‘Til now, the children have come to us for feasts and gatherings but Easter Sunday we went to daughter Megan’s for lunch and next weekend it is with son Iwan. She laid on a lovely meal, smoked, salmon, quails eggs, asparagus starters and roast lamb with five vegetables followed by apple crumble. As well as Ryan and young Jake we were joined by Snuggles and Sparkles the school rabbits who, for rabbits, were well behaved.
After lunch we went to Cassiobury Park and farm
to visit the floating market.
The Grand Union Canal runs through Watford and Cassiobury Park straddles it with a small diesel train circuit for rides, a farm and water cress beds as well as wet lands. Ryan spent his teens cycling the network of paths and hours sitting fishing so I new we would not get lost.
This is the beginning of the market. It was great seeing the narrow boats with the different wares, the boat folk and, of course opportunities for photographs.
You can just see the vinyl records on the side of this boat. All manner of images had been cut out of the discs with a hand fret-saw. It was an unusual and impressive display
I bought a stone with orthoceras fossils, something I have been looking for some time. It had to be the right shape and, of course, price, and it is both!
Searching orthoceras on the web I found this interesting article about scientists using its fossilised ink. I find it fascinating.
A couple of images
and two swans
We decided to have our walk amongst the paths and wet lands. First we had to walk along the canal.
On the way, Valerie and Jake tried to rescue a balloon which was on the other bank.
I Like boats and being on the water. Quite a few years ago I rented a narrow boat for a long weekend from the boat hire centre in Broxbourne. It was November and pouring with rain. I decided to go up the River Stort rather than the River Lee to Hertford. We managed to pass under the first bridge but by the time we reached the second, the river level was so high we could not pass under the second so I had to turn about. This was hairy, the river was in full spate due to the heavy rain. The technique is to turn the bow into the river bank and, turning the tiller in the appropriate direction cause the boat to swing round. We managed it but got stuck under the bridge we had first passed under as the river had risen even more! Passers by gazed down fro the bridge in wonder and amusement! My brain leapt into action and I raced through the cabin to the fore deck and, laying on my back, walked the boat through the arch by pushing and walking on the underside of the bridge. We then took the River Lee which was less turbulent. By Saturday the rain had stopped and we had a good time.
It was lovely seeing the boats.
On the way we discovered watercress beds, apparently this was big business at one time. My father liked watercress, something I inherited from him.
And then found pelicans.
The wet lands were not photogenic but I was able to view some bull rushes from a hide we came across.
We had an enjoyable walk and chat and set off back to the car, home and tea. As we were leaving the park I looked back. There was an interesting bridge that once had a small house on it.
The willows in the feature image above were from here too.
It was a wonderful Easter Sunday, family afternoon.