Solstice Sky

Sunset : 3.38pm

Lantern Parade, Chester - 12 Dec 08

"Something Wishful" was the culmination of Cheshire's Year of Gardens and involved a number of schools participating in a lantern parade. The lanterns were launched and floated out onto the River Dee, to the sounds of wishful music, dancers on swan boats, acrobatics and fireworks.

"Chill FactorE", Trafford Park (Manchester)

Indoor ski slope with learner slope, tubing & luge for the kids, and soft play area for little ones.

[6 Dec 2008]

End of Summer

Some pics from August/Sept 08...

Harvest, Styal Mill

Clog dancing at Rode Hall Farmers Market

Rainbow over The Cloud

Straw bale windmill near Nantwich

Canal Walk, Congleton

Pics from August 2008

Plenty of narrowboat traffic on the Macclesfield Canal...

Chester Raft Race 2008

Vital equipment for watching Chester's annual Raft Race...
One roll of industrial blue tissue, one bag of flour.

The rafts were fantastic, as always - cobbled together from pallet wood, drums and kegs. This year's theme was James Bond. There's usually around 30-40 rafts which make their way from The Meadows to the weir and back again. Most returned safely (one way or another) for the apres-raft party.

Some pics from the day...


If one handful of sand doesn't get them...

...throw the whole bag.
In keeping with Tradition, a motley bunch of civilians hurled various missiles from the footbridge - flour bombs, ripe tomatoes and bread being in vogue this year. A few super soakers surfaced as well, admittedly one being in our camp.

Marauders attack The Samaritans.

Sniper!

View towards the weir.
Tourists.
Flour vapour trails.
Fully loaded!

Sorted !

Quote of the day, from a Round Table attendant: "You can throw flour bombs & soft stuff - anything really as long as it's not, like, a water melon."

CLICK LINK FOR MORE PICS : http://www.flickr.com/photos/merryhel/

Summer Rain

A rainbow appears over the street after a sudden sunlit deluge.


Earlier this week...
We've had some good weather recently with temps in the 30's - lovely for RHS @ Tatton on Sunday. This beautiful cloud swelled up over Kerridge that evening.

Merefolk on Tour! ... Edinburgh

Earlier this year we flew to Edinburgh for a very short weekend trip.

Our little FlyBe plane (erk)

Cannons at the castle Mons Meg One o'clock gun

Greyfriars Bobby - http://www.greyfriarsbobby.co.uk/
View of Edinburgh Castle from the churchyard
View from Edinburgh Castle
Home of Scotland's royal treasure

View of Edinburgh (market in centre)

Thistle stall

Webcams around Edinburgh : http://www.scotsman.com/webcams.aspx

April Showers

Snow, rain, sleet, hail & intermittent sunny blue skies - superb light in the evenings. Unfortunately we just got to the Mere a little late today to capture the full intensity of the purple cloud of a hailstorm above the orange setting sun.

Quarry Bank Mill, Styal

A cotton mill during the 18th century, Quarry Bank Mill is now owned by the National Trust.

'The Secret Garden' is a project to restore the back garden of the mill owner's house - the basics such as pathwork and design are there, but it still requires a lot of work, planting & growth! and is not currently at its projected best.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-quarrybankmillandstyalestate/

Flower Shop, Congleton town centre

The Flower Gallery, Congleton town centre

Spring flowers appearing, Focus is stocking hanging basket liners and bedding plants are on sale.

The weather forecast for the Easter weekend is: cold, wet and wintry with the chance of sleet and snow on high ground.

Cloverbank Farmers Market, Gawsworth

Cloverbank Organic Farm at Shellow Lane, North Rode near Congleton/Macclesfield is an organic meat farm which also holds a farmers' market on the 3rd Saturday of every month (Feb-Dec), 8.30am to 12.30pm - plus they donate the stall holders' fees to the East Cheshire Hospice appeal. Recent stalls have included (but are not at every event) fresh fish, smoked meats/fish, honey & preserves, pies, meats (inc. ostrich & boar), juices, mushrooms, beers/wines, plants, fruits/vegetables, ice cream, yoghurts, bread, chocolate, biscuits, cakes, desserts, ready meals, a local bookseller, local artist, hanging baskets/herbs/plants & shrubs, tea/coffees and the most amazing lamb sandwiches - served hot.

Plenty of people there today, the round house is coming on a treat and the stalls in the barn are benefitting from the new floor. Imbolc is here and half the barn is being used for the ewes. Lots of lambs & piglets for the kids to see!

Directions from Macclesfield : Take A523 signposted Leek, past Fools Nook pub on the left. Further on there is a white bungalow on the left - opposite that is a right-turn filter lane signposted North Rode. Turn here into Bullgate Lane. You will go over a canal bridge, then a right hand bend over the railway, then a left hand bend over a narrow brick river bridge. Farm is next on right (just over 2 miles from the A523).

Cheshire no more

More bad news for Cheshire as a bunch of idiots far, far away decide to wave their magic wands and split the county into East Cheshire and West Cheshire.
http://www.wilmslowexpress.co.uk/news/s/1039462_cheshires_fate_finally_sealed

Jodrell Bank

Sad news as the government announced plans this week to close 7 radiotelescopes including Jodrell Bank to save a paltry £2.5million a year. £8million has just been plugged into setting up e-Merlin which was planned to go live next year ... money down the drain. Guess we'll never know what discoveries Merlin may have made.

Webcam

http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/webcams/jodrellbank_1.shtml

UK's Greatest 'Unsung Landmark' 2006...
http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/news/landmark/

Jodrell Bank in 360°...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/interactive/360/jodrell_bank.shtml

Petition !..
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/RadioAstronomy/

Congleton Park

View of Congleton Park from the Pavilion Cafe.

The Cloud just visible in the far distance.

The Round Table host the annual Fireworks night here.