As you've probably noticed this blog has been inactive for the last four months. I've had some health issues which have kept me from venturing out and I've needed a bit of time for myself. Thanks to all those of you who sent best wishes and I apologise for being so negligent about replying to comments.
So, back to blogging.... if I can remember how to do it...
My brother and I recently went to Wandlebury Country Park in the gentle Gogmagog hills, somewhere we've often walked before. It was a foggy morning and there were very few cars in the car park. Having spent an entertaining few minutes reading instructions and pressing green and yellow buttons on the ticket machine, we finally paid-and-displayed and made our way along the main path.
We had the paths to ourselves for most of the morning; obviously the general public does not share my taste for being outside on foggy, winter days.
This cock Pheasant hasn't quite got his full breeding plumage just yet, though he still looks a lot more dapper than me!
This clump of trees always catches my eye and generally makes a nice photo, even when it's barely visible through the mist. The problem I sometimes have with Autumn is that I end up with lots of pictures of trees with golden leaves that are all basically the same - it takes a little effort to seek out other things of interest and make a varied set of photos.
Things like the pile of logs which included what looks to me like the map of an undiscovered island. I have no idea what caused this strange pattern, though it was quite possibly the disease that weakened the tree and led to its toppling over.
OK, we can get back to the golden leaves now! This favourite summertime seat was a bit damp to perch on in December.
A few dog-walkers were using the paths, though many of them prefer the paths just outside the park, where they can let their dogs off the lead - not that you ever see anyone around to enforce the rules.
We were not having much luck spotting the birdlife, so these exotic specimens were a surprise to see. They seemed to recommend the avenue leading towards the old Roman Road.
We took their advice and were rewarded with the scene above. We were probably a few days too late to see the full glory of the beech trees, most of the leaves having fallen in this slightly more exposed spot.
The wet, fallen leaves can also look attractive, particularly when they choose to alight on a sawn log.
Around the house, that stands in the centre of the park, the trees and consequently the hues of the Autumn foliage have more variety.
The great trees at the edge of the pasture land stand in splendid isolation, showing their bold structure.
I rather fell in love with this battered stump amid the fallen branches, though I'd be hard pressed to tell you exactly why. Sometimes a little voice calls out to me to take a picture and over the years I've learned to take notice of it. We were actually searching for fungi at the time.
Oh dear, now he's taking shots of old bits of builders' tarpaulin! Best take him home and make him a nice cup of tea!
Take care.
So good to see you back blogging again. Wonderful photos as always.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see you back and hope you are much better now. Usual lovely set of photographs of your walk. Welcome back.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back. I have missed your posts and hope you are much, much better.
ReplyDeleteAnd you certainly haven't forgotten how to blog...
Delighted - and relieved - to see you back blogging, John. So many of us have been concerned about you and I’m sorry to hear you’ve had some health issues. I do hope you’re recovering well. Foggy days make for interesting shots. And oh, those Pay and Display machines! It would help if they were standardised.
ReplyDeleteThis was me! For some reason on my iPad it wouldn't give my name.
DeleteWhat a delight to see a lovely post from you John - you have been greatly missed by many of us, but do take care, give yourself plenty of time, and enjoy that nice cup of tea!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, John. I had indeed been wondering about you, and had asked a couple of mutual fellow bloggers in the UK to check, but other than by leaving a note on your blog they had no way of doing so. I hope that you are healthy again and that we may look forward to more of your always entertaining fare.
ReplyDeleteOh joyful day! you're back! so pleased.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos - especially the 'I dunno' one where I can't quite see what is out there in the grass but surely something is.
Do so hope all is well for you now.
It is so good to read you again and experience your excursions with you! Hope you feel stronger every day.
ReplyDeleteI love the foggy, misty photos. While the distance may be obscured, what is right in front of you is in focus. Like life…
Great to see you back ,hope you are feeling better.Looking forward to shareing many more walk together.Great pictures as normal
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to see you posting, John. I have missed your glorious photos and see you haven't lost your touch when it comes to photographic beauty. Hope you stay well and can enjoy your hikes again! Welcome back!
ReplyDeleteIt am so happy to see a post here, John. I have missed your presence and beautiful photos of the views on your wonderful walks. I am so glad that all is well for you. I have been worried and am now relieved that all is well. Welcome back.
ReplyDeleteDitto as other have said, my feelings include welcome and joy, and glee to walk again through your eyes to lens to blog. I couldn't tell the second to last shot was a stump, because it had no top edge in my blog photo...it could have been a whole tree up above it! I had to go back to make sure I knew that was the one you meant.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you again. Terrific pictures.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to see this post, John. Beautiful photos, my favorite being the clump of trees between the fenceposts. I hope you will feel well enough to continue posting for years to come. See you this coming year, Cousin!
