Bradgate Weekend

We spent last Sunday and Monday checking out the deer at Bradgate Park. It was the rutting season and we wanted to see them in action.

We were there on Sunday but it was such a miserable, wet day. We drove up to Old John Folly, a distinctive tower and arch overlooking Bradgate Park and the Soar Valley. It stood 690 feet above sea level and even on the dull day, the views across Leicestershire was spectacular.

The Folly was built in 1784 and was originally an observation tower built to give the ladies a view of a racecourse which circled the top of the hill. It was well-known for its ‘mug-shape’. The ‘handle’ was added later in memory of a beer-loving family retainer. What a memorial huh :-)

Nearby was The Prince Albert’s Own Leicestershire Yeomanry Regiment Memorial. A superb location to remember the brave Leicester yeomen. A lovely place to enjoy the commanding views and say a prayer to those who lost their lives.

Before trekking up this hill, we made a pit stop at Groby Pool. There were the usual culprits : mallards, mute swans, greylags, tufted ducks, Canada geese, gulls, coots, domesticated ducks (escapees?). Then this black beauty came gliding into view. She was soo friendly and very, very pretty. It was amazing to see such colouring.

On Monday, I took the day off cos I wanted to see the Staffordshire Hoard. Babe checked the website and found out the queue was going to be for at least 3 hours. He couldn’t wait that long and we decided to go to Bradgate Park again.

We spotted a few deer here and there among the undergrowth. Suddenly, a deep bellowing roar was heard somewhere in the forest. We were so excited and kept on walking.

We spotted a few handsome stags with fully developed antlers strutting across the field. We even saw two rival stags walking slowly beside each other, slightly apart, assessing each other’ strength. So far, no clashing foreheads or sparring antlers.

Soon, they will be busy collecting their harem of hinds. Then they will spend their time patrolling around the hinds, chasing away any challengers, trying to prevent the hinds from straying and mating which each one as she becomes receptive. We planned to be here every weekend to check out their progress.

On the way out, we saw this magnificent stag watching us watching him. It was quite intimidating. We stopped taking photographs because we don’t want to spook him. He was covered with mud and this helps to spread the strong rutting scent all over his body. It was a great relief when he headed towards the forest. Phew… I wouldn’t want that to be charging towards us, would you???

We also came across this luminous iridescent creature begging for food. This is the first time we saw him. Usually we could hear his cries from behind the walls of Lady Jane’s ruins. I guess the wardens must have let him out to meet his subjects…He was really friendly.

On Saturday, we went into the city centre to check out a new toy for Babe. We went to Jessops but they don’t have it in stock. We later went to Leamington Spa where we knew the London Camera Exchange had it. Guess what? We bought it and it was an early birthday/X’mas pressie for my darling hubby. It was a lot of moolah.

I’d gone snooker loopy last week too. At work, as usual put on my headphones and listened (!) while working. It was hard when my 2 favourite guys, Doherty and Richardson had to play against each other in the quarter-finals. Anyway, well-done to the Australian thunder from down-under, Neil Richardson. He clinched the Grand Prix trophy in Glasgow with a 9:4 win over China’s dragon, Ding Junhui.

Also tahniah* to Dato’ Isa Samad for winning the seat at the Bagan Pinang by-election. His parents and my parents were neighbours in Malaysia. Now the hard work begins…

Birthday greetings to my mother-in-law. We hoped you’d a lovely day.

*Congratulations