Father's Day Weekend, part 1.

Saturday, 14th June.

A typical start in the Morrissey household, saw the girls up and dressed, before Emma got in from work. Once they had been fed, I loaded them in to the battlewagon and headed off into town, giving Emma a chance to sleep.

We headed down Vicarage Road, crossing Whiggenhall Road and down on to the Lower High Street. We passed the Pump House Theatre and Arts Centre before arriving at the Waterfields Retail Park. Cutting across the car parks, while avoiding the few shoppers out that were out this early, we headed for our destination... Pets at Home.

Usually, on entering the store, there are pens with rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, mice, degu and other varied small livestock. Today, however, there was just one rabbit, two degu and a couple of hamsters. At least seeing the rabbit made both Erin and Keilyn happy. Heading straight for the Aquarium section, I picked up some fish pellets and some frozen food, plus a new plant for our tank, before taking the girls to look at the reptiles. Erin was fascinated by the snakes and the bearded dragons, while Keilyn was content to just sing to herself. As we approached the fish tanks, Erin began shouting, "Shark!", while pointing at every fish that wasn't a shark. Keilyn, on the other hand, just stared at the tanks of myriad fish, while saying, "ish, ish". They were quite cute and amusing to watch.

Only leaving Pets at Home, we headed across Dalton Way and entered B & Q, just to have a look around. There were some interesting items, in the sale, but I resisted the urge to purchase something, instead deciding it may to be time to head homeward.

Since the morning was getting warmer, with the sun doing its best to shine through the cloud, we headed back along the River Colne, through Oxhey Park. Even the park was pretty deserted, apart from a group of eight Friends of Oxhey Park, who were busy picking up litter and rubbish, from along the river's edge and the surrounding grassland.

From here we crossed Whiggenhall Road and continued our journey along the Ebury Way. With Keilyn fast asleep and Erin walking, it turned into a pleasant and leisurely stroll.

[caption id="attachment_1505" align="aligncenter" width="300"] One of the Information Boards along the Ebury Way.[/caption]

Typically, Keilyn awoke as we arrived home, which was precisely the time that the Heaven's opened, saturating the garden and the washing, which would have been almost dry.

After the girls had eaten their lunch, the temperature began to soar, so it was into the garden we went. Toys were soon littering the lawn, as Erin and Keilyn chased each other up and down the garden and in and out of the play house. Keilyn soon began to flag and after a couple of minutes, in my arms, was fast asleep. While Keilyn slept, Erin continued to run around the garden until Jason arrived with Charlie, just after 4 O'clock.

Erin, obviously not wanting her sister to miss out, sneaked upstairs and awoke Keilyn, much to Keilyn's dismay. Fortunately, after a few minutes, Keilyn was soon back in the garden and causing havoc with her sister and Charlie.

Jason and Charlie left, just before 5 O'clock, which allowed me to feed the girls and get them to calm down a little, before they went up to bed.

With the girls all tucked up in bed, I decided to empty the paddling pool, thereby giving the grass below it a chance to recover.

Considering that it took over 10 minutes to inflate, with a manual pump, and holds 900 litres (nearly 200 imperial gallons), and took over 30 minutes to fill, it only took 2 minutes to empty. Placing my camera on the floor, at the edge of the decking, I got this video of, not just the deluge, but the spiders fleeing from beneath the decking, as their homes flooded.

Emptying the Paddling Pool: Or, Spiders fleeing their homes.

Once that was empty, Emma and I enjoyed a quiet evening together, watching the TV.

Stay tuned for part 2.

A Stroll and A Giant Conker

 

Sunday, April 13th.

With Emma having just finished two night shifts, on the bounce, I decided to take Erin and Keilyn out for the morning, so that Emma could catchup on some sleep, knowing that she had to work tonight, too.

So, with provisions packed for myself, Erin and Keilyn, we set off along the Ebury Way, this time in the direction of Watford, rather than our usual route towards Rickmansworth. The sun was in full radiance and, as we moved through the shade of the Ebury Way, the breeze dropped, making it a pleasant stroll. Keilyn was quietly cooing at the trees and clouds, from her seat in the battlewagon, while Erin explored the path ahead. There were quite a few cyclists, heading in the Rickmansworth direction, and the odd jogger or two, but otherwise it was a quiet trip.

