We parked at the free Co-op car park and off we set, twenty walkers.

Over bridges and across open spaces and through modern housing developments.

Then, at the Riverside Park, we were treated to a private tour of the miniature railway run by local volunteers. Alan, one of the walkers, will be spending the winter months working on a steam train and decorating and fitting some empty containers to provide more engine housing.

These sleepers are made from recycled plastic and prepared by local people who are employed in a sheltered workshop. The plaque below is to thank one young lad who shovelled most of the earth for the embankment.

I look forward to riding the train with grandchildren when they operate during the summer months.

Wherever any of us are, Nigel is there with us. If only he could talk.

It’s such dank, dark weather and some of the chooks are choosing to stay indoors today.

This little flock of birds (can anyone tell me what they are) were bathing in a large puddle on Mill Road this afternoon when I drove by.

Four women and two men set off this morning and we were soon discussing colds and “man colds” – which I decided was “sexist and unfair” criticism of men and should therefore be silenced along with any sexist remarks about women. The jury is out on that one. As the sun rose higher and the air became warmer we four women looked back over our shoulders to where the two men were struggling to catch up with us.

We continued on our way, talking about such topical subjects as transgender recognition and the daily broadcasts and debates on Woman’s Hour this week and next (yes Colmworth is, surprisingly, very much up to the minute on gender politics!) and we met Cheryl and dog Sidney as we returned through the Country Park.

At mum’s flat we had coffee with one of my favourite “aunties”……one of mums friends who did not insist that my brother or I called her Aunty when we were nippers. Most of their other friends were called Aunty “this” or Uncle “that” even though they were not blood relations of ours! Then mum and I had lunch together, sorted out some paperwork and then it was back into the car and a drive to Argos in St Neots where automation has nearly eliminated the need for humans.

I just about managed to drive through the gate at The Gables, where umpteen grow bags had just been offloaded from a lorry on a sturdy wooden pallet.

It was into the house, off with the glad rags and back into works clothes and wellies so that I could help Jeremy load the bags onto the trailer and take them down to the new polytunnel.

Where we then hauled the grow bags from trailer to ground and then put them onto shelves.

Think of all the strawberry plants that we hope to grow in the bags…..and all the strawberry jam!

I hadn’t seen a woodpecker here for some time.