New Mill

A glorious day! It didn’t have a good start for me though. 
I’ve been struggling all week with cold symptoms but have generally kept on top of it with throat lozenges etc allowing me to do ATN singing and Pilates but at 6.00 am this morning I felt grim. 
Awake before my alarm for the early walk I was coughing and feeling very congested so I turned off the alarm, sent a text to the walkers and went back to bed. Despite Chris bringing me a cuppa I slept till nearly 10.00 am!
Felt much better of course when I got up so get some washing on whilst I had some breakfast and put it out in the sunshine before I took myself off to Saltaire. Chris was on luncheon club duty and I just wanted a bit of fresh air a chance to enjoy the sunshine and an alternative blip opportunity to the garden. 

I headed straight to Roberts Park which lies on the River Aire aiming to get a coffee at the Half Moon cafe - extra - and sit outside. I met a couple from the village coming out with their take away coffees, the we’re heading to Salts Mill to view the Hockney exhibition. I’d intended sitting out side but it was full with a group of people in wheelchairs with their carers. I sat inside and ate a scone then took the remains of my coffee out with me to walk around the park. Lots of spring bulbs coming up everywhere  and this display on the hill above the weir was particularly stunning. 
In the background, across the river, is Salt’s ‘New Mill’ a later addition to the main mill linked by bridges across the Leeds - Liverpool canal. This building contains NHS offices and private apartments. My friend had one for a while and it was very nice if not a little bijou. It used to be said that Paul O’Grady had one at one time.

I hadn’t intended going into the main mill but I remembered something I saw on my last visit and thought would make a nice gift. Decided they would either all be gone or I would forget if I didn’t get on with getting one, ( YES C shopping in February!)

As soon as I got home I went straight into the garden. Spent about an hour and a half before Chris came home. Started in the front which gets a bit neglected as it’s soon out of the sun. 
I have lots of little wild purple primroses that were my mother’s. 
They just keep on coming and even survived the digging up of the Alexander rose when it had to be replaced a few years ago. 
They are still there but the others across the path weren’t looking too good. I decided to pull out some of the Forget me Nots that are coming up there as well as the inevitable weeds to give them a bit more space and hopefully room to flourish. There will be plenty more Forget me Nots!

I went into the back garden when I’d finished and had to take my coat off. Pulled out quite a lot of Erigeron on the patio  which will also be back. More general weeding and tidying but there’s still lots to do.

Enough for today and I think I’ve made up for my rather naughty lie in!