What are you all up to
Comments
-
She didn't look that poorly last time I saw her, has she deteriorated that much, @Wherenext ?🤣 Please give her our best regards!😁
Hope you both are soon feeling a good bit better @KjellNN and you are fit to go to the craft fair at the weekend.
Today started off dull and quite chilly and it took until the afternoon before it brighten up. We went to Little Budworth Common for a couple of walks, and although there was not very many birds about we did see some Long Tailed Tits and had fleeting glances of a couple of Goldcrests.
0 -
Did you know there was an earthquake up our way last night? We never felt it, but at 4:15 I did hear noises and rumblings- cows out! Somehow one had loosened a bolt on a gate. Nothing makes a farmer run than hearing “cows out”. It was supposed to be OH’s day for a lie in. Never mind. Worse things happen at sea. As they say.
2 -
@Goldie146 Feeling an earthquake is a very odd experience. We do have the odd ones in the UK and I remember one where my computer monitor moved very slightly. However the worse I experienced was an after shock in Northern Italy whilst on a campsite. It is the strangest of sensations which is difficult to explain, not something you want to experience very often. All we had was the sensation the major damage was further south.
David
0 -
Only time I have ever felt an earthquake was on holiday in Greece. We were staying on the coast quite close to Athens, all the Greeks were worried mainly about the Acropolis, hoping no damage to this revered site.
Loose livestock @Goldie146 😱 our horse was an escape artist, umpteen different types of door bolts, he’d have a go at them all. He even took his door off it’s hinges one time. Then he would let others out, for a good old gallop around. Cue worried owners following a trail of rugs, ropes and devastation. We have helped with the odd round up on farm based campsites, sheep and cows as well. But my favourite escapee was a huge show pig at the Great Yorkshire. She’d got loose, only off for a sedate grunt around. OH and I had a picture I had bought and along umbrella, so we just thought we’ed do what they do in pig ring, shepherded her into an empty stall🤭Here piggy, piggy🤭
2 -
Thanks @heddlo, and thanks to all for posting the lovely photos.
Did the first of the small 'Christmas performances' yesterday, during the day. We only sang for around an hour, from around 2.30pm, but silly as it sounds, this sort of thing takes us a whole day, virtually, starting around 10.30am at home, and eventually finishing back at home, around 7pm.... then just emails to do, running orders to work out and send out for next week. It goes on like this now until Christmas Day. I keep saying that one of these years I'll have a December off!!!
Meanwhile, we won't be getting out in the caravan until January. At least I can read what everyone is up to here and in the thread that @Rowena started for 'Your plans for December', in the Caravan and Motorhome Chat section.
David
0 -
@Takethedogalong - I wondered if you saw the article on this morning's national BBC Breakfast News - about the Sheffield Christmas Carols - and their featuring in a performance at the Crucible? It was all about the particular and unusual carols that each of the villages around (mainly the north of) Sheffield have. Many of them a sounding a bit like sea shanties! It brought back memories because I remember that when I was small, the Stannington ones were quite famous and I remember Dad coming back from the Hare and Hounds one evening and telling us kids all about the choir coming into the pub and singing these beautiful and unusual carols. Somewhere, amongst all the stuff in my study, I think I've got a booklet of the Stannington ones. The article featured the Loxley Silver Band and I'm guessing that the pub they were in was the Plough at Low Bradfield. It might still be available on iPlayer if you missed it.
2 -
The earth stopped moving for me quite some time ago, no matter where I am/was.😂
Had 3 small, on their own, problems occur health wise over the last month so thought it best to seek medical advice about them to see if they were related in any way. So e-consulted the other day and off to see what's what this afternoon. Of course one of the problems has abated somewhat which is typical timing. Hope I'm wasting the doctors time but we keep hearing that you should get things checked out so I'm being sensible for once, or at least following OHs instructions!😁
Her cold slowly, very slowly, abating.
1 -
We are slightly better today, colds were short lived, but the coughs are persisting. OH’s sciatica is variable, feels better for a few hours then returns with a vengeance. Pain killers do help a bit when it gets very bad. Only thing I have been doing when at home is turning spurtles, they seem to sell well on Etsy. Might also sell a few at the craft fair.
Only earthquake we have experienced was when OH and DD were in a supermarket in Switzerland. All the bottles on the shelves were clinking, but fortunately nothing fell off. They definitely felt the movement, and I, sitting outside in the car, did too. Quite a strange feeling!
0 -
Hope the doctor was able to put your mind at rest @Wherenext , and it's good to read that OH's cold is abating, albeit slowly. Pleased to read that both of you are feeling somewhat better @KjellNN fingers crossed that you soon get rid of your coughs, they do tend to hang on well after one's cold has gone.
You certainly have a busy time at this time of the year @DSB however you must enjoy doing all the concerts or you would have stepped back from them before now. I hope Carol continues with her improvement and is fit enough to enjoy her Christmas fully.
