Lovely Weather for Ducks!

Hi all,

Yesterday Tuesday was a nice day for us, at least where we were, after the Roman Villa we went into the town and stopped by the weir and the sun sort off came out.

Before we left the Villa we walked about and was going to Lullingstone Caste but Daisy had other ideas.

This is the Viaduct next to the Roman Villa apparently Trev had a customer near by a few years ago so he knows the area.

On the way back to the car, a sign of spring coming.  Then we set off for the town.

On the way I spied some Longhorns but they were very shy and kept walking away.

 At the weir this female Mallard was kicking up a fuss as she had just hatched  5 chicks and the male Mallards would not leave her alone.

She was chased up and down the river all the time we were there but at no time did she loose sight of her little chicks.

Here she is back with them all keeping them all in order.

The river had these sloping areas and the chicks could not get over them so the Mum had a plan...

She took them out of the fast flowing river, we have had a bit of rain you know. Up the bank they went along the path and back down into the water, cunning eh. You can just see a couple of chicks in the grass behind following mum back into the water, all the rest followed and they were all back in the family group in no time.

Well that's it for tonight, hope you enjoyed out visit to the town, maybe a few more tomorrow.

Thanks for looking.

nite nite, luv mike XX

Lullingstone Roman Villa Trip

Hi folks,

Right, out and about today.  As we have joined English Heritage we have to make the most of the joining fee, picnic packed, off we went to somewhere we had never been before.

At the entrance, a nicely designed building with a tea shop.

As we moved inside, Wow what a sight. A massive area all set out with loads of information about its Roman history.

These busts, made of marble were dug up from nearby, they both suffered with missing noses. There was a slide show every so often highlighting different areas as the story of the place unfolded.  Really interesting and cleverly down as the lights moved from one scene to the next.

This was the Mosaic entrance hall which would have greeted people as they entered the building.

Plenty for the children to do, this activity area was great for the little ones to get involved.  As you can see we picked our time to enter between the school parties, who I must say were very well behaved.

Daisy enjoyed herself with the Mosaic tiles which were semi magnetic.

I got her to stand very still, which is very difficult for a three year nine month old child but I explained what I wanted to do and she obliged.

Moving around this was where underfloor heating was, they had that in those days.

There were loads of different dipping rooms including a "Cold Plunge" to go in throughout the site which you could see into from the balcony.

These were a few of the many I took in there, hope you enjoyed our mini tour.  Well worth a visit.

Thanks for looking.

nite nite, luv mike XX

Daisy on a Monday?

Hi folks,

Well today we had all the family up to Dinner.

In between the showers we went to the swings and had a great time with Daisy, Sue, Ian and Claire, it was very dull but I managed to get this one between the showers.

To the other Daisy, this is about as close as you will ever get to a Wabbit, two even.

Daisy stayed tonight so we have got her till Wednesday lunchtime, all we want is a nice day tomorrow and a blog will follow.

Thanks for looking.

nite nite, luv Mike XX

RAF Manston Museum

Hi folks,

Well this weather wont abate so I went searching for stuff to put up and can across these of Manston after we had seen the towers at Richborough come down. The date was the 11th of March before we were given a hosepipe ban.

I didn't actually know this place was here but as Sue, Trev and I were needing refreshment. After drinks we called in paying £1.50. had a good look around the Museum.

It was actually in an old aircraft hangar with some interesting kit in it, well worth a visit..

I think this is an old Sea King Helicopter.

Remember the pilot at the front, we joked and Sue called him Ken.

No none of these look like Ken OTL

Then we found Barbie and we all started to laugh as I remarked that this lady looked like a young Eileen, (bound for the naughty corner now) lol.

A close up of Ken in his youth

Outside the sun was shining, not like this week. We looked around at the outside exhibits.

Sitting on the seat outside I spied this little fellow, a Pied Wagtail, ain't I clever, not.

Just to prove it was a working Airport in came a Jumbo.

We went from here to look at the tower bases at Richbough that had been blown up earlier.

Thanks for looking.

nite nite, luv Mike XX

Down Dockside

Hi folks,

Well what has happened to the summer?

I really need like everyone else the sun to shine, I mean it is May after all.

Went to see some friends for lunch yesterday and afterwards went for a walk by the river to get some air in my lungs after a week indoors.

We walked along the quay by the new Apartments which seem to be deserted with not a lot going on.

Looking out to get a reflection, well sort of.

This Pigeon had the right idea and protected himself from the wind under the lock gates, I think he was a bit hungry as well.

A bit of action by the lock, these two boats were coming in to moor after a trip down the river.

Up goes the lifting bridge to let the boats go free.

Little update to my condition. Not done a lot as I have to give it time to heal internally, I am getting as I was told a slight fuzzy head but not as bad as I thought and I am able to do away without any headache pills.

I thought this scene with the " Southern Mist" summed the day up. Well back to the car and home, at least I tried.

Thanks for looking.

nite nite, luv Mike XX

Recovering!

Hi folks,

sorry I have not been about.

I really miss not going out and about but I am now ready to venture outside be it a damp and cold May and will have to wrap up warm..

As far as I can tell the operation was a success and I hope that is the end of my ordeal and I can get back to normal. I will still have to take it easy for a month work wise but at least I am mobile and can get out and about. I have to go back to hospital for a check in a month. I was amazed what they did bearing in mind that it was all done without a single mark to the outside of my body and was all done via the nasal cavity using a scanner,drill and cameras.

I looked through my earlier photos and found this one which I thought was appropriate" lovely weather for Ducks".

Give me time and I will be back properly.

Thanks for looking.

Have a great day, luv Mike XX

Back again

Hi folks,

Well I'm back after a day in the smoke and no I don't smell like a Kipper.

All went ok so now I play the waiting game again and go back in a month for a check up.

Daisy came to meet me in her Doctors outfit to take me home for a consultation.  She put some pretend cream on the back of my hand and bandaged it so this helped my sinuses as you can imagine.

I have not taken any photos today as I was tired and having a rest so this is one from earlier.

Hopefully I shall soon be back to my old self and enjoying life again.

nite nite, luv Mike XX