More Snowdrops

 The weekend weather was so atrocious that I barely left my home at all, and instead worked out hard on my exercise bike and pondered what my first Christmas alone would be like.

Monday I was able to get myself out and take myself around the two lakes, where I could see that more snowdrops were now in flower, and that also that lots of other shoots were piercing the thick wet soil of the cemetery - lots of crocus spears I think.

Above, two squirrels crashed about in the trees fighting over whatever squirrels fight over. 

On the lake, I was wondering if the goosander were about, and found them relatively close in at the south end of the blue lake, as ever the moment I tried to get my camera-phone the drakes accelerated like Donald Campbell in Bluebird and were in the middle of the lake in seconds.

Powerful paddlers are goosander! Very shy birds and not like obliging mallards or even tufted duck to get a photo of. A little egret hung like an empty plastic bag in the trees overlooking the carp lagoon.

Down on London Road Pond, the depressing lack of anything interesting continued. Best bird I've seen on here is a shoveller, which says a lot really.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 22.12.20

Out to Farndon Ponds

 More fine weather yesterday, and with my ankle by much less of a pain, I was able to plug my brain into a good Radio 4 sci fi drama and take myself out to Farndon to see what sort of waterfowl I might find in the little Farndon Ponds reserve next to the marina. 

It's not the most exciting trek to get there, along the old A46, but eventually you get to the church turn off and can make your way towards Willow Holt, which looked rather on the muddy side and was filled with sheep.

For some reason, the sheep were an enticing photographic prospect to a pro looking snapper, who was stood there with a tripod and a towel over his head. Maybe there was an interesting bird lurking. Or perhaps he is very shy. 

I walked past the marina, around the ponds and here things got rather muddy. I might have to buy myself wellies for Christmas. I managed to get a lucky half decent mobile shot of a long tailed tit, but the waterfowl weren't up to much; a few bored looking gulls and a couple of mallards. 

At least the river painted itself gold for the evening.

There's plenty of berries in the hedgerows, but there weren't any redwing like I sometimes see in this part of Farndon. It takes colder weather to the winter thrushes in town.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 15.12.20

Photos from a Two Hour Walk

 I've been off the exercise bike for a couple of days, as I seem to have done a mischief to my right achilles, but yesterday I was still able to get in a two hour walk.

It wasn't supposed to be, I had just wanted to take my sore ankle to the park for a couple of tea then go shopping. But as the Ibuprofen kicked in, I felt able enough to turn right before the supermarket, and head to the cemetery and the two lakes to take photos in another golden sunset. 

The squirrels are busy; the cemetery and the church grounds are always the best place to see them so I'm guessing they must be religious little mammals. That and all the trees and the goodies they provide. 

It had been raining, but as I walked along the path, the sun broke through as it began to begin its evening kiss of the horizon, and light everything up in gold beneath the grey clouds. 

Plenty of other folk were out walking, enjoying the views. Again, the illusion of normality. 

There was even a rainbow.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 13.12.20

Right where I was Expecting them

 A longer walk today, out round the two lakes, and I'm happy to report that after the fallow autumn months, new life is returning to the leaf covered ground.

Walking through the cemetery as sunset approached, I thought I'd have a cheeky little look for an early snowdrop, the ground being so full of emerging shoots in the past couple of weeks. And lo and behold, right where they were last year, and out on about the same date, a couple of dinky little snowdrops were in bloom.

New flowers are back, and slowly but surely, fresh colour will return to this blog!

On the water, I kept my eye out for goosander, to see if their early arrival last year would be repeated this year, and sure enough they were, a handsome drake with his duck mate. No others yet, but I'm sure more will arrive; I think we had 12 at one point last winter. 

Lots of geese were on the water, but I couldn't spot the pinkie, or indeed the glorious mandarin drake. 

It's been a very cold day, and I'm anticipating a freezing ride to work in the morning. But the colours this evening have been beautiful; I'll take that.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 07.12.20

Weekend at the Park

 Nothing much to report from this weekend really, apart from nice walking round a rather muddy park before having cups of tea, and getting a rood 6.5km run in at night, through the industrial estate again and the smell of cooking pies.

I was listening to Radio 4 Extra which was broadcasting some strange old comedy shows from the 1940s like "It's that Man Again" which really hasn't aged well, unlike stuff like "Around the Horne" and other Kenneth Horne stuff, and the utterly manic "I'm Sorry I'll Read that Again" which was an unholy alliance of various Goodies and Pythons. 

Enjoying Radio 4 must be a sign I'm getting old, although I'm still a very happy listener to Radio 6, which is an excellent station. 

Tomorrow, hopefully I'll get a longer walk in, cold though it may be. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 06.12.20

We had Snow

 Yesterday saw me riding into a work in torrential rain, carrying a bag of gifts for  our Salvation Army toy collection, and wondering where the heck the day was going to go.

It soon signalled its attention, when out of the battleship grey cloud cover, the rain began to solidify and it started sleeting just as I was removing my various wet weather clothes in my office.

Not long after that, it was properly snowing, the first time I've seen snow in December for a few years. This alarms me greatly, for a long freezing winter of riding my bike to work is a whole world of no fun, believe me. It means agonised hands no matter how thick my gloves, and nervous riding on slippery roads and paths populated with bad drivers and oblivious pedestrians.

What it also seems to mean, are my workplace calling fire drills in the middle of a blizzard. I was lucky enough to be able to grab my hat and waterproof jacket before heading outside; others were less fortunate and there were some severely frozen looking people shivering under a cap of snow in shirtsleeves. 

Of course, some folk had to revert to childhood and scrape snow off the roof of cars to throw snowballs at each other. 

I was panicking, because it got really sludgy after the snow eased to sleet again and I was thinking it was going to be hell to ride home in. Later on I walked across campus to see how the paths were, in my usual ginger rubbish balance way, and I was  like "Oh, bloody great."

On the grasslands, the crows cackled at my anxiety, vividly black against the white.

Gulls circled in the murk above, looking for leftover dinners probably. 

As it happened, I got home safe, and dry, as the slush melted and I took things very easily. But it was a warning of what might be to come. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 05.12.20

Teas at the Park

 By the time you read this, we will have emerged from lockdown and back into our Tiers, although seeing that we are still going to be Tier 3 that won't make the slightest bit of difference to me.

I've been able to rediscover the joy of having my cups of tea at Rumbles, something that used to be so important to me in happier times when I used to go every time I  possibly could. The weather over the weekend was misty and drizzly, yet the rain did not bother me. I just stood there with my tea - all the seats at the cafe have been taken away, despite being outside. 

The weather has turned now, dryer, colder, a smidgen of frost in the mornings. My hands are starting to crack, which makes the application of sanitiser rather painful and requiring me to use moisturiser. Snow is forecast with the usual glee by the papers for the weekend; I very much doubt this will happen. Freezing mornings I dread, my hands are agony and riding the bike is fearful.

When this is over, it is time to think about travelling, I think. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 01.12.20