Published Photograph and Today in the Garden

You may remember my saying earlier in the year that I had been approached by the author of a book called Wild Swimming

This book shows many places in the UK where one can swim safely in the wild

This week I received a copy of the finished book

I am very impressed with it

It is full of infomation (even down to the benefits of swimming in cold water)

and has some beautiful photographs

So even if I don't ever go swimming in the wild again

I can enjoy this beautiful book

This first photograph you see is the one that I gave the author permission to use

And here are a few pages from the book

And now for a peep at some colour in my garden today

and the clouds with the silver lining after the hail storm yesterday

I am off on Thursday to my daughter's place for 3 nights,

looking after the animals while they are away

but will be back blogging next week

Sunday Morning Church amongst the Bluebells

This is where we had church this morning

We were out in a neighbourhood park at the top of the hill

Looking down on the centre of our town

We were here to prayer walk and pray over the town

Higher up the hill and looking to the right

we have a good view of the London skyline

(which I have posted a number of times before)

and spent time praying over London too

before having more fellowship together drinking coffee in the visitors centre

To be out amongst God's beautiful creation is something I love

Especially at Bluebell time

Breakfast time for the Reindeer

It Really is Spring

It really is spring today with temperatures in the low 70's here in the

South East of England

What does this mean - it means lots of hard work

Because of rain, snow and flooding I have not been able to work in my garden

for at least 6 weeks

But today it has been weeding, digging, late pruning and

emptying lots of the herb garden ready for replanting

I'm taking a break after slogging for three and a half hours

and plan to do some more after finishing this post

I do like seeing things in the different light at different times of the day

These garden pics were taken this week in the early evening sun

This gives a much truer picture of colours rather than in the bright sun

which seems to lighten colours through glare

Last Thursday I spent the afternoon with a different kind of hard work

I went out and bought a new Wireless keyboard and mouse

This was to replace my existing one which had lost a lot of the letters from the keys

(just as well I can touch type)

and some of the keys were not connecting with a light touch

causing me to have to go back and re-type

When I got home the afternoon proceeded something like this

Loaded the new Microsoft software CD and unthinkingly unplugged the wireless receiver

from my old Logitech

No connection so no mouse or curser to install new microsoft

Reconnected Logitech and still no mouse or curser

For a second time I had to close down my computer with the boot switch

Unplugged the wireless receiver and hubby went up into the loft (roof)

and brought down the non-wireless keyboard and mouse that came with my current computer

Even though I did exactly what I needed to do it did not work

still no curser

Disconnected everything and started again

This time the Logitech stuff worked so

disconnected everything again and started from the beginning

installing the new Microsoft stuff

Did everything right and in the right sequence this time

No mouse or curser

Again shut down with boot switch and disconnected everything

Reconnected my old Logitech

Keyboard and mouse working

I do not have my new Microsoft Keyboard and mouse working but

at least I can use my computer

I will have to wait until my son has the time to pop over

This was certainly harder work than hours working in the garden

At least the garden is showing results!

The Village of Stock

On our way back from the reservoir (see previous post)

we drove back through the village of Stock

I managed to persuade Alan to park so that I could walk around and take some photos

As I know just how much my overseas blogging buddies like English villages

The War Memorial

Pond and seat on the green

The bus stop shelter

Grave stones on the High Street

The Hoop Pub

The Bear Pub

And a few houses

A friend of mine lived in this cottage after they retired

Scenes around Hanningfield Reservoir

Hanningfield Reservoir is where we receive our water from

The woods around the reservoir are managed by Essex Wildlife Trust

It is a site of special scientific interest as it is amongst the top places in the country

to watch both woodland and wetland birds

As the weather turned warm and summery yesterday

we decided to have a walk there

Glad we did as today it is heavy rain

As we arrive at the visitor's centre we pass this Wildlife Hotel

in other words, bugs and things

Having drunk our coffee and taken this picture through the observation window
at the visitor's centre we are about to embark on our walk
Do come and join us and see what delights are in store today




Water as far as the eye can see

Bird watching from one of the many hides

The water levels are very high and here we see it spilling over

into the woodlands

Very different to a couple of years ago during our season of drought

Great shadows - are the ducks sitting on the branches

Looking downwards must not miss the delicate White Stitchwort

Black and white

We have arrived at the Fishing Lodge where there is a restaurant

They have a large pre-booked group

We may have to wait a while OR 2 people did not turn up

so if we have what they are eating instead of choosing from the menu

we can eat immediately

We take this option and ate Shepherd's Pie (which is minced Lamb with vegetables topped with creamed potato) accompanied with creamed leeks and celery and carrots.

We pass on the desserts, we are after all walking

but then sat outside with the wildfowl eating ice-cream

Would you believe, these diners were the local retired social group

from the company where Alan worked

no that is not us on the bench

We were feeding ourselves not the birds

We now need to continue our walk

The squirrel turned his back to run away just as I took the picture

Glad we did not need the fire beaters today

The bluebells are out but not fully so it gives a misty effect

Logs set out everywhere in different formations to encourage the wildlife

Colour contrast with the Hornbeams