Raindrops keep falling

Raindrops keep falling.

Friday 14th July 2023  or near enough.

A shout out to meet up, was mostly met with... 'another county or country is calling'. But having not seen each other since snowdropping in February, and  not put off by the weather forecast, Alison and I met at Allestree Park. 

With full wet kit on, we needed to find beauty on a drab day. So although Allestree House may need lots of tlc, Alison found subtle shades of pink amongst the grey quite appealing. 

Well, stone me! 

'Tis not even a pretty puddle 😆

We chatted about the cost of living and what it was like, back in the day,  paying off a mortgage of around 15%, made affordable by making up a flask and sandwiches, finding last minute holiday deals and camping... everywhere, throughout the year!  Pleased not to have to go on strike to get our well earned 10.1% state pension rise this  year though. 

Walking through the trees, a lot, meant when we got a view, albeit in low cloud, we could still see far away. And if you haven't been to the Park recently, the old greens are now brown, 

That's a fair way🤭

Back in the woods,  just to prove we'd met up, Alison obliges.. 

Yep, rain's down, hood up! 

We finally head to the Little Shed at Allestree for our well earned brunch. To the amusement of other customers in summer dresses and sandals (yep, really), we peeled off our wet kit and settled down to dry off and check out the menu. And were our eyes deceiving us?

Can't think why we gave the Puppaccino a miss!! 

We chatted about all sorts  but the only thing of real significance was Alison going off-grid; she has the app but not the sunshine, not today anyway.  🌞

We talked about where everyone else was and whether they were all faring with better weather? 

Perhaps not, Helen M in Yorkshire!

The grass is greening up nicely though. 

Wonderful Wharfedale in the Yorkshire monsoon season.

There was a hint of a rainy festival photo heading my way at one point  but I think, at the time of writing, Janice and Pam were actually not at the same one so...

🎪 👢☂💃☔👢🎪

That'll do ! 

Jo was en route back from rural life abroad and catching up a bit of culture, finding the only cool spot in Spain. 

A pretty cool building...

Charlotte, Julia and Lynn all busy too. But no one was as busy as Maggie under blue skies, again. As we know she'd already launched a rocket earlier in the week but here she is  bird watching at Rosscarbery at the exact moment Alison and I were brunching.  Maggie having a turn... 

 At watching  terns diving (our only bird for the day!)

And to round off, here's a lovely water feature

My first ever water lily!! (So proud)