The Buzzers are Out and Very Much About!

 I've had a decent stroll today, taking in Sconce Park, the Cemetery and the Blue Lake. But what I'm here to talk about today is what I found in the Castle Gardens. 

It was markedly cooler, but much brighter, than the weather we have been having recently, feeling quite pleasant if you could find a sunny spot. I'd gone to the gardens merely to photograph the golden crocuses that grow there every year, but as soon as I got to them, it was clear that they had other visitors enjoying the weather. 

It's February 5th. And the honeybees were out earlier than I can ever remember seeing them before. 

It wasn't just a single, brae pioneer either. It was quite the gathering in the welcoming orange pollen cups! 

I've read that the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch has indicated that there has been a lot of nest building and early courtship happening amongst our feathered friends - indeed I've got blackbirds paired up in the area of my garden - and it seems that apian has followed avian. The question is how they will all withstand the coldish snap that is happening this week. 

That aside, I was glad to see them, even if it just for today.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 05.02.23

Ooom-Pa-Pa

 Sunday afternoon in the sun took me to the castle grounds, where glittering gleaming instruments and parping sounds indicated that a brass band concert was taking place, surrounded by a generally if not exclusively mature audience stuffing themselves with ice cream.

Enjoying the retro vibe, I got a can of old fashioned bitter shandy and parked my backside on scorched grass more akin to the Serengeti than the East Midlands. 

The band hailed from Shirebrook Miners Welfare, Bassetlaw country rather than the world of Brassed Off, but the stories are pretty much the same. These bands are one of the few things that remain of our mining industry, an industry that lasted a little longer in Nottinghamshire because of the infamous split from Arthur Scargill and the NUM that didn't do them any good in the long run. 

They still bring in the big crowds, so it is something that obviously still means a lot to a lot of people, and I have to say there is something rather soothing about the warm burbling of tubas and euphoniums, although things became a little sharper when the theme from "The Great Escape" was played. 

I really wanted an ice cream afterwards, sadly my way to the rum and raisin was blocked a long queue of musicians in pale blue shirts wishing to cool their lips down after all that heavy blowing. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 11.08.22

Sunset Bandstand

 I've accumulated a fair bit of Christmas chub alas, and after barely remembering the taste of non-cream cheese of the low calorie variety, I've found myself eating far too many wedges of Port Salou and blocks of Red Leicester on rich tea biscuits, which are at least the least-fattening biscuits you can get. 

It's going to be a long, tedious and joyless route back to trimness.

Cricket nets are looming this weekend, which strikes me as being a little risky in the current climate, but it's not for that reason I shan't be going. It's my spasmy back, which I intend to rest for at least another week before trying it out with a spot of bowling.

The other big worry is my ankle, I haven't done anything to put any pressure on it in months.

So, after a week back at work in either stygian gloom or freezing conditions, there's not a massive amount to see. But now, ever so slightly, there is a little more daylight, a little more time, to see and do things. 

I can hardly wait for spring.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 07.01.22

Snowy Flowers

 I've managed to get a run in over the last few days, 9.2km in the snow and hail, but then settling snow and icy conditions made running too difficult. So, it was back to walking, and of course the dusting of snow made for some nice photo opportunities.

It also meant the kids could take their sledges out onto the Sconce, and slide down a millimetre of snow which rapidly turned into mud under the plastic armada.

The cold weather has been horrible for cycling, and I've been walking in again mainly because of the pain of Raynaud's Syndrome I get in my hands when cycling. Each night this week has got colder and colder, and I'm nervous of black ice. 

I hope you are all staying warm and safe.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 10.02.21

Now Crocuses have Emerged

 I've saved a lot of photos for you from my weekend walks, and this set is more floral.

The crocuses are now emerging in their usual places, in their usual colours. Orange ones in the castle grounds under the trees, while in the cemetery the purple ones always show their heads first. 

