Random thoughts and photos of my journey through life…
Sadly, I think that Mr Mallard (dad) is responsible for the missing ducklings. I witnessed him swimming up suddenly out of the blue snapping with beak open wide at the remaining ducklings as they were sleeping. The ducklings immediately got in the water swimming out of harms way.
8 Comments CherryPie on May 4th 2022
We had a trip to Bromyard to visit the ‘Time Machine Museum of Science Fiction’. We arrived in Bromyard in time for lunch only to find that due to the bank holiday most places were shut. We also noticed that some places had closed permanently due to the lockdowns affecting business. We retraced our steps to the Brockhampton Estate for lunch in a teashop that we enjoyed on previous visits to Brockhampton.
When we arrived we found that the teashop had also been a victim of Covid 19 and had not reopened after the 2020/21 lockdowns. We made our way to the National Trust Granary Kiosk and purchased sandwiches which we enjoyed sitting outside in the courtyard surrounded by birds hoping for a tasty crumb or two.
After lunch we returned to Bromyard and took a leisurely walk around the town until the museum opened after lunch. The museum is eclectic and fun. I can confirm that after stepping through the police box door ‘it is’ bigger on the inside 
On the way home we called in at Burford House gardens for a ‘naughty cake’, we both chose lemon drizzle cake which was extremely lemony and delicious.
2 Comments CherryPie on May 2nd 2022
Image from www.livingstreets.org.uk
I aim to walk 100 miles in May for National walking month. I am doing this in conjunction with a walking challenge for the Queen’s upcoming Jubilee Celebrations.
Image from Race the distance - racethedistance.com/collections/all-current-challenges/products/the-queens-platinum-jubilee-challenge
2 Comments CherryPie on May 1st 2022
2 Comments CherryPie on Apr 30th 2022
The two hundred and thirty year old Silver Swan is probably the best know and best loved object in The Bowes Museum. It still delights audiences of all ages with its elegant performance.
The Silver Swan is a product of the late 18th century, a time of enterprise and invention when highly creative minds could flourish. James Cox, a London businessman and silversmith, and John Joseph Merlin, an inventor and engineer, found for their creation and audience eager to be entertained by ingenious novelties.
First exhibited in Cox’s museum, the Swan was intended to thrill and to charm. The museum was famed for its glittering and intriguing examples of clockwork automata and its sliver trinkets and ‘toys’. None was more celebrated than the Silver Swan which then, as now, was marveled at for its sheer beauty and indulgence.
Throughout its history, the Silver Swan has been an object of admiration and wonder. The quality of the workmanship and its remarkably realistic movements have enthralled viewers, while the complex mechanism continues to amaze even the mot knowledgeable and experienced specialists.*
Sadly, due to refurbishment The Silver Swan was not performing on the day of our visit.
*from an information board next to the Swan
10 Comments CherryPie on Apr 28th 2022
Yesterday I set off on a quick walk deliberately leaving my camera at home. It was a local walk and I wasn’t expecting see anything new and photo worthy. How wrong I was. As I was sitting soaking up the atmosphere by the duck pond in Apley there was a sudden explosion of fluff bombs. Eight little ducklings emerged from the bank and started swimming around the pond at great speed. I did my best to capture them on my mobile phone, but for some reason it was playing up and most of the files were corrupt. I was left disappointed with only two extremely blurry photos.
Not to be deterred I made my way back to the duck pond this afternoon. I chose a different walking route just to mix it up a bit and was successful in my mission. I lingered for a while watching the cute little fluff balls zoom around the pool before they settled on a log for a nap. This meant it was time for me to continue my walk in the woods.
Click on photo to see video
Click on photo to see video
4 Comments CherryPie on Apr 26th 2022
