Bubbles in the Baltic

Bubbles Blog from a boat on the Baltic

On Friday 30^th March I experienced an extremely exciting start to the trip - I am a thrill seeker you know and I really enjoyed being posted from Stanley Common through Royal Mail to Ridgeway as a small parcel and arrived just in time. Wow! That was fun. I didn’t get flattened like Flat Stanley

I needed a drink at the Britannia Park Country Hotel – It was Friday night you know. 

I managed to eat my big breakfast at the airport – actually I didn’t manage all of it I had to share with Jo! 

I loved flying in the aeroplane to Helsinki. I had a window seat – lucky me.

Day 1 and 2 Helsinki.

We arrived safely at our hotel beside the harbour in Helsinki.
I have never seen frozen sea before and this is from the 14^th floor of the Carillion Hotel (which was surprisingly finished!). The ice breakers had to go out in front of the ships every day!

 

A visit to Helsinki - The land of giants!  

 

What a poser outside the Parliament building.

About to set sail for St Petersburg.     

Day 3 St Petersburg

Comfortable travelling by coach.      

First views of St Petersburg were a bit grim.

 

The winter palace and the hermitage across the frozen Neva River.

 

Met some of the locals. Happy days!

 

Afternoon trip to Peterhof - the Summer Palace

 

  However - very cold in winter. Blue tits abound.

 

Putin’s palace! The haves…

                                                             …….the have nots.

They are hoping that the World Cup is still coming.

 

 

Back aboard the Anastasia

Day 4  Tallinn 

 

 

Every 5 years they hold a mega singing festival which rumour has it helped them to win the war. Just like the Sound of Music. The Estonians love to sing.

The founder Gustav Ernesaks with a snowball in his eye! 

Very tempting to stay and play in the snow. 

 

Me posing happily as always in snowy Tallinn

 

         

Lovely medieval town and happy people from olden yore

A tasteful view of McDonalds for a catch up with the map, a latte and free Wifi!

 

                       The medieval town walls.                            

The park and no sign of rain

Back on board for a beautiful sunset.

 

Day 5 Stockholm   

Home of the ABBA museum!!

 

A guided tour by bus around the city

 The changing of the guards with the new recruits and full marching band.

Medieval Church

 

What a wonderful sculpture garden in an elite residential area. Sculptures by Niki de Saint Phalle (who is French!)

    Quite a lot of topical potholes

The beautiful square. I thought I was posing on a mountain of rubble but it was the snow clearance that had been 10 metres high before the thaw!

Back on the ship and tried feeding the seagulls.

Art from the deck. Very complimentary colours.

 

Day 6 Back in Helsinki

Early morning swim. I stayed with Pinkie and Noir

The obligatory coach tour of the city

 

Day 7 Helsinki

 

a trip to the Athenian Art Museum

Here are some painters I recognised.

Off back to the UK. Super flight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Horsley, Coxbench and Holbrook

 

Clapton’s courageous countryside walk
23^rd April 2018

With a day to remember: George of the dragon, William with his wordiness and now the unnamed 5^th in line, it was only right that some of the babes should celebrate with a walk in the countryside.  Alison, Jo, Helen J and Charlotte with Clapton met on a well tendered triangular patch of grass outside St Clement’s church in Horsley.  The walk started at a Grade 11 listed structure; an ornate 1864 fountain called Sophia, named after the Rev Hervey Wilmot-Sitwell’s daughter.  Thank goodness he didn’t name it after himself!

A few more Grade 11 beauties: leaning, not listing

 

Before setting off on one path, we took another towards the church.  It was open, warm, had coffee, a loo and some rather lovely welcoming local folk.

 

St. Clement is behind yew…

  

Clapton was accepted into the church and patted by two men in dog-collars, which obviously is a sign of great significance.  

 

Remembering that we had actually chosen a different path for the day, we set off on our jaunt across the fields. Jobs were issued out amongst the group: Alison: route checker; Jo: lister; Charlotte hanging on.. or letting go and Helen J well, being me.

 

Yep, we’re in a field.
 

