I had a little stroll this morning before the promised rain returned but first I had dinner to start. I had some braising steak in a beer and herb marinade overnight so I diced an onion and added that with the meat some carrots and peas all to the slow cooker and left it to do it's work. Dumplings can be added near the end of cooking after I check the liquid,it may need thickening or more flavour added.
A short trip along the beach was the plan today. I had just set off when a picture of loveliness appeared in the tiny shape of Crazy Pat on her way back from the corner shop. She was snuggled deep into her big coat, a guard from the bitterly cold 65f. Yep I kid you not Pat freezes at around 70f,the coat will now be on until next April or so.
Leaving Pat I cut through to the golf course, it still looked good despite the lousy summer and headed for the beach path. There I met up with another scary sight,my nephew Mark was out walking his little dog. We chatted awhile catching up on family news before I headed for the beach and a cold dark sight the Irish Sea was this morning. There was a couple of the lads beach casting,probably for sea bass but few people were out strolling. I decided to cut the beach walk short and headed for the gorse patch,finding a path through there is always a little dicey,gorse thorns are really nasty. I got through unscathed and walk through the little wood before crossing back to the salt marshes and home. There were some swallows hunting for insects and I failed again to get even one in the frame for a photo but I spotted something less speedy way out on the edge of the reed beds. It was a Grey Heron. I out my little camera on full zoom steadied myself as much as I could and clicked away. I got four shots only one of which is anywhere near good enough to see. Back home now fed and watered and checking on the goggle box for sport to watch. Click here for photos