We Get Some New Residents

During the night the dour weather hitting the West of Britain finally caught up with us. We woke to a dark grey rainy morning. Mustn't complain though, we've had some great sunny warm days over the last two months since we've been home from our travels. The garden is desperate for rain and I need the soil moist to be able to plant some spring bulbs.

There's not much to be done outside today so after my morning swim and when 'Himself' had finished cleaning out the fish tank we decided to go out. The tank needs some new lighting and our fish stocks of little guppies had dwindled to five. So we needed to hit the Aquatic stores.

First though, lunch. We decide to try one of the new food outlet that have opened up across the 'Boro during the Summer. This one is a  new build  Pub on a brand new housing estate called Cardea. The Pub is called The Apple Cart'. As soon as you push the doors open you can smell the newness. Allot of wood has been used in the decor and that's the predominate smell. The decor was disappointing for a brand new building. It was done with no flair, almost a 1980's style decor and with such a mismatch number of prints and photograph crammed on all the empty wall spaces. 

 It's seems a friendly place though. The waiter showed us to a table and explained how they worked. Most pubs of this sort have a table number and you decide on the food you want and order at the bar. This system was a table waiting service. The food came quickly after we ordered. The menu was quite large and varied but with a pub of this size serving mainly food it had to be bulk ordered and mostly pre-cooked. 

Lots of seating outside but not for today!

eclectic styling somewhat retro!

They had a good selection of beers.

 After lunch we walked across to the brand new Morrisons store serving the estate to do some shopping. The problem with shopping with 'Himself' is that I find food in the trolley that is luxury not necessity and my bill gets expensive! The store holds no surprises. All these new food stores are built in the same style.

Three aquatic stores later we have a stylish new 'intelligent' lighting system for the Orb fish tank and a dozen new colourful residents.

Darned fish refuse to pose!

Back into the Fens!

Yes, I know I've change the blog title.  But I'm still a Fenlander at heart. This map shows that the  Boro was and is right on the Western edge of the Fens. This map from the Doomsday period was at least 600 years after the Romans started on Fen Drainage It was still a wet marshy place though until the a Dutchman continued with the project during the 18th century. 

Lots of major drainage dykes criss cross the area  with the result the land has shrunk below many of the old causeways through the marshes that later became roadways.

                   

 Another new roadway has been forged across the drained fenlands. A new route from Peterborough to Spalding, bypassing Eye. The Road builders underestimated the unpredictable structure of the land and the road developed cracks before it could be opened. It's taken over a year for the contractors to strengthen the foundations of the road. Never under estimate the substructure of fen soil. The Market Deeping to Boston road bypassing Spalding suffered the same fate when it was opened some years ago.

This is the substantial bridge is built over the ancient Roman canal called Cardyke. It was built to carry Roman provisions between Peterborough and Lincoln.  Now days it occasionally disappears from the landscape. The canal here, is really nothing to look at it could easily be mistaken for an ordinary drainage dyke.

The suns still shinning away here despite torrential downpours and floods across in the West of the Country. After lunch we decided to take a trip on the new road and visit our Home town of Spalding. The road has several very long stretches with gentle curves where there's ample opportunity for idiot, impatient drivers to show of their lack of driving skill. We had some prime examples of such idiot manoeuvres  coming home at peak driving time.

We pulled in at Springfield's, Spalding Outlet shopping precinct. It's quite a while since our last visit here. Some shops have gone and new shops opened. A whole new Avenue of shops have been opened and a Travel Lodge has been added. 

We saunter round the shops for a while. My favourite shop has gone. A shop selling card making paper and accessories but further along, where the Information and Museum was,  is a new craft outlet. The Museum is still there but smaller. The new shop  has a good range of papers but not such a good selection of art and craft materials, although it does have a limited range of knitting wool.  Oh yes, and a small area selling teas and coffees, much cheaper than the Costa's outlet further along. 

The last time I actually went around the gardens was many years ago when the Boys were still small and Springfields was still a garden to showcase Spalding's speciality,  spring bulbs. When the Shopping Outlet village was built all the gardens were redesigned and replanted. 

