A Walk Up Calderbrook

Spring is finally here and today was a perfect day for a brisk walk to take in some of that fresh spring air.  

As well as the air, I took in the views along my way and here are a few pictures of those very views.  Old farmhouses, sheep in the fields, dry-stone walls are all pleasing to my eye so I had to stop and take this picture.

There's always a church along the way and I love churches.  This is St. James', a Grade II listed building, on Calderbrook Road.  I'll have to go back soon and have a look round the graveyard.  I don't know why I didn't do that today because reading the headstones is definitely one of my favourite things to do.  I know, I'm odd.

There are some lovely old buildings around here and Handle Hall, another Grade II Listed building, ..

.. and its attached barn are among them.  This old building has obviously been stone blasted in the recent past and doesn't it look grand?

The view down a little side lane.

I had wandered quite a way, mostly uphill, by the time I spotted this little public footpath and as it was going downhill in the direction of home I followed it.

The path looked out over to the Pennines on the other side of the valley.

Now one dwelling I bet at one time this des res was at least three if not four cottages. Studying the frontage you can see where windows and doors have been blocked up.  The small stone plaque reads "Reconstructed by Harry Gumbley 1968".

Last picture shows Fothergill & Harvey's old and very derelict Rock Nook Mill.  Such a shame that lots of grand old buildings like these are left to fall apart, I always think they could make fantastic apartments.  Oh well, I really enjoyed  my walk today and even though the sky looks dull in the pictures it really was quite a bright and lovely day.

Until next time,

Blackberrying Along by the Canal

A couple of weeks ago now, during our walks along the local canal William had commented several times on how many blackberries there were on this stretch of the canal and that we needed to pick some.  He's partial you see to apple and blackberry pie and crumble.  So we decided we'd go blackberrying and after telling Charlie what rich pickings there would be he was up for it and eager to come with us and find himself some whoppers.

However, Charlie's excitement was short-lived and disappointment was beginning to set in. He wanted to fill his tub in the first few minutes but we had some walking to do before we would find any worth picking.

It took just a little bit of encouragement for him to carry on...

...and it wasn't long before he found a few of those wanted whoppers

Soon it was going well and the tubs began to fill up.

Unfortunately blackberrying isn't without its hazards.  At one stage Charlie reached into and under a bush and stuck his hand into a pile of nettles.  Ouch!

The fluffy clouds reflected on the water were picture perfect I thought.

  

Still going well.  I think this photo looks very autumnal.

Billy's tub was practically overflowing!  I have to say he collected the most.

On the way back now but it's difficult to stop picking blackberries once you start.  There's always just another bunch of them that catches your eye.

And one last whopper.  Look at this one, grandad!

Lots of Canada Geese.  There's always a gaggle of them here.

Halfway back to the car and a little breather was taken.  This is one of those photos that just pleases me.  Don't know why in particular that it pleases me.  It just does.

A couple of days later I made the pie and the crumble and there's still half a tub of blackberries in the freezer.

Who's a Good Boy?

Sadly, England isn’t known for its good weather and this summer our weather has been very mixed.  Mixed as in some good and some not very good at all.  So when the sun does shine the only place to be is outdoors.

Fortunately for us we have some beautiful countryside on our doorstep and mingled in there is a rich history of canals.  A walk along one of them was what we fancied this afternoon.

This stretch is part of the Rochdale Canal and runs from Sowerby Bridge in Yorkshire through into Manchester.  And that's a distance of 33 miles.  I thought it would've been more than that but that's what an information board along the way told me and I believe it.  Construction was completed in 1804.

See the fisherman up there tucked away in the shelter of one of the many old stone bridges?  He was as happy as Larry even though he hadn’t caught a thing all afternoon. This we know because William, having been an angler himself in the past, always has a little chat with the fishermen he comes across. 

The pretty view looking through one of those bridges.

It was a relaxing stopping and starting kind of a walk.  It was for Harley we did most of the stopping.  It didn’t matter. We were in no rush.

