Sunday, January 25, 2009

Ickworth Winter Walks

As you can tell if you search this blog, Ickworth is a favourite place for us for walking, even in winter. And even when it is rainy like today. There are plenty of walks to do around the estate. We started with Gerldine's walk...

It's a good job we had wellies for all those puddles. And they are great for stamping on puffball mushrooms...

Geraldine's walk leads onto the Erskine walk, where the snowdrops were just coming out...

And then there's the Albana walk, which has got a couple of shelters you can use if it gets really wet. We call this one "Belinda's Cottage" after a children's story...

We followed this up with a walk around the walled gardens. From the far corner you have a great view of this mistletoe clad tree...

Yes, it was pretty wet, but we enjoyed our walk while the Sunday Roast readied itself in the oven at home. We were glad to get back in to the warm, though.

Monday, January 12, 2009

New Musical Instrument

We have a new musical instrument to add to our growing collection. Little W has started learning the piano now and Little Miss has added to her repertoire of piano, guitar and violin...

...yes she has just started being allowed to bring home her flute from school. What with Big Miss doubling up on electric guitar and drums, and Little W on ukulele, I think I'm going to need a multi-track recorder for our growing band!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Wii Fit Boy

It was Little W's birthday and we went out for a meal. In the middle of the restaurant he did a demonstration of the yoga poses he had been learning....

..from the Wii. He loves the games on it. Here he is trying to walk the tightrope.

But my favourite Wii Fit game to watch is the Ski-jumping. It's hilarious to see the poses! Here he goes...

Weeeeeeeeeee!

Saturday, January 03, 2009

Walberswick Winter Walk

Here's another favourite spot for a Winter walk. On the Suffolk Coast, just across the river Blyth from Southwold is the village of Walberswick. Just by the car park at the beach you get this view of its near neighbour.

The two are separated by the River Blyth, which may be crossed either by the foot ferry that runs during the summer months or by a bailey bridge about 1/2 mile upstream.

It was a typical cold and windy winters day when we went, but there was some sun.

Sizewell is just a few miles along the beach, here lit by a break in the clouds.

I rather like the sign next to the emergency telephone on the beach, a strange relic from last century. I wonder if it still works?

The walk along the river is refreshing and the surrounding marshland is a National Nature Reserve. I was tempted to cross the bridge to the Harbour Inn, but it looked a bit busy.



But the fresh air blew some of the new year cobwebs out of the brain.