We Decided On A Walk To The Mansion,

and back home through a part of the park,

before our Sunday lunch, a quick pose,

a nice clear blue sky,

we were not alone, as there was a winter food fair going on at the mansion,

a quick look at the sign,

it must be Christmas! as of today (Monday), 33 days to Christmas,

 

the first stall on the right, 

the flower stall,

and for Christmas, door wreaths,

yours for just £10.00 each,

next to the flower stall, a couple selling food,

and a few more at the front of the green,

like this one,

in the distance the fun fair,

with a seasonal ride,

in a runaway train,

looking back to the mansion, note to self do not take photographs into the sun!

we walked down by the side of the Mansion,

to the café,

and into and out of the courtyard,

to the gardens beyond,

past the beds of ornamental grasses, now all in seed,

to the rear of what is now the kitchens for visitors,

looking back to the clock tower,

we made our way down to the lake,

no kayaks today,

but in the distance a few swimmers,

some already in the water,

I know it is said to be invigorating,

but the thought of getting out of our warm clothes and into the cold water, just did not appeal to either of us,

we started our walk home, it was a tad muddy,

in several months this area will be populated by picnickers, today a couple of walkers and one man and his dog,

I nearly walked past this stump,

with its mushrooms growing on it,

up the hill,

and down the other side,

to a very wet Westgate Road,

on the home stretch now,

on the right of the pathway,

a new growth of fungi on a dead log,

lots of leaves,

Diana was making a video,

and as she turned around,

took a photograph of me,

indoors and up the stairs,

walking towards our flat,

with happily the lights working,

time for a read and a sherry,

for our starter chicken satay, duck spring rolls and prawn tempura with a salad,

'Cheers!',

for our main course, bacon wrapped turkey breast with stuffing, plus all of the extras, with gravy for Diana,

sans gravy for myself,

eyes down and tuck in!

for dessert a cherry Bakewell sponge pudding, with cream,

delicious! after a long break listening to music it was feet up for a late afternoon of Columbo, every so often watching the final between Mark Allen and Ding Junhui, and what a game, from 6 - 1 down to the winner in one evening, the last frame an amazing 40 minutes long! I will not mention who won, in case you want have not heard the result, but one of the pair is £250,000 richer this morning, and with the end of the game, we were off to bed.