Practicing the Christmas Lights

 I had a sharp little 5km run before my online spin class last night - a mistake, as usual - and as I went through the town centre I found they were putting the Christmas lights up there and testing them out.

You've seen it before on here I'm sure, but I make no apology. It's very pretty and glittery, and there's not very much of that to be found at the moment.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 10.11.20

Run to South Muskham

Not the most inspired title I've ever come up with, but it's a hot day and my brain has fried a little bit, beyond the production of dazzling titles. Running to South Muskham today is what I did.

It's a pretty village, but the tun there is less so involving as it does going past the sugar factory whose slurry pits are still emitting a horrendous stench despite the fact that production is not taking place at the moment.

The caravan park is empty, but the grassy stands are still mown immaculately.

Across the Trent next, and a little egret was hunting on a gravel spit in the low lying river.

Then there is the sterile space that is the fishing lake, where on a Saturday many years ago the water would be covered in colourful sailing boats racing round the buoys.

Then the village of South Muskham, where the gardeners have gone to town on the flowers, the church clock is wrong and there is a telephone box stuffed full of DVDs and books for everyone.

And where everything seemed totally normal.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 30.05.20

A Voyage of Two Churches

First up, I've just returned from a Burn's Night supper at the family home, which was really nice, but alas the shot of whisky I had to mark the "piping in" of the haggis - actually the haggis being taken from the oven accompanied by a rendition of Burn's famous "Address to a Haggis" via a tablet - has given me a thumping headache and reminded me why I never drink the stuff.

I've had a very good walk today, taking myself out to Hawton and then to Farndon, visiting the churches, and looking out for a new bike at the second hand bike shop. It took me about 2 and a bit hours, probably covered about 7 miles, and enjoyed the radio and the sense of being outside on a rather crisper day than we've had recently.

It was grey, and I didn't really see much if interest to be honest, no winter thrushes in the fields although plenty of finches and tits around the hedgerows. There are highland cattle in the muddy lowland fields, and roach being caught in the river.

Sadly my bike hunt came to nought; the second hand bikes are nice, but no cheaper than new ones! Need to find one better for longer distance rides.

And changes gear when I ask it to from time to time.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 25.01.20

No Fields of 'Fares

I went for a seven mile walk today, going the back way into Coddington to see if there were any fieldfares in the field by the windmill, which is where I have seen large flocks of them in the past.

Of course, they all heard that I was coming, and packed their luggage and headed off for anywhere that I wasn't.

But walking in the countryside is never wasted time; I coast along, listening to the radio and taking in the sights. There wasn't a lot of nature, but there were a lot of cyclists; full club chain gangs swishing past at speed, couples in black pootling along on his and hers Treks, folk on mountain bikes, a guy struggling up Beacon Hill at barely walking pace against the steep slope.

I was glad not to be riding myself because of the cold, but it was great to see all the cyclists out. Balls to all those who moan about them - all these bikes were sporting blinking lights as recommended these days.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 14.01.18

Running to Hawton Church

Thought I'd bring you a bit of proper old history today, utilising a route that takes in some of Newark's Civil War History too.

Indeed I ran one of my usual routes, across the Grange Road fields, but halfway along took the left turn that leads to the Middle Beck.

It was proper cross country running today, lots of mud. A little egret looked at me from a distance, wondering who this other stupid wader was. I decided to avoid his contempt by taking the right turn along the Beck.

The Middle Beck actually marks the boundary of the Civil War encampment that General Poyntz and his Roundhead chums set up at Hawton Village, about two kilometres from the Queen's Sconce away to the North where Royalist cannons were situated. Within the fortification the church of All Saints would have already been standing, built as it was in the 13th-14th centuries.

The grounds were enchanting, for the simple reason that the grass was so soft and springy, it was almost like a bog but without the wetness. It was delightful, it really was. On inspection, this seemed to be because it was full of a sort of green lichen of some description. In turn the gravestones, some of them so old as to be illegible, were a home for other lichens of various shades from coppery green to a rusty orange.

The whole thing reminded me of the cover from REM's classic "Murmur" album that Guy Garvey was joy of joys playing on his 6 Music show at that very moment.

The church itself is famous for is carvings, from the gargoyles on the tower to the sculptures of two very royal and Plantagenet looking characters on either side of the porch. Looks too kingly to be the local landowning worthy - wonder if its Henry IV?

I ended up doing 8.5km in the end, a decent little run indeed!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 07.01.17

Market Day

I have been out today, but it was so grey and dark I could barely see anything! I did my 20km on the bike on my Cotham-Thrope type route, and was pleased to see my first redwing and fieldfare of the year out on the Sustrans 64 pathway, but you could barely see them against the sky and so photography was pointless.

Likewise the peregrine - or perhaps more likely a sparrowhak - I came across sat on a telegraph pole on a farm.

I'm keeping my eyes open for whooper and bewick swans in the fields now, as they are being reported in the area, hiding in feeding flocks of mute swans. But I didn't see any today.

What I did see were a fair few of my fellow cyclists, enjoying the chill weather as I was.

So, in the event with no worthwhile shots taken today, I shall show you what a full market day in Newark looks like. The market is reputedly struggling, but it still has stalls 5 days out of 7. SAturday is the big one, and as you can see it is the premier spot to buy mutilated animal remains for your dogs, eggs, endless bloody vaping shit, bird feeders, hippyish clothes, and er, ladders.

I've never seen a ladder stall on any market before, and I had no conception that this was a thing. Some of the ladders were very tall, and confusingly you could buy strange rocking bird feeder platforms at the same stall.

I wasn't tempted.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 20.11.16