November

 November went very quickly - I spent 2 weeks in a sports hall doing exams so not much time to take photos.   Lots of autumn colour, moonlit nights with the last photo showing Jupiter too and a few birds.  The blackbird was back which always heralds cold weather and it certainly is!!

I've still done some walking although not as much - I've been busy and it's been rainy.  However I did 77miles round Transylvania which was an interesting country and I'm up to 280miles up Ireland.  With this one I've mostly been on quiet country lanes with not a lot to see but I have been on 2 ferries so that's been nice.

I'm hoping to get to Malin on the north coast of Ireland by the end of the year so that I can start the North Coast of Scotland for Hogmanay.   For December, I'm also going to venture into Victorian London for the Scrooge Challenge.....watch this space!!

Elaine xx

Rainy October

 Autumn has arrived and it seems to be passing fast.  I think it's been a fairly dry summer and the leaves are being blown off the trees before they have really had chance to show their glorious colours.  October has been wet, very wet in some places, but I've had chance to get out and admire the views.  

My Oak Tree went brown in the space of about one week and as I said.....wet...the tiny snail was on the recycling bin several mornings!!

Whilst still walking up the length of Ireland, I decided to detour round Mont Blanc so I've done 105miles through France, Italy and Switzerland admiring the peaks.  Some days I've been on ski runs, others in lush valleys beside chalets - it's been very scenic.   Starting today I'm also going for a wander round Transylvania.  I've never been to Romania so this one should be interesting too.  I'm planning on finishing the year on the north coast of Ireland having walked approx 1200 miles in 2023 and then starting the North Coast 512.   Well it will be nice to celebrate Hogmanay in Scotland!!

November will not be quite as scenic, it'll be the inside of an exam hall but I'm hoping for some good days!!

Elaine xx

September

 Where does the year go - zooming along into Autumn fast.  It started with some very misty foggy days but it seems settled into warm 20 C and sunshine sometimes.  I've been on a few nature rambles as the photos show and done a few more miles on my virtual challenges.

Lots of berries, conkers, the start of autumnal colours and ending the month with the Harvest Moon.

Mid-September I arrived in John O'Groats and immediately started the Mizen to Malin Challenge - the whole length of Ireland.    The website uses Googlemaps so you can see the view from street level.  I started in Mizen but seemed to start from inside a room with a person in bed behind me -  I was in the Signal Station Museum lol.   I had another look and found myself on a balcony overlooking the wild Atlantic crashing on the rocks below.  Much better!  

Mizen to Malin in 360 miles - I've done the 60 miles and hoping to complete the other 300 by 31st December but it does depend on the weather.  

Happy Days

Elaine

August already

Well September really - August went passed in a flash!   Not much to write about.  The weather has been a bit iffy but there is always something to photograph -  a family of Bluetits, a few Sparrows with mum feeding one of the babies and a blue butterfly.   There have been some interesting skies and of course, the Blue Moon last night.

I'm still walking towards John O'Groats - I've got less than 50m to go out of 874m so should be finished in 2-3 weeks and then I have to decide what to do next.  I'm tempted by the length of Ireland so maybe I will do that.    Here's my 800m postcard:

That's all for now folks!

Elaine

July News

July has been a mix of sunshine and showers but we've enjoyed some good days in Hampshire and Cambridgshire visiting Fort Nelson, waiting for butterflies to stay still in Nene Valley Country Park etc. Here are a few photos:

I live in Pooh Bear country so when I saw this I thought I'd include it in this summery blog post!

If I had a ship,

I’d sail my ship,

Through Eastern seas;

Down to a beach where the slow waves thunder - The green curls over and the white falls under - Boom! Boom! Boom! On the sun-bright sand. Then I’d leave my ship and I’d land, And climb the steep white sand. ~A.A.Milne

Having said that I've just reached the snowy summit of Everest - 19696ft from Lukla Airport to the top in 4 months. I thought I was going to struggle to finish having been on holiday in The Fens where there are no hills and very few inclines, but I managed it!! Here's my last postcard:

I'm also doing well on my Lands End to John O'Groats walk - over 714 miles, with 160 miles to go so I should be done in September, then which challenge to do next??? Pennine Way? Ireland? Scotland? You choose!!

Elaine xx

Hot and Humid

June seems to have gone very quickly - one minute it's hot and humid; the next,  torrential downpours.  I haven't had chance to take many photos but every June the Kiftsgate Rose flowers on the front of the house - it smells lovely wafting in the open windows on a warm day.  Then the rain pelts down, knocks the petals off and we have confetti!!

I've been doing lots of walking round exam halls and I'm over 600m to John O'Groats with views of Loch Lomond.  On the Mount Everest challenge I'm at Gorakshep 16942ft up and nearing Base Camp.  Here's my latest postcards:

That's all for June. Thanks for popping by!

