Walking

It's been a busy week, though with quite what, I can't remember. But on Thursday we took the grandchildren for a walk along the shore.

Grandson rode his balance bike.

Or that was the idea. After a while, he decided to walk along the wall instead. We've all been there: carrying the bike that the child was supposed to be riding. Still, he enjoyed himself, which was the main point.

Then on Saturday we went to Earlston in the Borders with the walking group. It was another glorious day of sunshine.

 The route was quite hilly in parts - oh, how good for the thighs.

We came to a lightly wooded area which was carpeted with snowdrops.

 It did the soul good to look at them.

The sun kept shining as we walked on.

We passed a scruffy old mill which had a stone engraved "Rhymers Mill 1772".

Then we all went and had coffee in Rhymers Tower Coffee Shop in the village. Behind it is the ruined Rhymers Tower, where Thomas the Rhymer, a 13th century bard, lived. Many of his rhymes were prophetic and some (apparently) came true. He got his gifts from the beautiful young Queen of the Fairies, who came riding past and persuaded him to go off with her for seven years. He came back wearing green and carrying a special harp.

Or so the story goes.

We had a lovely day, anyway. Chatting makes the miles zip by.