We Had Our Day Planned,

first stop the car wash,

a week or so ago there was a huge dust storm,

dust from the Sahara dessert was blown up to the the UK, it appeared most of it was dumped on our car!

so the car wash it was then,

we then had a leisurely drive to Holwood Farm, 

it is a farm shop with a café/restaurant,

inside there is seating upstirs,

looking down to the shop area below,

Diana looking at the breakfast menu,

so cake it was then!

at the far end of the dinning area the cake display and till,

'Cheers!',

we both decided on a latte coffee, also Diana was asked if she wanted the cake before our breakfast, as we were waiting for them to be cooked,

although the car park was nearly full there was plenty of room upstairs in the restaurant,

I just love the use of wood in the building,

our breakfast arrived, a double egg Benedict for Diana, a bacon sandwich for myself,

next downstairs for a look around the farm shop, the selection was huge and we were more than tempted with so many yummy goods for sale,

new for this visit was a seafood outlet,

and this out door seating area, just around the corner there was a raised section with tables and chairs which was full, hence a nearly full car park but with space upstairs, into the car to our next stop,

the car park at Keston Ponds, the car at last looking nice in the sunlight sans the red dust,

we made our way down to the top lake,

the feed for it, water from Caesars Well,

that runs down this channel,

and into the lake,

as it happens we had visited Keston Ponds a few times before, 

I had forgotten the peanuts for the birds in the car, so back I went, Diana waited by the lake,

in the middle of the lake one fish stood out,

a ornamental koi carp, someone's pet released into the wild, which really should not happen, but there it is,

at the end of the lake a small wall and path,

on the other side the middle lake,

on the far side of the middle lake we were expecting to see the ice cream van, but alas today the van was not there,

I walked down to the middle lake, Diana at the top of the waterway that leads to it,

the water goes into another circular pool,

before entering the lake,

a panorama of the middle lake,

Diana came down to join me,

in the distance,

a coot nesting,

in a couple of months there will be a few more coots on the lake,

we walked along the side of the lake,

in the center many big carp just below the surface,

the swans did not wake up as we passed,

Diana was playing with her telephone,

as I carried on around the bottom of the lake,

looking across the lake,

a pair of Mandarin ducks came over,

luckily I had the peanuts with me,

I threw a few in then took a photograph, just as the female dived,

and here she was again,

a nice place to fish when it is open season,

I had to have a pose,

as did Diana,

a little closer,

and a close up,

between the middle and lower lake there is a road,

a huge splash, something was happening in the lake,

we looked down to the stream that goes into the lower lake,

we walked along the road,

to where the ice cream van usually is,

we started down to the lower lake,

following a part of the stream that leads into it,

along the path,

the lake in the distance,

and here it is,

we made our way to the bridge at the end of the lake,

as it happens this lower lake is a conservation are, so even in the season no fishing is allowed,

Diana has a pose on the bridge,

the lake has a small island, I was surprised that there were no birds nesting on it,

in the center of the lake,

a pair of golden orfe that someone had released into the lake,

at the end of the lake a small stream continues on towards Beckenham,

we crossed the bridge,

and looked at the stream, 

we turned back, the going was way too muddy, passing a few stands of bamboo,

not a particularly attractive one I have to say,

in the lower lake another pair of Mandarins,

that by the time I had put the lid on the peanuts and took a photograph promptly dived,

we walked up to the middle lake where the same thing happened!

patience paid off,

what a handsome chap he is,

we walked by the side of the middle lake,

looking back,

and now towards the car,

it was a glorious day,

a quick pose,

a last look back and we were on our way,

into town for the weeks shopping, Diana bought some flowers for the table,

we were soon in the park and on our way home,

past the magnolia, not a cloud in the sky,

arriving home it was time to throw some of last weeks flowers away,

and put the new ones with some of them that still looked nice in a vase, after our evening meal and a couple of quiz shows,

I was out,

past the church, some work was being done to one of the paths, so it was taped off,

I was on my way to the 227 bus stop,

I arrived in Penge, opposite Southey Street,

past the street art,

then turn sharp right, the Southey Brewing Company at the end of the narrow street, Steve had booked a table, as it happens we were here a couple of weeks ago,

the beers on offer this evening,

we had the same table as our last visit,

round one, then round two,

followed by round three, we had decided on halves, so we could try more brews before it was time to fall over!

as we left this is the area outside of the brewery that earlier had tables and chairs set up,

we made our way to the High Street, I said goodbye to Steve as he walked home and my bus arrived,

I made my way past the churchyard and home, where it was feet up for a nightcap,

 and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, it was a good pretty much all action romp through ancient Persia, and with the end of that we were off to bed.