Second Fun Friday

ILAM

9th November 2018

 

First Fridays seem to be turning into second Fridays as first Fridays seem to be popular days for people doing other things! so here we are on the second Friday of the month meeting at Ilam at 11.03 as 11am at Ilam is a bit confusing.

We don't have Helen J to organise the weather for us but we have our fingers crossed that the rain will stay away. 

Maggie, Lynn and Charlotte aren't able to join in the fun today and Helen J is presumably fast asleep on the other side of the world.

Bob and Betty seem very pleased to see each other again but they are both a little bit disappointed when they are put back in their respective vehicles whilst the rest of us go for coffee.

 

We certainly aren't going to lose Julia today!

 

In an attempt to be well organised and efficient Helen M has printed off the walk leaflet - however on closer examination it seems that we have step 1 of the walk and then step 7,the other steps are presumably still in the printer! thankfully Alison has picked up a leaflet and is quickly given the responsibility of walk leader.

What a very responsible dog owner - just don't forget where you have left that little parcel Jo.

We are all trying to remember when the last time we visited Ilam was - Alison has a distant memory of a school trip which no one Lee can remember - apart from Julia none of us have visited recently which seems a bit of an oversight as it has much to recommend it.

 

After a bit of a false start we set off on the correct path - hard to miss when we were on the right side of the river and look we spotted some seagulls in the distance - but then we all heard a voice from very far away say 'There's no such thing as a seagull'

 

Not sure what the languages are or why those ones have been chosen.

Come on Pam its this way.....

.........not this way, although it looks quite tempting

 

For some reason Pam kept very quiet about the fact that she had a proper map in her bag - obviously reluctant to take responsibility

Bob watching the birdie and Betty ignoring it completely - or perhaps she had spotted the dipper which we kept seeing (has to be bird of the day as it is about the only one that we have spotted!)

 

 

There's no doubting who the figure in the distance is

Having reached the stepping stones the question is are we brave enough to cross them with two lively dogs in tow

Of course we are brave enough - and it was all going so well until Betty fell in and had to be rescued by Julia and we had just been talking about the risk assessment we should have completed.

On the way back the rain caught up with us but at least we had managed to stay dry for mot of the time and even though it was grey and damp everywhere looked very beautiful.

Back at the start we said goodbye to Jo and Bob who had to be elsewhere and with a soggy Betty safely in the van we headed to the  café for lunch, cauliflower and stilton soup all round.

Up coming travel plans were discussed and minor scandals were touched upon.

We had hoped to do the short walk round the grounds after lunch but decided to save it for another time 

The tables on the lawn outside looked lovely and we resolved to make this a venue for a hummer visit when we can make the most of them.

 

 

 

 

First Friendly Fun Friday

Cromford Canal

5th October 2018

 

 

Today was the first Friday of the month and therefore the start of a new movement.  The babes, keen to try out new ideas, have decided to pilot meetings on the first Friday of each month. First Fridays are, therefore, not days to forget; planning should be easier. So with date set and after quite a lot of tweaking, the venue and timings were finalised.

 

Those who could, met at Cromford Canal Car Park.  After a bit of a battle with the car park ticket button,  an understanding sorted out amongst the dogs, we finally were able to greet each other with hugs and laughter. 

 

Marvellous behaviour.

 

Someone had the bright idea of asking a passing gentleman to take a photo of all of us together.

 

Hmm.. something is amiss here. 

 

 

Helen J has either been cropped out or the gentleman needs a lesson in button pushing!  Button pushing is clearly a learned skill in the Cromford car park. 

 

Heading up towards the canal, we were met with a rather splendid display, staffed by a volunteer who seemed less than enthusiastic to inspire us.  Although he was 'badgered' later on with a caterpillar query; it appears he has perhaps volunteered for the wrong post.

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Basil, escaping a brush with the dogs.

