Saturday 28 September 2024 - Wythenshawe parkrun #587

After a quiet week - the highlight of which was a free concert by Dilettante at the Bridgewater Hall -  during which many holiday photos were processed, we reconvened on a lovely sunny morning at Wythenshawe Park for our weekly 5km run.

Sunny but frosty.

Gathering near the start

Dan addresses the 355 participants. First timers, 'tourists', and landmark runs, featuturing our friend Jan, who completed his 450th parkrun today.

As usual, I started at the back. 

The tarmac reveals trails of frost...

Half an hour later, and here's a picture at the finish, still in shade, but we did eventually catch the sun as we enjoyed post run coffees in the courtyard tea room..

Full results are here. Sue finished in position 91 (25:17), and I took 29:28 in position 191.

Saturday 21 September 2024 - Wythenshawe parkrun #586

There were excellent conditions for our regular 5km run, overseen as usual by Oliver, and Sue and I both managed good times. Here is Sue arriving at the start.

Full results for the 365 participants are here. Sue was in position 73 in around 25 minutes, with me 3 minutes behind her in position 163.

Our good friend Owen was taking part today, and he's pictured below in the courtyard with his bacon butties after getting round in 44 minutes.

That's all for now.

Friday = Isabella Day (74)

We enjoyed another lovely day with Isabella, who started with some colouring.

Something makes this activity hilarious.

Then it was into the kitchen for some cooking - blueberry popups.

The poor child is exhausted after a hectic few days at 'pre-school'.

Fish fingers and beans for lunch, with sadness when all the beans had been extracted from the pan.

Better move on to the popups...

Then the tent (Terra Nova Hyperspace) came out again, and readings from grandad's old 'Thomas the Tank Engine' books staved off a mid afternoon snooze.

Grandad, however, did manage a nap, and he awoke to this view of Isabella and Grandma relaxing outside as the tent had got too hot for them.

Then camera shy Markus arrived to spend the night with us after pizzas at Rudy's - and an early departure for a 6am flight that got him home to Dornbirn by 1:30pm. Sue took Isabella to Wythenshawe Park for a session in the playground. But exhaustion had finally taken its toll and the child refused to wake up, so they had no choice but to go home to Didsbury, a happy and well behaved girl.

Wednesday 18 September 2024 - A Visit to RHS Harlow Carr

After a car journey of almost two hours, Sue and I enjoyed a coffee in Bettys before heading into the garden, which dates from around 1955 - in great contrast to the very new garden we regularly visit at RHS Bridgewater.

Queen Mother's Lake

A sculpture at the apiary, where there are lots of hives.

The extensive arboretum houses many rare species and a series of information boards.

Rhododendron 'Loderi King George'

Maples are starting to acquire their autumn colours

There are lots of covered areas in this garden. This one has a pretty stained glass offering.

Sue found her way to the attic of the Tree House.

View from the Doric Columns

I think this is a Giant Redwood

The Harrogate Arms has been refurbished and now operates as an excellent tearoom.

The Alpine House contains colourful exhibits that are moved around to maximise the attraction of the various plants.

Nearby, the Sub Tropicana Garden still has lots of colour.

Here's another of the many shelters that would come in useful in less clement weather than today's sunny warmth.

Sculptures, the Wildflower Garden, the Kitchen Garden, etc, all provide ammunition for the camera.

Autumn crocus