Swan Song

Another lousy sermon!

From the Boss: This picture was taken many years ago when there was a pair of swans living on the pond beside the church.

Another dew pond

And I won't go into this one either!

From the Boss: This dew pond is fairly new, having been made only within the last ten years, and is lined with plastic sheeting. It is quite near the Roman camp and at the top of Wild Park.

From the Roman Camp

Yesterday afternoon the Boss took me across 39 Acre field and round the Roman Camp - one of my favourite walks.

From the Boss: This is looking almost due west across Patcham. In the middle distance, just right of centre, is a windmill which, although it doesn't look it, actually stands at the top of a hill. It was originally built in the village at the bottom of the hill and when relocated it was pulled up the hill by oxen.

Signs of spring

Despite all the snow, ice and frost, Mother Nature seems to think that spring won't be long in coming.

Christmas trees

I got quite a surprise when we went to Stanmer again this afternoon. Somebody had decorated several trees for Christmas.

Before the snow

One of the lilac bushes was trying its hardest to bloom before the snow arrived. Now the flowers are all brown and shrivelled.

I must make sure...

...I don't lose the new ball Father Christmas brought me.

The path home

Through the gate, across the road, then follow the signpost.

The gate

After the stile, we cross the fields and go through the woods, coming out at the gate to the Upper Lodges of Stanmer Park.

The stile

On the way home the Boss goes over, I go under.

The dew pond

I wouldn't go into this in the summer so I'm blowed if I will now!

Red, white and blue

Still in Withdean as we can't get to Stanmer. I hope the birds like their food extra cold.

Not Stanmer

This isn't Stanmer woods, but Withdean park where we walk in the mornings. The Boss says that we won't be going to Stanmer until the roads are clear of snow and ice, but I'm quite happy with this.

Not all is mud

Off the paths and under the trees there is a two-inch thick carpet of cleaner leaves.

Still muddy

Given the state of the paths in the woods it's really no wonder that I come back covered in leaves, sticks and all sorts of other bits and pieces. But I do enjoy my walks.

I'm back!

The Boss picked me up from kennels yesterday and this afternoon we went back into Stanmer woods as the ground is pretty solid in the cold weather. He forgot to take his camera, so here is a picture from when the weather was warmer and people were picnicking by the church.

On to the cotoneaster

Now that the berries on the rowan tree have been eaten, the birds are moving on to the cotoneaster, like the immature blackbird in the shot below.

The Boss was right

The birds have had a feast off the rowan tree.

It's a memorial

And someone's eaten the head of that turtle, or tortoise, or whatever it was supposed to be.







From the Boss: The memorial has been there for more than 200 years and is certainly in need of some TLC. The inscription reads, "To the memory or Frederick Frankland, Esq: MP: Died March the 8th 1768 aged 73. This monument is erected by his ever affectionate and most truly grateful son and daughter Thomas Lord Pelham and Ann his wife June 1776." Note that despite his proclamation of affection and gratitude, it took his Lordship no less than eight years to erect the memorial!

What's that?

That thing up there on the edge of the woods. Let's go and have a look.

Heading north

At least there's plenty of room to chase my ball.

From the Boss: Continuing northwards from the mulberry trees, we catch the first glimpse of the village as we breast a rise - the chimneys of Stanmer House and the church tower.

The first frost of the winter

I love frosty mornings. There are loads of different smells, like on this ivy.