Looking at our monitoring camera at home there does not appear to be any disturbance caused by the earthquake just before midnight last night. It has rained all morning here and it only stopped around 14:00, with just one short shower about 30 mins ago. It was full wet weather gear for most of our walks from the van today, as It was not worth heading off anywhere else as far as we were concerned. We did have a red sky around 15:50, but it didn't last very long.
Considering the rain and wind we have had over the last few weeks there is still a lot of colourful leaves left on some of the trees. This is from yesterday's walk at Little Budworth Common.
4 -
Gosh @Bakers2 What a wonderful post box topper. That is the best I have seen. I love your Christmas presents for your grandsons. I got a lovely Lego technic for our eldest great grandson which OH would love to have a go at.
Super photos @nelliethehooker . It rained all day here yesterday so I wrote Christmas cards and did some online Christmas shopping.
Daughter and I went to see Anton du Beke at our local theatre on Wednesday evening. Such a lovely Christmassy evening. Anton is always good value. The theatre was packed. I wish I could get rid of this awful catarrh which is still hanging around after my cold. I hope everyone else who is suffering recovers soon.
@Takethedogalong we love Jools Holland. We have seen him many times and it is always such a wonderful evening.
7 -
Looking good @milliehull
Our very talented post box topper created added her talent to the village pump for our first ever village Christmas light up. A great effort by a committee that formed in June. Fund raised enough to have 6 lights attached to some of the lamp-post in the conservation area along with the tree. There was a lovely couple of hours of entertain by more local talent whilst the road was closed.
The village has a house on the main route in that 'dresses' up every Christmas to raise money for MAGPAS, a personal reasons. They raise a very good amount every year, with their lights, that switch on was a week later. In fact the whole village puts on a good festive display.
I need to take a photo of the MAGPAS house as I've only got switch on night -packed!
8 -
Fantastic topper @Bakers2.
MiL just finished reading one Anton's books @milliehull. I suspect she would have enjoyed the show had she gone.
OH able to get out for a short walk this morning with myself. It was dry but a cold wind. Now chucking it down.
1 -
Lovely photos from you both, @Bakers2 and @milliehull glad you have had a good time at your respective pre-christmas celebrations.
Pleased to read that you OH has improved sufficiently to get out for a walk @Wherenext and hope that the improvement continues.
We woke to a red sky, thin cloud and ice on the front window of the car. We got packed up and away for 10:00 and arrived at our chosen CL just before 12:00 after an easy tow. It stayed fine, although rather chilly at around 4C, while we set up but it started to rain just after we returned to the van from our post lunch walk. The rain, heavy at times, has persisted, on and off, since then.
0 -
Well that’s a first, arrived at Barleywood and we are the only van on site! Site is decorated with lots of lights.
We arrived later than normal as Mrs One was sorting out the Scout Group Christmas tree in the local church.We had tried to book the Christmas show at Thursford but unfortunately we couldn’t get the nights we wanted. Never mind we’ve booked the Poppy lines Christmas light show on Sunday evening.
6 -
Have a wonderful time @Oneputt . That all sounds very festive.
1 -
It's been virtually non stop rain for the last 2 days but it seems to have stopped for the moment.
OH woke up to her second Premium Bond win in consecutive draws so she's very happy today. She seems to be over her cold finally. It does tend to linger with her as we noticed when she caught Covid last year. Mine was gone in 5 days hers lasted 12 before she was finally cleared.
Hope you get some decent weather and birdwatching in @Oneputt. I think we might try to do a bit on Wednesday and go off searching for some Snow Buntings seen at Point of Ayr, on the way to Prestatyn.
1 -
Glad your OH is feeling so much better @Wherenext. and congratulations on her on her second premium bond win.
I still have a lot of congestion so son and DIL decided we needed some fresh air so we all went over to Burghley and had a short wander in the park in very pleasant weather, visited their lovely Christmas shop and then had a late lunch in their Orangery which was beautifully decorated. All in all a very enjoyable day.
6 -
Enjoy your trip away @Oneputt
Good to hear that your OH has got over her cold @Wherenext
Some more very festive photos today thanks for sharing.
We had rain again through the night but it finally stopped around 8:00. It was restock day so we headed into Madeley, Tesco and Aldi, and we had a walk from the latter as far as Madeley Court Hotel, which is being used to house Afgan asylum residents! Then drove down to Ironbridge where we parked by Bedlam Furnace and walked around to the famous bridge.
Looking upstream
then downstream
ThIs notice at the Toll House caught my eye, especially the last paragraph!
4 -
@nelliethehooker sorry I’m a few days behind but I’m sure that Mercedes truck/campervan was at Strathclyde Park during the summer when we were there one weekend if not that one then one very similar. I had a look to see if I could find a photo I’m sure I took one but can’t find it on my phone
1 -
Beautiful yarn bombing, and lights. I will see if I can spot any while away. I am like you @milliehull still got the lingering elements of my cold, but getting there.
Barnard Castle looked very festive yesterday. We have visited two Roman sites already, Corbridge Town and Museum yesterday, and the Roman Army Museum today, which is a superb interpretation of life on Hadrians Wall. Part of Vindolanda Trust, we will do Vindolanda as well soon. Weather? 😱😱😱😱 But we are warm and cosy in cottage.
