Fall 2023

It won't be that long before the clocks go back, the last weekend in this month if I remember it right and no matter where you are in the UK, something is happening all around you that's pretty magical.

Playtime for me involves time out of doors, no not sitting in the garden with the Chromebook, actually going a bit further and without the all pervasive internet, walking, throwing sticks in the woods and fields here.

It's the fall and the more your outside the more you'll see although for many years I loved observing it on the inter-urban commute to work through the bus windows, wherever I work if possible I'd go into parks and gardens not just for peace and quiet but to watch it all change.

Depending on the species, the rate of which the leaves change colour and even fall off varies which used to intrigue me as a child making my way to Church around harvest time where the pavements glistened in the low sun carpeted by leaves.

Sometimes things get a bit nutty as around now, you'll see the squirrels about gathering nuts to bury them and below it appears they've arranged everything that naturally fell making a  beautiful natural collage 

It's great to be out, eyes peeled to everything happening in nature.

Getting ready for off

This weekend I'll be away where no doubt they'll be an account at some point on the other blog so this week I'm tying up loose end of that, sorting out clothes as I'll need something more "Muggles" as we'll be going out where those not familiar with the world of littles will be so it's best not to wearing that turn heads.

 It's getting cooler so my thicker coats and socks are coming on so they'll be with me when I'm away as we'll be outside for quite a bit of the time.
Actually I just love being out of doors anyway in all but the most inclement of weather conditions  walk in and around the open countryside, taking in the autumn sun and fresh air and most probably have a camera on me as we may go for a walk too.
That was what I loved as a kid and still do.

Fall Sightings 2018 Part 2

In what seems more like a last hurrah of spring  rather than The Fall, I've been out quite a bit this last week noticing things.

 We're getting in classic golden fall territory in our local wood withe the leaves going a coppery colour and a good number down to ground level making a colourful carpet.

Strange things having been going on as while as you can see the leaves are starting to decay actually on Saturday Afternoon they were smothered with at least three Ladybirds per leaf and indeed I had to carefully scoop one that had attached itself to me and put it on a leaf.

There were two spotted ones and the Harlequin ladybird.

The trees at the end of the  lane are starting to go go coppery as those just opposite already have

 Down at ground level you can see the leaf carpet around each trunk and to where Zee-Zee's mates were spotted running up and down the branches in a carefree way.

It's been a great week out.

Fall sightings 2018

This week in the crazy world of me we actually go outside at the start of the Fall where within a built up area you actually get to see things you'd normally have to go a bit beyond down the country lanes for.

 I wouldn't go mentioning requiring a new jumper in the presence of these two as they may well Baa you out within seconds. They're within a hundred yards of a community centre but it doesn't feel like it.

 If anyone ever accused these two of horsing about they'd have quite answer to that as I careful supported the camera with the lens set at 105mm in uneven light and later on adjusted the exposure a little.
It was around here I once almost lost a camera bag to curious horses!

 There's nothing like crisp leaves and sunlight although I used to cheat in the old days armed with the Olympus OM4 and use the TTL flash with a warm up filter sometimes to get the kind of golden colour cast I like.

Random Wednesday round up

 This week I am supposed to be undertaking an activity but the part that I have hasn't arrived here of late so instead I'm trying to get other things done so I can accommodate that as soon as it arrives and that includes writing this.

Monday saw the death of Geoffrey Hayes who was the parental adult figure on the commercial ITV Network show Rainbow from 1974 through 1992 keeping Zippy,George and Bungle in order  which was supposed to be for pre-schoolers but many of us who watched were older catching it at Lunchtimes in an era most of us didn't  didn't have video recorders.
The show had segments and one was Rod, Freddy and Jane's folk music slot which was enjoyable to listen too and matched the folk revival in the adult world in the 70's.

I did get out Sunday even though it was drizzling for a walk whereupon I came by his nutkins  playing on the ground where someone had tossed a golden yellow corn cob before clambering up into a tree as I stood looking on in awe of his speed and agility.
Earlier on  I saw the sheep in the freeholding here as the leaves are beginning to fall even if we haven moved into that delightful colour phase of the fall as yet.

Talking of trees we have had some more work on tidying up some of our trees and bushes that had rather taken over parts of our garden during the summer although one side of this is it has exposed a problem in Grumpy's domain, namely one shed roof as partially fell in!
Although I can easily think of a temporary fix until he replaces it which to be honest is what needs apart from a pruning of contents, that's his problem not mine.
I'd sooner sit here and listen to my new cds and have fun than worry my little head over that!

Fall 2016

Slowly waking up here after the overnight rain.
This time of the year give or take a few weeks is one of my personal favourites not least for the rich colours that vary by the hours, something living here I really appreciate being able to literally just stroll on over to the woods and fields.

Around of this time of year  I often see the local grey squirrels leaping across the trees branch by branch carefully balancing , going across the road and into our gardens burying their Winter store.
I find it really keeps my spirits up.

