Monday 1 May 2023

I Am Only Making One Post Today,

as tomorrow Diana will be at work, and I will be out early,


back to Sunday, we decided on two things, 

firstly a walk to look at the bluebells in the park,

and secondly to have Sunday lunch at Branded in Beckenham,

so off for our walk to the bluebells,

and there was a pink one!

along some of the pathways, a few of the homes in the park had a border of flowers in front of them,

so a quick stop and look,

there were also stands of the flowers in the verges on the opposite side of the road,

into the Westgate Road part of the park where a small group of bluebells was growing. then up Crab Hill, once the site of a prisoner of war camp,

thank goodness there was a bench at the top!

the park was quite crowded,

but as we entered the area where the bluebells grow,

we had the place pretty much to ourselves,

so we started taking photographs as we went,

unlike my last visit

there were so many flowers,

everywhere,

and not a soul in sight,

if you do go to Beckenham Place Park to look at the bluebells,

after it rains,

it takes a long time for some of the trails to dry out, so remember to wear boots!

but the bluebells seem to love the damp conditions,

time for a pose,

a bit closer,

and time for a head and shoulders shot,

one more for the album,

a nice stand of bluebells,

I took a panorama of this part of the wood,

and a short video,

we continued walking, 

well we had to build up an appetite for lunch!

there were still a few trails to walk as we made our way back,

in the far distance the gate which stops cars from entering which is where we entered,

a quick pose,

before crossing the water logged Westgate Road,

and we were on our way home,

passing the homes that had a stand of bluebells in front of them,

as it happens it seems to be a bumper year for dandelions, strangely enough whilst gardeners in the UK hate them in some countries like Singapore and Japan they are held in high esteem,

one quick blow and hundred will grow!

Diana took a photograph of the seed head,

and of us walking back home to change our muddy shoes and boots,

next a walk into town to Branded

where Diana had booked a table for lunch,

we booked for 12.30, to avoid the rush, 

and give us lots of time to order,

Diana ordered a Aperol Spritz, which was Aperol, prosecco and mixed with soda water, I went for a bottle of house red,

'Cheers!', from Diana,

on to our starters, for Diana oven baked field mushroom & avocado, melted stilton sauce, parmesan & breadcrumb crust,

for myself tempura battered fresh langoustine, homemade tartar sauce,

a quick 'Cheers!',

before it was eyes down and tuck in,

after a suitable break, our main courses arrived, Diana went with the roast half chicken, with fresh seasonal vegetables, roast potatoes, homemade Yorkshire pudding, Branded gravy,

I went with roast Scottish sirloin of beef, with fresh seasonal vegetables, roast potatoes, homemade Yorkshire pudding, Branded gravy,

eyes down for myself,

and another 'Cheers!' from Diana,

well I had to do one as well!

another long break before our desserts, for Diana, cheesecake, white chocolate & raspberry,

I decided on a apple & blackberry flapjack crumble with warm custard,

easy does it!

and tuck in,

Diana then had a latté coffee, for myself I stayed with the wine, the three course Sunday lunch is priced at £27.95 per person,

but with the drinks the total came to £106.00, a tad expensive, but it seems that everything is nowadays, the food, staff and ambiance were excellent, we even had a chat with one of the staff who has a friend that is a Filipino, we will be back! a final 'Cheers!', before our walk to the park and home,

on the way we decided as it was light to walk through the churchyard,

Diana will never walk here or any other churchyard at night, and even in daylight she tried so hard not to walk on tombstones that had been made into the path around the church,

a quick pose,

before Diana picked a dandelion seed head,

out of the churchyard and on to the green,

I had to have a pose at Foxgrove lodge at the park entrance,

as it happens the air was full of the aroma of wisteria, I had to have a close up smell,

as did Diana,

a few hundred yards further along the pathway, this tree in someone's rear garden was putting on a great display, arriving home it was feet up for a rest, then unfortunately although it is Diana's day off and the store is closed all of the staff were asked to call in for one or two hours, so Diana was off again, whilst she was out I settled down to a Sunday afternoon film, 

what better than Dr. No! of course released in 1962 it was showing its age, but still great fun to watch again, after which Diana called, as she was on her way home she asked if I fancied a kebab? answer in the affirmative!

no time for a read and a sherry, straight on with the meal, a sauce over Diana's,

just out of the box for myself,

all set to tuck in,

'Cheers!', what a nice way to round off a lovely day, by now it was late, so one from A Touch of Frost before we were off to bed.


No comments: