Date Days and Dodgy Knees

It was obvious from week 1 that unless you arrange something, each day just blends into another one.  So one of the first things we agreed on post-retirement was that we would have at least one day out a week to go somewhere we've been saying "we must go there".  

We've been members of the National Trust for quite a few years and although I've visited several local places with my wonderful friends, Del hasn't been to too many.  Scotney Castle was first on our list, so very pretty with lots of flowers still in full bloom and many dragonflies/damsel flies zooming over the water that surrounds the ruins of the Castle.

Scotney Castle

Our second trip was to a wonderful house near Dorking, Polesden Lacey.   The weather wasn't brill but hey-ho it's date-day!   The house and gardens are really quite spectacular and despite a huge deluge of rain meaning we had to run for it (ha ha who am I kidding - "run...").   Here's some photos of our day.

Polesden Lacey

Glorious Sheffield Park and it's beautiful lakes, stunning reflections and giant redwood.

We were really really sad to see the beautiful, tall, regal redwood had been struck by lightening.  140 years old, 38 metres tall.   How very very sad to see something that many children (and adults) had enjoyed climbing on its 'foot' for the family photo shoot reduced to this

Nymans was our next trip, just up the road.   This time we were joined by my daughter Claire-Marie and her husband Duncan who were staying with us for a couple of days.  We weren't allowed into the gardens themselves because we were joined by Skye our beautiful grandpuppy!   Skye is so well behaved not leaving our sides for very long, but enjoying fetching her ball.

However, she rocks a snood.

And has been known to wear the odd sombrero 

And of course, who can't resist a Christmas hat?

We sneaked in an extra Date Day this week.   Autumn has arrived and so has the rain, but today we woke up to beautiful sunshine and reasonably warm temperatures.   Del suggested a walk along the Wey & Arun canal followed by lunch at The Onslow Arms.  Well who am I to turn down lunch out?

Wey & Arun Canal

Peacock Butterfly