Matching cars

Here are Sue and Henry outside their home, in Burnley, beside their matching citroen cars - a real source of embarrassment for Joss and Hester, teenagers!

From Wycoller to Haworth

Over the past weekend, I visited my friends in Burnley, Lancashire. Sue and I were at school together and our families have been friends since then. We have seen each other's children grow up and she now has four grandchildren. When I am back in the UK, I usually try to spend a couple of days with her, so this time I was looking forward to our brief time together.

As part of our 'getting fitter' regime, Sue invited me to join her on a walk from Wycoller to Haworth, a distance of nine miles across moorland. It was a fine day and not too warm; ideal for walking. This is one of the Bronte walks, so named because the Bronte sisters (Charlotte, Emily and Anne) walked extensively in East Lancashire and West Yorshire gaining inspiration for their famous novels.

Wycoller is a popular place for a short walk, with its unusual bridges over the stream, which crosses the road, creating a shallow ford. The ruin of Wycoller Hall, believed to be the location of Ferndean Manor in Jane Eyre is next to the stream. It has a huge inglenook fireplace, and visitors are still free to roam at will all over the site.

Currently, there are several willow structures which have been errected beside the stream, including this interesting horseback rider.

Leaving Wycoller the path climbs over the moors, providing magnificent views down into the valleys, many of which have small reservoirs. Crossing over this bridge we noticed how the iron minerals in the rock had leached out, oxidizing and staining the rocks below. As we walked back onto the path, after taking this photo, we noticed how the sound of the water running under the bridge gradually grew softer and softer and we spend a few minutes walking back and forth listening to the crescendos and diminuendos created in that environment.

At the border between the two counties there is a stone plaque, which was sited in 1986, naming the path as the Bronte Way. It also contains a red rose for Lancashire and white rose for Yorkshire. I of course stood on the Lancashire side, as I was born in Blackpool.

Further along we saw these stone steps, outside Ponden Hall, which would have been used for climbing into the carriages. I had been reminded of the enormous size of these carriages when I visited Shugborough Hall with 'the mums' (previous post).

We saw plenty of sheep and lambs, so here are a few; white with black faces and feet..

...pure white...
...and all black.



We took our time and were overtaken by several hardy walkers along the way. By the time we reached Haworth, six hours later our legs were aching and we were glad of a hot chocolate in the village. This is the Haworth parsonage, where the Bronte family lived. The home is open to the public and I have been round many years ago.



Sue's husband Henry met us in Haworth and drove us back to Burnley, where a welcome hot bath was waiting for us.

The mums' birthdays

April is obviously a popular month for birthdays, in our family. My mum's birthday was on Tuesday (17th). My immediate family met up for an evening meal at my older sister Sandra's house. we shared the cooking and preparation, with me preparing a fish starter, Sandra cooking a lasagne for the main, and Wendy (younger sister) making a fruit salad and cream. We then sang the traditional 'Happy Birthday' followed by a slice of Wendy's chocolate cake. Yummy!

Yesterday both mums and I went out for the day to Shugborough Hall, the stately home of Lord Lichfield, who was the 5th Earl of Lichfield and the Queen's first cousin once removed. Patrick Lichfield was a world-renowned photographer and copies of several of his classic poses of members of the royal family were displayed in the tea rooms, where we had lunch.

The estate has upgraded in recent years to a living museum, where people dressed in Edwardian (18th century) dress re-enact and explain the servants' roles of that time. The kitchen and laundry were particularly interesting as were the 18th century shops with goods displayed as they would have been during that time.

Then today was Jose's birthday. She had many lovely presents and here she is behind some new bird feeders. Today was the first time she had made it into the back garden since her fall over a year ago. She was feeling very pleased with herself and even did a bit of pruning to one of her shrubs.

Earlier this week we visited a garden centre to buy some summer plants, which I then potted up ready to go onto her patio, when there is no longer a risk of night frost. Her favourite plants are red geraniums.

Here they are sitting on a black plastic sheet in her dining room.

Incidentally, tomorrow (21st April) is the Queen's 81st birthday. My mum and the Queen were born in the same year, 1926, only four days apart. "Happy Birthday, Maam!"

Alex's 9th Birthday

Andy's nephew, Alex was nine last Saturday. Jose (Andy's mum) and I drove to their home in Buckinghamshire (North London) for the weekend. Alex's party was on Saturday, with his friend Charlotte, whose birthday was a few days before.

Here all the friends are singing 'Happy Birthday' before they blew out the candles on the cake, which had their photos printed on top in edible icing. It also had a sparkler in the shape of a number nine. Charlotte is in the lilac top next to Alex.

A children's entertainer, called 'Cheeky Maleeky' kept them laughing with jokes, tricks and competitions for two hours, with a short break in the middle for the food. Almost all of their Y4 class came; Alex inviting the boys and Charlotte, the girls. Here Alex and Charlotte are plate spinning.

Alex has a great number plate on the back of his electric chair. He can certainly manoeuvre it defty around the room weaving around the other children. They are used to his chair as he uses it in the playground every day at school.

Jose and I were able to sit with Alex in the evening enabling Joanne and David to go out. The weather has continued warm throughout April, which is very unusual. So on Sunday we had a BBQ in the garden before driving back to Walsall in the evening. It was a lovely weekend and enabled me to spend time with Andy's sister and family, while I am here in England.

Sunset over Walsall

There is a canal very close to where Andy's mum lives. These narrow boats, as they are called, provide a tranquil and delightful setting for walking, cycling and fishing. The tow path is narrow in places, but from it many varieties of ducks, geese and even herons can be seen. I have been cycling along the path several times over the past two weeks. There have been some great sunsets over Walsall. This one was taken from the Mellish Road bridge, which is where the narrow boats are moored.

Good Friday

Every Good Friday, in Walsall Town Centre, the story of the passion of Christ is re-enacted. This year the march started from outside the new Art Gallery and proceeded down the main shopping street, finishing at a busy open area. Many Christians from local churches join the march and play the part of the crowd who followed Jesus to where he was crucified.

There are scripted parts by the Roman soldiers, Bible readings and worship songs throughout. It is an amazing opportunity to demonstrate very graphically to the shoppers the Good Friday story, which is a bank holiday in UK.

This year was especially meaningful for me, standing in the warm sunshine, singing familiar songs for the first time in a few months, and meeting up with many friends along the way.

Easter Sunrise in England

We are now back in England and staying with Andy's mum who lives in Walsall. Her bungalow overlooks fields and she regularly has horses coming up to the bottom of the garden. When the boys were younger they enjoyed feeding carrots to them over the fence.

A short walk from her home is Park Lime Pits, which used to be just that; lime workings for the local building industry. Many years ago now, they became disused and were filled with water to create a nature reserve. There are swans, geese and ducks on the lakes and paths in the surrounding woods.

The weather has been unusually warm and dry for an English Easter, and we have been able to get out into the garden and take lots of walks around Park Lime Pits. I particularly enjoyed going out early on Easter Sunday morning and seeing this spectacular sunrise. As I walked I noticed the moon through the trees. Spring in England is a wonderful season, after the cold, dark winter. Because we have been away I think I am really noticing the spring flowers, the blossom starting to appear on the trees and the wonderful birdsong.