Soft Focus Orchids

Last day of the month and time to redeem our free monthly drink at Dobbies Garden Centre, Rothley. First we had to order a new Dobbies card since the one we'd had was lost when Len's wallet was stolen. No problem.

From there to the dog friendly conservatory at the restaurant. A horrendous queue, probably because it was the last day of the month and people wanted to redeem their coupon or was it because it was such a lovely day. The temperature is supposed to be 18 C and the sky was blue reminiscent of summer, but not quite such an intense blue.

Our usual lunch of ham, eggs and chips with Basil dutifully chomping the ham rinds. Then a cream cake, (for me a jam meringue and a chocolate eclair for Len). The coffee was cold by the time we finished.

I used my lens baby 56mm velvet again but it was almost impossible to focus in the sun and the flowers came out in a mist of out of focus haze. I had to content myself with an orchid, of which there are many in the store.

We travelled on the A6 via the Soar Valley. The river is massively swollen particularly after the heavy rain at the weekend. Loughborough and Quorn had flood warnings. The road to Mountsorrel and Sileby was closed. Huge pools of water lay in the fields alongside the road.

Len could hardly wait to get back so that he could scoot off to tennis.