Sunday 30 October 2011

Despite being a grey and gloomy end to October, Hubby and I went to Bedford this afternoon for a walk by the river.  It has been years since we have been there although it is not that far away.  The swans, ducks and geese were keen to see if anyone had any bread but we were a disappointment to them and they swiftly moved on to check out others.


 It was a good place for a walk with old bridges and new.

The trees were in full autumn splendour.





I was surprised that at the end of half term there were so many conkers on the ground.  There were dozens of them and lots of very busy squirrels who would sit most photogenically right up until the moment I was ready to press the shutter and then they were off before you could say, "bushy tails!"


This majestic fellow was very busy searching for his tea and reminded me of Kenneth Grahame's Ducks' Ditty.

All along the backwater,

Through the rushes tall,

Ducks are a-dabbling.

Up tails all!

Ducks' tails, drakes' tails,
Yellow feet a-quiver,
Yellow bills all out of sight
Busy in the river!

Thinking of 'The Wind in the Willows', is anyone else following the adventures of Mole, Toad and Ratty on their Grand Tour?  Well it all started with a great idea by Pom Pom, and if you want to know more then check it out here.


The boats were not being used today although I would have enjoyed a leisurely trip down the river.  Just as we were about to leave at 4 o'clock, the sun suddenly burst through under the low clouds.  You can just see in the photo that the street lamps were on and twinkly strings of lights were lit but the sun outshone them all.  It was good to have that extra hour today from the clocks going back but it was dark by the time we got home and that is the bit I don't enjoy.
 


6 comments:

  1. I live fairly close to Bedford too but have never walked along the river there. Your pictures are great and make me want to go there.

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  2. Sue please send me your email so i can send you details of #let's make Christmas
    recipes@VanessaKimbell.com

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  3. lovely country walk with the swans and geese and ducks ;0) delightful pics ;0)x loved the poem x

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  4. Hi Sue! Thank you for mentioning the Grand Tour! The boys have arrived in Minnesota. I'm sure they are shivering in the cold north, but Lisa will stoke her fire and feed them well. Next they head to Texas, then a side stop over in California, then to North Carolina, Virginia, North Carolina again and then . . . off across the sea! I have three new Wind in the Willows editions because I miss my book so much! I have little dip into KG's masterpiece on a regular basis! Your photos are lovely! Especially the swans. Have you ever read E.B.White's The Trumpet of the Swan?

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  5. The copy of Wind in the Willows that I have belonged to my grandmother and was given to me as a child, it is so delightfully written and always a favourite. I have never read The Trumpet of the Swan but will make a note to look out for it.

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  6. I haven't been bedfrod river for ages, must go sometime. Looks like you had a fab walk x

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