Photo Scavenger

We had a very spring-like day last week (Wednesday) and I thought the weather was finally improving. I felt rather tired on Thursday for some reason, so G went for a walk on his own. We finally managed a walk in the forest yesterday (Saturday) and it was dry and even a bit sunny, but today we're back to deep gloom and drizzle.

But here are a few of photos from the walk in the forest. For a change, we drove up to the main car park by the mountain bike centre. It was so busy! We were astonished. We've not seen so many people there since last summer. Of course we usually walk mid-week, so the fact that it was a Saturday will have made a difference, but we wondered if it was the half-term holiday in England. Either that or everyone has been stuck at home during the endless rain, saw the decent forecast for the weekend and all rushed out at once with their bikes on the cars and in their vans. Anyway, the route we walked was quite quiet, though we did meet a few walkers with friendly dogs, a jogger and a few of the cyclists. ( More here... )

I think this is the mossiest route that we do. At least the moss has enjoyed the extremely wet winter.



( More mosses... )

We also passed one of the wood ant nests. There wasn't much activity, but there were a few ants wandering around, but only on the nest itself.

The walk is just 3½ miles and is the shortest of the three forest walks we do. Strangely, though I'd felt tired and achy on Thursday, after the walk a couple of days later, I felt much better. The tiredness could be hay-fever. There's a huge alder tree out at the back beyond the bottom of our gardens and it's been covered in catkins for ages. I'm taking an antihistamine which is keeping the symptoms damped down, but I hadn't been feeling quite right. The area of the forest where we walked was pretty much all conifers, so pollen was minimal.

8/52 for the group 2026 Weekly Alphabet Challenge

This week's theme was: H is for Hollow

If a lyre wasn't hollow, it wouldn't make a proper musical sound, just a tinny plink.



I really ought to get back to playing it, but I've been waiting for warmer weather because the most suitable room isn't usually heated during the day.

Also, bonus photo of little tête-a-tête daffodils. I bought some of these little daffodils in pots last year and had them by the front door. When they finished flowering, I planted the bulbs out into the garden -- and they came up again this year! I'm surprised and delighted. Normally I am Death To Plants.



In other news...

Today is actually sunny. I want to venture out for a short walk, but I also have various things I want to do because I have meetings tomorrow and Monday so will lost two half days. I just wish we'd be allowed more than one fine day per week.