Le weekend that was...

Wednesday, 16 March 2022 01:20 pm
byslantedlight: (Default)
Going through all my old posts via backing up etc. reminds me how much I miss posting to lj when I don't do it, so here's a proper wanderings post, because I did manage a bit of wandering last weekend - I visited [livejournal.com profile] f_m_parkinson, and we went for a fab walk on Saturday. *g*

We walked through the watermeadows that controlled flooding around the river, a system probably introduced in the 17th century from Europe (says this website)...


...along wooded paths (through squelchy mud!), and over old bridges...


Ponderous carriages and gingerbread smiles... )

Le weekend that was...

Wednesday, 16 March 2022 11:35 am
byslantedlight: (Slanted springblossom)
Post copied from lj

Going through all my old posts via backing up etc. reminds me how much I miss posting to lj when I don't do it, so here's a proper wanderings post, because I did manage a bit of wandering last weekend - I visited [personal profile] f_m_parkinson, and we went for a fab walk on Saturday. *g*

We walked through the watermeadows that controlled flooding around the river, a system probably introduced in the 17th century from Europe (says this website)...


...along wooded paths (through squelchy mud!), and over old bridges...


Ponderous carriages and gingerbread smiles... )
byslantedlight: (Default)
...went to the seaside. What I really did was a dash to Ikea when I realised they'd nearly sold out of the table I wanted for my office shed desk with only three days until lockdown, and then on the way back I caught a glimpse of blue on the satnav and realised how close I was, and then... this happened. *g*
2020-11-02 01Beach


I had thought I might find something for lunch, but then I saw the ice cream stand still open, and then malteser and coffee ice cream happened instead. *g* That's not two ice creams, it's the same one (I'm not that bad!) - but I loved the sunny skies on one side and the rather threatening glower on the other!
2020-11-02 02Icecream1 2020-11-02 03Icecream2


Which led to a rainbow. *g*
2020-11-02 04Rainbow1


I was particularly impressed with the two women who went swimming!
2020-11-02 05BeachWalkers 2020-11-02 06BeachSwimmers


2020-11-02 07Pebbles 2020-11-02 08LaceyWaves


The glowering got increasingly gloomy though, until we were being rained on. But it soon passed, leaving things even prettier...
2020-11-02 09RainedOn 2020-11-02 10Rainbow
And look at the colour of the sea! Washed down from the cliffs, I suppose, and somehow rather stunning to see.

2020-11-02 11RainbowSeaColour 2020-11-02 12SunShadows


Loved the colour of the cliffs!
2020-11-02 13CliffColour 2020-11-02 14Birds
Loved these chaps, too. *g*

Sadly I couldn't stay long, because it was my night for foodsaving, and so I headed in a generally homeward direction... and then took a detour when I saw the signpost for Blackberry Camp, because I've been there when it was carpetted with bluebells, and I wondered what it would look like in the autumn. I accidentally went past it, but it was down this road, so not a sorrow...
2020-11-02 15WoodsDrive 2020-11-02 16VillageView


And I somehow managed to loop back around to it anyway, so that worked out even better. And it was just as magical as I remembered, although the colours were different... *g*
2020-11-02 17BlackberryCamp 2020-11-02 18CampEntrance


It's very atmospheric too - it was once a hillfort, and you can feel it somehow. The Hooded Man (Robin, Robin...) could have stepped out from behind any tree...
2020-11-02 19Ramparts 2020-11-02 20Treelight


2020-11-02 21TreelightMe 2020-11-02 22LastLight

And then I really did have to head home and unload my various purchases, and go foodsaving - but tired though I was, it was so refreshing! I'd been planning to venture out come November-ish when I figured the diseased hordes might be staying home a bit more in the cold - only to find I'd left it too late and been gazzumped by Bojo, so I'm glad I snatched these few hours. I'm hoping to manage a bit more wandering on Wednesday, but then that will be it for quite some while...
byslantedlight: (Default)
The less happy bit )

But - I did eventually get to my destination, and had a wee walk in the refreshing sea air, so that was something. It wasn't metal detecting, but I did get a change of scenery. Plus - as I left home there was a rainbow! Over blue skies (well, the big grey clouds had just passed). *g*
2020-02-01 01Rainbow 2020-02-01 02SunshineRoad