It has been ever thus since I started monitoring their appearance. Next up, lesser celandine along the cycle path, and primrose by the cemetery ditch. Nature's calendar, annual clockwork.

Another week is nearly done, another week of trying to avoid "doomscrolling" - the word of 2021 has already emerged like the crocuses - my social media feeds and maintain some sort of perspective and optimism.

Can be hard though, can't it?

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 28.01.21

Low Sun Glows

 I've not had a massively exciting weekend, with just some gentle walks and runs, and my bicycle having its chain shortened by my stepfather, who has done a bloody good job as usual. 

Today, we narrowly avoided being shunted into Tier 3 restrictions, unlike a large chunk of Nottingham and its suburbs where student outbreaks have now spread into the general population, causing much resentment by the locals against students who apart from a few idiots have found themselves hated for no reason because of University mismanagement. 

I remember the hatred against students when I was one, and it hasn't gone away. 

Today, I bring you pictures of the sunset I walked through after I collected my bike. There was some lovely light around the castle, gold and purple reflections in the river as I looked down from a lofty vantage point in the Castle gardens as the pigeons circled overhead. 

I've been pottering about in the garden tonight; every so often a bird of some sort flies over head, lit of a ghostly pale yellow in the streetlights. I always wonder what they are. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 26.10.20

Gilded in Rosey Gold

 Yesterday, I took myself for a walk in the sunset, hoping for some nice "golden hour" photographic opportunities and just needing to be mobile after another weekend of being very tired. 

I ambled around the castle with its sun gilded walls, and along the river that looked like it had been painted, rather than being an actual physical flow of water. 

Geese were honking in flight, the canadas heading for their evening roosts, but they never overflew me. Instead little sing birds rendered into silhouettes by the light flew in and out of the hedgerows and bushes. 

The seasons in isolation move on to autumn. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 28.09.20

Two Seasons in a Photo Set

There are still butterflies at work, but also now there are shaggy ink cap fungi by the cycle track, their lawyers wigs melting away into a black slurry of spores.

It is the season where the low sun makes for beautiful evenings and long shadows across the cricket ground; for turning the Trent into a river of rose and gold above which the pigeons fly in unruly circles before settling down to roost on the castle walls.

Yet the day has been marked by the horrid despondency of increased infection rates; the fact that the feeling that this may never end is increasing back as it did in me in April.

Can only keep on keeping on, the cliched day at a time.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 11.09.20

Running in the Heat of Day

Mad fool that I am, and a bit keen on getting my BMI back below 25 in the light of recent corona revelations, I actually managed to have a 10.6km run this afternoon, at a very gentle pace, round and round the cricket ground after an initial foray down the river.

Saw my first male orange tip fluttering along the brambles.

The day itself was so beautiful that it seems crazy that there should be so much misery around at the moment. To distract myself I listened to the re-run on TMS of Ben Stokes hammering the Aussies last year, as I went round and round the cricket ground to rack up the kilometres.

Horrifyingly shirtless at one point as well. I was suffering from rubbing.

We have a big pair of buzzards living in the trees overlooking our new field, and I always seem to flush them whenever I'm running around there. The female is a huge specimen!

I hope everyone is keeping sane out there.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 11.04.20

Running and Underwear

So, my state allowed exercise today consisted of a 7.5km run - around the castle and twice around the park basically - on an even more glorious day than the last two glorious days we've had. I've been slobbering around in shorts most of the day and only donned a T-Shirt at one point to do a skype call with work.

More Brimstones about today, including the first female I've seen, and I can now see small tortoiseshells even from my postage stamp sized garden. I want some pollinator friendly plants but fear arrest for non essential purchase of verbena. And Asda's range of plants are shit for pollinators.

Social distancing still being well observed and supermarket well stocked apart from Pasta.

So, when I took this flat on, I think not having a washing machine was no problem, after all my folks are only up the road. Well, a worldwide pandemic shits all over that, and I'm having to handwash like its the 1860s.

Boxer shorts clutter my washing line.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 25.03.20