Joanne's wood

Fall at least in my area is almost coming to an end with the leaves having changed colour dropping on to the wood like a vast carpet of vivid colour so I thought I'd share with you this week this picture of Wild Berries taken in my local woodland.
As well, the acorns are falling which is great news for Squirrels, but not so good if you get several underneath of your feet  which happened to me on Tuesday when I was out walking!
Before I forget, I'd like to say thanks for all five comments on last weeks blog entry the second largest as that went out to the little community exclusively and for the nice comments elsewhere for the photograph of me as that was a last minute touch!

I want to see the lights

Well I'll start this blog entry with a thanks to Pink and Frilly for following this blog.

Okay guess where in the UK this might be seen? You see I went off on another little adventure to a place you might have childhood memories of  and is surrounded by fun things you might want to do.This place has trams a plenty running up and down some like these are modern ones but at weekends and high season the old types are run.

Okay that place is Blackpool, Lancashire, Northwestern England, a place that is  unapologetically loud and I travelled on as coach using the Motorway network although we as a bit naughty and used the slip road but a few miles from my main road to join it! Being very near the entry point to one of the principal motorways has its advantages.
Like a number of UK resorts it's has a pier that jets out into the sea with various attractions including amusement arcades on them. This one had a Victorian Photography booth where you can wear and be photographed in period attire.

 You can see just how far out it goes! It's as well there were things undercover as it rained hard for a period in the afternoon. I went to Harry Ramsden's for lunch where the service was exemplary and the Plaice lovely and moist.

One prominent landmark is the Big Wheel although going on that is out of bounds for me as I'd lose my head if I went on on it.

That's the big Tower which is being restored near the SeaLife Centre, Dungeons  and the waxworks museum. I spent quite a bit of time in Toymaster looking at the dolls, colouring books, sylvarian families toys and that. I'm sure the assistant clocked me!
In the foreground is one of the illuminations that was one of the main reason for going as these lights have partially renewed allowing for more fantastic effects. There were fairies, teddybears, diamonds and at a Quarter past six, we assembled to go through them all illuminated at Seven PM. It was beautiful.
By Eight-thirty, I was back home for a light snack before putting my jim jams on  as this little girl was dead tired and needed her sleep.

Getting ready for New Term

Fast approaching end of Summer Vacations which for me  at least signifies the start of the Autumn Term and getting all your school requirements such as uniform sorted, ironed ready.
You know pretty much what my uniform is, and what it means to me so apart from anything else making sure everything is in top top shape really matters.

Apart from the socks as I like white just above the knee socks that's pretty much how mine looks and that's what I'm wearing this minute.
Apart from finding Peaches and Spikey after a bit of tidying up I got into my closet and have been creating some space to hang everything nicely.
While there I made a few discoveries such as finding three pairs of tailored shorts that oddly enough two would go with the uniform, being Grey,Blue  and White for PT type fun that gives me an option for playing not least actual out of doors playtime that should help to keep me more in tune with me inner self too. They're not the flannel sort that LB's wear but not so far off with pockets.
I suspect they date from that period I mentioned when I talked about shorts a while back being a route back into littleness before I knew anything about being little because I just do things anyhow.
And I've gotten some new socks ready for September too

The Magic of the Fall, 2009.

As a Little Girl I always looked forward to the fall being that magical period  of transition from the late summer through to the onset of winter with it's bright crisp colours, leaves making pretty carpet like paths in the woods and forests.

It was time like most others where the seasons dictated what we would be doing
 in school in terms of lessons and games played in PE and also our own childhood playground games of which conkers was one of mine.My inner child feels all warm inside thinking of the fun we had and actually as you'll see some later in the chronological years love it still.
Conkers is an age old playground favourite, so if you harbour nostalgic memories of fast and furious conker competitions from your youth, then get yourself down to the conker championships and see whether you can beat the best. There are often different age categories to compete in, from the under fives to adults, and the winner of each receives a prize.

Here the berries are out ready for the birds and Mr Nutkins when he comes on over from the woodlands nearby

It's that time of your and I just adore those colours!

B is for berries

One nice thing about where we live is we live in the countryside with woodland so you sure notice the seasons and as we're well in the fall the berries are out on my trees so here'sa a little picture of them.

Late vacation

For this week I've been away on vacation so here's a few images of Llandudno where I stayed.

Playing at making sandcastles using your bucket is so me.
While I was away, Mommy took me on the train to the top of the Great Orme.

This is Victoria Station where we joined the line waiting to get our tickets and get on board.

Here the train goes travelling for a part of the way  along track that has been embedded into the road surface. The tramcars are old with wooden panels and seats.

I visited a record store and bought myself some new lps and a few used cds for my collection.

I also got the classic Anime, Akira! cheaply on DVD having fond memories of seeing that on TV in the early 90's.It's a tour-de-force of action never letting up.