The Day Started Clear And Bright,

so we were off,

 to the car park,

 opposite Coombe Wood, I should say that this will be the only post today as there is an antiques fair on today and I want to be there early,

 so back to the wood, I had not stopped at the woods since I used to cycle here in the early 1960s,

 the pond at the entrance still here,

 with a few orfe, koi and rudd,

 we walked past the first flower beds,

 where Diana made friends with the local cat,

 meanwhile I took a few photographs of the tulips,

 and pool,

 Diana has a new best friend,

 flowers everywhere,

 we started our walk,

 the tulips in this bed, just passed their best,

 but these were not,

 they were just right,

 so many paths to walk on,

 and tulips everywhere you look,

 in so many colours,

and here is a quick video that Diana took of one of the tulip beds looking towards the restaurant,

  we then walked towards the restaurant,

 past what was once the stables on the left,

 and here it is, we will be going in for tea and cakes after our walk around the gardens,

 my sentiments exactly!

 the pathway led upwards past the dining area at the rear of the restaurant,

keep in mind the map so you do not get lost, and yes we did! just as we needed shelter as it started to rain,

 I have my soon to be started man cave,

 Diana has her pixie grotto,

 on both sides of the path, bluebells,

 we started back down again, 

 the path meandering past a small brook,

 with bogside plants growing by it,

 turning back on ourselves we passed some more tulip beds,

 as the path led towards an archway in the hedge,

 on the right a lawn,

 and through the arch,

 it opened out into, 

 a small area of grass,

 passing the rear of a building,

 looking back to the archway, 

 then onwards,

 for a quick pose,

 the tramac gave way to stones and then woodchips,

 as we passed rhododendrons,

 many of which were in flower,

 they looked so nice,

 and in so many colours,

 next a clearing when one of my Grandmothers favorite flowers were,

 lily of the valley, (Convallaria majalis), they were flowering,

 the wood has a large number of huge trees in it,

 mostly coniferous,

 and a nice collection of rhododendrons,

 some in flower,

 like these, and some only just opening, so lots to see in the coming months,

 the gardens were so nice, clean and matured and with an added bonus, no dogs! 

next into the cafe for coffee, tea and cakes, 

 the cafe is called the Coach House Cafe, where we meet and chatted with the charming owners, Gary and Lisa, we all have a common interest, Thailand, as they will be holidaying there soon, safe trip and send some pictures! in summary a really nice park/wood to walk around, it is quite and beautifully maintained, for the history of the park have a look here,

arriving home Diana started playing with her new telephone, she had always wondered what I looked like with hair, so the Roy Orbison look it was then,

facial hair next,

or I could grow old with silver hair,

 and one must not forget the Nora Batty look, although I think I look more like Ena Sharples!

well the less said about this one the better!

and pixie belle Diana, all of these were made in the telephone in a matter of seconds, I am just amazed at what modern day telephones can do,

 after our evening meal, I was off to meet Steve in the club,

 walking past some of the houses in the park, many had bushes at the front of them bursting into flower,

 like these, I have to say I am not sure what they are, but they certainly looked nice,

 the wisteria on the Gate House looking past it's best, but there is still a lovely fragrance in the air when you walk past, even on windy days,

I meet Steve in the club, where we were both fascinated to watch a young lad take a drone out of it's box, chatting to the lads father it was the first time out with it, they chose the club as he could fly it over the cricket pitch sans trees, we were both amazed, as in a matter of seconds the lad had complete control of the drone, he was in the building and made the drone hover just inches from outside of the window recording everybody inside, the modern toys kids have now days, I remember back in the 1950s I had a state of the art toy, a yo-yo! after putting the world to rights and saying goodnight to Steve it was home for a nightcap or three, 

then feet up for a Game of Thrones, the midnight hour passed, and we were off to bed.