Branton landscape

After a very late nice lazy start to the day, and breakfasting on pancakes, bacon and maple syrup with lashings of black coffee (made me think of Tom, and his pancakes...), we had a walk on the Common. Very mild and sunny. We put Louie in to the car, intending to leave him there for 5 minutes while we inspected a nearby squirrel feeder, but had only walked a few yards when the car alarm sounded. So it was straight back to the car and home, where, once again, MrM consulted the car manual and this time worked out how to disable the alarm!

Poor MrM's suggestion of a "nice drive out to Kielder" in the new car this afternoon, and a pub meal on the way back, met with lukewarm enthusiasm. Unfortunately, my brain's telling me that driving anywhere is a decidedly dangerous pursuit, and the very thought of going all that way for fun didn't seem very attractive. Maybe stick to shorter distances and build up to longer journeys. So, instead, MrM drove us to Powburn for a potter round the antiques centre, and on to Branton for a walk around the lakes. Dozens of oyster catchers and lapwings on one of the islands. In the woods, several hawthorn trees in leaf already.