DAISY NOOK

It is 3.05am at the moment, Little'un woke me up at 2-bloody-am saying she couldn't sleep and was bored! So could we come downstairs so she could watch a video or DVD pleeeeease! Knowing that no way on earth would she let me stay in bed and go back to sleep, I had no choice but to get up. Having watched all her videos and DVDs a million times or more, I decided to do a post about what we did today, nothing exciting, just pleasurable.......

We were both totally bored, grey skies and all that, thank goodness she goes back to school next Wednesday (Yipee!). Anyway, we couldn't think of anything to do (that didn't cost too much), so I suggested going to feed the ducks on Crime Lake (perfectly named for a place like Manchester!) which is one of the entrances to Daisy Nook Country Park which eventually leads to Daisy Nook Garden Centre. I sometimes forget we have almost countryside on our doorstep, we usually only go down there at Easter when the fair is on.
Ooh, There is a fantastic Italian restaurant overlooking the lake called 'Sul lago' (I guess translated it would mean something like 'The lake'. I don't know?).

Anyway, what a fantastic time we had, we got quite wet as it started raining half way through our walk (which lasted about five hours) and we had gone without umbrellas or coats (didn't look that bad when we set off, but then again, this IS Manchester!). Unfortunately I didn't think to take my camera, which means we will have to go again so I can put some pics on my blog.
Little'un loved feeding the ducks and geese, there were about fifty or so and most of them came out of the water onto the bank and surrounded us. Almost got a couple of them to eat from my hand but they chickened (or should that be goosed) out at the last minute and waited for us to just drop the food.

We played spotting all the different birds and animals as we walked along the canal towpath, we saw squirrels, rabbits and numerous birds, which I was able to name (no, not like Fred, Bill or Joe!) The real names.

Little'un giggled for ages at seeing an Alsatian leap into the lake almost taking it's owner, who was on the other end of the lead, with it. (Definitely taking my camera next time!).

We then went walking round the garden centre, I had been meaning to go for a quite a while as it has recently been improved and extended. It was always a good garden centre, but a little small and cramped, now it's a lot larger and has lots more of everything, they have done a real good job with it.
By the way, just for a spot of interest, the actress Kathy Staff (Nora Batty off 'Last of the Summer Wine') lives in a beautiful big farmhouse with absolutely gorgeous gardens, in Daisy Nook, not far from the garden centre.

Once inside, Little'un immediately spotted the section which is full of children's wooden playhouses. Well, off she went, trying out every one, she even got me to go in some. Some were similar to a shed but with pretty windows, others were two storey (those one's of course I couldn't get her out of). She was planning where the table and chairs could go, how she could fit a little bed in the upstairs section, where it could go in our garden, etc. But with the prices starting at £329 for a sheddy one and £899 for a two storey, she has no chance! I had to promise to look on Ebay when we got home just to get her out. We called in the cafe for tea and a cakes. (I could spend a fortune in there if I had the money, no, not the cafe, the garden bit, although the cakes are really tasty).

Little'un had a great time but I think she thought the best bits were my white face as we crossed the motorway bridge on the way there and back, and again when we looked over the railings on the towpath down to the stream which leads into the River Medlock, way, way, way, down below. Beautiful yet terrifying at the same time, well for me it was.
Anyway, that was what we did today, the time is now 4.30am and she is sat covered in paint (as is my table), she is doing finger painting and hand printing, she got bored of watching videos!!!