There and Back

Kettlebaston is a village and a civil parish with just over 30 inhabitants located around 3 miles (5 km) east of Lavenham. From the 2011 Census the population of the village was not maintained and is now included in the civil parish of Chelsworth. Once in an area of great wealth, the demise of the mediaeval wool trade was indirectly the saving of the village, (as we know it today), since the locals were unable to afford the expense of upgrading their houses with the latest architectural fashions. The number of timber-framed houses slowly declined over the years, as did the population - from over 200 at its peak, to the point when the village was on the brink of extinction. By the 1960s, with the road no more than an unmade track, and no electricity or mains water supplies, (it still has no gas or main drains), Kettlebaston was barely standing. In the "Spotlight On The Suffolk Scene" article, of the Chronicle & Mercury in June 1949, it was noted that a great many ho...

The morning looked bright but felt cold, and there was a gentle breeze - an ideal morning for a stroll along the promenade at Walton on the Naze. Not many other people ventured out apparently, so we had it all to ourselves as we walked toward the Naze end. The beach huts looked really colourful in the morning sun. I rather took a fancy to this one. Shuttered for the winter, awaiting warm weather. Not so funny if the tide came in while you were having a doze! The tide was coming in, but appeared gentle at this time. Symmetry in the sand. As the tide neared its peak, it began to assume a more vigorous nature. By the time we were nearly back to our starting point, we had to watch the path ahead which was disappearing under the swell. But eventually I was caught! Just as I was passing this point, a wave crashed over the wall and hit me! Thank goodness for a good coat, although my trousers suffered.   ...

Well, the end of the year is almost upon us and we are all looking forward to the warmer weather. However, there are still things to photograph and keep us venturing out in the cold! Well wrapped up of course. On the 8th of December I captured this rainbow over the Layham Church as I was setting off on my morning walk. Of course this would be a morning I had no camera on me - how could you I thought. However the mobile phone came to the rescue so I was reasonable pleased with the result. I have never seen a rainbow over the church before, and I have walked past it hundreds of times. Today was the right time and day - it lasted a very few minutes, and then was gone. A chance call into East Bergholt church on my way home from Flatford on 11th gave me the opportunity to capture the window dedicated to John Constable. A one time resident of the village. Lights of another sort as I captured (hand held) these wonderful christmas lights in Hintlesham village. Difficult...

There have been numerous occasions in the last few months of torrential downpours and flooding in various parts of the uk. Most of these have been on the western and northern side of the UK, and have resulted in massive damage and horrendous experiences for huge numbers of people. The last few days we, on the eastern side, had some of the rain, but not on the scale (thank goodness) of the western side of the UK. We live by the River Brett, and fortunately the ground slopes away from the river, on the opposite side so we don't have to worry too much! However, the local area had its fair share of water for several hours. Looking toward Hadleigh, the small river Brett is in there somewhere! However, today it has disappeared. The seat, normally overlooking the river, is now isolated amongst the flood waters. I don't  think I shall sit here for a few days. The remains of the Conservation area. The football pitch and toddlers slide. ...

Having seen the news items and listened to the superlatives as people described it, I thought I must visit the half sized replica of Noah`s Ark which arrived in Ipswich. Although the brain behind the Ark said it was a non Christian floating museum, I fail to see how a 70 m long floating museum, full of bible stores, can be construed as anything else!. The Ark was the brainchild of Dutchman,  Aad Peters who said the ship was an "emotional and cultural" experience for visitors, not religious. From the stern end It is certainly impressive as it sits in the Neptune dock, in Ipswich. It is around half-size to the Ark described in the Bible. As far as I know, the largest wooden vessel ever built (about the size of the Biblical Ark) was Wyoming, a wooden six-masted schooner built and completed in 1909 by the firm of Percy & Small in Bath, Maine. With a length of 450 ft (140 m) from jib-boom tip to spanker boom tip. Because of her extreme length and wood co...

We had visited the Sherwood Pine cabins before, and enjoyed ourselves greatly. So this time we asked Hayley and Izobelle to share a cabin with us and it proved a good choice - enjoyed by all! This site is just a mile or so from the real Sherwood forest which was a place to visit during the week. This was our cabin set among the pines. To keep Izobelle amused, we had a choice of onsite activities. `Let's try archery` we thought. Obviously the smaller archers` had to use a smaller bow etc, but Izobelle quickly showed us all up with her accuracy, seeming not to be daunted by the whole process. Putting the bow back on the rack. The bow being nearly as big she is! Sculpture of Robin Hood and Little John fighting at Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre The Major Oak.  Whilst no one knows an exact age, we do know it’s been standing for anywhere between 800 – 1100 years. If we go by the earliest estimate, it has stood through the Vikings, the Battl...