Landwade Church

Yesterday, on our walk, we went past Landwade Church. This is a very isolated church which, at this time of year, is surrounded by snowdrops.

Windmill

This morning, we did a walk at nearby Landwade and saw no-one at all! My wife took this picture of "our" windmill at a distance of about 3.5km. It is right next to our home.

UK Politics

So, 7 people have left Labour. As my politics is fairly centralist, I support them and hope they are soon joined by others from whatever party. I hope they form a new centralist party. Come the next election, I expect another coalition which, I hope, is more on the centre than the extremes of both Conservative and Labour parties.

Boots and Flowers

Our local Montessori school has found a great way to use odd boots and make the place inviting too.  These were hanging outside the school earlier.

Old Forge

Our village has expanded quite a bit in the last 40 years, but it still has a village feel, which is good. At one time there were 13 pubs and lots more shops. 

I guess people are more mobile than 100 years ago, with most owning cars. One thing that went many years ago was the blacksmith's forge (see photo). I am not sure when this closed, but it was probably 100 years ago?

Love in the air?

These 2 collared doves obviously think it is spring already! They were together on a tree in the orchard next door. Until 1955 when their range expanded westwards, they were very rare in the UK. Nowadays they are very common.

Windmill

As this is right next door to us, we get rather possessive! At this time of year when the museum and mill are closed, volunteers are busy with maintenance work. That is why there is filler on the mill side. I expect before the season starts at Easter, the windmill will get a coat of paint.

See http://www.burwellmuseum.org.uk/

Kings, Cambridge

This probably has a real name (sorry, don't know it) but it is the lawn separating Kings College from the River Cam in Cambridge, UK. In the summer, there are lots of tourists taking photos of punts or Kings College Chapel, but this is a cold January morning. 

Memories of John Betjeman's famous poem "Sunday Morning, King's Cambridge"  "
...The white of windy Cambridge courts, the cobbles brown and dry,..."

Cambridge Snow

As the photo shows, there was a thin covering of snow in Cambridge earlier. This photo was taken at about 1000z today.

Ice

We did a walk this morning at nearby Wicken. As the paths were muddy, we did a walk around the village. Although there was no sign of frost here, there were frozen puddles in Wicken, which is about 3 miles away "as the crow flies".

BREXIT

I have mixed views on BREXIT. I narrowly voted to "remain" in the EU, but there is a lot wrong with it.

It is by no means certain that Theresa May (UK Prime Minister) will get her "plan B" or any of the amendments approved in the UK parliament tomorrow night when these are voted upon. With regard to BREXIT, it is a case of "who blinks first" I think. The EU seems in no hurry, but risks lots of business and £39 billion.

I cannot for the life of me understand why agreeing a deal beneficial to both sides should be so hard. Surely it is in the best interests of the EU and the UK to forge a good deal. We are leaving, so let us go with good feelings on both sides.

The main issues are, as always, politicians with vested self interests.

Black Headed Gull

This black headed gull was on next door's TV antenna earlier. You can almost see it thinking, "now where shall I go for lunch?".  It has been a bright, very cold day here. We just got back from a winter walk.  

It is already somewhat lighter in the early evening. I guess it stay lighter by almost an hour since mid December. Snow expected this week!

Earlier Post?

Our mail seems to be arriving earlier. We get one delivery a day and it seems we have a new person on duty. She uses a van. Maybe she does her route in a different order?

Super Blood Moon

At about 0315z, I awoke very briefly. I said to myself that if I awoke again at 0400-0500z I would take a photo of the moon. What happened? I slept until about 0730z. So, no photos of the moon. The next time it is this good is in 10 years' time. Of course, then it will be cloudy! There are lots of photos on the linked page.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46943592

Anglesey Abbey Walk

This afternoon in the winter sunshine we did a walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey. Even this afternoon, it was still frosty, so it must have been very cold last night. Although there are now plenty of snowdrops in flower, we saw no daffodils out yet. There are a very few daffodils out, but not the way we walked.

Moulton, Suffolk, UK

A few days ago we went for a walk around the village of Moulton. It is a drive of about 8 miles there. It has an old clapper bridge, a stream, lots of thatched cottages and a fine old church (see photo). We ate afterwards in the Packhorse Inn.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moulton,_Suffolk

All Three Amaryllis Plants

This year all our amaryllis flowers are white.  Two were bought by our sons.  They all give us great pleasure.

