I gave Mr C the choice of walk for today’s excursion. He chose to walk to Hadley Locks via Hurley Brook.

I started the walk along a bridle path near to our house which connected to a walking route published by Wellington Walkers are Welcome. Part way around we struggled to find the pathway between the houses that led to the former water mill. After retracing our steps, we found the pathway and the mill. I prefer my usual route to Hurley Brook, it is prettier, does not involve walking through houses and it is only a few steps away from the path to see the mill.

When we arrived at the locks they were much more visible than earlier in the year. What a difference when autumn strips the leaves from the trees and bushes. They are guillotine locks which means they were opened by raising and lowering rather than a hinge.

Shortly after the locks, there was another point in the route instructions that was unclear. We set off on what we thought was the right path and ended up at a T junction that did not fit with the leaflet directions. I had a gut feeling of which direction we needed to go, however Mr C checked his mobile phone for directions and took us in the opposite direction. This took us down a derelict road near to a factory eventually emerging a short distance away from where we should have been according to the route instructions.

Mr C was not particularly enjoying his urban walking experience so although we were back on track I decided to flex the route so that it was slightly less urban. I set off on a route to Leegomery pools, at this point Mr C stopped to consult his phone. I told him he didn’t need it because I knew where we were. He sceptically put his phone away. When we emerged by the pool he exclaimed I didn’t realise we were here! This shows how different things can seem on foot rather than in a car.

Back at home we watched a movie before enjoying another fine dining experience, the last of my lockdown birthday celebrations.

We had a day chilling. Mr C was trying to fix his PC and I was setting up my new iPad mini, a gift from Mr C. The new iPad is super whizzy compared to my previous version which had become slow and difficult to use.

We popped out for a few food supplies and even ordered a Turkey for Christmas dinner. Christmas will happen in some shape or form.

In the evening we visited my mum, who is part of our bubble, for a catch up and a celebratory drink.

I sat in bed with a cup of tea and opened my birthday presents and cards. I have to confess I was struggling for enthusiasm to go on the walk we had planned which is most unlike me. This was only because we had had to cancel our planned trip to Sherbourne at the last minute.

Mr C ploughed ahead with our plans and, once out of the house, my enthusiasm returned. We stopped off at Tesco to pick up some items for a picnic lunch before driving to the start of the walk at Lee Brockhurst. Initially, we struggled to find the starting point but once there we enjoyed our picnic lunch overlooking Lee Brockhurst’s war memorial before setting off in glorious sunshine for our walk. The walk took us along part of an old Roman road, through woodlands and fields. The autumn colours were glorious, as was the sunshine and we had the route almost to ourselves. I decided along the way that I need to acquire some lighter boots with more flexible soles.

Just as we arrived home one of my nephews phoned to wish me a happy birthday and we had a lovely long chat with him before it was time for me to get refreshed for the evening.

Whilst Mr C was preparing dinner I had a Zoom meeting with a few lovely WW ladies who wished me Happy Birthday after which I had a brief chat with my mum. I was shoed away from the kitchen and dining room so I sat in the living room with a glass of Ruinart Champagne. When I was allowed in the dining room I found confetti, candles and sparklers. The menu was; salmon pate in leaves, Catania style haddock and then boozy pears, chopped hazelnuts, melted chocolate and a scoop of ice cream.

Thank you Mr C, it was a fabulous day.

We decided to pick up lunch to eat in Telford Town park before setting off on a walk. Buying the sandwiches from M&S was a bit tedious due to the anti-COVID one way system around the Town Centre. The sandwiches, however were delicious. We enjoyed them whilst looking out over Southwater lake. A duck waddled up to our feet hopeful for a tasty morsel, but we had nothing to share. At one stage I thought he was thinking about jumping on the bench in between us so I put my leg in-between him and the bench to deter him. Nearby there was a seagull that also had its beady eye on our food. If any other seagulls got close he aggressively chased them off.

After lunch we set off on a walk along one of the trails. As we were walking we saw the unusual sight of a man carrying a hawk. Later on, we saw a sparrow hawk land close to us before taking flight again and disappearing into the tree tops.

We left the Town Park via the War Memorial. It was lovely to see the newly painted remembrance poppy on the ground in front of the memorial. There were also a few lovely painted memorial rocks placed on the benches.

We had covered 5.5 miles so I used this walk to earn my ‘Armistice Day 2020 Challenge’ medal.

After we returned home my mother and father in law called by with a present for me. Later, whilst enjoying ‘fine dining’ at home, we chose a suitable walk to enjoy on my birthday from the book ‘20 walks in and around Shrewsbury’.

We had left plans for my ’significant birthday’ celebration until the last minute. It was looking good to go for a Staycation so we booked into a hotel in Sherbourne, Dorset. Just after the booking was made lockdown tiers were announced.  A few days before the planned mini adventure Chez Nous was moved into tier two. We phoned the hotel to check whether we could still visit and they confirmed that we could.

This led us to feeling confident enough to book restaurant venues during our stay. The next day there were rumblings of a full lockdown being imminent and sure enough a full lockdown was announced starting on November the 5th, the day of my birthday. I smiled at the irony of the start date of our second lockdown, November 5th being the anniversary of the date that the gunpowder plotters planned to blow up Parliament.

With our trip cancelled last minute birthday plans had to be made. Mr C booked an extra day off so that he could arrange some ’seasonal secrets’ that wouldn’t have been necessary if we had been away and also to enjoy some mini (Covid Safe) adventures before full lockdown came into force. In the morning he went out to sort out some shopping and various other things leaving me at home. I have to confess it was rather nice to have the house to myself for the first time since March. I am sure he would feel the same but he is usually working when I leave the house.

He was gone longer than expected because of difficulties and delays in the shops. Eventually he arrived home, although too late to have lunch out as planned. Instead we had a delicious bacon butty before heading off to Bodenham Arboretum for the afternoon.

We were treated to delightful autumn sunshine as we drove to the arboretum and as we walked around the arboretum the sun highlighted the beauty of the autumn leaves. I had to tread carefully in some places where the ground was muddy. The soles of my shoes were not quite up to clinging to the wet mud but I managed to stay upright. Later we enjoyed fine dining at home.

A good start to ‘plan C’ birthday celebrations.