On a cold drizzle-evening recently, I settled down with a glass of wine and my laptop. The laptop's hard drive was groaning with 45 000 (!) digital photos and it was time to make some space. After deleting a couple of hundred, and drifting off to the fridge for a refill, I grew distracted by … Continue reading The Norfolk Coast
Environment
2015 Calendar
I was reading a post on Christina's blog the other day about a calendar she made from photos of her garden and remembered that I too normally make one. I haven't for a couple of years but with that prod from Christina, I decided to leap purposefully into action. Using an online company, I uploaded … Continue reading 2015 Calendar
A Winter’s Day
After a short Christmas break, I returned to a frozen Priory. Icy, sparkling, frosted, prickly. The valley softened by cloudy breath (if you'll allow me a little purple prose) and the ponds frozen hard. As I crunched about the grounds, I pictured a favourite childhood book - the marvelous Ladybird 'What to look for in … Continue reading A Winter’s Day
Clematis
I was a little disappointed that the Priory's old and established garden only boasted one clematis. Over the last six years I have rectified that shortcoming by adding a further twenty or so and today there are almost two dozen clematis dotted about the grounds. Here are some of them. The original Priory clematis is … Continue reading Clematis
Wordless Wednesday
Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus)
Autumn Light
For a couple of days last week the skies cleared and the sun shone. After a short holiday away, a return to work wasn't so very awful. We've had plenty of dark cloud and rain recently but with sunlight filling the valley, there's nowhere I would rather be. And neither, I suppose, would Digby the … Continue reading Autumn Light
The Tawny Owl
I joined the Priory in the summer of 2008 and since then, I have regularly heard the call of a male tawny owl. From late morning until I go home, the magical hoo-hoo of that owl has both delighted me and driven me nuts. I've stopped work, I've run for my camera and I've stalked … Continue reading The Tawny Owl