Yep, we’re in another field, looking at other fields.
 

Ignoring the red lantern under a tree in the middle of a field (clearly a rural affair), we navigated our way through squeeze stiles, kissing gates, wooden stiles  and gaps in hedges towards Coxbench.
 

Come on Clapton, just one more step.
 

Passing down a rather lovely lane with a mix of wild and tame flowers, we came across St. Anthony’s well.  In 1611 this water was believed, by the monks, to have healing properties, but as 'nun' of them are around now, it clearly didn’t work.

 

Not even Clapton was tempted to a slurp.
 

And the remains of Horsley castle were not very impressive either.
 

Which is why it is now in Coxbench

 

We passed under the A38 and over a disused railway line, admiring some of the lovely building conversions.

 

Clapton’s courageous kiss

 

But buildings aren’t the only conversions.  Although not very spectacular but considered a Derbyshire treasure, we came across some ‘Flint Knapper Bays’.  Over 200 years ago, large boulders were brought to these bays by horse drawn carts, they were then chipped away to produce flints for use in road bases.  Having fallen into disrepair, they are now restored as wild flower beds.  It’s a pity they haven’t been restored to their former glory as we are all fed up with driving on what is left of the road.

 

 

Following some very detailed instructions, we found our paths

 

Along the path to ‘High Lund’
 

Over the bridge in ‘The Dumble’

 

We spot the perfect den for a dragon

 

whilst coaxing Clapton between the horses

 

And into Holbrook village, where we spotted a very patient Helen M, a babe just doing lunch for a day. She assures us this will not be habit forming.

 

 

 We had a lovely catch up, a good lunch of toasties and raised a cappuccino, oh and two lattes and oh, two Americanos to Lynn.  A text message from Maggie confirmed she was also having coffee at a marvellous café on the M5.

 
 

Part 2 route planning in progress

 

 And whilst Helen M made it quite clear that she did not want her photo taken, a quick pencil sketch (under the table) was drawn instead.

What a marvellous likeness!

 

 

It was all too soon before we had to say our goodbyes, but not before Helen M gave the May birthday babes their presents.  So, with rucksacks well and truly laden, the adventure continued.

 

Down dried- out lanes

Atop ankle testing tussocks

Avoiding a submerged cattle grid

This was rather pongy stuff which stayed with us for some time, until we realised that Clapton had two muddy (loose term) paws!

Continuing now on a busy road, we headed back up to St. Clement’s.

 

And just incase one didn’t know what to look for…

 

 Inspiring!

 

 Stile to nowhere

Steps to somewhere

 

 

So, back from whence we had come, we arrived back at the beginning.  A lovely day, with good walking weather, good friendship and after a four and a half walk, one clapped out dog!

 

Impressive verges, added to Jo’s floral list:

 

blackthorn

bluebells

celandine

daisy

dandelion

dead white nettle

forget-me-not

groundsel

lady's smock (also known as cuckoo flower)

laurel (in flower)

lesser stitchwort

periwinkle

primroses

queen anne's lace

ramson

rattle

shamrock

shepherd's purse

speedwell

violet

wild garlic

wood anenomes

(23)

 

And, ever eagle-eyed, she also spotted this little beauty amongst the dandelions:
 

Smock fit for a lady

 

 

A slightly disappointing bird list for the time of year, but we still managed some firsts:

  

black headed gull

blackbird

blue tit

buzzard

chaffinch

chiffchaff*

crow

goldfinch*

great tit

green woodpecker** (A GB first?)

house martin*

jackdaw

long tailed tit

magpie

pheasant

robin

swallow*

wood pigeon

 

 Front to back bird!
 

 

18 for the day, plus our first Rhea!  Courtesy of possible earlier data entry error**, we now have 97 as our running total; only 3 more to go!  Those marked * are first for this year… good hirondine  spotting in the cool air.  If only Helen M had walked with us, we might have also seen a treecreeper and grey wagtail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chatsworth chit chat

Chatsworth Unwrapped

23rd March 2018

 

 

Maggie, Jo, the Helens and Betty babe were able to park, for free (yes, really) at the Calton Lees car park (yes, you heard it correctly, free parking at Chatsworth), at an average time of 1015 precisely.  Unfortunately Lynn was tied up with her immobile phone and Charlotte had sad family matters to attend to. Alison and Pam both on slippery slopes elsewhere ….but only one of them was skiing.

