Easter Weekend 2010

Did you have a good Easter weekend? I hoped everyone had a fantastic eggciting time. This chocolate egg is still in its box. We’d forgotten to eat it !!! My plans to check out the museums in Oxford didn’t materialise cos Babe hasn’t fully recovered. But not to worry, I’ve got a list of things to keep me occupied.

The first thing on my list was to walk as far as I could every morning. I’m very proud to say that I did it. According to my pedometer, I’ve been walking at least 4 miles a day. I’m so please with myself but not my poor body. I’m sore and aching all over. But, it felt good.

On Good Friday morning, I did my walk  under the April showers. March had roared out like a lion and normality returns with Atlantic lows. Then, after a hearty breakfast of mushroom omelette, I tackled the gardens. It was too wet to do a major exercise, so I started planting 4 pots of gladioli bulbs. There’s another 4 pots to go.

Good Friday was also traditionally the day to get the  main crop of potatoes into the ground. CC had given me 2 tubers each of exotic ones, International kidney and Kers pink which have  chitted  nicely. I am growing them in last years potato bags. I’ve got 2 more empty bags but I’m not sure if I’m planting anymore. Will wait and see.

Then we went to Brandon Marsh to check out what the natives are up to. We were greeted by a large flock of Redpolls feeding by the path. They will be leaving us soon as up to 70% of the British population migrates to the Low Countries. Bonn voyage my feathered friends. It was a pleasure seeing you, have a safe trip and please pop in again next year.

We walked straight to the empty Carlton Hide. At first, Babe and I just stared at each other. Suddenly, this gorgeous Willow Warbler flew near the window and started feeding. All you could hear was our cameras busy whirring and clicking away.

Then the heavens opened. At least we were dry and then a Little Grebe came out of the reeds and started swimming in front of us. Another was also seen feeding across the island. I guess if you’re quiet, the natives will come out to play.

After the rain stopped, we made our way to the East Marsh Hide. The Common Snipe was still there and a Greylag was nesting on one of the island. We were mesmerised by the Sand Martins skimming low over the lake. We heard that they are now using the nesting structure opposite the lake.

On Saturday, after my walk, we went for a drive in search of Harvest Hill Nature Park. I’ve seen lovely photographs of wild daffodils growing all over the place. According to the guide book, it was just outside Coventry, near the village of Allesley. We drove out of Coventry, then turn back and somehow managed to miss the sign. Never mind, there’s always next year.

We did some shopping in Morrison and hurried home because there’s another football match at the Ricoh.  Barker's 20th-minute goal makes Derby all but safe in the Championship but more than likely ends Sky Blues faint play-off ambitions. Now, we were ranked in unlucky 13.

Easter Sunday was suppose to be the best day of the weekend. So after my walk and the Malaysian GP,  we went to Coombe Abbey and the heavens opened :-). We took shelter under the trees but not for long. The sun did come out to play. We were also greeted by this gorgeous Nuthatch feeding along the tree trunk.

We walked past the lake and spotted a nesting swan  and moorhen. We took the path to this Cistercian monk which was carved from a giant redwood. Artist John Wakefield was commisioned to create the pieces in 1996. He is wearing well and hopefully blessing everyone who crosses his path.

At the bird-hide there was a flurry of activities. Another swan was already nesting nearby. A pair of heron was sitting on their nest on the island. We spotted cormorants, moorhens and coots bringing in bits of twigs to build their nests. Apart from that, feeding frenzy was fast and furious by the feeder. This gorgeous Marsh tit was flying from one to another.

A very nosy wren caught my attention.  She’s either busy building a nest or hunting for spiders. A very shy Song thrush was darting in and out of the undergrowth. And suddenly a very colourful Great Spotted Woodpecker flew in and started feeding. Babe says it was like fishing in an aquarium.  You get his drift…

On the way back, we spotted more swans nesting. There was also an abundance of Nuthatches feeding among the tree trunks. I told Babe that all I need to see now is a tree creeper. Babe says that he hasn’t seen any. And guess what? This cute tree creeper (below) flew right in front of us. Be careful of what you wish for huh :-).

Today, I didn’t walk far cos I’d blisters. I wanted to continue but I was bleeding and didn’t want to make it worse. I only managed a mile before I limped back. Not happy at all.

We went into the city centre to do a bit of shopping at Ikea. We wanted to get a new coat stand. Ikea was buzzing. We did found the coat stand but it was £45. Will have a think. We walked round and snapped a rug, a dish drainer and a pot of yellow spider orchids.

We did a very quick walk-about and the city centre was really busy. At the Chinese shop, I bought brown broad noodles. Yummy. It was a nice surprise when we paid for parking. It was free!!! If we’d known, we would have stayed longer.

Back home, we’d a light lunch of cheesy bread with minestrone soup and vegetable samosas. It was quite chiily in the casa. I fell asleep watching Nottingham Forest versus Cardiff City. I didn’t miss anything cos the final score was 0:0. It must have been a dull match.

Anyway, here’s my all-time  favourite Easter joke

Knock, knock... 
Who's there? 
"Ether"! 
"Ether" who? 
"Ether" Bunny!

-:0 –:0 –:)

Have a lovely Easter.