Spring Bank Holiday post

Since my last post not a lot has happened that is of interest, except we had a Royal Wedding last weekend (last weekend - it seems like two weeks ago).  I had already mentioned to younger son that I was coming over in the morning to plant runner beans and he reminded that it was THE wedding, that I had forgotten about, and it turned into a great day.  Thank you Cambridge family and their friends for a lovely afternoon.

Next day I felt that must do a long bike ride, especially as the weather was good, if a little windy.  I set off on the 'Beast' towards Yelden and climbed the hill towards Melchbourne an then looked at my battery display and to my horror found it was quite low and I had some big hills to climb; so what to do?

Well I changed my plans and did a circuit of here

and went through the ford on the River Til.  I remember this from my childhood when my sister and I used to ride through it to get the bus to school.  I also turned off the battery and cycled normally for at least half of the journey and that meant that I could do 17 miles in the end.

Top of the hill above Yelden

Close up of the above

Love the Cow Parsley that we used to call 'Keck'.  It was a glorious day.

Tuesday was my 'Will' day in Bedford and we had our usual walk down by the river, but we were excited to see this standing in a tree and Will identified it immediately.

Grey Heron

This Heron was suddenly joined by a second and I was not quick enough with the camera to photo the two before they flew away.  But we had both seen them.

Further along from the Heron was a Canada Goose sitting on eggs and tidying up round it and leaving them exposed to be photographed.

 

Not a good picture but the eggs are there.

Following an ice cream we then headed to the park for Will to play on the swings.

I find that during these sunny warm days I can't get enthused with sewing but suddenly I feel energised and have decided to concentrate on these projects -

Practising and rubbish!!!!

 

That's better

Friday was Smocking group and I have started a new project;  a book cover with picture smocking, for a lever arch file.  Teacher J had suggested that I practise because as you can see from the top picture it is a lot harder than it looks!!  I used six strands of embroidery thread and they were ironed to lie better which is obvious from the bottom photo.  It took me the whole three hours of the lesson to get it right!!!!

Colours are not good

My crocheted Woodland blanket is progressing slowly but is getting there and I don't want to rush it as my next big project will not start until the Autumn.

Finally

It is going to be a small weight

my embroidery project that has been going on for months but I am going to get on and get it finished.  The square is the bottom and I have two sides and the top to finish.  It will be 2" square by 1" high.

The weather is lovely and the garden and gardening beckons so that is all folks and enjoy the long weekend if you live in the UK. 

A weekend in Woodhall Spa

Last weekend was spent with the 50+ Adventure Club in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire for a cycling and walking weekend.  I, and five others were staying in a luxury lodge at Woodhall Country Park complete with a hot tub and on the edge of the lake where we were delighted to see families of geese with their goslings and heard the cuckoo quite close very day.

 

We arrived on Friday morning and walked into the town for lunch and then had a wander round before meeting at the Museum for a tour -

The Cottage Museum

- a bungalow with its own historic story.  A very interesting place that told us the early story of the town.

But what I did not know was its wartime story and I was thrilled when we came to this place

and I discovered that 617 Squadron were stationed here during the war and it was from close by that they flew on their famous Dambusters Raid.

Group Capt Guy Gibson (leader of the Dambusters) was killed later in another raid over Germany

617 Sqdn's Dambusters are commemorated top left and the same squadron also helped sink the Tirpitz (second down right).  We then walked to the Petwood Hotel which was the Officers' Mess for 617 Sqdn

 

and we saw this prototype of one of the bouncing bombs in the gardens.  It was big!

We headed for the Kinema in the Woods (correct spelling with a hard K), where we booked for Sunday afternoon

 passing the derelict Spa on the way

sad end to an interesting building

So after this back to the lodge and a dip in the hot tub, followed by everyone meeting up for a fish and chip supper!

Next day we set off on our bike ride to Horncastle along the Viking Way where we stopped at a café for refreshment

and I noticed this old building built in 1846, behind the café

and so back on our bikes we headed back, stopping for lunch on the way.

It had been going so well up to this point, but one person got a puncture, the group had sped on and as tail-end Charlie I had to phone the group for help.  Once this was sorted we proceeded and just before the end I deviated and took this photo

The Wellington Monument

It was built out in the countryside and looked an odd place for it.

We saw the weather forecast for Sunday and I was thankful I had brought my waterproofs because heavy rain was forecast!!  Typical.  However we were pleasantly surprised to wake to cloud and later sunshine.  As we were approaching the Country Park at the end of the walk, in the distance we saw a plane take off from RAF Coningsby and became so excited when we realised it was a Lancaster Bomber, flying at tree top height, straight towards us.  It was so low we could almost see the pilot, and I cursed myself for not getting out my camera.  It was doing a flypast over the Petwood Hotel behind us, as a celebration of 75 years since the Dambusters Raid.

Following Sunday lunch we all trooped off to the Kinema to see 'The Leisure Seeker' starring Donald Sutherland and Helen Mirren which included Alzheimer's and death, that necessitated another dip in the hot tub when we got back and copious amounts of alcohol to cheer ourselves up!!!

However I had had a brilliant weekend with friends and am now looking forward to my next trip away with the club in September - walking Hadrian's Wall.

Learning something every day

Before I start my blog here are two photos -

December 2017

Today - 7 May 2018

What a difference 5 months make and I love it.  Seeds at coming up in the greenhouse and tomatoes are looking good - wonderful.

Following the very muddy walk with 50+ Adventure Club written about last time my next venture out was 'Osprey watching' at Rutland Water (webcam). It was still very cold but fascinating as we started at the Visitor Centre and then wended our way out to the hides.

Cheating - downloaded from the TV in the visitor centre

 

The male posing for the cameras

 

Both on the nest with camera to left

The house in the background is Burley House

The following week I went on a Wildlife Wander with Nene Wetlands Visitor Centre in the pouring rain.  I have never been so wet!!!  However it was the most fascinating walk I have ever done.  We saw Cormorants nesting in the trees, heard all sorts of bird songs that I cannot remember but I did see this -

A Crested Grebe sitting on its nest

It looks as it the nest is sinking but is actually floating and when the nest is unattended they cover the eggs.  A great walk and excellent guides.

The next outing with 50+ was Footgolf which I played last year but at a different venue.  This one was at Cold Ashby and was hilly!!

Kicking off on the first tee

We each had a proper football and were in teams of 5 and though I personally was pretty useless, my team came second as some members could kick a football, which is an asset with this game!! 

The game is played in a similar manner to golf except the 'greens' are quite rough and holes take a football. 

The green is on the left and we had to walk up the hill and along the ridge to the next tee (note the silhouettes on the top right!!).  However there are advantages because the 8th hole tee'd off at the top of the hill and even my ball ran for a long time

...  and my ball just ran on and on and on  ....

down to the next green.  If I was playing golf (and I can!) this would have been one of my favourite holes.  Another great time with the club, especially after a good lunch in the golf clubhouse.

I popped out at lunchtime to day to see this plane fly over the town

The Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight 

then on to Irthlingborough to a fete where I saw these gentlemen 

 

Moulton Morris Men

 Do visit their site and watch their videos; this is traditional English dancing that should be kept going.  I love watching it, so I hope it does not die out.

Anyway the sun is shining and I must make the most of it as it may rain tomorrow!!  So no sewing/crocheting/knitting or anything else for me.