2020-02-01 03Sandripples 2020-02-01 04MineheadBeach

2020-02-01 05MoonBlueSky
The moon always makes me happy too. *g*

Came home via the supermarket (trying very hard not to breathe in anyone's direction, but I realised that I just couldn't cook tonight...) and bought chicken soup and garlic bread for an easy dinner, then crashed in front of the second Worzel Gummidge ep from Christmas, and tonight's The Voice, both of which also made me happy. Caught Live at the Apollo after that, with comedians I'd not seen before who all three made me laugh (Ellie Taylor, Tez Ilyas (brilliant) and Fin Taylor), so that was another happy. *g*

And finally - tomorrow is another day, and before then I hope there will be cold-drugs and sleep... *g*

Just because...

Wednesday, 4 December 2019 01:04 am
byslantedlight: (Default)
It's been a rough few days (weeks...), what with Job 1 and Job 2 and on top of that continued bombardments from Madam about my foodsaving project, but with no concessions whatsoever (gaaargh!), but I snatched a couple of hours today to wander up to the nearest Cathedral city for a bit of shopping, and happened to get there just at dusk...
2019-12-03 01WellsMoat 2019-12-03 02WellsCathedral

2019-12-03 03WellsChristmasDusk

Tonight was supposed to be my last Job 2 night, and I actually booked a day off tomorrow - and then I stupidly said yes when I was asked to pick up some Job 2 slack, so... waaaah! All I want is a bit of time to just dust! This weekend - surely this weekend I will have time for catching up on things like dusting and taxes (yeurch) and then lovely Pros-y things? Surely...!

How're you doing? *g*
byslantedlight: (Default)
Today's wanderings saw me spending an awful lot more on buying a pair of comfy shoe/boots than I mean to (although it was then bliss to be able to walk around again, instead of hobbling!) And I do need them really, since my favourite Croc boots are properly leaking now... *sighs sadly* In the end I didn't do any more locationing after all - I didn't even get to the Embankment, cos although I'd planned to, I accidentally started walking the wrong way... *headdesk* But it meant I got to see some cool bits of London that I venture towards less often - thanks too, to my new shoe/boots... *g*

Street art...
2019-11-15 01StreetArt
...and arty streets (well, St Pancras tunnel thingie)

More pics under here... )

And then the nighttime park to match this morning's park!
2019-11-15 18AutumnParkNight


I wonder if the lads would ever have looked at London like this - well, lots of it wasn't there, of course - no Shard or Walkie-Talkie building (though the Mithraeum actually was there as a display, though it was above ground (they reconstructed it away from its original site so they could build something, and it's recently been moved back and incorporated into the building by the new owner). I know it's partly the film stock, but London always looked so grey and brown and sort of grim in Pros - it seems to have perked up alot these days. Maybe it's just clearing away the last of the WWII bomb damage, and a penchant for more sparkly lights everywhere, but... I dunno. Does it seem to be differently coloured, you-people-who-live-in-London, or is that just an artefact of our old (beloved) tv series?!
byslantedlight: (Default)
... heading to London, home of the lads!
Its looking quite autumny in the countryside now - all faded russet and dimmed golds. It was about this time last year that I headed back from Australia and was in London again - same as this time, for a working weekend in Cambridge, ready for Job 2. I remember London looking very pretty, so we'll see! I think there was less rain than is forecast now, mind...

But still - there will be at least a little Pros locationing, because I'm meeting a Pros-y friend at one, and then... We'll see! I've got two days off, so maybe I can find cool things, rain or not... *g*

How're you doing? *g*
byslantedlight: (Default)
Finally, I found myself at the seaside, walking down the prom, queuing for fish and chips... And being swoop_attacked by seagulls three times! I swear this big white one marked me out, cos as soon as I sat down on the wall, it started calling to tell the others I was there. Sure enough, some young gulls arrived and started inching closer... I shot them all warning looks, and as I was eyeing the younguns, in the corner of my eye I saw grown up seagull launch into the air, and next thing I knew she'd swooped and almost carried off the bit of fish I was about to eat from my fingers!

