More mists and frost

Here are a few more misty pictures, allied with some nice frosty ones. We had one of those very heavy, sticky frosts, so I made the most of it. The one picture I didn't get was one of a frozen spiders web - next time, maybe.

These deadheads always hold frost well, but i just thought these two were particularly good.

I stopped the car to get these pictures, doesn't this field look magic?

I bet those cows don't appreciate all this beauty!

A very Merry Christmas to all my viewers!

.....and a happy and peaceful new year.

Christmas mists

October is supposed to be the month of mists, and mellow fruitfulness, NOT December!

Well, there's not much fruit about (outside Tesco's anyway), but today saw some really pretty mists around Wirksworth and Crich.

I took these pictures from the roadside. What a wonderful place to be, eh?

This one is looking across to the tiny hamlet of Alderwasley.

This one is the camera turned to look up the valley towards Crich village. I love the cows in the foreground, munching away at the grass.

This is the Crich cliff, in reality, a quarry face (which was recently re-opened). The tower on the top is Crich stand, a memorial to the 17/21st lancers. Information can be found here;

http://www.qrl.uk.com/h_17_21.html

This is the same picture with the zoom off. Don't forget, you can click on any of the pictures to get a larger version. It's really ethereal when you see the land like this.

Another, similar view.

One last one, as I just LOVE the way this looks in the mist.

Well, I hope you enjoyed my 'fruitful' account of a misty Derbyshire day.

Please feel free to sign the comments book.

Xmas trip to Nottingham part 1

Around the end of November, the German market comes to Nottingham. I LOVE the atmosphere, pretty stalls, food and drink, and the lights too! It's a lovely day, or night, out and, coupled with the rest of the Xmas activities, for me it's a MUST! I had an extra reason to visit Nottingham this year though, the ALL NEW market square, which was due to be completed for Christmas. Did someone say 'trust a builder'???? No? THOUGHT not because, as expected, it was a massive disappointment to find the square nowhere NEAR done, with a fence right around it and notices telling that it was now due for completion in March,. 2007. I won't be holding my breath.

The day started with the sight of the Salvation Army Santa, along with his hoardes of collectors. The choir was nice, but better was to come at the old maket square. Don't forget, you can click on any of the pictures to enlarge them, and also, if you click on the title of the post (Xmas trip....), there's a link to the 'visit Nottingham' website.

Here's the spire of St Peters church. This is at the bottom of exchange walk, and looks down on all the festivities below.

Indian Pan Pipe players. Pan Pipes are as old as the hills, but I had to chuckle at the battery of modern gear behind this 'authentic' band. They had a portable generator, mixing deck, echo machine, etc etc. Of course, there were the ubiquitous CD's on sale too!

Now THIS is what you CALL a choir! They sang their hearts out, and were very good too. I watched them for many a while on the council house steps before moving on.

Looking along some of the German market stalls.


Please go to part two (below)

Xmas trip to Nottingham part 2

There were one or two stalls that looked decidedly UN-German like this one! It was African crafts! (Had some nice stuff, though).

Here's the sausage stall, before it got busy, and BOY! Did it get BUSY!


I counted 200 sausages on here, and later on, they couldn't keep up with demand! I'd like the cash takings from this stall, at the end of the day.

When you're in a city, any city, look up. There's the most sublime architecture on show. Most people miss it, but I always take time to look up. This little spire, for instance. A lot of pride and craftsmanship went into this, what a shame if it goes unnoticed?

Here too, pressed into the side of a building, is a little topped out spire.

And just LOOK at the workmanship on these figurines over the Council house frontage!

Inside the shopping malls of Victoria and broad marsh, they've really gone to town on the decorations. This tree was really well done.

Please move on to the last part, part three (below)

Xmas trip to Nottingham part 3

As darkness started to fall, the other side of the Xmas decorations surfaced - the LIGHTS! All the stalls on the market took on a different look, the sort of look that gets children (and me) excited and expectant.

People milling around at the side of the council house. It was more crowded than it looks - I waited quite a long time to get this shot.

Look now at the way things look.

Under the Xmas tree - Santa's sleigh and reindeer.

The lovely Christmas tree in market square.

Lights on exchange walk.

