Further Upchurch Adventures

We did so much at Upchurch that I shall carry on from yesterday.

I thought this was an unusual fungi on the side of a tree with another forming on the front.

This is the one I was taking a picture of in yesterdays' blog.

Same fungi looking from underneath.

More found on the ground by the fence.

Last fungi for the day I promise, taken at the side of the apple orchard.

Would you like a Dandelion readers??

Wildlife collection by the pond.

Silkie Chickens

Daisy was running round and round in a circle singing about monkeys and as she went past Sue was taking her picture.................. then.................all fall down.................., she picked herself up and looked at her muddy hand and carried on.

Ah a famous Rabbit hole for Daisy and Holly, although Holly would have a job getting down this hole.

Last but not least an unscathed Daisy wanting to go home. " Can we go home now please?"

This one and a few others were taken by Sue

Nite nite, luv Mike, Daisy and Sue XX

Adventures around Upchurch

Another Tuesday with granddaughter Daisy but a dull, miserable, misty day, "oh dear".  Now, not to be outmanoeuvred by the weather we headed off with her and her new wellington boots on board to lunch at River Valley Golf Club in Upchurch.

Very nice

" I ate all my lunch"

After lunch on the way back to the car I took this of the carts and thought of Lewis Hamilton.

This made me chuckle.


Then it was off to the Barnyard next door and complete with the new blue pirate wellington boots (note this Daisy. Holly and Trevor, more pirates).  There were some donkeys first of all in their hut but they came out to see us, then there were the pigs :

Daisies Wellingtons

View across the A2, a bit murky

One enormous pig was fast asleep by the wire and took exception to being woken up by another, poking and prodding his snout..  He made such a grumble that Daisy was frightened and started to cry, Sue explained that if her mummy tried to wake her up when she was fast asleep then she would grumble and say "Go away" - "Leave me alone" etc. etc. and that this is what the pig was doing in piggy language.  Being three and a bit, she understood and all was well.

There were not many animals about, the Not Not Neddys were down on the lower farm but these adorable donkeys even posed for us.

The next stage in our walk was through the apple orchard, most had been picked but still alot to see.

Look Granddad an apple.

 What's this fruit?

What's this Granddad is Photographing? You will have to wait till the next blog to find out.

Can we go home now,,,please, I'm getting tired

Daisy  is now safely tucked up in bed so...

nite nite, luv Mike XX

Trip to the Edith May

Hi folks,

Well it was Sunday and the weather was nice so, where do we go?  Well this time we had the coordinates of this fine barge so cameras at the ready, off we went. The object of the day was to have tea on board then meander up the Saxon Shore Way.

What a wonderful sight greeted us on our arrival, the vessel was in tip top condition from Bow to Stern, even more spectacles were to emerge when we climbed aboard, down the steep ladder we went into the bowels of this magnificent boat.

What greeted us was a unique galley and a lovely wood burning stove, just right on a cold autumn day.

Well it was time to order our tea and a scone.

I was fascinated by this lone picture of her pinned to the beans.

 On the way to the loo was a bench with Cups she had won.

Back to my seat I could see that she was filling up with customers.

Behind us or Aft was a quaint seating area which someone had reserved for lunch.

Suitability refreshed we clambered the steep stairs to the deck and looked across the Estuary on this fine, sunny Sunday.

Off we went on our walk around Saxon Shore Way, well that's another story for another day.

To end I wanted to put this one up of her in all her glory as the sun went down as we returned to the car.

She sails in the Summer so I would like to go on a trip, weather permitting.

More info...  www.edithmay.com


We had a wonderful day at Lower Halstow Dock.

nite nite, luv Mike XX

Bluewater getting ready for Christmas

Hi folks,

As you know Trevor and I went with Sue to this famous shopping centre on Saturday as Sue was working in one of the shops. After a coffee we set off to take some outside pictures around the complex which is very large. I was pleased that Trev's back was now ok and it was a wonderful bright sunny day for some photographs.

One of the many entrances into the centre from one of the car parks.

Such a lovely day to be out and about, putting Sue's camera through some hoops.

A view from the front lake area with the Christmas decorations in full swing, these are quite old and are kept somewhere else for the rest of the year. This Swan must be as old as the hills and they keep bringing it out year after year

Ah yes the famous Tree, I will go back at night before Christmas to redo the night shots which I did a few years ago. Well worth a visit at night if you can get there.

This is a new area set aside for entertainment and has a Pirates area, (keep away Daisy and Holly) with boats etc. Trev has some close ups of the Pirates to show you today.

Well it wouldn't be Christmas without the famous Reindeer, would it, this one adornes a roundabout on route to the centre.

Shouldn't really take pictures inside but loads of people were. This group where singing Gospel music and Carols from the top balcony of one of the stores. Really good they were too, put me in the right frame of mind for Christmas.

Last but by no means least a view over the balcony after the singers had finished. A great day was had by both of us and I will try to get back at night before Christmas.

nite nite, luv Mike XX

Beacon Woods

Hi folks,

As Sue was working in Bluewater Shopping Centre Trev and I decided to have a wander.  First we ventured to the Shopping Centre itself but then with the sun shining ("Yes it was") we headed off, we knew not where!

We arrived at Beacon Woods Country Park the site of an old Gun Powder factory which closed in 1920.  On entering the park we found nice Autumn leaves still around.

Still having Sues new little camera in my grubby little mits  I started to take some pictures. ( I will give it to her soon, honestly). Well she couldn't use it whilst she was working anyway.

What a nice place, we were intrigued by the layout of the park which we will return to as there is a lake as well which we did not find.

What distracted us was, guess what Kendo, yes Fungi, not a couple but loads of it. In fact Trev and I had never seem so much.

It was everywhere we looked, it must be the fact that the weather has been so dry followed by lots of rain.

This one made us chuckle, like a row of little soldiers they were.

More and more everywhere.

We got our knees muddy taking these and this last one looks like Daisy and Holly had been there thinking it was Chicken!

As it was getting late we made our way back to the car having had a good day.

This shot of the wonderful Park before we went back to Bluewater to pick up Sue.

nite nite, luv Mike XX