Grey days and holidays

With just an odd bit of sunshine thrown in

My photos are in reverse order again so I may as well work backwards on the days too!

Sunday - currently awaiting the sight of the sun  it’s now 3:15 and we are sat inside as it’s too grey and miserable outside.  I have a cup of tea and have just finished reading Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan, one man’s account of his life in Italy in WWII, harrowing in places but well written. Prior to settling with my book I did the ironing whilst Peter went for a walk.  I needed a break from walking as my sciatic nerve pain have been quite bad since yesterday.  Think we have walked just a bit too much this week.

The last in a series of knits for a friend was finished on Saturday

Saturday morning was grey, I did washing (including hats, scarves and gloves) and housework then after lunch we headed out for a walk with coats.  As you can see from the above photos we saw the sun which was a pleasant surprise, as were the cycling cavemen and dinosaurs who wobbled their way across the meadow to the next watering hole.  Obviously stag weekends are back. Gave us a good laugh anyway.

The sun stayed with us through till after dinner which we enjoyed in the garden

Friday we went to Grafham Water with Rachel and the grandkids, it was cold, cold to the point we had hot chocolate, though the children happily ate ice cream. They had fun though on the play equipment and we gamely sat by the water and ate a picnic lunch 

It really is hard to believe it’s August and a holiday weekend too boot, the last public holiday before Christmas.  The children are back at school on Thursday, what’s the bet the weather improves.  I’m really not ready for autumn and I love autumn but that’s usually after a summer where we have enjoyed some sunny days and warm evenings. I have even made an Oxtail casserole for dinner as we fancied something warming, how sad is that

Wimpole Estate

What shall we do today I asked this morning. Another National Trust Property?  We are lucky to have a number within a short drive from home, so decided on Wimpole Hall and Estate. 

We checked the forecast grey but dry.  There was a stiff breeze but we aren’t ready to give up the shorts yet but took a fleece just to keep the top half warm.

Wimpole is very popular with families as they have a working farm and lots of animals about so we knew it would be busy. So we decided we would walk the parklands rather than venture near the house/gardens or farm.  We have never actually walked the parklands and you can see on the map below there are a number of marked trails. We decided on the South View walk marked in red and the Woodland walk marked in yellow 

There were some great views from the higher points over the surrounding farmland. Also lots of wildflowers still about

Above is the remains of the old folly which we will view on another visit as our walk took us up and past.

Below you can see the back of the hall in the distance

Our lunch stop, chair for two

 I love the chimney pots on the cottages in Wimpole, this one is quite plain compared to some in the village

We had a great walk, just over 8 miles. Peter is already planning the walk for the next visit, he plans on adding the black route - Chalk Ridge walk which is another 4.5 miles!

What we did on Tuesday

Tuesday started with a trip to the supermarket for a few supplies.  I picked up a bunch of alstroemeria to which I added a fair bit from the garden, making what I hope is a pleasant arrangement, I like messy, unstructured arrangements! 

Once I'd finished faffing with flowers and the shopping was packed away we donned our walking shoes and headed out for a stroll. We headed through Hemingford Abbots and around the back of the meadow to bring us out onto Eastside Common then back into Abbots then along the river back home.  It was a good stretch and just about the right temperature with a light breeze.  Good to be seeing the sun again. More signs of autumn were visible and the berries are starting the change colour and become more noticeable in the hedgerows.  The river was being cleared of excess foliage so gave us pause as to stood and watched the two boats working.

After lunch Manda came for a visit and we put the worlds to rights for a few hours.  Never short of things to talk about. Peter said all he could hear from inside was us laughing in the garden!

I seem to be on a roll now with my knitting having finished the Emma Asked cardigan and fashioning a matching hat.  I'm now working on another Pekapeka pattern - Composite which is a little lacy cap sleeved top, again another free pattern for the first size.

Today, Wednesday, I'm meeting s friend for coffee this morning but nothing else planned.  I expect there will be a walk during the day at some point.  Have a good day, catch you later