The dome on top of the council house. Whoever had this idea deserves a pat on the back. The columns are lit up in an array of colours, changing hue every five seconds or so. This sort of show comes second only to fireworks, in my book.

And so I boarded the tram to make my way home. I never tire of Nottingham, but I am not sure I want to be there too long after dark!

Who's dreaming of a white Christmas?

'I'm dreaming, of a white Christmas......' well - no need to dream in Norway, they are all ready for it NOW! I was checking a few webcams after returning from the country, and this one is of a place called Finse. It's the highest railway station in Norway, and they got the first snow in early November. I have kept an eye on it, and it has snowed quite often. Guess what though - the TRAINS are STILL running! If you want to know just how much snow they are coping with, look at the fence posts in the foreground on both pictures.

You can often see folk skiing by, or sometimes a train in the station. No 'leaves on the line' or 'wrong type on snow for the Norwegians! (PS - can you see the Xmas tree and lights that have gone up as well???)

Robin Hoods bay Victorian weekend

The weekend of the 1st of December (a VERY special date) saw the Robin Hoods bay Victorian weekend. I have attended this before, and it's usually a really good weekend with many of the locals entering into the spirit, but this weekend was slightly marred by the spectre of 'health and safety'. I WON'T get on the soapbox here, just suffice to say, I really don't think kids should have to wear goggles to watch Punch & judy - and neither do they need traffic control in the bay. TWELVE accident free years this weekend has been running. If it's NOT broken - DON'T fix it! Anyway - here are a few of the 'players'.

This lady wasn't playing at it - she really could spin, and to a really high standard too!

How about this for a proper handlebar moustache??? This man is a pukka gen member of the British handlebar moustache club, and a nice guy to boot!

This is Ann, she is one of the BEST squeeze box players I've ever heard. Her 'box' is a Cooper, and was made from bits and bobs. NOT what you'd call a Heath Robinson affair - it took THREE YEARS to make, and cost her a lot of money. The finished article was well worth the wait, and has increased in value accordingly. Not that Ann would sell it!

HEAR YE - HEAR YE - TWO TOWN CRIERS SPOTTED IN ROBIN HOODS BAY!

HEAR YE - HEAR YE!!!

I SAY Watson - I seem to have found four LOVELY wenches!


Now then, now then, Mr Holmes - we'll have none of THAT shenannigans here..........

What a LOVELY couple - one of many that made the effort for the weekend.

So - there you go then, Robin Hoods bay Victorian weekend in a nutshell! I hope you like the pictures, and next year, why not try and get there yourself? My FAVOURITE B&B is here;

http://www.robin-hoods-bay.co.uk/html/where_to_stay/streonshalh.htm

Tell 'em Les sent you!

Peckforton Hills walk

Not strictly a 'walk in Derbyshire', but then I usually put those up on the other blog ( www.pearlsofthepeak.blogspot.com ). This was a walk in Cheshire, the Peckforton hills, to be precise. An area I haven't walked much, I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the day.

This is the view from the first slope of the day. The plains lie all around, and the vista was pretty good as it was a nice, clear day.

On the top of Rawhead, there was the ubiquitous Trig' point (or 'Ordnance column', as Wainwright used to call them).

These are the 'dropping stones'. I'm not sure how they got this 'handle', but there may be information on the link. Just click on the link below the title (above) and read more (I haven't read the link myself yet).

This is a distant view of Peckforton and Beeston castles.

I know - they are a LONG way off, but it's the closest I got!

Birch bracket fungi on a fallen tree trunk. This fungi is also called the 'razor strop fungi', as it is said barbers used to use it to sharpen up their cut-throat razors, the surface is SO rough.

Peckforton woods.

More fungi, I am not sure what it's called, but it tasted of br...............................

(sound of Les falling to the floor)

How posh is THIS???? Broxton hall. I had brunch and a pint here. The date above the window said that part of the hall dated from 1671, but the various parts have different dates, having being added to over the years.

More fair pictures (part one below this post, sorry)

.....of COURSE, no visit to the fair would be complete without a pot of mushy peas, and here's JUST the lady to satisfy that particular wish.

Mmmm - LOVELY!

Now then, after my peas, which ride should I go on........

Maybe a bungee jump?
No, I think not! Just a tram ride back to the car, and a sit down will do.