Constable Country

Our last day out with J & C most of which we spent in Dedham. A whiz round the beautiful old Church building which now hosts a large and interesting Craft Centre; a walk by the Mill, round the meadows and back to the River finishing up with a light lunch in the Essex Rose, the 16th Century Tiptree Tea House.

On the way back to Matilda we had a walk along the riverbank at Mistley where we saw lots and lots of Swans, probably some of last year's cygnets and on a more secluded part of the River we spied a nest with Mum, Dad and 6 2-day old cygnets on it (so the ice cream man proudly told us!). We watched them for quite a while and gasped when one of the babies fell over on to its back and couldn't get up. Mum and Dad seemed to panic and Mum trod heavily on the little one's head for quite some time - we thought the poor little thing was dead .......... But it managed to right itself eventually with Dad's help and limped off to join the others back on the nest. We all sighed with relief!! We also saw quite a big terrapin/turtle (BR) in the River vying for food which passers by were throwing in for the Swans and Ducks.

Just having a relax and a cuppa before yet another food onslaught this evening - out again with the tribe.

It's been another beautiful day after lots of rain last night - how kind is that........ But lots more rain to come we're told.

PS ...... And there was more rain. Loving this caravan site even more - we're the only ones here in beautiful surroundings. There is a family of pretty Partridge who come to graze each evening and a Hare just ran across the grass and into the bushes.