Way down upon the Swaneee River

Good morning. A trip down the motorway was planned for yesterday. I went to visit my sister in Burton upon Trent. Thankfully the weather was kind to us and we had a lovely walk through Stapenhill Gardens, and along the River Trent. There are swans, ducks, geese, and other birds in abundance here. Very shortly the leaves will have all fallen as the trees go to sleep for the winter. 

The spite at St Peters Church is visible behind the trees. I'll put a video of that in the next post. 

Swans everywhere. Watch the video if you want to see more. 

See Stapenhill Gardens, the Ferry Bridge a pedestrian walkway to the town, and the road bridge over the river. 

It was a lovely day out. My sister made a deeelishus meal, I left at 7pm and was home for 9pm. The journey there and back was stress free and I was able to maintain the 70mph limit for most of it. It is a good idea to plan a journey at the times when the commuters are not going about their daily business. 

Looks like another nice day today. I'll get some computer work done this morning then do a local walk this afternoon. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona  

A walk over the Humber Bridge - part 3

I'll finish this mini series of Humber Bridge posts, first with a video I made while taking a break on Hessle Foreshore. A look at the bridge from ground level.  Excuse me looking a bit blank, I was waiting for people to walk past me. I allowed myself half an hour to get back to the other side, knowing that darkness was about to envelope the whole scene and blot out the views. 

About half way across. 

Arrived at the steps going off the bridge and down to the roadside where my car was parked. A patrol car was parked there, the driver watching me as I lined up some shots. This one to include the sign. 

This one without the sign. 

I don't normally come to Barton in the dark, so I took this opportunity to drive around and look for some more angles to photograph. 

This is the start of the long distance path, The Viking Way. It starts on the River bank close to the bridge. I haven't seen a cafe there before, it must have recently opened. 

And so to home. A lovely afternoon out, thoroughly enjoyed it. 

We'll catch up soon. Toodle pip. ilona

A walk over The Humber Bridge - part 2

I was chatting to a chap yesterday while we were in the middle of the bridge watching the boat struggle through the sandbank. He told me that for a long time, a walk over the bridge was on his bucket list. He had come from Nottingham on a day out to tick this one off. I pointed a few landmarks out to him and gave him a bit of background on the Cement Works. He was happy with that. We parted company as he was on his way back to his car on the South Bank. 

Half way across the bridge are four artworks, painted by local children. They got the whole school to take part in this project, to celebrate 40 years since it was built. These four winners have been blown up really big. The rest of the entries are displayed on four boards at the Hull end of the Bridge. These are fantastic. Here is the story behind the competition. 

I found a bench on the North Bank and had my cheese sandwich and coffee. This was a welcome change from my usual bottle of flavoured water. I made a video from that spot, which I shall put on tomorrow. 

This boat was on it's way upstream to one of the docks. The tide was fully in now so there is no problem with sandbanks. 

I was hoping for a spectacular sunset but there was too much low cloud. The Autumn colours in the Country Park are nice though, as viewed from above. 

This short video is the view from the bridge just after leaving the Barton end. 

There are a few more pictures of the bridge lit up, it was dark when I got back to the South Bank. 

We'll catch up tomorrow. Toodle pip.  ilona

A walk over the Humber Bridge - part 1

Have I had a lovely day today? I knew it was going to be good the moment I set foot on the Humber Bridge. It was warm, no coat needed, it was sunny with a few clouds, and no wind. Something told me I was going to enjoy the walk over the bridge. 

The footpath wasn't too busy, a few families, cyclists, dogs, and runners were out. And I chatted to two lovely ladies. They were from the North bank and were going to Barton for a bimble. I met them again on the way back. They had enjoyed their day and so had I. 

The Tile Works looked busy, the car park was nearly full. There is a restaurant, a visitor centre, and shops. A nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon. All of that was flooded a few years ago when there was a tidal surge. it's good to see they have recovered and are open for business. 

Can you see me mother. 

I stopped in the middle of the bridge to watch a boat that appeared from underneath it. 

I've checked the name on Marine Traffic and it is currently in port at Goole, having sailed from Wintham Belgium. Built in 1997, and as it says on it, it's home port is Inverness. 

I watched it for a few minutes because it appeared to slow down and stop. The tide was not fully in and it looked to me that it was dragging the silt up from the river bed. The route along the river is marked by buoys. It had gone round one of them and was veering left to go round another one further upstream when it started slowing down. Eventually it got going again. It's a very dodgy river to navigate, the tides have to be right. 

This little pleasure cruiser had no problem. 

I came off the bridge and checked the map to refresh my memory as to which way to go to the Hessle Foreshore. Ah yes, I remember. down the steps to the country park, down some more steps and under two tunnels to come out next to the Lifeboat station. 

There is a massive car park on this side, and I was shocked to see that the whole of it had been taken over by an NHS Track and Test facility. Cafe closed, and no Sunday markets. Big notices on the fencing, No filming and no photography. I didn't know what it was at first, I asked some people who were having a snack on one of the picnic benches. They said it had been there a long time. 

Cars were pulling in and were being directed by people in yellow jackets. A large part of the site was covered in shipping container type buildings. Don't know what they are for, admin probably. Rows of parked vans were visible. The whole site was secured by Heras fencing. It was all very mysterious. I have seen something like this on the computer screen, but to see it close up and real is very scary. 

I'm going to break off here, and continue this tomorrow. I have some short videos to upload and there are more pictures. I want to stop now and chill. 

Catch ya tomorrow. Toodle pip.   ilona 
 

Toodle pip

Sunny > Flask > Sandwich > Fig rolls > Going.

Toodle pip.   ilona

Ooops, wrong way.

