Only 7!

Made it to the early walk today after missing for several weeks. It was slightly later as Wilsden Walker is still on half term. A lovely morning and walk though we were quite small in number.

Lots of flowers in the extra collage - in particular a mass of foxgloves where the trees were felled last year walking up past Lady Blantyre's Rock. This happened in Betty’s Wood the first year after trees were felled there but they didn't return.
Lovely wild flowers in the meadow and the flag Iris  are out around Coppice Pond.

No sign of the swans and cygnets, though the juveniles were still holed up in their now usual place at the bottom end the pond. The cygnets were all asleep at the other end. First mum came out ( dad was chasing geese away) followed by the seven cygnets.
Yes one has sadly disappeared . Whilst we stood feeding them a Duck appeared with three very tiny ducklings, the first I’ve seen. They were in and out of the flags so a bit too tricky to photograph.

A great start to the day.


A special day - 30 years ago we were in Normandy as a family awaiting a ferry home after a half term break in France. It was the commemoration of 50 years anniversary of D day.
There were delays to our ferry due to ‘activity’ in Portsmouth Harbour. It was, interestingly, quite a rough crossing.
When we finally arrived it was to the most fantastic firework display in the presence of the Royal yacht Britannia and President Bill Clinton’s flagship! Quite a reception!

I’ve watched some of the coverage of today’s commemorations, most moving. I hope we continue to remember and celebrate this amazing generation who made the ultimate sacrifice for all our freedoms.