Monday, 21 December 2015

Cousins at play

Izobelle loves nothing better than playing with her cousins. So when they all met up at our home near christmas, it was bound to be a pleasant day all round. Here are just a few images of the day.


What does this do Adam?


I see


Some instruction on how to navigate the tablet by big cousin Adam.



Then a request for Grandad to take them to the playing field to let off steam. First though, granddad needs a group photo


Then back home to chill out and play something calmer - like Coppit


With some sustenance to go with it!


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Wednesday, 9 December 2015

Christmas Tree Festival - Stowmarket

To quote the Stowmarket Church news  “The Christmas Tree Festival is an established and well-loved event in the town’s calendar attracting up to 30,000 visitors to see the hundreds of Christmas trees in the town centre venues as well as those illuminated ones on the lamp posts provided by the Town Council. It is truly an experience not to be missed.
In our fourteenth century impressive and large Parish Church over 350 trees give that incredible 'WOW'' factor that has to be seen to be believed. So many of the town's groups and families work together to make a visit such a memorable experience. As well as a chance to think a little more about the Christmas story in a fun and imaginative way there is so much creativity and talent to admire. Some of the more unusual trees have included an optical illusion tree, one made from 600 buttons and another from inflated rubber gloves.”


Some more images follow of the 2015 event, and I must say, it's well worth seeing.


As a backdrop to the Festival, on the day that we visited, a choir was rehearsing Christmas Carols. Izobelle was entranced by the scene and the beautiful sound of the choir.

We have been to the festival again since this entry and it still has it`s magic appeal.


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Thursday, 12 November 2015

Bird images - Lackford Lake

Lackford Lakes are man made. The Lackford Lakes reserve, renowned for its kingfishers, dragonflies and winter wildfowl, was founded 30 years ago, when local conservationist Bernard Tickner initiated the transformation of what was a quarry into a wildlife habitat.
He said: "Lackford Lakes is now enjoyed by many species, rare and common, and the trust has a remarkable chance to create even more first-class habitat to allow even more wildlife to move in."



We have visited on a number of occasions, and there is always something to see. Today, an Egret, wades past us looking for breakfast. An egret is any of several herons, most of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes during the breeding season. (Wikipedia) Today`s one had no plumage but I was pleased with the image.



On one part of the site, a fallen tree is an excellent place to lay bait for the Nuthatch who usually obliges.


I know that some people would class that as cheating, but why not?

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Thursday, 5 November 2015

Autumn was here in 2015

Autumn is noted for its changes to foliage from green to many shades of red, green and yellow, and the fields from golden to brown. Also, of course, the appearance of fungi in their many forms and varieties. 2015 was a good year for `autumn colours` and fungi, so here are a few of the images I captured.




Always a sign, and not always a well received one, of the end of summer. Ploughed fields which were just yesterday it seems, covered in gold, now assume a mantel of brown.


The road leading in toward Hadleigh had some lovely colours this year.



The a close-up of the leaves before they fell.


Autumn colours against a blue sky


White Saddle Fungi


The Miller - Clitopilus prunulus


Not sure of the name of this fungi


The jelly Ear (Auricularia auricula)


Scurfy Deceiver - Laccaria proxima


Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria)



Wednesday, 30 September 2015

Nottingham and Sherwood Forest

We were staying in a forest cabin near Nottingham, so a trip to Nottingham and then another to Robin Hood country, was a must!


Stanford House, in Nottingham - If you like Georgian architecture and buildings, then you’ll absolutely love Stanford House, (apparently!). Stanford House is a Georgian gem in the heart of Nottingham. Having read lots about it, it was great to see, if only from the outside!



Sandstone caves under Nottingham

City of Caves is a visitor attraction in Nottingham which consists of a network of caves, carved out of sandstone that have been variously used over the years as a tannery, public house cellars, and as an air raid shelter. The attraction is accessed from the upper level of the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre. Few people in Nottingham are aware of this labyrinth, which exists underneath the city streets, and fewer still have visited them. Nottingham has more man-made caves than anywhere else in Britain. People have worked and lived in them for over 1,000 years. This was an amazing tour, and a must, if you are in the area. I had no idea of its existence!


The old Lace Mill? - now restored and converted for 21st century use.


Coordinated young woman in Nottingham



Nottingham`s Council House

This Palladian-inspired building was designed and built in the 1920s at a cost of more than £600,000, which in a time of economic recession caused a public outcry.The foundation stone was laid in 1927 on what was to be the largest stone building commissioned in the country since the First World War.The Portland stone used for the building came from the same quarry as the stone used by Christopher Wren for St Paul’s Cathedral.The terrace overlooking the Old Market Square has eight columns, with 21 figures, representing the activities of the council, in the pediment above. The frieze behind them depicts traditional local crafts, such as bell founding, mining and alabaster carving.The official opening of the Council House on 22 May, 1929 was a wonderful day for Nottingham. Thousands of people came to watch the arrival of the Prince of Wales, later to become King Edward VIII, who opened the doors officially with a golden key. This is still displayed inside the building to the left of the grand staircase.


Clough became the most successful manager in the history of Nottingham Forest, taking them to unprecedented heights. He had won the league title with Forest's neighbours Derby County in 1972, and came to Nottingham Forest on 6 January 1975. Brian Clough's 18-year reign as manager ended in May 1993 after Forest were relegated from the inaugural Premier League after 16 illustrious years of top-flight football which had seen a league title, two European Cups and four League Cups.


The photographers pose


The Chorus Line by Hilary Cartmel (1999) on Maid Marian Way is a directional sign to the Nottingham Playhouse to the left, and the Royal Centre to the right. Constructed of painted steel it is a representation of a chorus line, with high kicks and jazz hands etc. I must confess that I was at a bit of a loss as to its purpose to start with!



A wander around one of the well kept parks in Nottingham, and we were treated to a display of lovely dahlia.


Ganoderma applanatum (for those who want Latin!) also known as the artist's bracket, artist's conk or bear bread, and is a bracket fungus with a cosmopolitan distribution. It is a wood-decay fungus, causing a rot of heartwood in a variety of trees

Autumn was upon us.



In Sherwood forest there were hollow trees..



.... and then there were BIG trees!


... trees that had faces on them ...


... and trees with the mist still drifting through them.


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