 Well that lightened my mood. I live in a dead end road, a cul de sac, and vehicles often come into it thinking it is the route to the next village. I was walking around the corner after having dropped a bag off at a friends house, and a group of a dozen cyclists came tare arsing by. The last one hesitated and stopped next to me. He knew they had gone wrong. We laughed when they all did a 'u' turn at a junction and came back. We get a lot of these lycra clad fit young men, and some oldies, around here. They like whizzing around the country lanes. 

Toodle pip.   ilona

Feeling sad.

 There was a service on our Paddock on Thursday. Lest We Forget. Sadly many have forgotten. Today the heads of the Royal Family, and the heads of Government meet at the Cenotaph to lay their poppy wreaths. They bow their heads. The soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom are long forgotten. There is a new war, and millions are complicit. We must all join a new army and be soldiers to thwart those who are systematically destroying our way of life. This is the new enemy.  Robert Kennedy Jnr nails it. 

Sunday reflections. ilona

Walking in the wind.

Hello. A short video I made yesterday. 

Back from a Billy dog walk. It's much calmer today, virtually no wind. Now I'm going to have a relaxing evening. 

Enjoy your Sunday. Toodle pip.   ilona

Well blow me down.

This was my lunch today. Mushrooms, spiralised carrot and courgette, lentils, and an egg. There was rather too much here, but I scoffed it anyway. Now it's half past six and I am still not hungry. I will delay my dinner for another half an hour, it will be something light. 

The weather was miserable this morning so I kept myself busy in the house. I've got enough of the duvet left over to make three pet beds. I cut a curtain up for two of the covers, and found a piece of fabric in the stash box for the third. 

I am eating my way through a massive bag of apples given to me in the summer. I have wrapped them in newspaper and get them out a few at a time and cook them. Today I peeled and cut five of them up and simmered them for a few minutes in a pan. This will be added to porridge or bran flakes for my breakfast. 

After lunch I made the quick decision to go out. It was very windy. 

I did my usual six mile walk. On the way back I passed the bench, it's next to the tree just there. I didn't stop, the light was fading, and the wind was blowing harder. 

These feather dusters are across the other side of a field. I have often wanted to get up close to them, but walking across the middle of the field is not allowed, and neither is walking around the edge because it isn't a recognise foot path. A zoom in with the camera is all I am going to get. 

Almost back into the village and I was getting weary battling against a head wind. Not a good sunset tonight. 

Well that certainly blew the cobwebs off me. Not all the walks are under a blue sky and sunshine. It takes a bit more effort to get up and go out when the weather is challenging.

Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon.

Toodle pip.   ilona

Glass of Port chat.

Good morning. This one came out of the oven late last night. Lets have a chat about decision making. How difficult is it to make a decision, do we have the right tools, does it need to be a quick decision or can we take our time. I do a lot of pondering, mulling things over, trying not to make the wrong decision. Sometimes it happens and I need to re think my options. It's normal to make mistakes. 

Whatever we decide to do we have to take full responsibility for the outcome. Sometimes circumstances are out of our control, therefore we have to be prepared to take a different route to get back on the right track. 

When there are choices we have to consider all options. Some people can do that quite quickly, others will need time. If one is not comfortable with making a quick decision it should be put off until such time when things become more clearer. There is always the option of doing nothing if the choices available are confusing and don't present a desired outcome. 

Previous experience of life's ups and downs are a good benchmark for decision making. The whole of life is a learning curve. Some of the information we receive will stay with us forever, some of it will be lost over time. 

Every day decisions have to be made. Yes, consider all options, but don't get bogged down if the answer is not immediately apparent. Give yourself time. 

Personally I go with my gut instincts. Sometimes it works out fine, sometimes not. I take full responsibility for my actions, and I always have a plan 'b' in mind

The decision I have to make today is whether to go out. It doesn't look too good out there, windy with a threat of rain, but I really would like to go out today. I will have breakfast then decide. 

Thanks for popping in. Have a good day, whatever you decide. ilona

Hair on fire

Good morning. My hair was looking a bit ropey, dark roots and a straw like texture to it. Something needed to be done. 

I already had the amethyst chrome, and thought it might be a bit too drastic, so I bought the mango one. 

I like this colour. 

Someone else made this patchwork topper and passed it on to me. She didn't have enough batting to finish it. Someone gave me a duvet to make into pet beds, I've used most of it in this single bed quilt. I just need to run it under the machine a few times to hold it all together, then I can give it back to them. 

It's looking like a nice day so I might go out. I have to go to the Post Office, and the shop, and drop something in at a friends house. Always something to do. That's how I like it.

Thanks for dropping in. Toodle pip.    ilona

Going home for Christmas

Thinking of my friends today. They are up in the air on their way to the US. Lara hasn't seen her family for two years. She met Bill online and they got married in the US, after a courtship of several years. Lara moved here to live with Bill, (made up names), then came lockdown and they were unable to travel. I wish them a safe journey. 

I feel so excited for them, they are a lovely couple.

Catch ya later.  ilona

Glorious Autumn

Twas a gloriously sunny afternoon when I stepped out of the door to go for a walk. 

Wind turbines with double blades now. Will this new trend double the electricity output ;o)

Mr bunny rabbit enjoying a bit of sunbathing. 

The sweetcorn has all been scoffed, the plants are going to seed. 

Can you see me mother. I have a tree growing out of the top of my head. Sitting on a bench eating a cheese sandwich. I spoke to an elderly gentleman who was walking his rather portly dog. I have chatted to him before. He tells me he is 90, and still drives his car to go shopping. He spoke about the places he went to in Germany in the war. Some of the names I recognised.  

I called in at the park, as I happened to be passing. The trees look gorgeous in their Autumn colours. 

On the last leg, I will be walking alongside that line of trees, heading back to the village. 

I combined two walks into one, it was seven miles. 

Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon. Toodle pip.   ilona