ReplyDeleteI did wonder where you got to, Sorry you have not been well, I hope you are recovering now. Nothing like going out on a foggy day to appreciate the late autumn
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! I thought for sure we'd lost you from this world. I suppose if that were to have happened your brother would have signed on to tell us? I was just telling Dan the other day how you were missing. He remarked "the one with the beautiful photos?" Of course. Have sorely missed going on your walks. Hope you're mending well.
ReplyDeleteI've checked in many time over the past few months hoping to find you still/again with us! Isn't it interesting that folks we'll never meet 'in person' become part of a widened circle of friendship.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you back. I kept checking your blog for a new post.
ReplyDeleteYou haven't disappointed us with all these beautiful shots on your return.
Welcome back, John. So nice to see you again posting your beautiful photos and taking us along these wonderful walks in nature.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to see you are blogging again. I hope you are doing well now. I missed those beautiful photos of yours, misty and attractive.
ReplyDeleteSo very happy to hear you are out walking again. I hope your health problems are healing. I really did miss your blog.
ReplyDeleteWell done John hope les keeps u positive with support as he does me too r old teleman.....
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are feeling better and are able to walk again
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you're back! Lovely pics of the fall colors around your area. And great shot of the pheasant. Normally when I see these birds they scamper away too quickly to photograph.
ReplyDeleteLet the blog readers celebrate! Welcome back. And what a fascinating post with such atmospheric photos! Enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you blogging again, John. Praying for your improved health. I love your pictures--so hauntingly beautiful! Take good care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you John ... I'll be back for the actual blog comment - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, John - all is now right in the world of blogging. Wishing you well in the future and anticipating many more of your lovely walks-with-photos.
ReplyDeleteHappy to see you back
ReplyDeleteGood to see you back, I hope all is well now. Your photos are wonderful:)
ReplyDeleteSo glad that you are back! Your readers missed you and worried about you a bit, too! Beautiful fall colors and great you could get out and enjoy them. Parrots . .
ReplyDeleteHaha!
Not that there’s anything wrong with the Green Island photo from August,
ReplyDeletebut it sure is good to see the new banner and accompanying post. Suffice
it to say,you were much missed.Hope you’re feeling much better
John, welcome back to blog-land. it's wonderful to find a new post and hope that you are feeling better. You and your walk-about photos have both been missed. Many bloggers were concerned in that there was no way to contact you, myself included. Bloggers are a community and when one goes "missing" for an extended period, there is concern. Enough said, just happy to find you back.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the beautiful photos! ❤️
ReplyDeleteLovely to see your photos and read your words again. Welcome back! Stay safe, warm & well.
ReplyDeleteLovely to have you back with those beautiful photographs. I too have been away with health problems but it is nice to be back isn't it
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are back. Fog lends a touch of magic and mystery to a walk and you have captured it well.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! Thst must have been a challenging experience. I’m glad you returned with my favorite photography of yours, ethereal, mysterious photos taken in the fog. I share your taste; being out on foggy, winter days and shooting picked-out flowers or leaves against whitish pearly sky, though foggy mornings are so rare here and I’m not an early bird usually. Take your time and keep fit.
ReplyDeleteSo good to have you back, sorry you have been unwell. Love all the autumn colour even as you say it is odd to have it in December. Now we have had some truly cold weather the leaves have finally come down here in Nottinghamshire
ReplyDeleteJane
I'm so glad that I checked in this morning and found that you've posted again on your blog. Damn those health problems, I hope you're feeling better! Love the misty autumn photos. And thew map of the mysterious island. Wonder where the treasure is buried?????
ReplyDeleteSo good to see you back especially with these beautiful photos of your walk in the fog. The trees and your compositions are lovely. Sorry yo hear you have had medical issues. Hope you are on the mend.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are now feeling well enough to be out and about and also well enough to enjoy the beauty you find.
ReplyDeleteWonderful autumn and photography!
I hope you're much better now John, it's good to have you and your stunning photos back.
ReplyDeleteYes, wonderful to find this post today. And as for remembering how to do it....well, seems like you do, better than ever. I agree about blank space in photos or paintings...can serve you well.
ReplyDeleteHappy on many levels to see your return.
ReplyDeleteHi John - belatedly back ... lovely photos and I can 'see' your walk ... that map-log looks to me like Africa with the southern Africa bit forgotten about! Interesting,very true, comment about the white in Chinese paintings ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDelete