Soaked

I’m drenched. I thought the storm had passed so decided to take Barney out….I was wrong, it absolutely poured. At least Barney found it entertaining, he was trying to catch the rain!

We were a little more lucky with the weather this weekend. I spent a lovely couple of days in the company of Voley and we managed quite successfully to dodge the showers for long enough to go for two afternoon strolls with our cameras. On Saturday we drove to Nantwich and followed the Riverside Loop, a circular walk which takes you along the River Weaver and the Shropshire Union Canal. I was feeling a little lazy with my camera so I don’t really have any good pictures of the walk, but you can view Voley’s photos here.

Sunday saw us drive further into Cheshire to Capesthorne Hall and Gardens where we ambled through bluebell woods and around the lake before looking around the Hall and then having the compulsory afternoon tea and huge slab of cake! Some photos are below, with the rest here. It was rather amusing seeing a cat being turned on and chased by a flock of sheep- Voley has some better action shots here.

The Gardens

The Bluebell Woods

The Lake

Pet Cemetery

Watchful sheep

Sheep turn on cat

(Sorry about the formatting, blogger doesn't seem to want to let me move things around today)

Getting in training

I thought it was about time I got in some training for my fast-approaching climb of Snowdon, so last Monday I spent the day walking around Cannock Chase and Shugborough with Jill (and her dogs which, being significantly smaller than Barney, I kept tripping over). It was a beautiful day, though a little hot for my liking at times, and I even spotted deer in the woods. A few photos are below, the rest are here.

Through the woods above Milford Common

I love all the different shades of green

Grazing deer

This tree trunk looks like it has a face in it

Looking back along the canal from Shugborough

What happened to the slightly more delicately phrased 'Mind the child'?

These boots are made for walking

I've bought some new walking boots today. Why?....well, to go walking in of course. Firstly, it may be OK during the muddy winter months to be walking Barney in a pair of Smarties-patterned wellies, but I may start to look a little daft(er) in them once the weather starts to improve. Secondly, I'm going to be climbing Snowdon so possibly need something a little more substantial.

Last year I stupidly organised (and so had to take part in) a sponsored abseil to raise money for the charity for which I work. I was not keen on heights (or dangling from said heights on the end of a rope) before I abseiled; I'm no keener since, so this year's sponsored event had to involve keeping my feet firmly on the ground (please, no comments about someone having fallen from the Pyg track earlier this month). Bungee jumping and skydiving were completely out of the question......and the person who suggested swimming with sharks for next year's event can seriously think again!

There will be a team of around 30 of us taking part in the climb and I can't wait.... I love walking (though I'm not so keen on hills, which doesn't bode well!), I love North Wales and I love raising money for my charity. I'm also looking forward to being able to put to good use my recently purchased zoom lens. I hope the weather is good- I know from spending a great deal of my childhood holidaying in Snowdonia that invariably the mountains are shrouded in mist or fog. It will be a real shame if we reach the top and can't see anything! It will be fantastic to be back in Wales again though, it's way too long since I was last there- I have probably only been back half a dozen times since leaving Bangor University 15 years ago.

So, I now just need to get some hill/ mountain walking practice...I want to be the first to the top, not the last!

The post with no name

How has your weekend been. Mine's been fairly relaxing, apart from having to do the housework and chase Barney round the garden a few hundred times (and fish him out of the pond a couple of times too).

I had my friends over on Saturday. It all started so civilised, I had even baked cakes for the occasion...then Barney decided to make an entrance. Within the space of 30 seconds he had caused absolute chaos, weeing on my friend's foot (fortunately he saw the funny side!) and then tipping over a vase of lilies that were on my hearth- it took me quite a while to remove the orange pollen stains from my pale coloured carpet. Fortunately, Barney redeemed himself the next day, after his disgraceful(!) behaviour, by being impecably well-behaved on his first walk. I'm sure it won't last!

Today, I've been for a walk and nearly got stampeded by a flock of sheep. I decided against walking through the field of cows.

Just before their friends decided to stampede

Safely on the other side of the fence

I have a busy week at work ahead. Last week I took a group of 30 disabled children and young people to Camelot Theme Park, trained a group of volunteers, learned how to change a colostomy and urostomy bag (not my own I hasten to add), and got asked out by a lecherous coach-driver...let's see if this week can be any more bizarre.

Sponsored walk

I've been on an eight mile sponsored walk today. We went on a circular route starting at Milford Common which took us over Cannock Chase, through the Sherbrook Valley, along the Trent and Mersey Canal, through the Shugborough Estate and then back to Milford. The views across the Chase were magnificent, but unfortunately we spotted no deer. I don't do enough walking- when I do go I love it, but I just never seem to get round to it. Perhaps today will give me the motivation to do more.


Trent & Mersey Canal


I wouldn't argue with him!


View from the top of the Chase


Essex Bridge-the longest packhorse
bridge in England


Moi!