I still haven't managed all the gardens yet as walking distances give me much pain. But I managed just a short distance around a few gardens. One day I'll get to the see the gardens before going to the shops!

The small areas I ambled around were still splendidly colourful in the late Autumn sun. The rill running across the area that divides the shops from the gardens had been changed quite dramatically. Sections of the rill going under the bridge at the entrance to the gardens had been widened. The large Koi carp had been restricted to each ends of the remaining rill. The enlarged sections of water now have fountains and lights added and large Bose speakers stand on each side of the bridge.  The next evening musical secessions will be at the 'Firework night' and the switching on of the Christmas lights.

One the way back to the car we just had to visit the Outlet's  Garden Center. It's well stocked and had some colourful displays in the outdoor plant area. I managed to resist getting the purse out though!!

Cyclamen and ornamental cabbages.

Winter Heathers 

are they gourds or squashes?

On the way home we could see dark blue black clouds and lightning flashing across the Fen skies. The rain we could see in the distance, drenching some parts of the fens managed to miss us completely. All we got was a few spots that hardly made the road wet. So were still in a drought  situation while the West floods.

To change or not to change?

That was the question....... after some deliberation I decided to change. The title of the Blog that is. Why? Well  Peterborough is affectionately know as 'the Boro' by many people and its actually right on the Western edge of the Fens. Now days we don't seem to venture far into the Fens. Most of our Fenlander relatives and friends have passed on and some like us have moved on. Very little of my blog content was actually about the Fens any way.  So I thought why not try a change of title.  

The newspapers headlines have for a couple weeks now been giving us dire warnings about expected bad weather Last week according to them we should be knee deep in snow, rain and gales. While it's been decidedly on the chilly side for a few days and we had one middle of the night frost for the main part the weather has been quite comfortable for mid Autumn. Plenty of sunny days tempered by chilly winds. Today the wind is coming up from the South through France and is a pleasant warmish blustery breeze. Suns a little Hazy but a nice Autumn day. 

Wandering round the garden I couldn't help wishing I'd taken cutting earlier from these prolific flowering  golden leafed fuchsias They all flowering away as if it was early summer. They come through the harshest of winters and give such a spectacular flower display. I must have more. 

Across on the ivy covered gazebo wasps and this hugh bumble bee were feeding away on the nectar from the insignificant flowering heads of the ivy. 

one hungry bumble bee

The wasps were taking advantage too.

Despite the sun and temperate days all around there are signs that winter is approaching and the balmy days will all to soon come to an end. The Fatsia Japonica or Castor oil plant, is quite late preparing to bloom. It's little fluffy white flowers will change into black berries to feed the birds

All the fruiting shrubs and trees around have an abundance of berries this Autumn. The tree along the walk at the rear of our garden are having their berries plundered my the noisy Magpies. The Japanese honeysuckle has flowered once and produced an abundance of shiny black berries. Unusually though it has had a second period of blooming which is just about coming to an end. Shame as the blossom has a delicious perfume.

such a shame they're inedible.

 All this year fine dry weather has followed us around. It only rained here in 'the Boro' when we were in Vancouver. In Vancouver it only rained when we were out of the City. Back home again we've had only a sprinkling of rain. The garden soil is so dry and the dryness goes down deep into the soil. Leaves that have fallen from the trees blow about waiting for me to get the rake out. I have Spring bulbs I need to plant out but the soil is just too dry and hard to work. So as much as it grieves me to say this .... Please we need some rain and a few days of it.

where's the besom broom?

A knitting review

Some years ago during my dormant knitting period I disposed of all my knitting paraphernalia. I'd tried to rekindle my youthful enthusiasm when my grand children were born but to no avail. I just couldn't manage those needles or concentrate on a pattern. The needles, patterns and anything else connected to knitting were eventually consigned to a Charity shop. 

Just a part of my new needle collection.

It all began with a knitted bear project from the Knitting and Stitching show in The Alexander Palace in 2004. Then followed a big project, a jacket for me. A knitted hat requested from my grown up granddaughter. Baby jackets followed for great nieces and nephews. Then came socks scarfs, hand warmers and gloves.

