January to April

 I remembered my blog again.    Not much has happened, its been very wet but barely any snow, just wet and more wet and muddy ground.

I've carried on walking on my 1600 mile Trans Europe Challenge and yesterday I got to the 1300 mile mark after one whole year of doing the challenge.  I think I've been in Romania for 3months, 300 mile, well it seems that way.   It's a very flat country but pretty in places with some big rivers too.   I have another 80m to go before I get to Bulgaria - the last country on this walk then just over 200m to the Black Sea.  

Whilst I've been walking alone most of the time, my daughter occasionally joins in - she's just finished her own challenge walking in Italy and finishing in Rome.   We're both undecided what we'll do next!!

Elaine

Found - one long lost blog!

 I know I've neglected my blog this last year 2025 and most of 2024 it seems too but its the start of 2026 so thought I'd better show some enthusiasm!!

I'm not sure much has happened but I've been doing a lot of walking - 1300+ miles in 2025 including 980m across Europe in my virtual End to End Challenge.   I set off from Calais in April and I have 20m to go to reach the Hungary/Romania border, then another 600m to reach the end on the Black Sea near Istanbul.

Having looked at my photos for the year, I haven't taken many - lots of the moon, birds in the garden etc - but we did start the year by visiting Sheffield Park (our local NT property).   Last Christmas they had Raymond Briggs Snowmen scattered around the garden and this Christmas they had Elves on Boxes! We had a wander around the lakes yesterday in the misty frosty weather - the sun was shining and there was no wind so that made it enjoyable.

We're now heading for some very cold and snowy weather and I hope to get out and about walking and taking photos......and maybe remembering to blog.   Watch this space!!

Happy New Year xx

Spring 2024

 Oops ... April already and I haven't posted this year at all.   Guess what, I've been busy and haven't taken that many photos but here is a resume of the year so far.

The year started cold and we actually had some snow but not enough to require boots of any sort.  It does always make the garden and park look pretty especially those cold crisp sunny days.   Following that we've just had rain, drizzle, downpours and more rain.   Our local weatherman in town said that in Feb 2023 we had 6mm and Feb 2024 we had 155mm.  I think March has been worse - the grass is soggy so Spring gardening jobs are being delayed.   We have got some pruning done (we had 2 dry days) but it's rained again.

There are signs things are improving - Spring flowers, new buds, primroses etc.  We've had the usual birds in the garden - Bluetits, Blackbirds, a Coaltit and unusually a Sparrowhawk.   I came home one day to an awful lot of feathers in the back garden and something pecking under the bushes.  Eventually he appeared with dead pigeon, had his fill, wiped his beak clean on the bench, fly off and left the body for us.  Luckily the next morning it was gone and the feathers have gradually been collected for nesting materials.  Such is the circle of life!!

Now we are into April and I'll try to blog more.....

Elaine 

Wet and Windy

 Another year comes to a close and here it has been a very wet and windy month.   Looking at the photos though, there have been some beautifully pink sunrises, moody skies, and I seem to have taken lots of the moon, half, with halos, behind whispy clouds etc.  Enjoy....

On the walking front I've done 1245miles and  completed 7 challenges.  I started walking the length of the country from Land's End to John O'Groats and finished the year with the length of Ireland from Mizen to Malin.  I've also climbed Everest,  done the Coronation route in London, wandered round Mont Blanc and toured Transylvania and Victorian London.   

I'm next heading to Scotland for Hogmanay, or rather Inverness to start the North Coast 516.

Happy New Year everyone.

Elaine xx

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

Wet November

 It's been a very wet November.  Here we've had 3x the normal November rainfall.  The good news is our hosepipe ban has been lifted but the bad news is that roads and fields are flooded.  When I was a child with a November birthday, it always snowed and several years my party was cancelled as no-one could get there!  

Anyway back to the photos.  Some days have been nice, there have been some good skies and sunsets and I've been out with my camera in the local park watching the trees change to autumn colours.  The funniest photo is the squirrel with his conker.  He watched me walking by, I got my camera out, he posed beautifully and as soon as I put my camera in my pocket, he scarpered up the tree. 

Lots of birds again including a Great Tit that's new to the garden.  We have a Wren in the honeysuckle but it's too fast and more camera shy than the squirrel.  And as you can see, Christmas is a-coming so says the Christmas Cactus.  Mind my white Easter Cactus is in full flower too so who knows what's going on with the natural world :)

That's all for this month - thanks for visiting!!

Elaine xx

Trees, Birds & a Hedgehog

 October has been lovely - some rain but mostly sunny, beautiful blue skies and 21 degrees to end the month.   Another eclectic mix of photos so do take a look:

A great selection of oak leaves and colourful autumnal trees so I managed to do a few Saturday tree posts on facebook. A selection of birds too - the blackbirds are back that nest in the honeysuckle, bluetits as ever, a goldfinch and Mr Hedgehog came to visit.  We noticed him trundling around the back garden, he went under the fence and was next spotted sitting in the middle of the road.  It's quite a quiet cul-de-sac but I felt obliged to go out and make sure he got safely across the road.  In the end he came back into our front garden and disappeared.  It's about a year since we last saw a hedgehog so guess we will have to wait another year!!

Lastly I opened the curtains to a beautiful sunrise so I fetched my camera and 10 mins later the clouds arrived and it was gone.  Nature is a wonderful thing - always changing, always something new to see!!

Thanks for visiting

Elaine x

September - Ode to Autumn

Autumn seems to have come round very quickly this year - misty mornings, dark evenings and it's certainly been a strange month.  The Queen died at the grand old age of 96 after 70yrs on the throne and so started a period of mourning and superb pageantry.  Below are some photos that I took off television.

Apart from that the weather has been reasonably kind - sunshine and warmth with some rain thrown in for good measure.  Whilst the spring and summer was dry, some trees seem to have enjoyed it.   There are loads of acorns on the Oak trees and the conkers on the Horse Chestnut seem massive.   In nature, there is always something positive to be found. 

Thanks for visiting!

Elaine xx

A mixed August

 Another dry month but the good news is we have had some rain..... well we had 2 days of torrential downpours, lightening and thunder and at last the grass and verges do seem to have greened up a bit.  We still have a hosepipe ban but as we don't use ours to water the garden and my OH rarely cleans the car then it doesn't affect us too much.

This month's photos are a bit limited - flowers in the garden, interesting skies and random birds on the feeder.  We had 5 bluetits at one point but they flit so quickly I didn't manage to catch them all together.  I think the ground is so hard they are struggling for food and I've certainly noticed them drinking from the water dish.

Autumn seems to have arrived early going by the amount of leaves dropping already but hopefully we'll get some rain soon (preferably overnight) and all will be well!!

Thanks for visiting!

Elaine xx