Eating out

We don't eat out very often but DB loves going out for coffee as being disabled and poorly it's the one thing he can enjoy. The lockdown hit him hard as he likes to go up to his favourite cafe on his mobility scooter every day to chat to people. A couple of times I ordered fish and chips on line and went to pick it up. Then as things eased up we have driven out to places on the river where the cafes were doing takeaway.

A couple of weeks ago we decided now places are open to go as a family to a pub nearby next to the river as it has lots of outdoor spaces. I downloaded the app onto my phone and booked the table. It kept telling me it wasn't confirmed so in the end I had to ring and was told it was confirmed!

When we arrived we were greeted at the gate of the garden and taken to our table. We had to order our meal on the app but it kept telling me it didn't recognize my email address even though I had received emails from them. I had to register all over again so it took half an hour to order but everything did come quite quickly afterwards. Tap water wasn't listed so I had to ask for it in person and finally it came. Four people were having chips and asked for salt and vinegar as we were told we had to wait until it was brought. They never did get any. One good thing was I paid when I ordered so no hanging about for the bill. We decided we wouldn't bother again.

However last week DB and I had 3 nights in a Marston's inn in Clacton so we could visit family. It was a bit different to usual as no staff were allowed to come into our room for the duration of our stay and each day we were handed a paper bag containing coffee and tea etc. We liked the fact that nobody came into our room to clean as it gave us more privacy.

The restaurant belonging to the hotel is where DD and I usually go when I visit her on my own. They have carvery but other menus as well and we love it. The staff are helpful and friendly and it was just the same this time. We didn't need an app although we had booked our table this time. One evening DB only wanted a sandwich which I collected from Lidls right across the road. Then I went in to the restaurant without booking and quickly got my meal brought to me. We also visited a couple of cafes, once sitting outside by the sea. It was all quite easy and enjoyable. Each time we had to give contact details in case of the virus being around.We had plenty of space around us each time and I actually felt better than being in the supermarket where people do not keep their distance.

A Discovery

I decided to walk along the river to a village a couple of miles away. I used to regularly walk there and back but haven't even walked one way for the last few years. It's very pleasant with lots of boats moored and moving about. Also lots of bird life. To my delight I saw the swan family with 5 cygnets. I had watched the swan on the nest and seen one hatched but when I went back they had all gone and I worried something had happened to them as didn't see them again.

I took my time watching buzzards, lapwings and grey wagtails plus the boats.

I started walking back along the road and then decided to get away from the traffic and try a footpath. My map is old and tatty but it looked easy enough. Walk through a little wooded area and turn left then come out in the industrial area nearer to my side of town. I seemed to be walking too far so took another path through a wood and came out by a group of fishing lakes. It was beautiful with lots of goldfinches on teasels and several men fishing. One man was putting stuff in his car and was friendly so I asked him what this place was. He said it was Timberland fishery and if I went past the lakes and the shop and cafe I would come out on the road. I couldn't believe I was right near the garage I use and only about two miles from home. I had never heard of those lakes but they seemed to be on the site of the timber yard that DB used to use. I looked them up later and found they are fairly new so not on my map. The footpath didn't seem to be there either. I think it's time to get a new map or buy the OS maps on line would be better. Who knows what is right on our doorsteps?

After the rain

Its been horrible weather wise today. Heavy rain and strong winds all day. Then about 6.30 the rain stopped and the sun came out so finally I went out for a walk. Just down to the river and along the tow path as hardly anybody about. The flower meadows are changing colour from white to pink.

Boats on the river including this unusual bright coloured one.

I've never seen this little otter statue sitting by the path before.

Walking back past the pub next to the river lots of activity getting ready to open on Saturday. There is a lot of outdoor space there so probably better than other pubs. Its a nice place for a meal sitting watching the boats but I wont be going yet a while.

Seaside and river

We hadn't seen DD for over three months so decided yesterday to drive the 60 miles to the seaside town she lives. Usually it takes up to one and a half hours even in school holidays when the weather is hot. Yesterday it took over 3 hours which was ridiculous. We didn't even attempt to go to the beach which is about 2 miles from DD. Instead we went across to the lovely country park just opposite her home and sat in the shade under a tree and watched the kestrel hovering and diving. Then picked up fish and chips to eat on DD's patio.

