Bartimaeus

I was pleased to have the Sunday lunch suggestion from Shane, especially as it was so close. The staff at the King’s Head were prompt and friendly. We enjoyed trying the local beers and, unusually, chose the same thing from the very wide menu – roast lamb. The Sunday roast came recommended by the couple at the next table.

We felt the need to walk them off before slumping back aboard. There were some unusual place and road names around here. There was a sign that was clearly naming  a place and yet it seemed to be named after a road to it. 

I was not confident of the bird pictures, being faded, and lacking scale, but wondered if the one on the right was meant to be a jay. We had seen some recently. To avoid a walk on the road we went over a stile and crossed a field. It was a bit waterlogged but we did get to see a jay flying across in front of us.

Later back aboard, I heard a loud call and went outside with Merlin  switched on, a jay, very near but not visible. I was searching the tree above when a man and dog walked past. The squawking was still going on and the man asked if it was a parrot. I told him it was a jay and he had no idea what that was. He said it must be rare. Since I didn’t remember seeing them in Scotland growing up and being surprised when I saw one close up in Wales, I agreed they were rare in some places. I didn’t mention that they didn’t seem so rare here.

I had a check and they are described as secretive and have now spread north and west to Scotland and Ireland so I am out of date with my distribution information. I was intrigued to read that they sometimes imitate other birds for instance a tawny owl and wondered if we might have been tricked by a jay, (and Merlin too) when we had heard daylight owl sounds. 

In the morning I went out again to see if I might see  the local jay. No sign but Merlin detected a goldcrest and I was pleased to catch sight of it in the conifer above me, being so tiny they can be hard to see. I found there were lots of birds around: robin, long tails. bluetit great tit, chaffinch to name a few. I realised the damp and cooler weather had put me off stepping outside in the mornings, and I should try to remember to take advantage of that when I could. 

It was time to leave the field of sheep and countryside and venture towards the town. One sheep (quite small possibly still a lamb) looked like it wanted to be in with us, pushing its head through the fence. The grass is always greener, as they say. Coming into Macclesfield, we saw a town dweller who hankered after a pastoral scene and had made their own.

We stopped for water and ran a load of washing while we travelled, hoping it would be dried and out of the way before Bryn arrived.

Shane was keen to revisit the Early Bird Bakes for lunch, and also get in items Bryn might want for breakfast, but discovered that they were almost sold out of everything – we were not early enough! Also as they only opened Friday to Monday,  they were not going to have fresh bread tomorrow either. We did get some items and then went for lunch in Cafe Mustard in stead, also popular and with very friendly staff.

I had had another knitting disappointment yesterday, with three failed starts at a different hat pattern. A bit of retail therapy at the wool shop in Macclesfield might be just the job.  I had remembered it being open every day but not what days it closed at 1.00pm, so I was annoyed with myself for not going before lunch when I found it closed. I didn’t need anything in particular, I just wanted to visit it while I was here.

Bryn is on his way and keeping us informed of his timings on his four train journey. So far no delays, I really hope it all goes smoothly as not all our planned timings have worked today and we do want to have him here with us.