Skilled at multi-tasking, the babes managed hugs, greeting a wildly enthusiastic Betty, booting up, downing our thermos flask hotties, allowing Maggie her early birthday pressies and all whilst listening to Jo’s very exciting news.  But we all agreed that announcements, via any form of social media, is in bad taste, so those not present, will have to wait.

 

Hmm, a very tasty finger, Maggie!

 

With a near spring in our step, and Jo ever ready with her notebook, we set off up the hill. A somewhat serious discussion about Derby City Council’s spending patterns was fortunately interrupted by the natural beauty of our surroundings.

 

Come on, get a ‘spurge’ on!

 

Lacy moss

 

Older, alder, elderly or just ancient

 

There was absolutely no urge or odd sense of duty to collect any of the alder cones, but we were full of admiration for the age of tree.  A pair of rather dashing grey wagtails drew our attention further upstream

 

Blurry splash of yellow = grey

 

But clearly, not all things were bright and beautiful and there was a clear message for any errant sheep.

 

Ewe have been warned.

 

 

Part way up the hill, with no reference to the monster (see previous blog), and now wishing we hadn’t worn quite so much clothing, we stopped to admire the view and noted that winter was still lingering; the garden  daffodils very much cloaked in their greenery.

 

Daffodils in camouflage.

However, once through the gate and into the field, distinctive sounds of spring greeted us with bleats, a few aahhhs and some well contained woofing.

  

I fear a nursery rhyme coming on

 

But our newly found spring didn’t last long, and winter re-greeted us on the other side of the hill. 

 

 

Ice, ice, baby…

 

And our biggest challenge yet, was to cross the muddy trenches without falling over.  Maggie would have been alright, she had come prepared with a spare pair of trews… as one gets older….

 

One giant step for womankind…

 

We had some rather good views of deer, but sadly despite showing a lot of light cloud this photo didn’t make the grade for BBC weather watchers photo (beaten by a row of poplars from Belper!)

 

Oh, deer

 

Oh, deary me

 

Having thoroughly cleaned our boots, we headed to Edensor café and had a marvellous lunch of butternut squash soup or omelette. Despite the occasional whiff of the countryside coming from under the table, Betty did behave herself, allowing us to chat about some of our usual things without fear of finger pointing.

 

A babe between two …..

 

With a nesting mistle thrush and jay greeting us on the way out, we saw this as a good omen and headed off towards the river to see if we could catch a few more birdies. Whilst Betty occupied herself with sticks, the binoculars were out for some testing birding.  Birds identified by sound, can be counted; but even better when seen: greater spotted woodpecker, what a beauty.  But the 98% certainty of a flock of linnet, leaves listing in doubt.

 

 A disappointing flowercount ‘in the field’

 

The one and only celandine

 

Was more than made up for by those ‘in the tub’

 

 

 

Birds, babes and flowers… a purrfick day

We rounded off the day with a cuppa, chatting quietly amongst ourselves when the queues suddenly lengthened.  We’d missed a trick!  Free refill tea and coffee from 1530 onwards!  But as we didn’t fit the age profile (honest) we will leave that to another time… in the future!

 

A good haul today….

 

blackbird

black headed gull

blue tit

canada goose

chaffinch*

coal tit*

crow

dunnock

great tit

greater spotted woodpecker*

grey heron

grey wagtail* (bird of the day)

jackdaw

jay

long tailed tit

magpie

mallard

mandarin*

mistle thrush* (on nest!)

moorhen

nuthatch*

pheasant*

pied wagtail*

redwing*

robin

sparrowhawk* (possibly seen in woods, definitely seen by HM & JK on exit)

woodpigeon

 

27 for the day; 10* new for the year brings our annual total to 49 and our running total at 96…. Only four more to go!