Stumped

Rococo Snowdrops

Continuing the theme. 'Twas the day of the great snowdrop hunt. We often start the floral year with a trip to the locally based national snowdrop collection @ Colesbourne Park, but it was closed as you could not see the snowdrops for ... snow!

But all was not lost as the snow had virtually cleared from Painswicks Rococo Gardens which also has a fine collection.

Snowdrops and Daffodiles

.... and green algae :-/

near Stonehouse - in January!

Winter Walks

The weekend was perfect walking weather, sharp frost followed by sunny days.

Saturday we headed again for the Forest of Dean to do one of the Soudley Circular Walks through the pine forest. The paths were churned, hard but walkable with the trusted boots. Much of the churning was due to heavy logging activity.

This particular walk had a spectacular viewpoint over the great oxbow on the Severn.

Just in time, from beyond the treescape came the welcome sight of the Dean Heritage Centre - and, of course, its tea shop :-p

Complete with Chinese Ducks, wrought iron sea horse, dragon, spider and amazing fungi -

Sunday was spent walking the seafront at Clevedon. To be honest it was more like a cold summers day in Brighton. Hoards of people taking full advantage of this unseasonal weather. The contrast was marvelous between the sunny seafront and dusklike eve over the estuary.

First Hard Frost

but everything that needs to survive seems to be.

FoD

Just been using my new Forest Pass - chrissie pressie - to walk more of the paths in the Forest of Dean, of which there are many.

Also came upon a memorial to the victims of the 1902 Union Mine disaster -

Happy New Year Folks !

Well here we are back from the (not so) frozen North. 

pressies for us n a bone for the doggies :)

 

Had a great festive season taking in Keswick - + a great rendition of Phillip Pullmans’ Firework Makers Daughter at the Theatre by the Lake – Dumfries, Gretna et al. Saw in the new year with Jools Holland (sign of the times :-/) but was great for all that.

Also had an amazing day on Caldbeck Fell, took a walk along the river and had tea in the quirky Watermill cafe.Sad news (for some) Caldbeck is to lose its most famouse landmarks, two giant repeater towers that have sat on top of the fell for as long as I can remember, soon to be dismantled. A sign of the digital age.

Get a Kindle this Christmas? Don't forget to order Angorichina by Marion Grace Woolley.