A walk in the rain yesterday. Just in and around the park down the road. Sans umbrella (well, it wasn't chucking it down and sometimes it's good to live a little dangerously, even if you do end up with dodgy looking hair).
The filled spaces in the car park hinted at the number of dog walkers and school groups out and about but no-one was lingering and the park is big enough, with lots of hidden paths and wooded areas, not to feel part of a crowd.
This used to be the home of one of the town's founding fathers (and is also the birthplace of local lad made good, Captain James Cook). The hall has long since been demolished (I posted more about it here) but there are still remnants of the original buildings here and there, reminders of what used to be.
There's a mix of planting and a range of colours throughout the park, from the impressively large, and almost glowing in its blueness, ceanothus in the recently restored walled garden to the patches of wildflowers dotted here and there.
There was a first sighting and sniff of hawthorn blossom, that unmistakable whiff of almond which I can't get enough of (though I know enough of myth and legend not to want to plonk a snip in a vase at home), whilst a park resident kept a close eye.
Before walking a circuitous route past some highly desirable residences back to the car, I popped into the churchyard over the road. Like others, I rather enjoy a wander round old graves. This probably harks back to when I was little and used to accompany Aunty M every Sunday when she pulled up weeds and changed the flowers or placed a Christmas wreath on the graves of her father and brother and I used to go in search of stone angels. I love the tranquility, especially in urban graveyards, don't find them particularly creepy or gloomy and often ponder the possible stories behind the inscriptions on those headstones that have survived.
In other news, the convalescent has had enough of lounging and snoozing and is making it known that he's ready for a return to the great outdoors.
Little does he know his nemesis is patiently waiting.