As I sit writing this in glorious sunshine it is difficult to remember just how cold it was in November and December. Our house is all back to normal and the garden is looking just great. Just as a reminder below is a picture of our road taken on the 18th December 2010. Thank goodness my supply of logs was delivered just before the snow started.
The end of 2009 and the start of 2010 covered a range of emotions from extreme happiness to absolute despair. I will start with a happy event in September. My son and daughter in law had their (I hope) first child, a beautiful little boy, so naturally I was suffering from acute proud grandfather syndrome.
This is the first real winter we have had since we came to South Petherton. Both the multi fuel stoves have been earning their keep certainly for January and February. The garden thermometer went down to -10 and then came the snow. We were fortunate that we did not have as much as some places but then apart from the main street in the village their was little sign of gritting anywhere else so the roads became very slippery.
Been a bit of a while since I posted anything. After struggling for a for a few years with my painful knees I gave up on the NHS and when to see a consultant privately in Bristol. I don't think he was too impressed he said my right knee needed a full replacement immediately and the left knee if it had been treated when I first went to the NHS could have been a partial replacement but now also needed a full replacement.
In July 2006 I spent a blissful 2 and a bit hours canoeing on the river Parrett. We started at Coombe Bridge about a mile below Kingsbury Episcopi and and we to just above Gawbridge Mill and back. The river is quite enchanting although by the time we had run aground just above Gawbridge it was more of a stream. A the top end we found some traces of otters although we were not lucky enough to see any. What we did see were a good few kingfishers. The picture is taken at Gawbridge Mill.
There are more pictures of this trip go to the Gallery.
On the following Thursday Maureen and I went to the Wyndham Arms at Kingsbury Episcopi for supper. A really nice pub with good food. I had a "small" rump steak, all I can say is that if I had a large one I would not have been walking anywhere. Like many of the pubs in this area it is full of character and has a good range of real ales and draught cider. Definitely work another visit.
We then walked a small section of the Parrett Trail going upsteam from where the canoe trip started. The trail did not seem to be particularly well used although it was an easy walk with good access. Since making these trips I have bought a canoe and done a couple more trips and then the knees intervened and the canoeing had to stop. But I am planning to start again in 2009.