Elaine xx

June

 Summer is a-coming - the weather has been glorious recently as long as you were in a sheltered spot away from that chilly east wind.  It's exam season so I haven't done much other than having a good 5m wander round Wakehurst Place for my daughter's birthday.  We saw lots of birds - baby geese, guinea fowl, moorhen chicks, pheasants and of course bluebells.

My Horse Chestnut trees are coming along nicely.  Whilst I picked up the conkers from a row of trees, the two that sprouted are different - one has pointed leaves and the other more rounded.  On investigation it seems, the trees with the white flowers have rounded leaves and the pink flowered ones have pointed leaves.  You learn something new everyday day!!

I've also been getting on with my challenges - I'm 10,900ft up Everest (over halfway) but not high enough for snow yet, just a continuous stony path with lots of huts and hostels etc.   As far as Land's End to John O'Groats, I've made it to Scotland - Monday I stopped off at Gretna Green and now I'm in Ecclefechan,  500m with 374m to go.   In all of this I also did the Coronation Challenge - a nice easy 26.2m which only took a week. My final postcard is below - I'm sat waiting to receive my medal !!

Thanks for popping by

Elaine xx 

May Day

 Another month has gone and so quickly too!  Lots has been happening but some not photogenic.  We started with our Open Shoot and because Easter was early and Spring was late, the daffodils in the car park looked good.   We had a wander round Nymans, Ashplatts Wood to see the bluebells and lots of birds including a few Jackdaws on the bird feeder.  Here's a selection of photos I took:   

Bottom left are my Horse Chestnut trees.  I planted 3 conkers last autumn and 2 have started growing.  I obviously won't be planting them in the garden but they will go in a pot alongside my bonsai Oak.

On April 1st I signed up for the Mount Everest (Virtual) Challenge as I live in a hilly town. I'm 5700ft up in a month and received my 2 postcards - that's over a quarter of the way!!

On my walking challenge I've made it north of Preston - 396m out of 874m - so I'll soon be halfway on that.   I'm probably boring you all but it keeps me motivated - so that's me off out on another walk!

Elaine xx

Spring has Sprung

I think we can firmly say Spring is here - the Daffodils are out, along with all the other Spring flowers, the Pieres has flowered this week and the Berberis is just beginning to sprout it's orange flowers.  Having said that it was cold and snowy at the start of the month and wet and miserable most of the time.  What we need is some sunshine and warmth!

Here's a random selection of photos - flowers, snow and trophy centres that I spent an hour or two putting together ready for our Open Shoot this weekend.

I also received my postcard from my Land's End to John O'Groats Challenge - 200 miles from Land's End, only another 674 to go.   Actually I think I've walked 285miles so far so I will soon be getting my 300 mile postcard!!

That's all my news for now.  Thank you for visiting and I look forward to reading your comments - they are much appreciated.

Elaine xx

Spring is on the way

 Another month has gone by and whilst not a lot has happened the spring flowers have started putting on a show.  It's been cold, but sunny, so there's been a good selection of snowdrops, crocus and cyclamen to brighten everywhere up.   I bought the daffodils!!

I've also made progress on my End to End LeJog challenge.  Having put my mileage in for February, I've done 195miles in total and I'm just at the junction of the M5 with the M4.   At the end of today I will have negotiated the interchange and will be heading for the Severn Bridge!    Below is my postcard for 100m and I've planted a tree somewhere for completing 20% of the distance to John O'Groats.

Happy Days!

Elaine xx

January 2023

Here we are again - another month, another blog post.  

For amusement I signed up to do LeJog 2023 virtual challenge - walking 874 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats.  I reckon if I walk about 20m a week I will get there by October.  By 31st January I've walked 98m so just passed Okehampton on the A30 if you know the way.  You get postcards as you progress so here's the first 50m one:

I've been doing exams this month so lots of walking around school and not so many opportunities to take photos but here are a few.  It's been a month of beautiful sunrises and atmospheric moons, along with some baking and the catkins ensuring spring is on the way.

Elaine xx

Wintry December

 It's been an interesting month and a proper wintry month - well wintry week.  The snow came down one Sunday afternoon and kept coming.  It was very cold too (minus 5 here) so luckily the snow stay and everywhere looked pretty and white.  Lethal on the pavements, but pretty in the garden and local park!

We were visited by lots of birds too - the regular pair of blackbirds, 3 goldfinches, a wren and Mr Robin who spent a lot of time here.

The highlight was attending a wedding at Battle Abbey School - apart from the bride's dress getting a bit snowy, it was good. The building was beautiful with some fitting stained glass windows of snowflakes and with dinner in the library.   After that, Christmas with all the decorations, presents, food and drink!  

Thank you for visiting over the year. Not sure what style my blog will take next year but I guess photos will be involved.  

Wishing you all a very Merry 2023!

Elaine xx