St Aidan's

Rather belatedly, MrM and I took Tom's birthday present - a framed print of an oak tree - round to him.

After admiring the print, we all enjoyed a walk from Tom's house to St Aidan's RSPB Nature Reserve, albeit at a faster pace than my legs are used to! It took us through some lovely countryside and by the canal, and finally round one of the many paths at St Aidan's. A former open-cast coal mine, it's a large reserve with lots of birds, and well worth a visit - we shall be back. For the third time in a month we heard a bittern booming, several times. At a slightly slower pace we walked to the pub just round the corner from Tom's, for food and refreshment, and after walking almost 10km in a relatively short time, we were all ready for sustenance!

Sadly, it was then time to wave goodbye to Tom and drive back to Holmfirth. Hopefully, we'll see him again soon.