May celebrations.

I opted out of the deer walk this morning and instead Chris and I took a steady stroll along Harden Beck to the Goit Stock caravan park and up Leech Lane past the lovely cottages to the main road and back down to the village.

This is a circuit Chris has started to do to get his paper in the morning and was a favourite of our dear late neighbour.

We started with lovely bluebells alongside the beck and a dipper to watch at the water's edge and then lots of glorious May blossom on the Hawthorne trees. I love to see this delicate little blossom. I had hoped there would be a profusion of wisteria on the cottages but it hasn't been too good for a year or two. Not sure if was cut back or just not doing very well but it is coming and may be worth another visit.

As we progressed (slowly) up the rather steep lane we spotted a Pheasant. It crossed the track up onto the wall but then changed it's mind and started walk along in front of us. Then panicked when it realised we were following behind. It jumped on the wall but fell over between the wall and the fence! We tried to extricate it but it was flapping away trying to get through the large meshed wire. It eventually made it with only the loss of a feather or two and strutted off across the fields. Nice to have a leisurely walk for a change and take in the surroundings. (Someone not taking it easy was Wendles56 and her pal V who passed us on the same route - running!)

Celebrations in May? Yesterday daughter Grace rang to say that finally, after a 6 month wait, they had exchanged on their house and will get the keys next week. She had been for an interview for a permanent job earlier in the day which she really wanted and she rang again half an hour later to say she had got it. The job is teaching performing arts and it is her first permanent job, she'll need it to pay for the house!

Two friends are having birthdays this weekend too so I hope everyone is going to have lovely weekend celebrating or just enjoying this lovely May weather.