Why are you Guys Still Out?

 Been off work for three days. Two of those have been misty, mizzley, cold and grey, weather to hide from. Get the TV on, pull the fleece blanket up round your neck on the sofa and stay as cozy as you can.

Saturday, however, was just glorious. Mid November, and it was shirt sleeves weather. I went to Rumbles cafe at the park, and watched a red admiral - always the last butterfly on the wing each autumn - flutter over my head as I sipped on my tea. 

Because of this warm November, there's still some flowers in bloom in the lovingly cultivated beds outside Rumbles, and unbelievably there's still some other pollinators on the wing. 

A hoverfly and a honeybee, still awake and feeding! 

It's an absolutely beautiful thing to see and a privilege to photograph it. But really, is this what we should be seeing so deep into the autumn? Flowers in bloom and insects feeding off them? 

I know that a lot of nature lovers are worried about this too. They wonder why there are trees in bud, orchids sprouting in meadows and other manifestations you would expect in March, not November. It feels wrong to them. It feels wrong to me. 

Something isn't right out there.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 14.11.22

Teas at the Park

 By the time you read this, we will have emerged from lockdown and back into our Tiers, although seeing that we are still going to be Tier 3 that won't make the slightest bit of difference to me.

I've been able to rediscover the joy of having my cups of tea at Rumbles, something that used to be so important to me in happier times when I used to go every time I  possibly could. The weather over the weekend was misty and drizzly, yet the rain did not bother me. I just stood there with my tea - all the seats at the cafe have been taken away, despite being outside. 

The weather has turned now, dryer, colder, a smidgen of frost in the mornings. My hands are starting to crack, which makes the application of sanitiser rather painful and requiring me to use moisturiser. Snow is forecast with the usual glee by the papers for the weekend; I very much doubt this will happen. Freezing mornings I dread, my hands are agony and riding the bike is fearful.

When this is over, it is time to think about travelling, I think. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 01.12.20

Return to Rumbles

 It's taken me a long way to go back to my favourite little cafe in town, as I am just so wary of hospitality establishments, even more so now we are a Tier 2 concern in this town.

All the new directives about not meeting anyone outside your own household indoors are seemingly being completely ignored by the public and not enforced by establishments. We are so going to be stuck with this for a long time.

Rumbles is of course now an outside only operation - my cup of tea came through a hatch in a screen, but it was good to see the same staff in place, and people sat outside enjoying what was a fairly pleasant day by this October's admittedly low standards. I could just sit at a dinky little table and drink my tea and take in information and look at the plants.

It was healthy. It was helpful.

I trotted round the park for a walk afterwards, during this transitional time of the year, listening to Ruby League of all things. The intellectual stuff was when I went running tonight, listening to a dystopian play of Radio 4.

I love my sci fi!

Regards

Simon

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 17.10.20

Baby Daffodils

It feels like it's been a bit of a wasted day today, another of those days where I've been so tired after a busy week at work that I can barely move, although I found my way to the park for a cup of tea.

The plan for today was maybe to walk to Winthorpe, and have a cruise round the lake there; but by the time I'd gotten myself together enough to go out, Scotland versus England was on giving me an excuse to stay inside.

And what a game of classic rugby that was!

I did make up for my laziness by having a very punishing one hour blast on the exercise bike, trying some high intensity interval training hunched over the bars grunting away like Mark Cavendish. I'm going to another session after I've written this.

After all that I don't have a lot to show you today, apart from some baby daffodils!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 08.02.20

Glistening Wet Flowers

I've not had a massive outdoors day today because of cricket net practice; I just went and had a cup of tea at the park while listening to dear old Radio 4 as usual. There's been a fair bit of rain overnight, and the pansies were glittering with droplets, their monkey faces almost drooping with the weight of water.

So yes, I did feel my hip was up to cricketing, and thus I had my first proper bowl of pre-season. I came through ok, although I'm a bit sore now. I was n't exactly going full pelt, but at least I was mainly accurate.

My batting was as usual shaky early on, but better when I could get my feet moving.

To say I walk and run so much, it's odd I can't get my feet moving when I'm batting.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 02.02.20

Rain is Coming In

I've had an entirely restful day where I haven't done much apart from go the park for a cup of tea, listen to the radio and watch the various weather fronts come over.

I'm still resting my heel and I'm happy to report that it seems to be a bit less painful today,especially without having to traipse all over our huge work campus. My neck and shoulder are still troublesome however, so I'm having to be careful.

We will see how I feel tomorrow.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 10.11.18

Good News for Rumbles Cafe

As I dropped in for my usual tea and scone, I was delighted to see this in the counter;

 

 Basically the story is that Rumbles Cafe has secured a ten year deal on its subsidised rent, enabling them to carry on offering employment opportunities to folk with learning disabilities, and reasonably priced food and drink to families (and passing through butterfly hunters) using the park.

Although the amount of rent the cafe pays will go up as the ten year period goes on, and the council wants to see somee better returns for their investment, it has been crucially recognised that a cafe offering a chance for less abled folk a chance to earn a living is not going to be a financial "production line".

Certainly the staff I spoke to were thrilled that the cafe was going to be able to keep going as was, and that is the most important thing.