I could see her gearing up for another go, so I figured standing near more people would be the better part of valour... *g* Plus she'd got that bit of fish sandy, so I had to throw it away. Over I go to the bin and all, and as I'm walking away from it, surrounded by other people now I'm swooped by one of the younguns! I brush my hair back down where the wing had missed it, turn to reply to someone who'd commented - and another youngun comes at me cis it's presumably their turn!

No one else was swooped, though there were other people eating fish and chips too - only me! Ivd been marked out by that adult gull as a training exercise! Presumably because I was the only person on my own... eep! Something else to add to the perils of a single life...

So I stood with my back to a tall wall to eat instead, where they'd knock themselves out if they tried it again, and managed to finish in safety, if not peace! And then I had an ice cream. *g*







And the sun slowly set over Dorset, and Little Car and I headed home to Somerset... *g*

Hope you didn't get fed up with the pics - it's been ages since I posted about wanderings...!
byslantedlight: (Default)
... through wind-y lanes and gorgeous Dorset countryside...


... to the beach...
byslantedlight: (Default)
Through the woods...

...
To a wee cottage sitting in the sunshine...


... which is where Thomas Hardy once lived and wrote beautiful books...




A Dorset day

Sunday, 15 September 2019 03:32 pm
byslantedlight: (Default)
Want to come for a wee adventure? *g*

First stop - a quick hello to the Cerne Abbas Giant, all shiny and clean again this year.


A wander by the stream to the village...

... and then off to the next wee adventure... *g*
byslantedlight: (Default)
Here's a pic for all the people I know will appreciate it - rainy London!

I seem to be back in the UK, having barely posted about not being in the UK, which is a shame because I was not in the UK alot. The thing is, of course, not being in the UK meant either being off doing things, or else being too tired after doing things... But I have four days in London (well, three now), and although I must do some work and various chores, I will try and post some pics, cos I had a lovely time and ended up visiting five different countries too. Yeay travelling!

Oh, have the view from my window tonight too...
And the bliss of it being cool!

Off and away again

Wednesday, 11 July 2018 03:05 pm
byslantedlight: (Default)
Ack, it's been just on a month since I posted last - how did that happen? I didn't mean it to, but its that time of year, and after the debacle that was nannying I'm two-job girl again. In fact I was briefly three-job girl... I've taken loads of photos for you... Just not actually posted them...

Here's some...!



Hope that works. I'm on the train now, just about to arrive in London for the night before flying out tomorrow. Adventure begins! I will try to get back to posting again, because I do miss you all. I wish there was more "all" of us around, and it's been sad getting glances of more and more people saying they're leaving lj. I shall see if I can see it out with bangs rather than tumbleweed though. Anyone out there with me?
byslantedlight: (Default)
Spot the episodes that were visited today... *g* (If you're stuck, hovering your mouse might help - and the second pic is of course a Dear Photograph pic in which the clue is - well, embedded. *g*) There was also a Lebanese breakfast with pics, but they've not transferred from my Dropbox yet - a reason for another post, hopefully! In the meantime...
2018-05-14 01HammersmithBridge


2018-05-14 00DigbyMansions


2018-05-14 02InvolvementBridge


2018-05-14 03WestBromptonCem


2018-05-14 03Scarsdale


2018-05-14 04HollandPark

What d'you reckon? *g*

And bonus breakfast.... )
byslantedlight: (toosexycapri (Probodie))
It was another grey day, and rain was forecast, so I decided to head for indoorsy things. The first was not too far away, at a place called Symmonds Yat (love the name) - a butterfly house! I love a butterfly house. *g*
2018-03-31 01ButterfliesGlasswing 2018-03-31 02ButterfliesBlue

2018-03-31 03ButterfliesYellow 2018-03-31 04ButterfliesRed


Then it was off to... )
byslantedlight: (Magic-OnceUponATime(OhSweetWitchery))
Well, this feels a bit like back to me... *g*

This morning was a misty-moisty morning at the castle...
2018-03-39 01MistyMoisty 2018-03-39 02Morning
2018-03-39 03GroundsWalk


But it was off to... )

It's Thursday...