The knitting bug had definitely taken over and once more. I began to accrue knitting accoutrement's again. I found the style of needles had changed. Circular needles were much easier to manage than the old straight ones. Yarns  were so much improved and the choice of yarn was vast, especially over in North America. Knitting was becoming a fashionable pastime once more. Enthusiastic young fashion designers were rewriting the pattern books.My stash of Canadian wool grew each time we came home. Membership of Ravelery came next. The online Knitting community started in America and spread worldwide.

Every now and again the needles are pushed into hibernation. But another trip to Canada soon resurrects the habit once more. An afternoon in Urban Yarns in Kitsalo and I came away with a pattern and wool for a head band with knitted flower

A trip to the well stocked yarn shop in Victoria on Vancouver Island found me purchasing this quite complicated pattern and the lovely soft alpaca wool. We're away once more. 

a pair of hand warmers

Before we pack to return home from our extended summer break Nancylee decided she needed to downsize her yarn stash. I finished up with a hugh bag of various yarns that had to be compressed into our reduced luggage allowance. 

the ever increasing yarn stash

The boxes on my office shelf are bursting with yarns. All packed in sealed ziploc bags to protect from dust and moths! (mainly dust though!!!) I get knitting. A pair of beanies emerge from my original stash.

a pair of contrasting 'Jared Flood' beanies

One keeps number three sons head warm while on a smoke break in the garden! Grand daughter Grace takes home a chunky mobius scarf, a slant eyed lace scarf and a pair of hand warmers. Some organic dyed wool knits up into a jacket for youngest great grand son. Not so pleased though after a trip into town to purchase a zip only to find that John Lewis has the very colour and style of zip I need but not the right length. 

Warm zip up jacket for master Nathan ( minus zip!)

The cast on for yet another mobius scarf proved challenging I used Cat Bohordini's UTube method, but had no pattern for this thickness wool. I was winging it! After two attempts I hope I've cracked it. I decided to use a moss stitch or seed stitch as it's called in North America. I'll update later on how it turns out. This is a trial run for a silk and wool yarn I want to use later so I hope it knits up as I want it to. 

another mobius scarf. 

Have to keep knitting there's not long to Christmas and it's going to be a home made christmas this year. No time for house work. I'll consign that to the lodger!

A Top up of Sun and Ozone

Last Sunday we had Youngest Granddaughter over for  a visit with her Dad, Number Three Son. The morning began bright and sunny so I suggested a trip to the coast for us all. Which coast? Why,  the North Norfolk coast of course, good old 'Sunny Hunny', or 'Peterborough on  Sea' properly known as Hunstanton. This resort was the haunt of our youth. Coats and binoculars hastily thrown in the boot of the car and we set off. The drive over to the coast was uneventful and for once unimpeded with traffic delays. 

Tides out and so is the sun.

During the journey the weather began to look distinctly grey and misty. Oh dear, had I misjudged the weather? Oh well the fresh air will do us all good. The sun eventually overcame the morning's mistiness and the skies cleared to a lovely cloudless blue. 

Father and daughter.

On reaching Hunstanton we found parking easily, at the center close to the beach. Not a feat usually so easily done on a sunny Sunday. The Sunday market and a Car Boot event was in full swing in the car park behind us so we all ambled off around the stalls. Other peoples junk doesn't really appeal to me overly much, but it's a good place to sell your own junk if you have the time and inclination.  By the time we had all seen enough of the market and boot stalls it was time for some lunch. It seems to be a tradition to have a fish and chip lunch when by the sea. So we went to Cassies, on The Green, and indulged. Tasty they were too. Possibly having the taste edge on our favourites chippy, Pa Jo's in Steveston, Canada!

A seaside fish & chip lunch.

Across the Green, down by the sea front,  the new generation of Middle Age Bikers congregate on a Sunday afternoon. Their bikes all gleaming paint and chrome, parked neatly side by side. The leather clad owners ambling along the prom or eating fish and chips 'al fresco'. Gone are the days of the young roudy bikers  tearing along the sea front. These sedate bikers are the reincarnation of the once lively youngsters,  reliving their youth on powerful bikes they would have died for in their youth. 

