Canoeing the Severn

I haven't updated this for a while as my computer had to be sent back to apple to be prepared. So this is from a while back (And apologises for the formatting - blogspot has changed and is being a pain.)

A few weeks after leaving London dad and I went to Bridgnorth and spent the day canoeing down to Arley. It was one of these 31 degree days so nice to be chilling on the river but the few bits I did leave exposed did burn despite lots of sunscreen.

We paddled/drifted for a few hours - more drifting than paddling to be honest - before we stopped for lunch, which was further away than we expected. Dad was more than ready for a break.

Eventually we found the waving man who indicated a good place to spot. Normally there is a pub to stop at for lunch but this was pre-pub reopening so we had a packed lunch. But so we didn't feel like we were missing out we took some G&Ts. Mom had packed the lunch and had popped them in the freezer. And they were still frozen. 

Luckily they dethawed pretty feel in the sun after 10 mins.

 The only issue we had was we had booked a taxi from Arley at 3 thinking that was plenty of time. But we did more drifting than paddling. So when we got a call from the taxi driver, we were still quite a way the end point so had to paddle rather more vigorously than we had been so far. I hurt for a few days after that.

Foggy Arley

On Christmas Eve, Dad and I went to Arley to get roasted chestnuts and look at the trains. It was beautiful clear skies when we left home but some serious fog when we got to the river so got some lovely photos.

However we were very disappointed when we got to the station. Apparently there is no christmas at Arley on Christmas Eve. Which meant no roasted chestnuts. We were both gutted. 

Deserted.

We ended up at the garden centre for lunch.

Chestnuts and Trains

I went back home for Christmas on the Thursday evening and spent Friday sorting out things and sleeping! On Saturday dad and I decided to to go to Arley for a walk (mom didn't want to join us)

Sunny day.

When we were little, every year we would get the steam train for Kidderminster to Arley to see Santa. So it was packed the day before Christmas Eve.

Train!

Arley station

Smokey.

Changing the time of the next train

Gone

Train drivers contemplating life.

Another reason to go was to get roasted chestnuts. I only ever seem to eat them at Christmas and dad hadn't had any this year. And they were lovely.

Munching chestnuts

We spent some more time thing photos before heading back across the river for a cup of tea.

Riverside cafe.

One the way home we stopped into my Aunt and Uncles house for a gin & tonic (or 2 for me) and a chat. I was hoping they would come over during the break but unfortunately they came down with the bug that's going around.
Christmas Eve was quiet, just getting things ready for the big day and of course watching the Hogfather, which is my and moms Christmas film and the best Christmas film there is! We also made some eggnog. Mom and dad hadn't tried it before but it was a success (though I had to use more booze than the recipe said to make mom happy!).

Eggnog.

Boxing Day 2016

As usual on Boxing Day (after Kerry and Craig had gone home), we went for a walk to clear the cobwebs away. And Arley is a favourite. The church was open this time which was nice.

And we had a nice walk along the river. I didn't take many photos (too busy chatting).

mom and dad.

Arley Arboretum

Mom and Dad have been going on about the Arboretum at Arley for a few years. However I recently found out they have never actually been inside! So I dragged them out on Sunday for a walk. The weather was better on Saturday but I had work to do.

Fountain

Lots of colours

Pansies - one of the few flowers I know

Clean fountain

Not so clean!

I wanted to go to see the bluebells as they have a bluebell walk. But we missed them - most were dead already. But there were lots of other flowers out. Plus some very old trees of course.

With water skater. 

The sun did come out for some of the walk around.

They also had some chickens and peacocks in a random area. Pretty but very noisy!

Strutting his stuff

Hello?

Man of the yard