Apparently we made the right decision as even little Frinton was packed. Even though Clacton can get busy especially near the pier, we have always been able to find a quiet spot on the beach. We used to go to Walton on Naze every year for a day in the school holidays. Again we had plenty of room on the beach. I was thinking why it is so busy now and suppose it is a combination of things. People still off work and kids off school and everybody fed up with being cooped up. Add to that no foreign holidays. It doesn't seem fair to the locals who are used to going to the beach all year round.

Today I had a walk down to the river later in the afternoon after my parcel was delivered. I was amazed to see about 30 people playing in and around the lock filled with water. They were mainly youngsters but there was a little family with a little lad about 5 years old and he was floating with his dad on an inflatable with no armbands on. I just hoped he could swim. It looked like they were having great fun cooling off on a hot day and it was very tempting but I just thought of all the dangers. I must be getting old. It is forbidden to swim in the river anyway although the youngsters always have done so.

The fields and the other parts of the river were peaceful and I saw house martins, swallows, duck and coot families and a solitary moorhen. Now there is a beautiful sky and the patio doors are still open. The temperature is just right.

Daisies, birds and bikes

As the weather is not so good, there are fewer people out and about so I have been able to walk nearer to home. Nearby there is a little hilly wooded area which I walk through to get to the river. During lock-down there have been groups of young boys on their bikes. As I walk around the edge they didn't bother me but this week they were not there so I was able to get some photos of their bike runs. I'm not sure who set it all up but it's not been done officially and I have to applaud their ingenuity.

When I was returning from the other direction, I noticed some no entry signs on some trees so they had obviously thought a bit about safety. I feel the boys must have had help from older people.

Over the last few years volunteers have worked to create wildflower meadows and improve habitat for the wildlife. The mass of large daisies is wonderful.

There are also lots of happy birds and I enjoyed sitting on a bench listening and watching. The little wren was beautiful. I think this is a reed warbler but I had no binoculars with me and I am not an expert on bird identification. The photo barely shows it in the middle on a branch.

I sat and enjoyed the flowers and birds for quite a while as the sun came out the other day. Too wet today so I stayed in and tried out another recipe. Sorting these out has been on the list since lock down started and is ongoing. Some recipes have not been successful but the apple scones today are delicious and reasonably healthy for cake. They are bigger than they look on this photo.

Matching Tye

I drove out a few miles to this village on Sunday for a walk. Years ago I borrowed a book from the library written by a woman who grew up here and she wrote about all the people and houses plus every day life. Her parents were buried in the church yard. At the time I was a carer working for the county and a couple of my clients lived her as well. One of them told me about his daughter who died young and was also buried at the same church.

So one weekend our daughter and I had a walk across fields to the church and found all these graves. We also found a small lake nearby and walked around finding some of the buildings mentioned.

I have never walked this route since so thought it was time. It was so peaceful and I did a slightly different route, walking along narrow lanes until I reached the lake then following footpaths back to the car. I didn't visit the graveyard as I couldn't remember any of the names. Here are a few photos.

The elderflower is everywhere. I don't think I have ever seen so much blossom.

One thing about this lockdown is that any little outing, even nearby seems really exciting. I felt like I had been on holiday afterwards.

Buttercup fields

Trying to keep away from the crowds on the tow path I walked through the nature reserve where there was nobody. Then across the flood meadows which are very dry now and just one photographer at the start and 2 men standing near the end chatting. I took some pictures in the lane of the stream.

I kept to the fields and came across so many buttercups. The photos don't do them justice.

It reminded me of Wordsworth poem about the daffodils.

I ended up walking across the golf course again which is the first time since they re-opened. I thought as people were going back to work there might be nobody there but I was wrong. It wasn't too crowded so after waiting for a couple of socially distanced golfers to have their shots I walked across to the cricket field. A few people there but its a huge field so nobody near. I wont be walking on the golf course again now but I enjoyed it while it was empty.