Crikey it's hot in Kedleston
9th May 2024
What a scorcher of a day! Perfect for refreshments outside and no wasps.
Good to have so many of us together; some haven't seen each other for eleven months! We must do better was the general agreement but as we continue to be so busy, we just have to keep our fingers crossed. Welcome to Bob too. lovely of you to join us. A good substitute for all the absent babes.
Lots of catching up to do but we still managed to return to our old favourites. We need to be careful when booking our holidays to try and support the local economy by eating out. A bit difficult on a cruise made harder by not being able to sneak a wine box or two on board.
We chatted about how to stay healthy. Apparently Statins are an absolute must. A show of hands showed 5 on vs 2 not on! And those young influencers? Who knew that cottage cheese without pineapple could be so tasty and good for you! But most of us are 'old skool'.. if it looks and smells ok, the furry stuff is cut off, and the egg test works, who cares about whether it's out of date or not. Well, Julia might....
I've forgotten the one we talked about the most... umm... it'll come to me in a minute. Haha!
Julia and Bob needed to escape to bathe in Bath. Hope they get the right one.
Charlotte laid claim to needing to leave too... but , perhaps she just needed a different chair.
So, the Croots crew (last blog, remembe?r) set off ..
Our sauciest moment up to this point.
We wondered what awaited us!
Ahh, perhaps they meant the wild garlic: a bit of an aphrodisiac so I've heard.
Mmm.. take in that smell!
The walk needed to be brisk so that we could get back for lunch, so hardly any birding time. However, I revealed a bit of a short cut. Merlin the bird app, reveals all sorts of birds if it listens properly. No good if everyone is chatting though or the birds are distant. Good to get the Blackcap properly identified. Nuthatch didn't need the app but it did try a bit of hide and seek. The app'll keep Pam entertained for a bit.
We did the long walk, with a quick burst up to the Splash Pool and then along the river before a spot of lunch indoors, so we could cool off!
So, were any of our absent babes having decent weather too? Blue skies suggest some were.
Jo reporting from Wiltshire
Where's the Westbury White Horse gone?
There he is.. have a piece of apple xx
Helen M reporting from Lake Como
Yesterday's view
Today's view!
Being photo bombed by a sculpture at Villa Carlotta.
I think we all need a bit of cool down now in the Splash Pool!
Bird list for the day. Mostly seen, some App ID
Canada geese
Jackdaw
Greylag
Mute Swan
Oystercatchers screeching around
House Martin
Swallow
Green Woodpecker (distant call)
Chaffinch
Blackbird
Mistle thrush
Robin
Blackcap (with app)
Dunnock (with app)
Chiffchaff
Great tit
Blue tit
Wren
Song thrush (with app)
Tufted duck
Great crested grebe
Coot
and a black Kite from Italy!