[caption id="attachment_1041" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Some beautiful blossom that lined our route.[/caption]

We followed the Ebury Way, crossing Wiggenhall Road, until we reached the River Colne, at the bottom of Oxhey Park. Having forgotten how steep the climb is, to Oxhey Park, I pushed Keilyn up the steep incline, thankful that Erin was walking, as I don't think that I would have made it with her in the battlewagon, too. Erin barely seemed to notice the hill that she had to climb, as she was busy picking daisies, all the way up. When we reached the top of the mountain, I noticed a large sphere, over two-metres in height, with spikes protruding from it at odd angles. As we drew closer, I could see that it was actually a giant conker, fashioned from wood. Close to the Conker was a carved oak bench, shaped like a leaf, that Erin had to go and sit on.

[caption id="attachment_1042" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The two tonne wooden conker, designed by David Gross, at Oxhey Park.[/caption]

Oxhey Park is over fourteen hectares of parkland and wooded dell, that has been a public park since 1924. It turns out that the bench and conker were both designed by designer David Gross, and were commissioned to celebrate the rejuvenation of Oxhey Park. The bench is made of oak, but has a weighted base, while the conker took over three and a half months to complete and weighs over two tonnes.

[caption id="attachment_1043" align="aligncenter" width="180"] Erin sits on an oak bench, designed by David Gross, at Oxhey Park.[/caption]

The playground, at the top of Oxhey Park, is quite substantial, but was quite a disappointment. There are swings, a zip-line, a roundabout, a see-saw, rubber hills with planks to walk across, tunnels, a trampoline and a slide, amongst other things. Keilyn was in her element, as she just absolutely loves to pushed in a swing, while Erin will attempt everything, especially the slide. Unfortunately, the slide which is the same height as many other slides that she has been on, was impossible for her to use. She either had to climb to the top via a tough looking wall climb, or attempt three tiny steps which were attached to a pole, which was over a foot from the slide. There was no simple steps so I had to lift her up to the platform, while keeping an eye on Keilyn, who was walking around the base of the slide. After only two slides, Erin got fed up with not being able to climb the slide herself, so went off with Keilyn to jump on the trampoline. Then it was back on the swings, before Erin had one last look around. I could tell that Erin wasn't happy with the park as, when I suggested that we head off to eat lunch, she didn't kick up a fuss and run towards the nearest swing, slide or whatever, she just held the gate open and then followed the battlewagon.

[caption id="attachment_1047" align="aligncenter" width="300"] From the top of Oxhey Park, the view of Watford is quite cool.[/caption]

As we reached the giant conker, I convinced Erin to stand in front of it, so that I could take a photo of her with it. Keilyn was busy munching on a sandwich, so wasn't much interested in the weird, wooden thing that she couldn't eat.

[caption id="attachment_1045" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Bluebells lead our way to The Dell.[/caption]

We followed the path along as it dropped back down toward the River Colne, where we turned right and headed towards the park entrance at the Lower High Street. Sadly, the grassed area was in too much shade, so we headed back under the railway arches and found a bench by a bridge that links Oxhey Park with the rugby fields, on the opposite of the river.

[caption id="attachment_1046" align="aligncenter" width="300"] These arches, at the entrance to Oxhey Park, carry the London Overground trains.[/caption]

While Erin ate her sandwich, followed by a packet of cheesy twirls, I fed Keilyn spaghetti bolognese, followed with an apple and strawberry dessert. When both girls were suitably stuffed Erin took Keilyn for a wander across the bridge and back again.

[caption id="attachment_1048" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Ducks sleeping on the riverbank, taken by Erin.[/caption]

Erin spotted some ducks, sleeping on the riverbank, so I gave her my phone and she happily took some photos of them. I then walked Keilyn along the footpath, while Erin pushed the battlewagon, until we reached Wiggenhall Road, where Keilyn started to get stroppy. Realising that she hadn't had her morning nap, I strapped her into the battlewagon, and she promptly fell asleep. Erin, too, was showing some signs of fatigue, but refused to surrender.

[caption id="attachment_1052" align="aligncenter" width="180"] It looks as though nature is reclaiming this bridge, above the River Colne, on the Ebury Way.[/caption]

Instead she led the way along the Ebury Way, warning me of approaching cyclists, until, almost at the point that we turn off for home, she decided that she wanted to sit down. So, with both girls strapped in, I pushed them both the short distance home. In those two minutes Erin fell asleep and the two of them began snoring, in unison.

[caption id="attachment_1044" align="aligncenter" width="180"] A typical Sunday stroll usually takes its toll on the girls.[/caption]

Another nice relaxing Sunday stroll. Roll on next weekend, when it will be Easter, meaning more chances to go wandering.

Until next time, May It Be Well With You.