A Few Ramblings…
Forty-six year old Christian happily negotiating the world with a wife and three daughters
February Walk to Cookham Dean – 19th February 2012
On a sunny but chilly Sunday afternoon, Rebekah and I completed the second of our monthly walks to Cookham Dean and back.
Dead cedar tree silhouetted against the sky
- Rebekah taking a shot
It's been a while since this gate was last used
Sunlit fence
We reached Cookham Dean churchyard and paused as usual for Rebekah’s photo on the bench.
Rebekah in Cookham Dean churchyard
We had a look to see how the snowdrops were coming on and Rebekah had a close look at the wellingtonia in the churchyard.
Snowdrops
Rebekah with the wellingtonia
While we were in the churchyard I spotted these daffodils which had been left on an old grave, presumably intentionally. I found them somewhat poignant.
Daffodils on a gravestone
As we headed back down the road, we were passed by a horse and trap. Given the fact that I was using my 200mm lens, this was about the best I could manage!
Horse and trap in Cookham Dean
We continued down the hill, passing the old Cookham Dean cricket pitch and The Sanctum on the Green.
The view from the top of the hill looked fantastic in the sunshine and we met Mum walking up to meet us.
Looking down to Cookham Rise
Mum and Rebekah
It had been a good walk. Hopefully the two coldest ones of 2012 are now out of the way and we can look forward to something warmer in March!
Daffodils at Mum's house
Annual Church meal – 18 February 2012
This evening some 40 of us gathered at Parkside Christian Fellowship for our annual church dinner.
The event, which began in 2005, is always a popular one and consists of various people bringing along different dishes to be consumed by the masses.
I was keen to take a photo of all the attendees which I could use on the church website. Accordingly, I balanced on a window sill and managed to snap the photo below which was the best of about five that I took.
Group shot from the 2012 Annual Meal
We had an enjoyable evening and more photos and a fuller blog post about the evening can be found here.
The demise of ‘Frosty’ – 18th February 2012
Today finally saw the end of Frosty, the snowman which we had built following the recent snowfall.
Rebekah with Frosty, built on 5th February
With somewhat milder weather kicking in relatively quickly after the snow, Frosty was never going to last that long. By 14th February most of the snow on the ground had disappeared and Frosty too was suffering badly from the higher temperatures.
Rebekah with Frosty, 14th February 2012
Just three days later he was a shadow of his former self.
Holly and Rebekah with Frosty, 17th February 2012
The above photo, taken at 10.30 in the morning contrasts with those below, taken at nearly 5pm on the same day!
Emily and Frosty, 17th February 2012
Looking at Frosty
The temperature on February 17th peaked at a balmy 12°C and by lunchtime on the 18th, Frosty had retreated under his pink headgear, to be seen no longer.
Now we are left waiting for more snow!
Winter visit to Cliveden – 14 February 2012
As I had a few days off over half-term, we ended up paying our first visit of the year to Cliveden, this time with Mum, Heather, Hugh and Katy. Our last visit there already seems like a long time ago!
With milder weather in the last few days, the recent snow was fast melting and had vanished altogether in many areas.
We made our way up the main drive towards the house, kicking through the slushy detritus of melted snow en route.
Walking through slush up the drive
Heading towards the house
As we reached the house, we followed the path to our right, heading past the snowbound Secret Garden, to reach the hill at the side of the house.
The main path alongside the house was out-of-bounds due to work being carried out to install mains drainage forcing us to make our way down the hill, passing clumps of snowdrops, to join the lower path instead.
Two snowdrops
More snowdrops
We made our way round to the back lawn to find that the entire rear terrace had been dug up, also in connection with the extensive drainage works.
Katy and Holly
Looking down towards the river
The back of the house with the fenced-off terrace in the foreground
We made our way across the lawn, before climbing the steps onto the upper terrace and making our way back to the car, stopping for the ubiquitous visit to the shop on the way!
Holly ‘hamming’ it up for the camera
Walkway crossing the lower terrace
Looking down to the lower terrace
Hopefully by the time we make our next visit, the weather will be slightly warmer!
A Few Ramblings... 