ending in her novel Gone to Earth epitomises this story - I am going to try a link - it probably will go wrong so I will apologise now -
The link should be http://www3.shropshire-cc.gov.uk/etexts/E000284.HTM#X36




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Much Wenlock has many old buildings and much history including the Olympic Trail - many book shops and coffee shops - we shall return another day to explore further - we then started home - we stopped off at Venus Pool - a nature reserve just out side Crosshouses - a lovely spot and well worth a visit -

Today and Yesterday

Today and yesterday has been gloriously sunny in Shropshire with blue skies and the promise of Spring - although the early mornings have been frosty and cold - so in someways a mixed bag of unpredictable walking weather - but the frost of course makes it less muddy-so over the fields we went on the morning hike today with fine views of Pontesbury Hill - see pic below


The garden is full of birds on the feeders - newest arrival to our garden is a pair of Bramblings - they have joined the flock of goldfinch - greenfinch - and chaffinch feeding on the niger and sunflower hearts - see pic
Yesterday morning -a trip out to Attingham - the river although in flood was remarkably calm and the ducks were enjoying a swim defiantly in no mans land -lots of activity going on - tree felling and general tidying up -getting ready for the snowdrop walks - beleive it or not that will be February - not long to go

Two more pics of the park - sunlight on the trees on the woodland walk what an eyecatcher - and I could'nt resist the shot through the gate onto the park catching the frost on the grass - I love gate pics - they have a fascination for me
Later on in the day I walked on Lyth Hill - the pic taken below is of a favourite tree - so proud on the hillside against the blue sky - also I have included two pics of the hills in the distance the Lawley and Caer Caradoc - shrouded in mist - as always difficult to get a clear shot even when it is sunny




I have spent a lot of time over the last two days out and about making the most of the sunny weather!!

Dear Diary - must share

Dear diary - just look I am now the proud owner of a Samsung Galaxy phone - and look I can now access Purple Coo in any old place and completely waste time at my leisure - things are never going to be the same again - mind you it has taken me over a week to really get anywhere - and there is much room for improvement on my part- and oh dear the daily chores are getting further down the list of priorities - does it matter! - diary - please don't answer.

Just a few pics and catchup

Blackbird waiting on driveway hedge 'Come on hurry up the sultana dish is empty!

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No ghost trains on the Old Potts Line - but it is ghostly white



St Alkmunds Church in Shrewsbury




Click on the pic to spot the ball




Lone Walker- not me on this occasion!


I am posting a few pics of the snow for the blog - I have a gorgeous animated Christmas Card that was sent to me by Email - and I have tried all ways to post it to my blog - to no avail - if anyone reads this post and knows how to do it please tell me!
This week has been hectic my Dad is poorly and in hospital and I have been on the road or in the hospital most of the week - I have just had a phone call from the physios to say he will be in hospital until at least the 29th of December - so I am blogging to try and be normal and not to stress and so that I can be sunny and cheerful when I go back into the hospital.
My Christmas preparations are all on hold - the christmas cake is sitting in its cake tin in its marzipan jacket and the grandchildrens prezzies are unwrapped -I am taking deep breathes and soldiering on - pipes have been unfrozen and the heating is on so we are getting there!

Reality

What is reality - just a word or can it be broken down into several meanings - what does it signify to you - the Dictionary gives us - The sum of all that is real,absolute and unchangeable.

Reality brings us down to earth - the exact opposite to blogging - where we can escape to another world - pack up our troubles in our old kit bag as the saying goes.

Reality to me is the cold harsh need for domestic routines - family organisation and endless shopping trips.

Reality also can be counting our blessings for what we have - family - friends - etc - looking on the bright side - stealing those moments to do as we like - for everyone must have an escapism

My daily walks are important to me to recharge my batteries and increase my metabolism - as are the books on my shelves and the plants in my greenhouse and garden - and now I have to finish my blog British Gas have just rung to say they will be with me in approx 10 mins to complete our annual service on our combi boiler - unfortunately the stark reality is that we have a frozen pipe and to solve the problem - B has disconnected a pipe and we now have a bucket under the boiler in the airing cupboard - to catch the surplus water - I don't think that somehow we are going to pass the engineers tests with flying colours !