Calbourne Mill & Winkle Street

We haven't been walking today. I know a walk every Saturday morning was our New Years Resolution but we decided we would go walking on Monday instead as it's Bank Holiday. Elena's been to drama this morning and had a great time. After lunch we drove to Calbourne Water Mill. Last time we went, Andrew was at work, so Elena couldn't wait to show him what we had discovered on our previous visit. The owners of Calbourne are so generous, Isle of Wight residents only have to pay the first time they go and then they can then return as many times as they want during the year for free! First Elena showed Andrew the old Fire Station. Then the Butter churning and the old typewriters in Grandma's Kitchen. She showed him all round the Mill and took a photo of the wheel. We remembered to buy a bag of bird seed this time so she could feed the peacocks & peahens, bless her. We walked along the trail and sat in one of the gorgeous seats to enjoy the sun. Last time we came all the bluebells were out. This time the Yellow Iris were in flower and looked so pretty at the waters edge. We walked along the bridges and Elena very kindly pointed out the sign to us, using a stick as if she were the school teacher :O) We carried on walking to the swings. This is the smallest working waterwheel in England. They Mill their own flour at Calbourne and you can buy it in the tearooms. What would a day out be without a '99' (Mr Whippy Ice cream with a Flake)!! Elena wanted to go on a boat down the stream. I'm no good at rowing so, as I'd drawn the short straw, I chose the pedalos whilst Andrew sat on the river bank taking photos of the peacocks. I'll get my own back next time Mr H*****d!! Tomorrow and Monday there is a steam show at the Mill and as we left to go back to the Bus (Nissan) a steam engine was just chugging into the car park ~ wow!! I love rural life :O) So we left Calbourne and drove 2 minutes down the road to Winkle Street. It's so quaint and well worth a visit. There's a little stream that runs parallel to the cottages and today, you will never guess what we saw :O) A mummy duck with about 12 little ducklings, how sweet is that!! On the way out of there is a gate house at the entrance to a very posh place that I know nothing about. It does look splendid though, there is even a bronze stag in the garden!!!What a great afternoon. Walking back to the bus I said to Andrew, is there anywhere you'd rather be? Yes he said, Jamaica walking along that beach in Negril ~ so I hit him (playfully). On the way home we drove through Kingston and we both burst out laughing. Even some of the Island roads are getting as bad as the Jamaican ones which should make him feel right at home {lol}!!