By chance we saw the International Space Station fly over us on Sunday night. On the Monday and Tuesday I took to taking photographs of it. The first ones taken on Monday were short 30 second exposures. The last photograph taken on Tuesday at 23.45 was for the full duration of the visible portion of the flight. Unfortunately camera was not pointing quite the correct way, so we don’t see it fade out.
A walk through Ham Wood and then back up to Grendon Underwood and across the fields home. The sun was setting, so some warm images. The Spring flowers were over, so what remained of the flowers were a bit straggly, though they still looked nice.
After the weeks of rain, it was decided not to allow unnecessary vehicles on the shooting field. Instead, we would meet at Ludgershall village hall and be transported to the field by a vintage tractor (1980 Fiat) and trailer. Two trips were required. We can thank Jim for arranging this mode of transport. It was a fun start and end to the shoot.
Awaiting us at the shooting ground we had five stands of ten birds each. These were beautifully set up by Brian and his team, along with festive Christmas names. This was also the first outing of new safety cages, strong and light. As you can see from the picture, the field was truly waterlogged. Despite the cloud, there was no rain to spoil the fun. The breeze did add a chill to the air, 8C feels like 5C.
After the tea and coffee break, (please remember to bring your mug), we had a flurry shoot. Teams of three were randomly picked and shot the flurry. Deceptively slow at first, putting you at ease, until two fast, demanding flurries at the end. The final two stands of the fifty bird shoot then completed the shoot. In all 36 members and friends shot.
Back at the Ludgershall village hall lunch had been prepared. An excellent buffet meal of meats, salads, baked potatoes and desserts. A big thank you to Celia, Shirley and Ann. After the meal, the prize giving.
We had our usual Christmas this year, complete with our countdown meals, all planned on a handy Excel Spreadsheet. One change was made, a meal was swapped around because the original was deemed too complicated for a Friday pub night.
Our Christmas Eve had Phil and Selina over for our usual cheese fondue. The fondue set is one of the few possessions I brought to the family, which still exists. The set must be more than 40 years old.
Christmas Day had Julian join us for our traditional Christmas Turkey lunch. (I cannot get them all to agree to a swap to a goose.) Nothing was forgotten, except the amount of gravy made was somewhat lacking, so there was no gravy in the sandwiches on subsequent days. Traditional Christmas pudding was on offer, with Jack Daniels Butter, along with Christmas Pudding Ice Cream,
Leftover food kept us going for a week in various reincarnations. No turkey curry, and somehow the bread sauce found its way to the back of the fridge and was not discovered for well over a week. (I think this deliberate on R’s part.)
New Christmas tree this year. Gone has the natural tree with falling needles, and now a metal and plastic affair which should see me out.
Selina had originally bought me the Michael Eavis and Emily Eavis “Glastonbury 50” book for Christmas. It would have been a brilliant choice. Unfortunately, I had already bought it back in November. R had not communicated this fact to Selina when she had asked if I had purchased any books recently. Luckily, Rosemary told me that Selina was enquiring about my book purchases, so I reminded her of “Glastonbury 50”. Quickly she phoned Selina, but it was too late; Selina could not cancel the order. No matter, it was passed on to Ravi, one of the friends whom I took to Glastonbury.
During Christmas Day, I read several tweets from Glastonbury fans who had received multiple copies of the book. Several with two copies and at least three had three copies of the book.
Our usual Kingswood Firework party has held on the 9th of November, so as not to clash with the bigger firework display in Brill. The party was held in the traditional location, thanks to the new owners.
The weather was not pleasant, cold wet rain. Thankfully shelter had been erected, so we could all stand and watch in the dry. As usual, there was an ample supply of sausages and burgers cooking on the BBQs along with wine and beer. Thank you to all the helpers.
The weather was said to be good, so it was time to get Morrison out for a little outing. The Camping and Caravan
Before we arrived at the campsite, we paid a visit to Sandringham visitor centre for some lunch. Of course, we had chosen half term, and the place was heaving with offspring. The restaurant good, Rosemary ate veggie (which she said was the best risotto she’d had), while I dined on Sandringham pheasant. Had mine been shot by Prince Phillip?
After lunch, we headed off to do some bird spotting at RSPB Snettisham. Here we parked in the free car park and then walked alongside several fishing ponds, and eventually made it to
We now drove to the campsite, checked in and set up home for the next couple of nights. Huge site, not all visible from one place, and took quite a while to walk around. Good to find that the wifi was free, and it worked pretty well for web browsing.
In the morning we walked into Sandringham through the woods. Here we had a coffee and then viewed the chainsaw sculptures and discovered Norfolk Rocks. All the kids were searching for Norfolk Rocks, we had never heard of them before. After this excitement, we went to the Sandringham restaurant for lunch. Again I ate pheasant, and
After lunch we walked back to the Campsite on another route and arrived home in time for tea.
The next day we packed up and headed home. We tried a couple of tourist spots on the way home, first was Castle Rising. This has one of the deepest dry moats I have seen, and incredibly steep slopes into it from the castle side and the surrounding countryside.
The next spot was the sluice gates on the Great River Ouse Relief Channel. Google found a route to the gates, unfortunatley Google maps had not factored in the locked gate to the power station.
Now it was off home after our brief stay away. The rain held off, the promised sun was not as much as it should have been, and it definitely was not as warm as it had been predicted. A week later and it would have been warmer.
Back at home, we were welcomed by a huge display of starlings. They congregated in our poplar trees. Some landed and fed on our field, and did that bit where birds on one side fly over the other birds and land on the other side. Eventually, the birds moved off to the trees on the other side of the road, and I assume then flew off to Otmoor.
Visited our local nature reserve in the hope of seeing some exciting birds. A new hide had recently been opened overlooking some scrapes. This hide is several hundred meters from the existing two hides. The walk is along the edge of the field on a raised bank. The final part is fenced off to hide the birders from the birds. The new hide is open at the back, and once you open the viewing windows the cold wind starts to drive through. Not a conducive place to sit in the winter. Maybe the summer will be better, but wait it will be closed because those little feathered creatures will be raising their broods! Anyway, there was not much to be seen, maybe a blue tit in the hedgerow.
Back now to the old hides, where there are some feeders. Here at least were some garden birds, a robin, coal tit, blue tit and a reed bunting. Out on the island in the pond, a single wagtail appeared. Not a good day birding.
There was a dusting of snow during the night. Not quite the same as the snowfalls in Europe. Lovely morning for a walk to the village shop.
Christmas was at home with Selina, Phil and Julian. Usual fare of turkey, roast potatoes, parsnips & carrots, plus a stalk & a half of sprouts, bread & cranberry sauces, stuffing balls and rather a lot of pigs in blankets. Various Christmas puddings and lakes of wine, including a dessert one we’d brought with us from New Zealand. Not a white Christmas, but a warm one.
The Kingswood Gun Club met up for a drink (or two) at Canaletto’s. Happy time chatting.
