Holy Trinity Church, Downall Green.

Went to see Sue today and for once had the right lens with me so nipped accross to the church yard to take some photos. Unfortunately the sun was absent as ususal but it's good to see the leaves slowly appearing on the trees. Must go again when the weather is better and go down in the dell behind the church.

Glasson Dock

Last w/e from the van we had a ride to Glasson Dock. This harbour was originally opened in 1817 and at it's busiest was the largest port in the North West importing cotton, sugar, spices and slaves from Africa and the Indies. It is now a great deal quieter but is still said to handle over 150,000 tonnes of cargo annually. For our visit it was indeed very quiet except for abut 3 men in high visibility jackets playing with the barriers on the swing bridge. They were up and down like yoyos - the barriers I mean and not the men!

This must be Inspector Clouseau and his trusty sniffer dog about to search this boat.

Oops looks like they are heading in my direction now!

I personally think they chose the wrong boat.

They are still there playing with the barriers, we will leave them to it, it's too cold to hang around.

Knott End

At last we have managed our first w/e of the season at the van. The weather was better here than back in Standish. On Sunday we wrapped up warm and went for the usual walk along the wall towards the village. Sheeba really loves it and knows the way better than us!

I love Granpa's shop in the village and wish the children were young again so that I would have an excuse to go inside.

Fun on the beach!

Mmmm now I wonder what is going on here?

Perhaps the sign has something to do with these sitting directly above it.

Here comes the ferry from Fleetwood.

It was just warm enough to sit for a while and enjoy the view looking over towards Fleetwood.

On the way back I noticed this tub at the side of the path, would have loved to rescue it but it wouldn't fit into my pocket.

Think Sheeba is trying to hurry us along, it's 10 past supper time!

At last - SUPPER. (and an advert for Sainsburys)

Another Place by Antony Gormley

Today we had a ride to Crosby to see the Antony Gormley men. There are 100 in all spaced out across the shore. When we first arrived we couldn't see any of them and thought we were in the wrong place but as the tide went out they started to appear. You may be able to read the following if you click on it to enlarge it, it is quite interesting. The men should have been removed to a new resting place in November 2006 but there was a huge public outcry and as yet they remain in Crosby.

It was very refreshing to find somewhere that you can go to by car and not be charged for parking - well done Sefton.

Number 21 of the 100. They are quite graphic and even the seaweed seems to be growing in all the correct places!

Don't know what this chap was staring at.

H M Coastguards seem to be running short on boats!

Photos taken from moving car on the way home - couldn't get the chauffeur to pull over while I took them, can't get the staff nowadays.

Lacewing / Chrysoperia carnea

This lacewing has obviously hibernated in our house over winter and has come out a little early. They are usually green but in the winter turn a pinky brown (this one doesn't look very pink to me). A female lacewing lays up to 300 eggs and each developing larva eats between 1,000 and 10,000 aphids in its lifetime. I think this one will be transported via the red carpet to spend the rest of its days in the greenhouse!

Goats - Bispham, Mawdesley.

Sarah and I called at Th'owd Barn shop for an ice cream then walked over the see the goats. The kids were playing around carefully watched by their parents. They tried their best to get a taste of our ice cream. One had done the usual trick of head through fence and then unable to find way out again, the farmer had been alerted so there was nothing we could do except to feed it some grass. When I drove past the next day it had been released and was playing happily in the field.

I wouldn't like to argue with this one.

Pennington Flash

When I went to Pennington Flash with Anya the heavens opened so that even the birds looked bedraggled. Of course I stood back to let Anya get the best shots so i apologise if these are not brilliant pix!!

Thankfully the GSW made an appearance, I would not have been forgiven if it had stayed in hiding.

I like this one not for the bird but for the rain drops!

Had to include these last two.