Corbridge Lion
2000 year old Roman glass bottle.
4 -
Looks like a good start to your trip @Takethedogalong enjoy the rest of it. Keep the photos coming.
It was a grey and mizzly start to the day. Thankfully it had stopped by the time we headed out to the NT's carpark at Benthall Hall, which was not open. It stayed dry for most of our morning walk, the Benthall Edge walk before lunch and the rain had stopped when we did the other waymarked trail, around the Meadows. The rest of the day has remained dry up till now.
A misty shot of Benthall Hall
The 17C St Bartholomew's, The Hall Church, and unusual sun dial.
My late afternoon walk took me around to Broseley and it's All Staint's parish church.
5 -
Loving all the photos, your daughter looks very much like you @milliehull. I remember a small earthquake here in Devon, it must have been in the late 80s or early 90s. I worked in the local Civic Centre on the 6th floor, I was in the office that day when there was a strange feeling and suddenly lots of cupboard doors flew open, and a pot plant fell from the secretaries desk, she was very concerned. We weren’t sure what had happened, couldn’t believe it could be an earthquake, until we heard the local news. I suppose we felt in more being high up, so glad it was very minor.
We have just got back from a mini break. We stayed at a Travelodge and visited Stratford Christmas market and Cotswolds villages lit up for Christmas. We popped over to our caravan, we had already drained it all down for winter, to check it and pick up some bedding etc. for washing. The river was very high. We went to Broadway and had a lovely meal, another deal at the Broadway Hotel. The village looked so beautiful all lit up with white lights, all the trees, the shops and the houses put on the best display. We went to Bourton on the Water to see the tree in the river lit up but it bucketed down as soon as we got there, so just a quick walk round. Stratford Christmas market was busy as usual but worth the visit. A relaxing break.
Now home we need to decorate the house and I need to write cards, not so many this year as most of our friends have agreed the postage is ridiculous, it’s a shame.
1 -
We have enjoyed a beautiful sunny morning here, a full 10 minutes worth🤣 Its now clouded over and has started raining, looks set for the day as well, so we might head across and up to Wallington, to look around the house. We usually opt to do just the gardens, so it will be a change for us. Need a break from the Romans as well.
I watched the Sycamore Gap documentary last night. Going to be strange today, driving past and no tree.
3 -
Great photos again @nelliethehooker I do love seeing them. Also great to hear of your lovely trips away @DEBSC and @Takethedogalong . We have a week of mainly medical appointments coming up ☹️ with present wrapping in between.
0 -
Somewhat surprisingly, it’s been a lovely sunny day here, after a bit of rain for half an hour this morning, so we did a bit of walking at Wallington, as well as the house. A steady, interesting 40 minute drive from cottage, we are now back, too tired to hop over road to pub tonight, so I have done a homemade Lasagne instead. House was all decorated beautifully, and the Walled garden looked very tidy. Lots and lots of bird slitting around, and we saw a small herd of wild Roe Deer in field next to cottage. So a sunny bonus for us today.
Wallington’s famous dragons.
Looking down from the top PF the Walled Gardens. The exotichothouse is closed awaiting refurbishment to commence next year.
Cheeky little resident waiting to be fed.
Seahorse sculpture at the start of the pools and rills that run down the garden.
7 -
We also enjoyed the weather today and had, what is getting to be, our annual Christmas visit to Burton Agnes Hall. Being a bit of a crafter myself I always enjoy the many and varied crafts on display there.
Will be looking forward to another visit for the snowdrops in February.
The Christmas tree was decorated with dried hydrangeas and dried Alliums. So effective and beautiful.
Last but not least was this gorgeous Christmas cactus @Bakers2, it was nearly 3ft across!
8 -
This hobby of ours has allowed us to visit so many beautiful places in the UK and have many a treasured memory and this page of photos and comments from fellow travellers has brought quite a few of them back. So thank you to @nelliethehooker, @Oneputt, @DEBSC, @Takethedogalong and @heddlo for your posts. I've revisited all places mentioned whilst sitting here at home with a cuppa and a lovely CD playing in the background.
Took MiL to a local garden centre as wanted to look at buying a few small decorations but personally I think she just wanted a nosey. Didn't buy anything but had a wander. Lovely sunny morning with a fair breeze blowing. Rain not supposed to arrive until late afternoon or early evening yet it chucked it down about 2pm. Fortunately we were inside the garden centre.
4 -
Sounds as if you had a lovely break @DEBSC we might just get to see some of the decorated Cotswold villages in a week or so.
More grand photos @Takethedogalong Wallington is always worth a visit whatever the time of year. You picked well going there and catching that sunshine.
It has been quite a while since we have visited Burton Agnes Hall @heddlo your lovely photos makes us want to return, so perhaps next year.
Hope you saw plenty at Sculthorpe today @Oneputt and pleased that you enjoyed your train ride yeaterday.
0