Little Egrets

Before 1989 these would have been rare in the UK, but now they are everywhere. I am pretty sure this is due to climate change and their range extending.

Soon cattle egrets and great white egrets will be common in the UK too. Already cranes are back in decent numbers. In the next 50 years we can expect more bird ranges to move northwards.

BREXIT

My dad did not mince words. If he was still alive he would say, "they couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery". How right he would be!

Moulton, near Newmarket

After a walk around the village we ate at the Packhorse Inn. The last time we ate here was March 2017 and it seems to have gone downhill. At one time it was the best in the area, but I would now say it was only average.

The village is delightful (see photo). In the field in the middle of the village was a little egret. If this was 1980 we would have been amazed. 

Amaryllis

Every winter we enjoy seeing amaryllis plants growing. You pop the bulb in some soil and compost and watch it grow at a phenomenal rate. Each morning it seems to have grown even bigger! Once it starts you can practically see it grow. The flowers are very large.

Usually they are over in about 6 weeks. Sometimes they flower again later in the year. This year, most of ours are white, a colour we have not had before.

Yorkshire Pudding

Traditionally Yorkshire Pudding was eaten as a separate savoury course before the main meal. It was designed to fill you up, so less meat was needed at the main course. Our 7 year old granddaughter is now an expert and makes good Yorkshire Puddings! I love Yorkshire Pudding, especially with some gravy!

Lavenham

Today, we had a simple lunch in a café in Lavenham, Suffolk. Lavenham is a fine village that became rich in the 1400s as a result of the wool trade.

BREXIT mess

Whether you voted "remain" or "leave" in the EU referendum, we can all agree on one thing: we are in a right mess!

At the moment the UK parliament is likely to reject the latest proposal and we are due to leave the EU in March this year. If I was a betting man, I would expect our departure to be delayed and some compromise deal agreed afterwards.

Most in the UK are bored with BREXIT and can't believe the mess. All we ever wanted was some control over those who live and work in the UK and tariff free trade with the EU. We never wanted a common currency and taxes, I think. Deep down, I expect most EU nations want this, along with peace in Europe. If this means an EU defence force instead of NATO, so be it.

Back to the drawing board...

Our home

We are lucky to live next to a 200 year old windmill and Burwell Museum, which is probably one of the very best local museums in the whole of the UK. It is manned Easter to the end of October mostly by volunteers. The old photo show our home directly in front of the windmill. We can see the windmill as we eat breakfast. Where I am sitting now in the lounge the view of the windmill is fantastic.

Grandchildren

We have our "London" grandchildren staying with us. They miss their kitten. My wife bought them each a cuddly kitten toy, which was a hit at bedtime.

BREXIT

One thing everyone in the UK can agree on about BREXIT is, "this is a fine mess". The world must be looking at the UK and thinking how stupid we must be! I am sure there is brinkmanship going on on the part of the EU and UK government, but at the moment we are heading (by mistake) for a no-deal BREXIT that no-one wants. 

The EU does a lot of trade with the UK, we need EU low skilled workers in our fields, care homes and hospitals. The EU will miss our money going into the pot. The EU is desperate for other nations not to leave. Time will tell how this will pan out. 

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46617152 .

Angry sky

At the moment, it gets dark early. From later this week the evenings get lighter, although mornings get darker until early January. With "our" windmill in the foreground the angry sky late today is great. Roll on warm summer evenings! It only seems 5 minutes since it got dark at 10pm!

See https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/

Mud

Exactly 6 years ago I visited my brother in Devon. The photo shows my boot after we got back from a walk!

"Come to sunny Devon where it rains 6 days out of 7".

Beetles

One of the exhibits at the recently refurbished Zoology Museum in Cambridge is of these beetles. Some are huge.

UAE Frees Academic

So the UAE has pardoned the academic who was researching security in the UAE I believe. No doubt this was a result of UK government pressure and the UAE fearing UK investment falling.

This reminds me of some years ago when the Greeks thought some UK plane spotters were spies: they just did not get it! It is true, some of us have very strange interests. 😊

One year on

About a year ago, the only bank in our village closed. It has still not sold. The plot is central and I am quite surprised it wasn't snapped up.

Mortality

Earlier, I walked to the bakers. On the way was a dead red-legged partridge that was probably hit by a car. I doubt the motorist was even aware. Things like this just remind us how fragile life really is.

A year ago my son's brother-in-law was killed whilst crossing the road on green at a pedestrian crossing in Australia. The car driver was on her phone and ploughed into him. He was only young. Tragic.

When we die (some of us) hope for some kind of life after death. No-one is really sure, but probably we just cease to exist as we did in the billions of years before we came into existence. What chance we were born at this time on this planet? One thing is certain: we know very little.

Are all religions our attempt to come to terms with our mortality? I do not know. No-one is really sure.

East Suffolk

Thornham Parva Church

Yesterday, we went to east Suffolk, visiting Eye and Thornham Parva churches. The first is a very ornate place, probably as a result of the wool trade. The latter is a very small, thatched church. The architect of the re-built Coventry Cathedral is buried in the churchyard here. In my view, Thornham Parva is one of the best churches on the planet. It is simple, but a haven of peace.

Own goal?

Sorry, but President Trump seems to like own goals. 

His latest swipe is against the French president Macron, allegedly. Sometimes he would increase his ratings by just shutting up. I want to swear, but I had better not! To many outside of the USA he does himself no favours.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46198297

Remembering

100 years after the end of WW1, we are still fighting wars and innocents are still being killed. Looking back, WW1 seems a total waste of young lives. Lambs to the slaughter!

Christmas Too Early

If there is one thing that really irritates me it is Christmas starting in the shops months too early! Yes, I know retailers are having a hard time on the high streets, but this is all driven by profits.

For me, Dec 1st is quite early enough for Christmas fare. Grumpy old man! This photo was shared on social media earlier.

Grandchildren

These are our grandchildren this half-term. They are growing fast.

Cactus Day

No, we'd not heard of this either! It was an invention of our granddaughter. 

To celebrate this day, we will celebrate Oct 22nd as Cactus Day every year from now on.

The photo show the cake that our grandson iced.

Why cactus? Absolutely no idea! 😀

Toadstools

OK, I am not very good at telling apart edible mushrooms from poisonous toadstools, so unless I am sure, it does not get touched or eaten! 

These toadstools (well I assume they are) were seen at Anglesey Abbey earlier in the week where they had removed an old tree. 

This seems to be the season to see all sorts of strange fungi.

Mindfulness

A lot of us spend a lot of our time worrying about tomorrow. Often, what we most fear does not happen! 

There is a technique which may help. This has rapidly turned into a word for our time, but there is good science behind it. Mindfulness. 

Sometimes we have to think about tomorrow, but perhaps we spend too much of our time needlessly worrying, when we should concentrate on enjoying the good things around us now.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindfulness

Saudi Arabia

It bothers me that the UK government wants to do business with Saudi Arabia and get them to fight wars on our behalf. In many ways this Middle East state appears out of step with values we hold dear.

The disappearance in Turkey of a critic of the regime makes us all the more suspicious. There may be an innocent explanation, but at the moment it looks murky.

In my view the current government is afraid of losing military contracts, so turns a blind eye on the kingdom's dirt. Moral high ground? We have none. The UK seems as bad as the rest.

Abandoned Boat?

This boat was seen at Lakenheath Fen last week. It looks abandoned.  A lot of the lakes there were dried up as we have had little rain this summer.

Royal Wedding - another one!

Apparently the queen paid for the wedding, but we, Joe Public, paid for all the security. I am not sure where I stand on royalty. I guess as a brand it earns a few million, but I am against wealth and privilege when not earned. On the other hand I can't think of a suitable candidate for UK president! Most in public life are a shower.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45827183 .

African Migrants Gone?

The African migrant birds seem to have gone. Swifts went several weeks ago and house martins and swallows seem to have largely gone. It is some weeks now since I last saw a swallow. Come next April, they will be back. In the meantime, safe journeys!

Village walk

Yesterday, we did a walk in the autumn sunshine around part of our village. It has grown a lot since we moved here in 1975, but still retains a "village" feel. Population is now over 6000.

St Ives (Cambs, UK)

My wife made this collage of our trip last week to St Ives (Cambs).

It makes a good summary of our trip, which is why it is included here.

At the top is the famous bridge and at the bottom is the market.

Big Skies

We lack hills and mountains in East Anglia, but we do have some big skies. This photo was taken from a moving car about a mile from home.

Mist

Yesterday we went by train from Ely to Canterbury to see our son and family. Just before we left Ely the sun was rising over misty fields.

Corfu Lizard

This was another lizard seen last week in Corfu in the garden of our hotel. 

As soon as it saw me it scarpered - must be camera shy!