Spontaneous outing to Clumber Park.

Spontaneous decision early on, to risk the weather and go out for the day. Y had been up since 6am and I felt up to it, so we decided to visit Clumber. We left shortly after 10am with a large thermos of coffee and went by the pretty route.

Please see left - We broke our journey for coffee opposite Perlethorpe Church.

Smashing website, well worth a browse and from it I was able to discover that the prominent gargoyles, sticking out on the four corners at the top of the tower, and below the spire, are 'hounds'. As you will see from Picture 2, they are fearsome creatures and immediately made Y think of the 'baskervilles'. Or should that be 'basquervilles'?

The website picture is from almost the same spot as mine. I had no prior knowledge but photographers often come to similar decisions as to what looks good from where. Mine was originally in colour but the sepia is a 'thanks' to Jill for her continued incantations re my pain. I had another good night, but turning over is no-no (it is easier to get up, walk round the bed and get in from the other side - not worth it, so I sleep on my back). I'm at my best first thing in the morning for trips or to get anything done.

The weather was competely varied from bright sun and blue sky, through rain, hailstones, black-over-Bill's mothers (a local expression for storm clouds over a particular spot), lovely cloud scenes. No actual snow though.

Picture 2 was with my Tamron at the 300mm end and is surprisingly sharp because I am often disappointed with it.

I was mystified by the tube protruding from the creatures' mouths. They are to drain the roof. The type of limestone used is allegedly subject to moisture/decay and this cunningly devised system obviously keeps the water away from the walls. .A new one to me, but perhaps the Architectural Desk can enlighten us.

He looks as if he is leaping to eat the bit of foliage on the left of the picture.

Back to the knobbly trees for the moment. I think Bungus's criticism about nothing to give him scale and "trees at unspecified distance tell me nothing about the size of the hole" is a little onbscure for me. This crop to the hole in Helen's picture shows, quite clearly, the grasses and plants growing round the base of the tree. And we are not after-all in the Serengeti are we? Grasses and plants in this area and at this time of year have a regular and knowable size? What more is necessary?

All I can say about Picture 4 is 'don't forget the mint sauce'.

Madeline will probably give me a bad time over that but it would be nice to hear from her anyway. Whatever the message ! I read WU forums regularly and mostly see her dispensing valuable computer advice.

At least lambs are free to frolic during the short lives, not like the appalling conditions in which battery chickens are reared. We have now joined the free-range chicken and egg lobby; reading labels very carefully before buying anything. This fuss over food dyes though is abit OTT in my opinion. If Battenburg cake causes your kids to act strangely, don't feed it to them. As simple as that. Certainly not necessary to make it unlawful to produce. I can just guess what the French reaction would be to such legislation !

Comments..... Jill..... I hope you have now found Reg's 'comment'; it is there, twice actually - he must've clicked the button twice, - no safety catch on again.

It is there because AnonymousRob has reacted to information therein about the young girl photographers' names.

Glad you like the painting. Each time I look at it I appreciate it more. And you can't say anything better about great Art.

Sorry you don't fancy a chip-butty. In this area chips and bread have often been linked. I know a Fish & Chip restaurant in Belper where, with your fish and chips and mushy peas, you get a pot of tea, and two slices of bread & butter. Now that is traditional. You and Ro will have to come up for a fortnight and we can introduce you to real sophisticated eating !

Bungus..... Already mentioned above re knobbly trees and scale. Today at Clumber I could have OD'd on knobbly trees but thought perhaps churches would be better.

Strange you mentioned being startled by dangerously driven disability scooters. There's a lot been running in the Telegraph over the last few days.

Re 'proud pied' and alternative definitions. I suspect that, in Poetry, there is no such animal as an 'official' definition. Part of the joy I've always thought. Ambiguity is an essential tool for Poets don't you think?

AnonymousRob....... Pleased to see the Sports Desk in such good fettle. And re the proliferation of Robs, Regs, Roys and Rays. And we must'nt forget Rose. On our Nat Trst committee we now have a Ron - but I'll try not to mention him too often.

My Epson printer is the Rx420 stylus which I bought from Brian and, although only A4, has done sterling service and, as I said yesterday, when on song particularly with letters etc., is great. The photocopier in colour, produces documents indistinguishable from the originals and the scanner is good too.
At this time of year, with so many bunches of daffodils and tulips for sale, I always remember this quote :-

"The flower in the vase still smiles, but no longer laughs"

Malcom de Chazal

Lovely little web-page there folks. I was enchanted while I read it. Well worth a click !

p.s. When I was putting my camera away, after the Perlthorpe Church snaps, I realised that I had had a large raindrop right in the middle of the lens. And when I downloaded my pics onto my laptop it was glaringly obvious. Not easy to deal with in Photoshop either because it was obscuring essential information, like a hound on a church roof. Good job I didn't use that lens exclusively.

....I hope my disability assessor had a good day for her wedding and that it didn't take place anywhere near 'bill's mothers'. She is coming over to see me again on Thursday.

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