Visiting Mum

 

So this off-Friday saw me mooch up to the Crematorium for Mum's Anniversary, well that will be Tuesday 30th but as that's a working day and the Crem shuts at 4pm this time of year, even with a couple of hours off it would be a struggle to get there plus with the threat of snow this weekend I don't know what next week's weather will hold.

As it was it was blustery and there was a sharp shower on the way back, but it was a good visit, as I may have said before I tend to stand by her tree and natter away like you would on the phone. Tell her what's been going on and what life is currently like for us all.

This Tuesday coming marks 34 years - I've no idea where the time goes. Still miss her and wish she were still here. Wonder what she would make of the current pandemic and it's seemingly never-ending doom and gloom. What she would make of the run of vaccines and now follow-up boosters that will no doubt gradually get fed out to all the age groups.

Sometimes I wonder if there will ever be an end to it, a return to life pre-Covid-19 or whether this is it from now on? Always worrying about the next variant, the next vaccine/booster? 

Anyways the walk there and back boosted my steps count for today, 11000+ steps, although my feet ache now ;-) She would probably laugh if I said to her I'm not getting any younger! Thinking about those 34yrs makes me realise that I have lived longer without her than I did with her 😭 How utterly sad is that? She went too soon, too young, missed out on so many things that she should have had the chance to be here for. Her and my Dad put off too many things until their retirement and then she never made it there. The time for living is now, you never know whether or not tomorrow will belong to you. That's even more poignant at the moment with Covid-19 snapping at our collective heels. Hopefully, if nothing else, she's keeping a watch over us, keeping us all safe 💕

Frosty Morning!

 

Tuesday morning saw me back in the home office, but initially awoke to this bright but frosty view out of the window 🥶

Have spent the rest of the week with the heating on and trying to stay warm as it's turned rather cold rather quickly. Indeed I believe some snow may be forecast in the short term ❄ Let's hope it passes us by down here in the South, although I don't have to be out trekking in it to get to work I'd still rather not have any although equally it's quite photogenic and I do have a new pair of wellies ;-) 

Unexpected Find in the Woods!

 

So Monday being another day off, using up some leave before the end of the year, Dad and I had a quick afternoon wander over to Walderslade Woods for some Autumn colour photography.

Unexpectedly we came across this discarded Halloween Bat headband lying in amongst the bushes/brambles. Unable to reach it with my trekking pole it ended up falling further down into the prickles. Dad ever the game one not to be out done by anything, proceeded to climb into the patch of brambles and retrieve it!

Placed on a clear part of a fallen log it made for an unusual image - not something we had expected to find lurking in amongst the orange autumnal foliage. Am guessing it somehow got tossed during the recent Trick or Treat sessions?

Anyway we left it there on the log in case it's owner came by.

Visiting the Yard for the last time in 2021

 

So having booked Thursday and Monday off for a long weekend I wanted to make one last trip to the Yard before they close for the season. At least this year they are closing at their usual time towards the end of November, last year they were forced by yet another lockdown, to close early in October :-(

So Tedster and Dad accompanied me for what was a really nice, bright autumn day. Lots of leaves around for some colourful autumn piccies and generally not too cold, at least to start with.

Dad had a good natter with a chap onboard HMS Gannet learning how the cannons worked, moved and fired. Ever the mechanic he'd already been trying to figure it out for himself when the chap offered to explain the workings. He was very knowledgeable and happy to chat with Dad.

We enjoyed a light bite in The Mess Deck, save sitting outside munching on sandwiches, and had a good wander around with the cameras.

Missing Me 'Ol Mukka 💔

 

So today marks 19yrs since we lost Max 😭 Still miss his company and quiet ways, he would be a welcome companion right now.

Autumn Colours

 

Having spent some of the morning up at Julia and James's painting another proper coat of matt emulsion on the first wood panel section I came home to be ready to receive my Amazon parcel - why do they insist on delivering on a day I didn't choose??? Had lunch and then a quick play with a very large leaf that I'd picked up from just up the road. Google Lens tells me it could be maple, sycamore or a plane tree (whatever one of those is?). The trees in that area have those helicopter type seed pods so maybe plane tree is right or maybe a sycamore is of that family? Who knows? Anyhoo I'd seen a similar technique used on some recent online autumn pictures so thought if I could locate a large enough leaf I would have a go.

Harder than you think to hold the leaf in a tube shape fashion and shoot through it, and maybe the camera on a tripod and a deeper depth of field might help, but anyways, was pleased with these few snaps taken literally outside the front door.

Used PhotoScape X (the free version) to create the collage. Sometimes this is easier said than done but worked relatively easily this time thankfully.

Pudsey!

 

So Julia gave me this little knitted Pudsey brooch, made by a lady at work I believe (?). How sweet :-)

Managed to cannibalise a paperclip so he could hang onto my desk calendar!

Lest We Forget

 

On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month,

When the guns fell silent,

We will remember them.

Ice-Cube Face...

 

So this was leftover from a quick photo session shooting some coloured ice-cubes on my lightbox. The overspill of the coloured water as they had started to melt. For some weird reason I thought it resembled a face and couldn't resist a final photo before clearing away!

Here was the entry for the I Spy with My Little Eye, Something Beginning with I challenge:

Painting & Leeds Castle Fireworks 2021

 

So Saturday saw me up at Julia and James's to help start painting the wood panelling that they recently fitted - well on one side of the fireplace at least anyway!

Two coats of a primer "wash" later and it was home for lunch and to get ready for James to drop us off at Leeds Castle for this year's firework extravaganza. Wow - so good to be back, fireworks were awesome, music somewhat less so but then as we have been going for quite a few years now we've become quite the critics when it comes to these annual shows. Space was this year's theme and the music selection was quite vague at times, any song with some sort of loose association to space, moon et al in either the titles or the lyrics obviously made it a contender to be played. And there was me thinking more along the lines of Holst - The Planets!

Still it was a good end to the day, the drop off and pick up at the local hotel made getting in and out very easy - parking is a nightmare on these evenings, as we walked down the driveway it was just a sea of red lights! We've also misplaced the car before now, totally unsure of where exactly it was parked ;-)

These were just a few pics snapped on the phone, we'd decided not to try and photograph it properly this year, too much faff given the current Covid-19 situation still and to be honest it gets uber chilly just sitting around for hours waiting for it to get dark. Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt!

The Yard - With My Girl!

 

So my off Friday this week saw me and my girl heading down to the Dockyard for a mosey around, enjoying some late winter sunshine.

Took the M50 and 22mm pancake lens along and took a few snaps as we walked and talked - mainly talked!

Was good to catch up with her and I suspect a good break from the constant DIY that she and James have embarked on in their new house.

That Time Again!

 

So once again it's come round to Christmas Card writing season! Where does the time go? The older I get the faster it turns ;-)

Anyways, there's less to write this year again as no Texas Moon CMC club to write for so my list was somewhat shorter than in normal years. That's likely to be the case now going forwards given the club has closed it's door for good due to the pandemic.

Most of the "to be posted" are addressed and stamped, bought my stamps online from the Royal Mail, much less faff than venturing into the little local shop for the Post Office.

Those to be hand delivered are ready to go too, by this time last year I had already posted the stamped ones off, keen to avoid the postal delays that may have been prevalent last year. Not quite sure if there's such urgency this year but won't be leaving it too late just in case!