A fine afternoon after a rainy night, and a familiar route. Today we’re taking a closer look at the hedgerows…
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Another grey day
A cold, grey December day – it could rain too, so we won’t go far, just along the lane to see the sheep. It’s hardly worth taking the camera, but like us, it needs some exercise. It’s too easy to stagnate on days like this.
Skies and silhouettes
Church Preen in December: not as sunny as the forecast had suggested, but in place of the sunshine there are interesting shapes in the clouds, highlighted by a watery sun. Meanwhile, lacking illumination, the trees are stark against the sky – the leaves have all fallen.
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Ahead of the rain
A bright morning, with plenty of blue sky and sunshine. Shirlett lane should be good for some interesting views and winter colours. As forecast, the rain began after lunch…
Dank days
It can be dismal at this time of year. Happily the light rain has stopped by the time we’re out of the car, but it’s generally grey and overcast. For a brief few minutes, there were glimpses of blue sky above us – but never a chance of sunshine. At least it’s pretty quiet down here, along Stanley Lane and the old railway track – until the shooting parties begin blasting away at the local pheasants and partridges. They’re at it on both sides of the river – it sounds as though war has broken out! (note to self: check for the proceeds in the local butcher’s shop in the next few days… A pot-roasted partridge with seasonal roots would be just the thing for dank December days)
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A winter afternoon
With winter sunshine? Maybe. The days are short now – a little sunshine is precious. Certainly there’s only a little today, but it picks out details in the landscape rather nicely. The tricky bit is being able to see over the hedges…
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Clearing
…after a dull morning and a rainy lunchtime. It’s raining lightly when we leave home, but we have confidence in the weather forecast. Starting out from the car, there’s still a fine drizzle; within ten minutes, the sky’s clearing and we’re enjoying some winter sunshine. Almost back at the start, a magpie flies down and lands on an unconcerned sheep’s back – and then begins pecking at its head, no doubt relieving it of some unwelcome inhabitants… Eventually, it flies away. The sheep wanders off, oblivious.
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December morning
First day of winter – it’s cold and sunny, but it will cloud over after lunch. We’ll have a morning stroll down the lane and back – say “hello” to the sheep! What’s that tapping above us in the tree? There it is – a nuthatch! He’s camera-shy, and soon well out of sight.
November fog
It was thick this morning, but this afternoon the fog has mostly cleared. It’s still grey and misty though – no views of distant hills or glorious sunsets, but at least we’ll be able to see where we’re going. We’re walking past the Hurst Farm pools, down the drive at Aldenham and into Morville. Very quiet roads take us back to the start – and by 3.20pm, the light is going…
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November skies
There was a yellow warning yesterday, for fog this morning. It was rather dull before lunch, and perhaps a little misty, but not foggy. After lunch, the clouds cleared to reveal a blue sky, with some wonderful wispy cirrus. We’d better get out there and enjoy it! The light becomes warmer as we walk (so do we! It’s a cold day), and as we return towards the car, the lands to the south-west are positively glowing.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=365265&Y=301021&A=Y&Z=120
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