A new older generation of Bikers,

After lunch we walked along the sea front towards the cliffs. 'Himself and I at a sedate pace along the promenade and  Jason and Grace romping along the shore line, shell hunting and beach combing.

When the promenade that protects the town from the vicious North Sea gales run out 'Himself' has to go down to the sands by the cliffs to do a bit of beach combing as well.

The cliffs are left to the ravages of the North Sea
 and frequently crumble onto the beach.

I stay up on the Promenade and patiently wait for the for them to return. The ageing joints needed a rest period before the return walk. Eventually though I got fed up waiting and amble back until I came to a food van selling cups of tea, snacks and ice creams. They have tables and chairs set out. I need no prompting and cross to the van. No, not a sensible cup of tea, it has to be a soft swirly ice cream. By the time I had almost finished it the missing beach combers had turned up. 

We ambled back to the sea front prom. in front of where the car was parked. I opted to sit and soak up the remains of the afternoon sun while the others walked along to the Amusements at the other end of the promenade.  Plenty of other people had turned out to make the most of the warm sunny day and I spent a peaceful hour just people watching before retreating to the car and the Sunday newspapers. A lovely day not one that will be repeated any more this year but we do have an urge for sea air during the winter months, so who knows? 

As we plunge headfirst into Autumn....

We have has some cracking late Autumn days. Cold at night but clear blue skies with morning to evening sunshine. Daytime temperatures hovering around 17/19 degrees. Quite a few days have been spent pulling the garden back from its summer neglected growth to some sort of readiness for its winter rest. One of the fence posts from the wooden perimeter  fence was found to be completely rotted out at the base and was held up by one of the evergreen Euronymus  shrubs covering the fence. The rotten post is too difficult to get to, to replace, so 'Himself' has prepared a secondary 'bracing' post to prevent the fence from being blown over and destroyed by winter gales.

The popular 'News Rags' are predicting a bad winter once again. Even a plunge into a Mini Ice Age! Well, we've heard it all before. What about the horrible wet summer they said would be a 'barbecue summer'. Today's headlines - 'Thousands will die because of cold weather.' 'Pensioners will not be able to afford heating bills to keep themselves warm over the icy winter!' For goodness sake most of today's pensioners were brought up in cold homes warmed only by a cold fire in the living room. Ice on the inside of bedroom windows. Much colder, snowier winters than we get now toughened us all up.
With a new efficient gas central heating boiler and new insulation in the roof we should be cosy enough this winter, not to mention a posh new bespoke fireplace we have, built by Number three son, to add a cosy winter warmth to our lounge.

We have now found a Blacksmith who has made the fireplace a new fire basket, so we should be all set to face what ever the winter throws at us. The News Rags sensationalism don't scare us!

What does scare me though is the evidence everywhere of  the coming Christmas season.  John Lewis has its Christmas decorations up in the store and windows.

Christmas cards are in all the shops Food outlets and restaurants are advertising the Christmas fare. Television adverts are gearing up for an all out assault  on us. The one thing we don't have yet, thank goodness are the non stop Christmas song, piped over the speakers of stores and the Queensgate mall. 

I have a feeling this year, for us  Christmas is going to be a 'homemade' Christmas with definitely no over spending on goodies that never get eaten. This summers prolonged vacation in beautiful British Columbia with our dear Canadian friends have drained the coffers to an alarming low. A period of restrained spending is much needed to aid the  replenishment. 

A couple of weeks ago we had a phone call from Canadian friends who were were touring Britain before catching up with their vacationing group and flying off to Spain for the next leg of their tour. They were driving from York down to Frinton on Sea to stay with old friends there. As we were on their route along the A1 they called in for a brief 'flying pit stop' 

Wieman is a retired Nurse who worked in England before Emigrating to Vancouver where she found herself working with my friend Nancy who use to work with me here in Peterborough. We've met them several times in Canada over the years we've been going. Hopefully next time they come over to the UK they can have a longer stay with us.