Sunday, the day of sun.
Indeed. And just as the BBC said, the wind died and the clouds cleared, and so all day the sun shone from a clear blue sky. It was all rather wonderful.
After a lazy late breakfast of coffee and bacon butties we headed to Russell Gardens to see how the flooding there from the flow from the Drellingore and Dour was acting out. Down by Kearsney Abbey the water was overflowing and running down the Alkham Valley road with more water bubbling up through manhole covers and the such.
The Dour had caused the water in the ornamental lake to overflow, with the benches alongside half-submerged. A few others had also come down to look and photograph the scene. It was all rather surreal to be honest. Further up near Bushy Ruff, the water was overflowing from the large lake there and turning the footpath into a fast flowing stream. Further progress was pretty impossible so we turned back and decided to head to see our friend, Gary.
Driving along Lower Road alongside the river was interesting, but although the water was high, it was not overflowing as most of the floodwater was being held up in Russell Gardens. As we turned down towards the mill, I saw Gary unloading his camera equipment from the back of his car. We pulled up behind us, but he was so entranced in his task he did not hear us.
Turned out he was on the trail of a kingfisher that the miller had seen on Thursday. So I got my camera stuff out too and we walked along the river for a while hoping to see a flash of the bird as it flew around. But we were unlucky and saw just the usual, common waterfowl.
After the walk we went back to his for a chat and a tea, and for me to try to snap some of the birds he has been tempting into his garden, especially Long Tailed Tits, which I have only seen twice before and never photographed. Or photographed well.
He told us to sit on a wall near the feeder and wait. Seemed unlikely, but we did that. The air was full of birdsong, my concentration wavered, and then there was a LTT! I snapped it. It was joined by a second and then a third, all looking wonderful small and brightly coloured. I rattled off 200 or so shots and was happy with that.
We headed home for lunch, and getting out of the car we could actually feel the warmth in the sun. In fact it seemed possible that it was warm enough to sit in the garden. Although as it turned out the light breeze took the edge off the temperature and so that seat outside went unfilled. I tried to get excited by the football, but it was all a little low key. I mean if the clubs themselves can’t work themselves to take it seriously, why should we?
For dinner I cooked roast lamb and instead of gravy made Delia’s recommended Shrewsbury Sauce instead. And it turned out pretty well I have to say.
That evening we watched a Billy Connolly DVD and waited for a badge to come into the garden. Just as ten o’clock approached, a small badger appeared and began clearing up the peanuts on the ground. We could have watched it all night, but Monday being a school day and all, it was time for bed…..
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