Judo
Well-known member
.......Down Memory Lane....
Hi All,
Yesterday, instead of the local walk we planned, we decided to motor out to a little Hostelry we know for our Sunday lunch, (and very delicious it was too!) (there are birds I promise!) then a visit to put flowers on my Brother, Mam & Dad's grave. After this we decided to motor on a little further to the place where I spent my childhood. So, parking the car at the side of the Canal I used to play beside, we walked the along the tow path. On the opposite bank and in the water were a flock (is that the right word??) of what must have been well over 200 we reckoned, Canada Geese! & boy, can they make a noise!! photo is just some of 'em, wish I had a wide-angle lens!! amongst them a lone Swan, a sad look about it, to be alone! A Grey Heron flew past overhead, on his way to who-knows-where. Lots of Barges chuntered by with a cheery word exchanged with each helms-person. Walking further along there were lots of Swallows skimming the water and darting round the fields, still didn't manage a photo, they're far too quick for me, and I nearly toppled into the canal whilst trying!! Further along a lone Gull (Black Headed??) perched on a post, looking lost all on his own, wonder where all his mates were? We then left the Canal bank and climbed up on to the lane, to make a circular walk back to the car. This lane took us past the little country Chapel where Hubby and I were married, the Sages say 'you should never go back' don't they? in this instance they were right! Oh dear! the little Chapel is no more!! it's been converted to a house, and not a very good conversion either, an eyesore IMO!! Further along and here is what used to be the little cottages where I spent most of my child/girlhood, where I was married from, and the house next door in which we spent our early married years. Both my children were born here and Christened in that same little Chapel!! Both cottages totally changed and unrecognisable to us as the places we knew and loved! The farm where my Dad and Brother worked, being sold off in pieces for Barn conversions etc., as is happening or going to, to almost every farm around there, some of the fields where I played as a child, and that were once busy with cattle, hay & cereal crops, now lying fallow, rank with weeds, unused, unwanted..........all so very sad..........:-C
On a happier note we saw lots more Swallows skimming over the fields, and a lovely charm of about 20 Goldfinch twittering from tree to tree. On now past the Telephone box on the corner, where I and the local teenagers used to gather (and annoy the neighbours I've no doubt!) and back to where we left the car.
As we drove off, a Kestrel hovered over the field, with another perched on a post in the field!! stopped the car, jumped out, grabbed camera from boot........you guessed it.........gone!! Drove on a bit further, rounded a bend, and there he/she was perched on the wire!! grabbed the camera, and managed two shots through the car windscreen, before it was off again on its hunt for dinner.
Well, a good lunch, a lovely walk in the country, and a Bittersweet afternoon spent with our memories of happy times..........not a lot of birds seen, but enough to cheer me.... hope I didn't bore you too much with my ramblings........
(To add a footnote, you're right Bill, there are lots and lots of Berries about this year, plenty seen on this walk!)
I'll leave you with some photos..........
My Best to You All,
Hi All,
Yesterday, instead of the local walk we planned, we decided to motor out to a little Hostelry we know for our Sunday lunch, (and very delicious it was too!) (there are birds I promise!) then a visit to put flowers on my Brother, Mam & Dad's grave. After this we decided to motor on a little further to the place where I spent my childhood. So, parking the car at the side of the Canal I used to play beside, we walked the along the tow path. On the opposite bank and in the water were a flock (is that the right word??) of what must have been well over 200 we reckoned, Canada Geese! & boy, can they make a noise!! photo is just some of 'em, wish I had a wide-angle lens!! amongst them a lone Swan, a sad look about it, to be alone! A Grey Heron flew past overhead, on his way to who-knows-where. Lots of Barges chuntered by with a cheery word exchanged with each helms-person. Walking further along there were lots of Swallows skimming the water and darting round the fields, still didn't manage a photo, they're far too quick for me, and I nearly toppled into the canal whilst trying!! Further along a lone Gull (Black Headed??) perched on a post, looking lost all on his own, wonder where all his mates were? We then left the Canal bank and climbed up on to the lane, to make a circular walk back to the car. This lane took us past the little country Chapel where Hubby and I were married, the Sages say 'you should never go back' don't they? in this instance they were right! Oh dear! the little Chapel is no more!! it's been converted to a house, and not a very good conversion either, an eyesore IMO!! Further along and here is what used to be the little cottages where I spent most of my child/girlhood, where I was married from, and the house next door in which we spent our early married years. Both my children were born here and Christened in that same little Chapel!! Both cottages totally changed and unrecognisable to us as the places we knew and loved! The farm where my Dad and Brother worked, being sold off in pieces for Barn conversions etc., as is happening or going to, to almost every farm around there, some of the fields where I played as a child, and that were once busy with cattle, hay & cereal crops, now lying fallow, rank with weeds, unused, unwanted..........all so very sad..........:-C
On a happier note we saw lots more Swallows skimming over the fields, and a lovely charm of about 20 Goldfinch twittering from tree to tree. On now past the Telephone box on the corner, where I and the local teenagers used to gather (and annoy the neighbours I've no doubt!) and back to where we left the car.
As we drove off, a Kestrel hovered over the field, with another perched on a post in the field!! stopped the car, jumped out, grabbed camera from boot........you guessed it.........gone!! Drove on a bit further, rounded a bend, and there he/she was perched on the wire!! grabbed the camera, and managed two shots through the car windscreen, before it was off again on its hunt for dinner.
Well, a good lunch, a lovely walk in the country, and a Bittersweet afternoon spent with our memories of happy times..........not a lot of birds seen, but enough to cheer me.... hope I didn't bore you too much with my ramblings........
(To add a footnote, you're right Bill, there are lots and lots of Berries about this year, plenty seen on this walk!)
I'll leave you with some photos..........
My Best to You All,
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