Siesta Time

What could be better than dozing in the summer sunshine?  Well that's exactly what this couple were doing at the Hemlock Happening yesterday.

They owned a old Morris 'Moggy' Minor and were showing it off, together with some other classic cars. Most of which, I think I saw last week at Wollaton Park.

They seemed quite content to sit there in chairs that aren't usually very comfortable. I didn't hang around too long to find out whether they snored or not.

Sunset Silhouette

For various reasons I didn't take any photos today, so here's one from last Sunday, a sunset at Gunthorpe.

Restive

One of those photographs that you often see with some motivational message on it, like:

"You don't spell love, you feel it".

A gentle landscape taken on a warm summers day somewhere in Nottinghamshire.

In Formation

Following on from yesterdays head shot of a Canadian goose, here's a picture that I took of some flying off to warmer climbs.

As it has been a lovely afternoon, we decided to have a drive out to some villages to the east of Nottingham; namely Lambley, Hoveringham, Claythorpe and Gunthorpe.

We stopped at Gunthorpe for some food, and parked up at a pub near the river called The Unicorn.  when we had finished eating, we went of a little walk just as the sun was starting to set.

I got some nice shots of the golden shy, and then I saw this flock of birds in the sky. A shame that they weren't flying past the yellow part of sky, rather then the darkening blue. But I think it makes for a calming image.

Serenity

Here's a shot from Bingham's churchyard.  Whenever I go to a  different place, I always like to have a look around their graveyard.

It's not morbid curiosity, but am interested in looking at gravestones; to see the names of the departed, when they died and to look for unusual designs and statues.

Being a former village, Bingham's churchyard is quite small, but there are lots of trees and greenery in it. And as yesterday was really sunny, there's plenty of dappled light coming through.

All Shook Up

So everyone thought that Elvis died in 1977. How wrong they were, as I found out today that he is happily living in Bingham and working as a barber.

I hope he is a good one too, and that the men that go in aren't all shook up with the styles that they end up with, and that Elvis isn't too annoyed if he gets any hair on his blue shade shoes.

I wonder if he owns a hound dog?

High And Dry

It's not everyday that you come across a life saving ring in the middle of the countryside. But this one is  at the farmed at Beauvale Priory.

Maybe it is used for something different other than saving people from drowning. There is a lake on the farm which I think has fish in it. But it's quite a distance away, so hopefully it may never be needed.

You Can Call Me Al

It was Open Farm Sunday around the country today and so I popped up to Beauvale Priory Farm near Eastwood.

I've been there many times, both as a visitor and as an actor, where I dressed up as a monk and we told the story of the people that lived in the priory during the 14th century and how the monastery was closed by Henry the Eighth in about 1537.

Besides the usual chickens that really are free range, as they have the run of the farm, and are often seen hassling the visitors who sit outside the cafe, they have now taken delivery of a couple of alpacas.

Related to llamas, but a bit smaller and a lot more cuter. Just look at this fellow, isn't he adorable?

In a Quiet Country Churchyard

Being in the churchyard of Southwell Minster, I hope this old chap is just snoozing in the sunshine, rather than awaiting his maker!

It was so quiet, even though there is quite a busy road a few yards away. It was that quiet, that I didn't even hear a bird tweet.

I trust he enjoyed his nap and didn't get sunburnt. Maybe he then wandered off to one of the local pubs for a well earned pint.

Yellow

A day off from work today as it's a bank holiday, so what better than a drive into the countryside.

It's been lovely and sunny too. I was wondering whether it would be, as it was cold & grey yesterday, and we always tend to get bad whether when it's a public holiday.

We stopped off to take some photos of a field full of rape seed plants. Although the sun had been partially obscured by clouds, the stripes of yellow and contrasting black really show up the undulating field.

The Cat With Eight Lives Left

I heard a rather sad story today while I was up at Beauvale Priory, giving guided tours whilst dressed up as a monk.

It concerns this little kitten, and a black one that were happily sitting in cage together. Anne the farmers wife said that the owner was going to drown them, as he didn't want them. But she managed to rescue them before they met their fate. Anne said that she had found the black one a new home, but this little mite was still homeless.

Anne continued to say that they she couldn't keep him, as obviously on a farm he would keep chasing the chickens that roam freely around the place.

He's so adorable, just like a tiny version of Oscar. If we didn't have two cats already, I would be tempted to adopt him.

It's upsetting to know that someone decided that this little cat had no value and was not therefore entitled to lead a life. How cruel and heartless is that.

What should have happened of course is that the kitten's father should have been taken to the vet for a little op so that there's no opportunity for unwanted kittens.

But now that he is here, I hope that he finds a loving home soon, and is looked after as part of someone's family.

A Close Shave

I was up at Beauvale Priory this evening to do some rehearsals, as part of the Eastwood Festival.

I am once again going to be dressing up as a monk and giving guided tours of the former Carthusian monastery.

There was a bit of fun going on when I got there. A load of sheep had escaped as they were being rounded up for sheering. The farmhands and some of my fellow actors were running around a field and waving their arms about, in trying to get the sheep to go into a pen. I was disappointed in a way that I arrived too late to help.

So when the fun was over, we got down to some work, while the farm workers could get on with theirs.

After we had finished the rehearsal, I grabbed my OMD and was lucky enough to capture the last sheep of the night getting their regimental short back and sides for the summer.

There were quite a few sheep still to be done. But the shearer opened the pen gate and let them out. It was like a stampede as they all ran out and up the field to be out of the way.

Yes, you looking sheepish, don't worry, you have a date with the barber tomorrow.

Fields Of Gold

Well the clocks went back in the early hours, so that means dark mornings and early dark nights for the next few months.

I detest it, even though we get an extra hour to spend in bed and you know that Christmas isn't too far away. But it always makes me depressed, as you know that winter's here and that means bad weather and feels like perpetual darkness.

I do think it is time the idea was scrapped, or at least curtailed for the shortest time possible; say from mid November to early February.

I always look forward to March and the return of the lighter nights, and I can see and be seen as I'm cycling home.

Here is a shot of some farmland up at Eastwood that I shot at the end of September, when I visited Beauvale Priory, as I didn't take any photos today.