Thursday, 29 March 2018 03:16 pm
byslantedlight: (MS happy sailor)
...and I am leaving Boxegeddon behind, to go on an adventure!
2018-03-29 Boxegeddon
There will be castles, forests, green men, and a medieval banquet - at least that's the plan. I'm determined not to even think about packing and so on while I'm away, because there's sod-all I can do about it over Easter, and I booked this mini-holiday ages ago. So I'm going to enjoy it!

Anyone care to join me...? It's about time I started to take some proper photos again, I reckon. Maybe there'll even be writing... *g*
byslantedlight: (100DaysHappy)
Thursday was Gloucestershire day - I woke up in Cirencester! Well, I'd gone to bed there too, so that wasn't unexpected, but it was cool because it turned out to be a rather good market town. *g* There was glass-making at the arts centre...
DSC_7871 2017-11-02 01Glasstwisting DSC_7871 2017-11-02 02ChainedBooks
...and chained books in the big church.

I rather liked... )
byslantedlight: (100DaysHappy)
Catching up! Pretend it's Tuesday for a minute...? *g*

Today was a driving day - after a relaxed start and Pros-y type chatting and so on, we hit the road headed north. Three hours goes surprisingly fast when you can carry on chatting about Pros and the state of lj, and and Pros on lj, and where else Pros is, and... well,
you get the idea! *g* But eventually it was time to drop my guest off elsewhere, and I carried on alone again. My satnav warned me that I'd have to pay a toll to carry on the direction I was going, but I didn't want to waste time on a work-around, so I resigned myself to it - and coughed up the 12p required for crossing a wee bridge back to the main road!
*g* Then it was all big roads and fast driving for a while, headed off to Wales.
DSC_7752 2017-10-31 01Driving


Just after dark I arrived at this place, surrounded by woods and shone down on by a nearly full moon...
DSC_7754 2017-10-31 02Moon DSC_7757 2017-10-31 03SwallowFallsHotel
Betws-y-coed YHA, by Swallow Falls. *g* The pretty building is actually the hotel rather than the very unprepossessing YHA, but it all worked and there I was.

And this was my view when I had dinner at the hotel (Mediterranean stuffed peppers, cos sometimes you just feel the need for veggies!)
DSC_7757 2017-10-31 04SwallowFallsDinner
I was in a wee booth by the window, and it was all very peaceful and quiet, and it turned out I had the YHA room all to myself too, so generally, the day was a happy, I'd say!

Probably the fact that there were in fact no spooky encounters was also a happy, really... *g* I wouldn't mind one at all - provided I was with other people at the time, which I'm not usually! Did anyone manage to have a halloween-y Halloween? *g*
byslantedlight: (100DaysHappy)
First I bought some fudge (liquorice fudge - yum!), then I bought some socks (can't believe I spent so much on socks, but flat toe seam socks!), then I went to an author talk (Emma Carroll and James Nichols at Waterstones). Had a wander around the Cathedral in the dark, then back into town to find dinner - of which I indulged too much, but it was good at the time. *g* The third place I tried had a table for one person on her own, and I sat and read the latest KJ Charles (Unsuitable Heir).
DSC_7716 2017-10-28 AuthorTalk DSC_7716 2017-10-28 CloseLight

DSC_7720 2017-10-28 SalisburyCathedral DSC_7722 2017-10-28 SarumCollege
The last pic is where I'm staying. Could do without the loud music somewhere outside in the city - I'm hoping that since the Cathedral bells just clonged 11pm it'll stop soon. At least there's an hour extra to sleep tonight, if I turn out to need it!

And hurrah for finally catching up on replies too - sorry to be so late about it. I do read them all and feel the happy when you write them, it's just keeping my eyes open long enough in the evenings to reply that I'm struggling with lately...

Happy Saturday, everyone!

Hold Your Breath, Sunshine


A ship is safe in the harbour - but that's not what ships are for.

~o~

I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night. (Sarah Williams)

~o~

Could've.
Should've.
Would've.
Didn't. Didn't. Didn't.

~o~

QqVKBa.jpg
Page generated Friday, 30 May 2025 07:00 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios