Glorious Devon

Another photo of where I lived as a child. Quite beautiful.

Blossom

The tree opposite our Post Office is a picture right now. It is laden with blossom. Sadly, this is very transient. A strong wind and another few weeks and it will all be gone.

Devon

In my childhood and youth I grew up in South Devon, where my ancestors lived. I moved away for work, although I return most years. My brother still lives there.

Grass cutting

In shirt sleeves, I cut my front lawn earlier. After lunch, I expect to cut the rear lawn. For February, it is extremely mild. It feels like a late spring day! These are the first cuts this year.

Mild

It is already 16.9 degrees C in parts of Scotland and it feels spring-like here in East Anglia. The photo shows "our" windmill with the blue sky behind.

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/