A walk - Enid Blyton style

Today is the first day of the school holidays and for us it's been quite a few hectic last few weeks of term. So, when today dawned all lovely and warm well we just have to go out and enjoy it. (Please don't remind me about the ironng I should be doing - I've managed to jam the door shut on it - it'll be fine......)

So, Enid Blyton style we packed up a picnic, ham sandwiches, apples, nectarines and plenty of water but sadly no 'lashings of ginger beer", apparently it might corode number one son's brace. (You wouldn't believe the adventures we have with that brace. Mishaps with malt loaf, like you wouldn't believe and I've had to cut him free from the duvet cover - don't ask! But thank goodness for tiny, tiny sewing scissors.) Off we went to an extremely chocolate box pretty village not far from us called Wadenhoe.

It sits alongside the river Nene as the river winds it's way up the valley. The church is set up above the village on the top of a small but steep (believe me it's steep. I've climbed mountains with a more friendly gradient than this little thing.) hill.

Apparently, I have to forgive it for being steep because recent excavations have revealed the remains of medieaval buildings, possibly a manor house but probably not the remains of a castle.

Everytime I walk up here though I wonder how the elderly get to church on a Sunday or how brides navigagte the route in beautiful long flowing gowns dodging sheepie droppings or at this time of year the enormous evidence that cattle leave behind. Does someone walk ahead with a shovel? So, you'd need to add an extra roll to your wedding plans then? ....'Head shoveller' ? perhaps. (Now, you just know that'll cause arguments.)

Hunting field crickets.....

Down by the river in one direction narrow boats were moving through the locks and you could hear the whoosh of water either filling or draining out of them. (Ooh! I'm getting all sentimental.)

We walked up to the Mill house and through the fields a little way and we found these.

It's haymaking time! Look at these 'rolly pollies'.

Now hang on a minute - what you do mean you can't get on it?

When we returned to the car these gentlemen were sitting outisde under the trees playing a squeeze box and singing good old folk songs, and doing it very well. A cross between the Dubliners and Kate Rusby with a deeper voice.