There’s plenty to see on a walk like this.  These pretty cottages have been renovated in the recent past and were still being extended and improved today.  A lovely little place to call home don’t you think?

Fluffy white clouds and blue sky reflected in the still-as-a-mill-pond water.

Along any canal you’ll find a mill or two.  This one, Fothergill Engineering, sports a very fetching clock tower.  Bit unusual that I think.

We had wandered quite a way so at this point we turned back towards home.

Dozens of grazing Canada Geese filled this field.

Harley is staying with us this week and next while Caroline and her crew are on holiday in Cornwall.  He was wandering ahead of me sniffing away at things as dogs do when I called him back to me.  I asked him to sit while I took his picture and he did!  I was delighted.  He did it more than once too.  Who’s a good boy? Harley is, that’s who!

Until next time,

The Last of January and a Thoughtful Son.

January is now behind us and February is already here.  Can somebody enlighten me please as to how that happened so fast?!

A highlight of the last few days of January for me was Afternoon Tea at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester with my lovely cousin, Sylvia.   Of course, Afternoon Tea for Two at The Hilton is a big treat and this treat was a Christmas gift to Sylvia from her ever so thoughtful son, James. 

We had window seats and this was our far reaching view over the city of Manchester as we ate, drank and chatted the afternoon away.  And boy, can we chat – we never get stuck for something to chat about.  Ever!

As dusk sneakily fell lights began to twinkle all over the city but with forecast imminent heavy falls of snow on the horizon we had to call it a day and head for the train.  However, we did make time for a glass of champagne to round off the afternoon.  Very civilized.

A quick visit to the ladies room on the way out raised a smile.  Sylvia took one look at the window graphics and quipped “don’t jump, love” before my mind had even processed what the picture was all about. She’s quick like that.  :-)  

So, what a lovely present Afternoon Tea for Two at The Hilton was!  We had a good time didn’t we, Syl?  Even dashing back through the city streets in the rain dodging the traffic was fun!

 

Now other bits and bobs now from the last of January.

I finished my patchwork table topper and I’m very happy with it.  It’s sitting on my dining room table and it makes me happy every time I see it.

George has stayed with us again.  I like this Instagram pic of him.  Relaxed and happy looking plugged into his tablet.

Another picture I snapped with my iPhone.  This time during a game of good old-fashioned draughts we played together.  We played a bit of Scrabble too.  That set of draughts is what you might call vintage now.  I’ve had it since well before I got married. 

I habitually peep my head between the curtains to look at the night sky before I get ready for bed.  This particular night the snow had begun to fall and everywhere looked so calm and peaceful I decided to capture the scene for posterity.  And with that I’ll sign off.

TTFN,

Fun in the Snow

Last weekend saw the first snowfall of the winter and there was fun to be had.

George (on the left above) stayed over with us Friday and Saturday night and had a great time with his friends out sledging both Saturday and Sunday.

Its great fun going downhill on the sledge but it can be a pain dragging the sledge back up the hill.  Especially when it’s impossible to stay upright and you end up on all fours like George.

I watched and happily took photos of them for a while and then when..

   .. they set off to find a better slope I sloped off home.  I’m so glad I got my act together on Sunday and tromped through the snow, camera round my neck, to find George and his friends and get these snaps of them.  It was fun and really not as cold as it looked.

Yesterday was another snowy day and it just so happened that William and I had to collect Charlie from school.  Leaving the car safely parked outside the house we set forth on foot.

Charlie had a great time chucking snowballs at both me and granddad on the way home.

The snowballs seemed to get bigger each time he made one.  The little treasure! 

Childhood is all too fleeting a time but these photos and this blog will help ensure that fun times like these in the snow will be remembered again and again in the future when these little boys are grown men.  And that makes me happy.

As the afternoon wore on and Charlie’s daddy came home from work William and I set off back home.

 

As we made our way carefully down the footpath kids in the fields alongside us were galloping around having a great time.

We haven’t had any snow today and there’s none forecast in the short term.  That’s okay with me.  Everything in moderation is my motto.