Canal cottages

I love this row of cottages adjacent to the canal at Bathampton - see extra 1. They are made of Bath stone just like my daughter’s cottage.  With the Iris in flower I couldn’t resist using them for my blip on Flower Friday

Got the girls off to a lift to school for Eda and Jude to pre school by 9.00 am. Brought the car back and then walked down to Larkhall for a coffee in The Village, which used to be Ma Cuisine. A bit of redecorating and a change to the counter / chiller to create more seating but otherwise not much changed. We seemed to arrive at the same time as a big group of mums and toddlers who may have just come from an early ballet class in the New Orial Hall. 

It had been a misty start but was brightening up as we left to cross London Rd to reach the Kennet and Avon canal. A walk in the other direction from Wednesday following the canal to Bathampton before cutting across the NT meadow land to Batheaston.
The treat here was lunch in Gather ( see extra here), a favourite. Quite busy with breakfast eaters and coffee ladies but we had juices and a hot. snack lunch. Apple, turmeric and ginger for Chris, I’ve had that it’s quite fiery and a very cardamom flavoured Mango lassi for me. Chris had the special, wild garlic pasta and I had a Croque madam, always too much!
Then a steady walk back up Bailbrook Lane from the Batheaston end. We knew there would be no busses from yesterday  but it made a pleasant and not too steep circular walk.

Back now with time to chill a little with a cuppa before going for Eda, who finishes  today at 3.10 as there is no Explorers club on a Friday.

Jude will stay at pre school for her tea at 4.30 before we pick her up.

We’re on our own tonight. Grace is going straight from school to see a friend ( one of her bridesmaids ) in Bristol and John isn’t expected back from Brussels till late evening.

In the second extra are a few flowers from this week. A lovely Iris in Grace’s garden, the first of many; Ransoms in the woods ( wild garlic); Apple and Hawthorne blossom along the canal and, at the top, what I call Milk Maids seen crossing Bathampton Meadows on our way to Batheaston. My phone identified it as Cuckoo flower but I think it’s also known as Lady’s Smock. A lovely time of year for flowers.

Happy Friday everybody.