The Hare and the Tortoise

Here we are at the lovely Indigenous Brewery
Where the wonderful Kevin is giving the boys a lesson in how to brew beer

I prefer to depart Chaddleworth and head over to Saddleback Farmshop
We have tea and scones then embark on our 5 mile walk on the Farnborough Down in glorious weather 

 We get lost, ask a farmer's wife the way, and get a lift from a workman back to the farm shop for a late lunch.  9K.  The best time of year.  Blossoms everywhere.  Hot 
Then back to Chaddleworth to collect the team and bond with Artemis.  On the way I followed a hare on the road for half a mile.  He couldn't get up the bank.  So graceful.  This is hare country.

 

Taking the boys to the brewery on a lovely Bank Holiday Monday

 I go off for a walk

 And return to witness Magg's Mild winning yet another award

Walk from Greenham Common to Bowdown Woods

Read about the woods here and the house here 
In WW2 the Wing Headquarters were located in the requisitioned Bowdown House, a mansion on the northeast end of the airfield which is now our lovely common.  

I visit the woods after a stint at the control tower on a lovely bank holiday weekend evening.

 

Wet Day in London

Massive contrast to last week in terms  of weather to last weekend.  Today we took a later train and did some business at the bank with our AH. 

Next to see her show 'Premiums' at the RA.  Fun and uplifting.  

I love Matilda Moors 

Home via Nantwich

Oranges, tea and email in my room when I awake early as ever.  Nice chat with the team at the hotel then off into the cold.  How can it be so bitter when it was so hot last week?  I know I'm nearly 200 miles north.  But still.  

The hotel is a lovely old Georgian style building surrounded by airport stuff.  Maybe you spotted it on my last post?  

So they still have road works on the M6.  Tiring and tedious.  
Breakfast at Costa at the services.  Should have waited till I got to Nantwich.  Don't rate the porridge.   

Yes, it's an 18 mile detour to Nantwich to get a till, don't ask!  Well worth while as the little town is a gem. And the sun is out.  How come I lived in the North West for the first 18 years of my life and never came here?  (as far as I can remember)  Well, it is nearly the midlands.  
The town was a salt mining area since Roman times and wich means salt house or farm, I think.  There are other wichs.  I've even been to Middlewich.  Winsford which I visited a lot to see the relatives was also a salt town.  Still is.    

Nantwich is full of history.  Tudor buildings abound.  Read more here

I am keen to look at St Mary's

 It's a marvellous place, with lots of friendly volunteers and a fine 14th C chancel

  I stop at a farm shop on the way out of town and get beers for T and an amazing cabbage.  
One more service stop, a sleepy feeling on A34, then I'm home.  T is looking after a mouse which touches me.  He found it under the dust bin and thinks it was attacked by a cat.  T has made it comfy with water and cheese but it is out of it thogh not distressed.  It's respiratory rate is 2/minute.  This is nature.  But we have done good palliative care.  
T goes to quiz and I eat the lovely farm produce.  London tomorrow.   Let's hope the mouse revives but I fear not.

My first home

Very sorry not to have any photos of central Manchester.  I was too busy feeling cold and lost.  Good thing they still have community policemen to ask.  Suffice it to say all the squares look the same but everything else has changed.  
I start with breakfast at Nero's at the airport.  Memories surface of all the trips I made when I first retired.  And that feeling of freedom. Now I'm older, tireder and vertiginous.  
Fun interactions at the station with friendly Mancunians. 
Anyway, above are photos from the People's History Museum
I met C there in the lovely Left Bank Cafe and then the lovely A came and gave me advice on our project.  Above Greenham exhibits and clever ideas re interpretation. Finally,  learn about whigs and levellers and refresh on Tolpuddle martyrs and Peterloo.  Perhaps some progress has been made despite recent blips.

Walking back from the station (ticket hazzle on train) dodging pavementless roads.  Airports are designed to make you take a taxi.  Not me!  Well, that decided me to stay in for dinner!

Leek and Macc: my usual journey

I decide to have a break in Leek.  I've driven through umpteen times and only stopped about once.  Glad I do so.  Despite lots of 60s damage, it has character and proper shops.  And every one calls me duckie.  I buy fruit and have tea in the lovely friendly Live Love Loaf.  
I also buy a granary loaf for lunch. I eat it in the car at Sainsbury's car park having visited the ancestors at Macclesfield Crem.  The rhodedendrons are out, Dad's favourite. 
 

It's closed for a refurb today but I do get to see the bird box and his stone.  I need to write a letter about the delapidation.  Misery.  But not really.

One of my homes

I'm having a whistle stop tour up North.  The first night is with the Lichfield crew.  There is a new micro pub, Bittersuite
Sadly it's close on Mondays so we end up in the Wellington
It's in new hands and has nice beer
Sadly I can only stay one night but have chance to catch up on the news.  There's going to be a grandchild.  Joy and envy!

Ready for summer

I've been very involved with a certain voluntary project but at least I have plans!  South coast and Reading Lakes here we come. 

A busy week

London twice!  First time: to meet friends from Moray.  We see the Wellcome Institute, the new Kings Cross area and Tracey Emins message for Europe see above
Midweek I'm in Shipton under Wychwood helping clear the mother in law's.  It's an interesting and quirky old place.  I always said I'd help with this.  It's a lovely day and we are in the pub garden for lunch to celebrate a birthday.  Got lost on route so it took two hours.

End of the week and it's 28 degrees.  To the RA to see the AH's show but it's shut because of roof anxiety.  Oh well, I'll have to come again.  Then I meet the very old friends and have a great catch up.  Have not seen A for two or three years.  Tea in Shepherd's Market.

And at home my wet suit has arrived.  Reading Lakes and the S coast, here I come. 

A Late Birthday Treat with The Young Ones

Breakfast! 

 I had benign positional vertigo when we were supposed to have T's bithday trip to the West Berkshire Brewery (not so benign I can tell you); thus we are here today.  B very impressed, T overpowered by size of burger.  Beers appreciated by all except the DD Ubermeg

BYT's make a mexican dinner after our walk round Yattendon and a look at the Aldworth Giants 
Then we relax with Peter Kay's Car Share, beers from the brewery and Early Doors
I hadn't twigged that this is set in Stockport, references to Birdhall Lane and Houldsworth Square make memories of going to the baths on the bus come flooding back!   
Some classic Northern wit to end the day
 

Wedding Anniversary with The Bright Young Things

We are visiting, in intermittent heavy rain showers, Stowe Gardens
L used to rave about it and now I see why.  Wish I'd gone with her instead of grumbled that it was too far.  The volunteers are everywhere and so friendly, engaging and healthy.  We are even given a lift back from the house in a buggie.  It's not that we look old; it was pouring down.  The New Inn  is fascinating, very easy to step back in time. 
A cowslip. 

Love the hermit hide out; less impressed with the opulence!
 

Victor Meldrew finds his own spot for a picnic; free of easter egg hunters 
Meanwhile the Bright Young Things are skiing at Milton Keynes, J's first lesson; she progressed.  
BTW, it's our 28th wedding anniversay, one of us remembered!