The End of Summer

Walking with the dog today, the penultimate day of August, I was really struck by the various signs that Summer is over and Autumn is creeping round the corner.

The sloes look ready to pick to make the Festive Sloe Gin.

 The autumnal colours are beginning to appear in the hedgerows.

There were enough blackberries for me to pick a handful to add to the apple pastry slice for pudding tonight.

The cob nuts, though still not ready for picking, are peeking through the green foliage.

Only two days until September, colleges and Unis will be going back and our boys will be away until the Christmas Break.

Recci Five and a Half!

 First weekend in August and we thought we'd better go up to London again before the anticipated Olympic Madness began.
Having read about a potential development north of Wormwood Scrubs, that would hopefully lift the whole area, we decided to travel to East Acton and explore.

 Lovely big green space for dog walking and a sense of openess. But look right and there's no ignoring the shear hulk of the prison. Trying not to be too middle class we decide to walk along the path between the prison wall and the Scrubs. Then we spot a gang of hooded youths ahead and our courage deserts us! They are probably lovely boys and I expect their mothers love them, but suddenly we feel very middle class and vulnerable and turn tail and head back to the station.

It's a shame as the typical house is lovely, though possibly a little small for us, and would certainly be affordable.

 So, onto Hanwell, and on exiting the station we find ourselves very near Poets' Corner, which makes my heart give a little jump of happiness.
Do like the housing round here.

 Walking to the main road we pass this lovely Quiet Garden.

Flagging a bit we settle down with tea and cake at this rather lovely Cafe Gold and look around us at the main shopping area of Hanwell.

With Ealing Broadway just up the road having all the typical High Street shops, this area seems to be a pleasant mixture of independent and ethnic shops:
Kings Arms PH - V British!
Holland mini mart
Qaran Express
Mleczko - Polish deli
Shalom
and Pimp My Hair!

 Walking west and then down alongside the River Brent we meet the canal at Hanwell Locks and spot a newish development further along.

These are high-density but eco-friendly houses in a lovely canal-side setting. If there was another phase of building these may suit us - but my heart belongs to Poets' Corner.

Fourth Recci

The last day in June and we were exploring west of Ealing. Greatly heartened to find this green space with a view: Brent Valley Golf Course.

I have felt depressed by the lack of far-reaching views in London - all that building - and I love a sense of height.

Lovely tree lined roads around the area known as Poets' Corner. How amazing it would be to live in Shakespeare Road.

We decided to walk East and then down towards Ealing Broadway to get a feel for the area.







 







BH likes the idea of commuting going overground; Drayton Green to Paddington about 10 mins - that's a bit better than the 2 hours and 10 minutes it takes him now!

A great little park with a running track, near a typical Victorian Primary school, surrounded by more lovely Victorian houses.


















At the sight of this 'proper pub' at West Ealing BH nearly
broke into a run, like a man emerging from the desert towards
an oasis.                                                                              

The most encouraging thing about today's recci is the stock of good houses in the area.

Twenty-five years ago we bought our first house; a 3-bed Victorian terraced house for £55K in Plymouth.

Today a similar house in this area of London would cost us about £550K!

Wintery Weather in February

 Cleverly woven branches help to maintain the famous Zig-Zag at Selbourne.

 The dog's favourite drinking puddles are reduced to muddy ice.

Winter finally comes to Hampshire, though not with the depth of snow that the children would like.

End of January

These pictures are from last year, but during the walk today the initial green shoots of the bluebells were everywhere.

In the field there was a man training a Harris hawk. I tried to put Tova on her lead but we were stampeded by dogs and much chasing in circles resulted. The hawk was completely unconcerned by the dogs and ignored her trainer until he turned his back on her, when she launched herself!

Walk in the Woods

 Walked at Wagoners Wells; a bright, cold day, perfect for striding out. Tradition has it that these ponds were produced as Hammer Ponds, with the falls between them driving the hammers used to create the iron bands around barrels and wagon wheels.

Water cascading down the banks has created some sculptural root patterns.

 The reflection in the water surface is broken by ice.

 Even decay looks good in this light.

Tova the Norwegian Bohund is simultaneously frightened and intrigued by the falls connecting all the ponds.

A perfect day.

Spring is in the Air

Leaving the house to walk the dog I noticed these shoots coming up; some kind of bulb, I forget what, but how lovely.

 After days of cloud cover and mild temperatures, today we have bright sunshine and a nip in the air.

 Yet everywhere I walk I see signs of Spring.

There are buds forming on the blueberry bushes.

I saw a young deer in the woods.

It feels like a blessing or a benediction - (why does religion have all the best words?)

 Rhubarb, that Hungry Gap saviour, is pushing through the earth.

Even my poor geranium is fooled into thinking it's time to bud.

The days are getting longer and there's hope in the air.