Mothering Sunday

Today is "Mothering Sunday" over here in the UK. It's quite weird cos the rest of the world celebrates it in May. Whatever the month, I wish all mothers out there, enjoy the day being pampered by your kids. I don't have any but that doesn't mean I can't spoil my mother and mother-in-law. Mwah, mwah to two wonderful women.

We were in Tesco this morning and saw lots of people clutching last minute bouquets, chocolate, bubblies, smellies and cards. Ha...better late than never huh :-).

It is another lovely day today. Hard to believe that we are already at the end of March and April looms in a fortnight. The year is already starting to whiz by. Time seems to go faster and faster as each year passes...or is it just my imagination???

We went to our favourite playground again. The great crested grebe is already sitting on her nest. We missed their courtship dance. She hasn't laid any eggs yet cos she left her nest while we were busy checking her out. We will be checking on her everytime we are here.

I managed to coax Mr Hood to be hand fed. I thought they have given up cos they'll be busy guarding their territory and making sweet music with their mate. But I guess you still need to eat...

As we walked up the path, we spotted an odd looking Canada geese/greylag hybrid with its mate, another Canada geese. The white face was really very striking. A buzzard was circling the blue sky and a Great Spotted woodpecker was playing hide-and-seek with us. We were so well-camouflaged that a Dunnock didn't see us creeping very close to him. If only, I could spot that elusive bittern...

Yesterday, we went for a drive out of Coventry, to Cannock Chase Country Park. We had seen lots of photographs and news especially the deer from here. It was about an hour's drive.

Once the hunting ground of ancient royalty, Cannock Chase is today a picturesque area of woodland walks, wildlife and superb scenery. We stopped at the Birches Valley Forest Centre as our starting point.

And I guess half of Staffordshire was here. I was not what we expected. This part of the forest was the premier location for cross-country mountain biking in the West Midlands and there was an orienteering race on.

We walked through the tall pine forest and came across The Route to Health community arts sculpture trail.The trail has been created by local artists, students, schools and community groups. The unique art pieces are all themed around health issues and are designed to generate interest in areas such as exercise, relaxation, mental health and a healthy heart.

Babe couldn't walk much further and so we decided to call it a day.We will come again and check out the other visitor centre located further up. It was case of déjà today when on Countryfile today there was a segment about the vegetation dying on Cannock Chase. This was a repeat cos I've seen it last year (I think). I guess it was contained cos the country park was still opened.

Congratulations to the Sky Blues. Bell had capitalised on a goalkeeping mistake to score his first goal as Coventry beat Doncaster 1:0.The victory moves theme points clear of the relegation zone.

I also want to wish my beautiful niece, Siobhan, a very Happy 18th birthday.