It’s been a while since I last posted on the Oakstump, mostly because I have had some long days at work where I have been leading the practical aspects of moving out of our current office into a much smaller one. No doubt this will be the subject of a later blog. There is some catching up to do, starting with the last Bank Holiday weekend, which coincided with Chantal’s birthday.
It was a long weekend for me, since I worked the night of the previous Thursday, and so had Friday off, spending it gardening. Saturday, as I recall was a day of pottering and dodging the showers.
On Sunday Chantal Travelled up To Derbyshire for an all-day practical course on landscape photography, and so I had the day to myself. After church, I was able to spend hours in the garden, enjoying the hot sunshine. I had a break to take Tia for a long walk on Burbage Common, a large popular area of woods and common land about 15 minutes from home. We left Lesia at home – the Common is busy with other dog walkers, and she would have had to stay on the lead, and I wanted to let Tia have a chance to interact with other dogs without Lesia’s continuous barking. Tia was very well behaved, going to say hello to other dogs and returning to me, but coming back when called if an approaching dog was on a lead.
Chantal texted to say she would be home late – whereas we had been enjoying warm sunshine and blue skies in Croft, in Derbyshire it had been cool, overcast and drizzling, and in consequence the photographer who had organised the course extended for an hour as the clouds started to break, allowing pools of sunshine to drift across the Derbyshire landscape, and the photographers to make the most of the interesting light. This gave me a chance to enjoy one of my history DVDs in peace.
Monday was Chantal’s birthday, and was wet. I had told Chantal that we had enjoyed a walk on Burbage Common, which she had not visited for several years and she decided that she would like a walk there, despite the weather. We explored the woods, and had a coffee at “Mays Café”, a dog walker’s café on The Common. At lunchtime we met up with friends for a meal at The White Horse in Broughton Astley, and as a result the rest of the day was somewhat sleepy. There is no link between us returning from the pub, and the photo below…
We always have a day out on our birthdays, but since Chantal’s was a Bank Holiday we postponed this until Tuesday, taking a day off of work. Chantal wanted to visit Chester Zoo, recommended by Claire, as well as in photography magazines. We were half way up the M6, when Claire texted to wish us a nice day at the zoo, and to recommend Doncaster Wildlife Park. It was at this point that Chantal remembered that it was Doncaster Wildlife Park that Claire had recommended, and that she wanted to visit, not the much further away Chester Zoo. Maybe next time.
Chester Zoo is very big, and we had a full day. The animals are in large enclosures, mostly with dry moats to contain them, and where a more secure fence is necessary these are chain-link rather than bars or glass (which is never clean and clear!), which is why the zoo is recommended for photography. As well as the various “traditional” zoo animals, we walked around a humid butterfly house, and a large “cave” with free flying bats, some with a 1m wingspan. Despite a planned route, we did not have a chance to see everything. We had a great time, enjoying both the animals and the photography.
Technically we live in Oaktree House, but sadly the tree had to go.
We now have a thriving Oakstump at the front of the house.
