Petes Pix 2022

Today we parked by the River Lea bridge on  Waterend Lane and took footpaths to the Ayot Greenway, then towards Hatfield. we turned off to take a footpath at Saul's Wood where there were swathes of bluebells and across fields, through woods, and a short way along roads till we came to the imposing gates of Ayot Montfitchet but how to get through? There's door in the left pillar, and so on till we came back to the Ayot Greenway and home to a restorative coffee. Detail on gate.

  To ASDA Watford this afternoon for our second Covid-19 inoculation. Again it was speedy and slick. Photo courtesy of Joan

Long walk today, from our house up Harpenden Road then through Childwickbury Village  and past Childwickbury Manor (above), home of Christiane Kubrick, widow of film director Stanley Kubrick who is buried in the grounds, and on to Batchwood where bluebells were in flower, then home.

Austria was the 13th country we visited on our lockdown world tour, and which dish says Austria more than Wiener Schnitzel? In the past I have thinly pounded veal escalopes, floured egged and bread-crumbed them before frying, but veal seems to have fallen out of fashion. As Waitrose didn't have any, these escalopes and rosemary fried potatoes came from DavVero in the quadrant. The accompanying  wine was  2018 Familie Mantler Zweigelt Classic ( Austria, Weinviertel) Zweigelt is the second most grown variety in Austria, behind Gruner Veltliner, and thus is the most grown red variety. It was created in 1922 by Fritz Zweigelt who crossed Blaufrankisch with Saint-Laurent. Country 12 was China

With easing of Lockdown and 'the rule of 6 outside' we went on a circular walk led by Sue and Peter Chasney.  From Flamstead we walked over fields to Markyate, the crossed the busy A5 to the old A5, just a single car's width, back towards St Albans.  When it re-joined the A5 we crossed and took a footpath through e the 27 acre Majestic tree nursery   up the hill back to  Flamstead.

 A regular walk from our home down beside the railway line to Beech Bottom Dyke. The path winds under this tree which looks spectacular in full blossom Then along to top of the Dyke, which is covered with bluebells, though they are not yet in blossom. And up through Soot Spring Wood to Long Spring Wood

Dan & Krisie start a weeks holiday in a narrow boat today. They toasted their first night in Brecon with La Gioiosa rose Prosecco.

Bright clear afternoon with a crisp wind. Walked for this first time this year from Wheathamsted to Leasey Bridge then part of the way along the old railway line by the River Lea and back.