In a change of mood, this post does not concern the plot! However, I have done more planting and, weather permitting, we'll be there tomorrow taking some cheesecake snaps.
Yesterday morning I went into the spare room (or Millie's room as it is generally called) to find that, overnight, Millie had indulged one of her favourite habits - paper tissue shredding. So, this first picture shows you (a) that Bentley is not the only one who eats odd things; (b) that our dog is so spoiled that she has her own room and (c) that she loves her "chicken head" toy too.
Today though, we took Ms Millie outside, for some healthier activities. She was very pleased when she realised that the car was heading for good ole Wythenshawe. She may have been less impressed than I, however, to discover old Ollie Cromwell has now come out of his scaffolding!
Before we got to see Oliver though, we walked across the park, past many lovely old trees, some of which are now in bud and one of which was adorned with some rather fabulous fungi.
We saw some other folks out with their dogs, even though it was pretty cold and threatening a "wintery shower" or "flurry" as they are generally called over there. Here's Annie, just in front of the Old Hall.
As we went along there was a deal of ball throwing ...
... enthusiastic fetching ...
... and triumphant return. Don't be too fooled by that relaxed face though, Millie only gives her ball back for treats, or if she drops it in order to go search for a squirrel or other critter!
Finally though, we got to see Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector (born 1599, d 1658). The statue says it was a "gift from Elizabeth Salisbury Heywood to the citizens of Manchester, in August 1875". 
There is a really interesting account of the history of this statue, which was apparently moved from a site in the centre of Manchester, on this web page: http://pmsa.cch.kcl.ac.uk/MR/MR-MCR53.htm This account tells you that Cromwell has not been well regarded in English history (presumably because the monarchy was restored and so republicanism was then perceived to be problematic). Certainly, I recall being clearly on the side of the royalists, when learning about the civil war, as a child.
There is a really interesting account of the history of this statue, which was apparently moved from a site in the centre of Manchester, on this web page: http://pmsa.cch.kcl.ac.uk/MR/MR-MCR53.htm This account tells you that Cromwell has not been well regarded in English history (presumably because the monarchy was restored and so republicanism was then perceived to be problematic). Certainly, I recall being clearly on the side of the royalists, when learning about the civil war, as a child. 
Oliver's Army and ideas of a more revoluntionary nature did grow on me though ;¬)
4 comments:
Maggie used to eat tissues like crazy. I think it was like internal toilet paper as they came out the other end daily.
LOL! Yes, they do!! I think it's just MESSY.
See you soon sweetie :-)
K xxx.
LOL! Tissue shredding is one of Bentley's most fun hobbies too!
You know Kate and Annie, I enjoy those walks almost as much as Millie does!! Such history!
We have a tennis ball launcher like that for Colt. We'll try it on Bentley when we get back. Last year he was so little the ball wouldn't fit in his mouth and it would take him an hour to make those little legs get him back up the hill to us.
Oh so lookit this, tissue chewing is NORMAL! lol See niether of us had encountered that in previous dogs we have known.
Anyway my loves, thank you.
K xxx.
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