 

Distracted by red caped children in a canoe, the pecking order of the dogs decided the walking  order of the babes too.  Betty occasionally allowed Bob to walk alongside her, a sneaky kiss too quick for the camera! Clapton, meanwhile, sporting his freshly-clipped-coat, wasn't sure whether he was supposed to get on a boat in Cromford and travel up to the Caledonian canal on a barge, or wait until he got there. Best do as Charlotte says, Clapton.

 

An eerie silence crept amongst the group as we watched a local peaky blinder at work

 

Very focussed....

 

Clearly, a dab-hand at his work.

 

We tootled along until we came to a natural stopping point. Well, we hadn't started with a cuppa, and talking is thirsty work.

 

 

It turns out that Charlotte really is Barbara Woodhouse in disguise.  With a nudge, a prod and a marvellous trick of landing a dog biscuit on his forehead, somehow Bob realises that this is the cue to sit down! Whilst Charlotte offers lots of other advice, Bob has other ideas..

 

Mrs Woodhouse can't see me from here!

 

We really hadn't given ourselves enough time for chatting or extending the walk over the bridge as we needed to find Lynn

 

Maggie would have led us on a good walk from here!

 

So, we tootled back admiring the signs of autumn

 

 

 

 

  And, as the weather was still holding up (obviously ordered in advance by yours truly), we found Lynn sitting outside the café ready and waiting for a good old catch up.

 

Press the button for the baby photo, Lynn.

 

Ahhh... wonderful news.  Jo is a grandmother.  Lots of excitement but there were times on our walk when we weren't quite sure which of her baby boys Jo was talking about; let's hope the pooping competition doesn't last for too long!

 

Lynn had lots of exciting news about her new house, her old house, her woods and storage issues.  Charlotte gave a lot of good advice.  Somehow we ended up talking about funerals again and how to avoid the high costs.  Donate to medical science, of course!  Less sure about the storage system here though as none of us wishes to lose a body part even it if is post departure.

 

Dog blood donating is apparently a thing for some dogs, especially Clapton,  but Betty was pleased to learn that she was not the requisite size, phew.   However, she made a very good attempt at giving Helen J a Brazilian butt lift.  Not a nip'n' tuck you understand; a new idea: twisted lead wrap around.

 

We then waved an early cheerio to Jo as she was off for her first grandchild hug... ahh... cute!

 

At which point, Clapton went for the cute dog award for the day

 

 

There was paltry attempt at bird-watching today, but probably, despite a valiant effort from a kestrel, the orphaned little grebe did win our affections for the day.

 

It's a bit confusing having two bird names!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calke, Walk and Talk

Resevoir Dogs

14th September 2018

 

Great organisation by Helen M meant that there were two plans in progress at the same time.  A very precise timetable for the Babes and a flexible one for the dogs.  We know that the Babes can cope with anything, but how will Betty and Bob's blind date work out? 

 

Ooops.. not a promising start!

 

At this point, we were still in 'own vehicle' territory, so a quick walk around the car park, a pop down to the water and back again, and look...

 

Perhaps some signs of acceptance.

 

And at precisely the right time on the programme for the Babes, Alison and Maggie turned up to greet Jo, the two Helens and now Betty and Bob.  Unfortunately Lynn was too busy playing musical chairs, Pam busy being the Festival and Charlotte, probably in her hot tub!  Next test.  Would the Babes be able to  have their first refreshment of the day in peace? And Julia, taking the scenic route via a different car park, arrived just in time for tea.

 

No-one in the 'dog-house' yet?

 

However, this may, in part be owing to a citronella dog tazer, especially designed to stop dog barking.  Betty only needs to be shown hers and she is obedient! For the moment,  Jo is waiting for Bob to show his true colours.  And who knows, maybe he will only need his 'updata-d'chip.   Meanwhile, it appears that Jo and Alison don't need tazers or chips, but they do have some rather pretty personalised tags.

 

We might all need one of these post-Brexit!

