There and Back

Two visits to Flatford in different weather conditions. The first series of photgraphs are taken on the 9th January, after the torrential rains that poured over large parts of the country.The second set are taken (10 days later) in the same area, now largely covered in frost although a fair amount of water remains in the fields. So first the rain. This the start of our normal walk toward Dedham - `not today` we thought! Bridge Cottage, where you can see the `normal edge` to the path under water. Flatford Mill with torrents of water where there is normally a placid flow! The dry dock - somewhere under here. Days later the area is covered in frost! Bridge Cottage and tea rooms looking rather splendid in the frost morning light. Woodfarm Barns at Flatford Frost along the riverside paths Willie Lott`s cottage through the frosty grass. The riverside as you join the footpath leading across the fields. Altogether a period of dramatic weather which was well worth capturing.    Index o...

When Gill offered this morning walk with coffee and cake at the end, who could resist? As it was, the morning was misty and atmospheric over the river, and then onto a walk through the woods. So, a few images I managed of the morning. Being by the river side, the morning mist was still lingering over the water, while everywhere was tranquil and quiet. Looking up river, the clouds appeared black and threatening, making the autumnal colours somewhat muted. Having walked along the waterfront past Mistley Towers, we entered Mistley woods. This was called `old knobble` and was certainly gnarled and broken. Also, very old I would say. Another old tree in the woods which was very deformed. Some autumnal colours beside the road on our way back to our start. Being Remembrance Sunday, a short service was being held beside the memorial. Back at the start we were treated to hot coffee and cake - lovely! Thanks Gill and Simon.    Index of posts  

Storm Babet which hit Britain on 19th October, caused huge amounts of damage in Scotland and other parts of the UK including where I live in the Suffolk area. Most of it was water damage, as it dumped huge rainfalls in several places. Met Office figures show between Thursday and Saturday morning, 79mm fell in Charsfield, Suffolk. That's a little over three inches in two days. The rain was even heavier further north. In Angus and Aberdeenshire, in Scotland, some areas had 200mm of rain. The name Babet was selected by the Dutch weather agency KMNI - and was named after a woman who visited an open day at its headquarters and put her own name forward, with the additional reason "because I was born during a storm". When the weather abated a little, I recorded some pictures in our area. The view from the front of our bungalow showing how water encroached on our side of the river for the first time since we have been here - some 23 years. Luckily, the land slopes away from us as...

We recently had a pleasant couple of nights in Lyndhurst in the New Forest, which allowed us to explore some wonderful woodland scenery and glorious trees, of many shapes and sizes. A general view of the forest with a carpet of autumnal leaves. Shapes of branches Patterns on trees - gnarled trunks Looking down, there were fungi to be seen. An important part of the life of these areas. Then there were other lives to be seen in the shape of ponies and piggies! Dotted about were remains of trees which sometimes make an interesting pattern.  Then, of course, you could try to hug a tree - but what a whopper to hug! All in all, we had a a wonderful time wandering in a couple of areas of the New Forest. I was a bit disappointed that we were not able to photograph the deer - even though we went to a recognized watching area. We did spot someone on the far side of the area who probably spooked them. But that's lady luck for you!     Index of posts  

On our break in the New Forest, we stayed in a great place called The Stag, in the centre of the town. It was just great `all round`. The food was good, the staff brilliant and the accommodation comfortable, clean and quiet. We would go back another time if in the area. We were amused by their preparations for Halloween which they appear to put a lot of effort into.  This fellow was positioned in the entry hall, so that he detected your presence and started to dance and play his guitar - brilliant! These two were in the restaurant / bar area along with numerous smaller objects dotted all around. Magic! We didn't have time to explore Lyndhurst itself, apart from me wandering one afternoon to see their spectacular church on a mound looking down on the town. I saw it in passing and obviously (for me) had to have a look. Situated at the top of the High Street, Lyndhurst Parish Church is dedicated to St. Michael and All Angels. For a village of modest size, it’s an incredibly imposing,...

Today, a visit to Morwellham Quay. Firstly, a brief description of today's destination which is an historic river port in Devon that was developed to support the local mines. The port had its peak in the Victorian era and is now run as a tourist attraction and museum. It is the terminus of the Tavistock Canal and has its own copper mine. The open-air museum includes the restored 19th-century village, the docks and quays, a restored ship, the George and Charlotte copper mine which is toured by a small train, a Victorian farm and a nature reserve with trails. In July 2006, UNESCO (the cultural arm of the United Nations) awarded World Heritage Site status to the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape area. Morwellham is strategically sited at the centre of the Tamar Valley Mining District which, together with nearby Tavistock, forms the easternmost gateway area to the rest of the World Heritage Site. The site has been imaginatively preserved to give an impression of Victorian indust...