A few recently taken snapshots of some usual and unusual waterfowl spotted on the JCB Lake at Rocester.
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A few recently taken snapshots of some usual and unusual waterfowl spotted on the JCB Lake at Rocester.
It was a bit of a damp and muddy walk on Tuesday morning but it was good to be out in the fresh air.
There were lots of signs of Spring.
Whilst I was sifting through my mum's old photos and envelopes full of certifcates, newspaper clippings, diaries, recipe note books and other stuff looking for specific photos I came across this one of me and her. It's old and not too clear but I like it. I must have been three or even four perhaps? So taken in 1953 or 1954. I have no idea. I was always clutching a teddy, I didn't like dolls very much.
What I was actually looking for were photos of my Mum in the outfit she bought to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace. The year was 1965, the month was May. My mum was chosen to represent our village W.I. The garden party was being held to mark the Golden Jubilee of the National Federation of Women's Institutes. Each village or area had a chosen representative from their W.I. group and they all met locally and travelled on a special bus down to London.
I remember her posing for the photographs in her navy blue and pink outfit which had to fit the specifications laid down in the instructions that came with her invitation. Size of hat, must have gloves, bag not too big but large enough for a pac-a-mac - just in case. Umbrella? I can't remember what the weather was like that day but I expect if it had been raining she would have said.
This was taken on our front lawn near the Lilac tree which was so beautiful in May. I've always loved Lilac and the scent of it always brings back memories of this one.
All for now.
The snow has gone now and has been replaced by wet and windy weather. Before the snow finally disappeared we walked across the local fields just a street and a half away from home. It's good to have so much open space between us and the city centre.
It was a beautiful sunny day even though it was cold.
It's back for one last flurry, I hope, before Spring finally settles in for a month or two.
Weather warnings are out, gritters are probably out on the main roads but I've no idea as we won't be going anywhere for a while. Up on our hill we rarely see the gritters now the bus service is no more.
Tuesday was an exquisite day, sunny, dry and cold but with the promise of Spring. We walked across the nearby fields and down towards the park where Daffodils and Snowdrops sparkled in the sunlight. The next day all had changed as is the weather's wont especially on the cusp of seasonal changes.
We shopped on Monday morning and have enough vegetables to make a warming casserole which will last two days. The left overs from today will be topped with mashed potato and swede and turned into a vegetable 'shepherd's' pie tomorrow.
The bird feeders have been topped up ready for the flurry of birds that will visit mid-morning and early afternoon.
The sky has lightened slightly but it is still snowing so there is no chance of a walk today.
All for now.
Last Thursday we went up to Ford Green Hall and Nature Reserve to see if we could spot the green or ring-necked parakeets that have been seen there. Paul saw one fly across the pool but I missed it as I was taking a photo of a swan on the water. We may go up there again soon to see if we can see them.
We'd visited the reserve ages ago (well before Covid) and it has been much improved since then with lots of paths and boardwalks. I suppose lots of us ask now 'was it before or after the pandemic?' as a judgement of time.
You can walk right around the pool now with many new paths off the main one to explore.
Ford Green Hall is a seventeenth century farmhouse and probably one of the oldest buildings in the city. It used to be run by Stoke City Council but is now run by a charitable organisation led by volunteers. We'd hoped to go inside as it was a day on wich it was supposed to be open but there were notices up to inform visitors that it was closed for a wedding that day. We will return soon and hopefully go inside and also see parakeets at the reserve too.