 

We had a  bit of catch up on holidays.  Jo's South Africa trip was very interesting, especially seen through the eyes of 'Bubbles' who at this point was safely tucked up in Helen M's van.  But where will Bubbles go next? To South America with Alison?  To New Zealand with Helen J?  Maggie at this point was very, very silent....

 

Refreshed, we set off on our walk to Staunton Resevoir Yachting Club.  Who needs a map anyway?

 

Lovely farm, but not on our bit of the map!

 

A very inviting stile.... not!

 

Bob: Not this way folks!

 

Betty: A beach too far!

 

However, we finally found the right route and ended up precisely on time at the new-ish National Trust café at Staunton Resevoir. Not to be put off by the thickening clouds, we settled into a few toasties for the Babes, some well deserved treats for the dogs and discussed the merits of home decorations, designs and do-it-yourself or get-someone-in-to-do-it-if-they-can-be-bothered. A bit of spotting: birds, then a bit of rain but....

 

A bit more rain is still needed.

 

A quick look at the windmill

Sails long since gone to the yachting club.

 

Originally built in 1798 by Lord Melbourne for £250 for milling grain,  it became derelict in the late 19th century and despite ideas for making it into an observation tower, it now just sits at the top of a mound being observed.   There were a few scratched pictures of birds on the board and some sad facts that tree sparrows had declined in the area by 90% over the last 25 years. There is a project to reverse this number, but we didn't see any, so it obviously isn't working.

 

We then chose to try out a more circular walk and set off with great confidence across fields, along an old tramway (we think!)... freshly trimmed hedgerows and ...

 

lovely smelly patches of squirrel!

 

Probably the most useless map ever!

 

Luckily, Helen M was very well prepared.  The map on her phone was working and kept us, sort of, in the right direction.

 

Babes on the bridge

 

A-maizing!

 

At this point, we had to check Jo's pockets because the corn was ready for harvesting, and we all know what she's like, especially now she has her foraging book.

 

It's definitely this way!

 

Too big for Jo's pockets!

 

Well, well, well, we are in Ticknall!

 

A bit of deja-vu!

 

There are two types of limes in Calke Park.  This wonderful lime avenue and a small leafed variety called 'Tilia cordata'. These limes are also known as 'walking limes' because the 'mother lime tree' sends out a sucker and once 'baby lime tree' has grown up it loses its 'umbilical cord' it lives independently until it too becomes a 'mother lime'..... Marvellous.  Helen J has obviously unwrapped her National Trust tree book! All we need now is some gin to go with the limes.

 

Back in the proper park, we stop to admire a kestrel displaying in the field against the backdrop of a

 

a lowbrow (not a rainbow!)

 

and back on its perch.

 

Babes in the woods

 

Woodland fairy's weather prediction

 

 

And we finally end up back at Calke for a final cuppa and a final decision on where Bubbles goes next.  Watch out for her next trip in ...... America!!!!

 

Bob and a boob!

 

37 birds for the day; most of them new to Julia.  But firsts for this year include: little egret, buzzards, willow tit (yes it was!)and greenfinch.  97 for the year... we have to find 3 more before the end of the year!  Plus a few squirrels, a couple of rats and plenty of deer. .

black headed gull

blackbird

blue tit

buzzzard

chaffinch

coal tit

collared dove

coot

cormorant

crow

domestic duck

goldfinch

great tit

greater spotted woodpecker

greenfinch

grey heron

greylag

house sparrow

jackdaw

kestrel (bird of the day)

little egret

long tailed tit

magpie

mallard

mute swan

nuthatch

pied wagtail

sparrowhawk

starling

swallow

willow tit

wood pigeon

 

Wonder if anyone will notice the amendments and additional photos after the first publication? 

 

Not sure whether this is the famous Calke 'cobweb' beetle; wouldn't like to meet the spider!

 

It's head was this big... honest!!