Along the roadside

We, my GKB and I, have just had a very relaxing five day weekend away at our caravan. Wonderful, relaxing days in the autumn sun. Brisk mornings and evenings and warm sunny days.

Lazy afternoons down by the lake, fishing... well there wasn't a fish rising anywhere, let alone biting, but what a pleasant way to spend our time.

On the drive up and back we took some snaps along the way, some pretty and some just a little unusual.

A stand of toetoe (pronounced toytoy) next to flax when we were stopped at some road works.

Giant pumpkins at a roadside stall.

More giants, rabbit sculptures in a small town along the way. I don't know what they were made of but they were some sort of metal. A rather watchful looking trio. Cute.

 And finally, a pond in the Cromwell Gorge on the opposite side of the road to the Lake. Rugged territory.

I've been home long enough now to feel like I haven't been away, oh dear. Getting back to work does that.

Have a good week, you all.

A walk in the April sun

I have been so busy lately it hasn't been funny, so have been feeling just a little bit tired. Well maybe a big bit tired. But that's okay as I'll be away for a few days next weekend with my GKB to the caravan. She needs a bit of tlc but not sure it will happen this trip.

We had a lovely midday with nephew and his wife and family today and my GKB's sister and her husband. I rang and got the grandboys to come for a visit so the kids would have some playmates, they're all of an age.

They don't see each other much, living in different islands so it's good they're now old enough to remember each other.

When they were all gone again and the house was back to normal (whatever that is) I made myself go out for a walk, it was such a beautiful day. I didn't really have the energy but it's surprising how a walk in the sun gives you a boost. I took the camera as well, just in case, and have some photo's to share of my walk in the April sun.

I walked to the playing fields where I

discovered the soccer nets were up and the first game of the season was under way for the "big" boys. Grandboy Jack will be pleased  as he is a soccer player and was wondering when the season was going to start - after the school holidays are over I'm thinking.

Then through the park where the leaves are starting to

turn beautiful autumn colours...

(one wee fellow and his mother were having lots of fun kicking heaps of leaves around)

...past the (usually) beautiful rose gardens. They're looking a little shabby now and in need of  a good pruning but still quite attractive. I would have liked to have gone in and taken a photo from the other end but there was a loving couple on one of the benches, quite engrossed in each other and I didn't want to disturb them.

Then I was at the children's park, which has just been redeveloped in the last two or three years. It's a really lovely place with a fenced area for the preschoolers as well as a large spider web climbing net and skateboard area for the older kids amongst other things.

Being such a lovely day the place was teeming with kids and their parents.

I walked home along the banks of the Silverstream. There weren't many people on it today, just one or two, and no dogs whatever. But...

...I did see a family of ducks under the bank, several in the water as well as up on the bank snoozing.

A lovely walk, I'm pleased I took myself out.

Have a lovely week, everyone.

I'm off to watch 'Weekend Murders' on the telly.