Wolds Diary: Spring creates a perfect backdrop to county adventures

The talk at the church went very well and it was a meeting with many friends from last time. This time I was shown their fine Thompson altar, with the trademark mouse carved into it. There is also a very old and fine stained glass window near the altar.

After dashing home to let the dogs out I headed to the church in Ellerton. On my last visit, its meeting rooms were being refurbished so this time I could admire the work that’d been done since. The evening went well and there was much laughter.

There’s no peace for the wicked, so they say, and the next day saw me head to Doncaster to talk to the ladies luncheon club at The Earl of Doncaster Hotel at Bennetthorpe. Sadly, the group is due to close as numbers have dwindled but they were great company and the food was delicious.

The next day I managed to walk the dogs and do some housework before I dashed off to a garden centre to pick up a bird feeding tree so rats can’t get to the bird food. Having set this up I put out a tray of meal worms and soon the starlings descended to ravish them. Soon a whole packet had gone. I rather like starlings, they are striking if you look at their colouring.

On Thursday it was off towards Doncaster again, this time to the social club at Barnby Dun where the area WI were having an AGM. I was asked to speak afterwards and then we sang Jerusalem. They were a great audience and I really had a great evening - and was tempted by three delicious scones with strawberries and cream.

Friday brought a trip to see my friends at The Vision Support Centre in Harrogate. I’ve been several times before and really like being able to help. Sometimes being without sight or even having limited sight can isolate a person from others and this club is a great opportunity for folk to get out - for some it is their only chance to all week. As usual they were super and good fun.

As I have driven around this week I have revelled in the wonderful show the May trees are giving us. Their white blossom is quite stunning and the countryside is looking beautiful.

The grass is green, the fields of yellow rape seed and blue skies make for a colourful display. Swathes of bluebells cover the woodland floors, not to mention the yellow of cowslips and the purple of mallow and vetch. Insects are becoming plentiful and spring is in full flow.

We really needed some rain though and luckily it has arrived. Once it had passed, I rushed out and dug, weeded and manured, and managed to plant my vegetable patch with broad beans and peas.