September Ends….. still no autumn but the change has to come soon

Posted on September 30, 2020 by davidoakesimages under A Dogs Life, David Oakes - Images, Derbyshire, Everyday Life, Peace, postaday, Seasonal Change, September

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Yesterday, 29th September was a day you could wish for. We had managed to book tickets to visit Calke Abbey a Parkland. Like other National Trust Properties, CV19 means you have to book in advance. Trouble is you do have to predict in advance what the weather will do (no booking allowed on the day!). So, we were lucky.

The woods are always a great place for a walk. Despite it being the end of September there was little indications that autumn is knocking at the door… It will come but not for a week or so yet.

The Red Deer Hinds were relaxed, feasting on the Acorns. The Red Stags were in hiding, soon their testosterone levels will rise and peace in the woods shattered….

Till then the Hines are making the most of a bumper crop of Acorns. The ground is literaly littered with Acorns under the Veteran Oak’s.

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The Beech is the other dominant tree in these woods. Still rich green and with the low sun, quite spring like on the trails….

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Like many Trust properties, they seem to feel the need to dress up these natural spaces with sculptures and other so called ‘Art Works’. I can understand temporary exhibitions, indeed I rather like them, they make a change…. but as permanent fixtures I am none too sure. I know the tree below is well past its “sell by date”…. and I like the silhouette it casts in all weathers…. but this adornment seems more than a little out of place.

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We have passed this tree for many years; it has always been a skeleton Each winter it loose just a little more of its structure. It has though become like an old friend. Even the sapling tree on top thrives.

As the end of the afternoon approached those blue skies started to vanish. The forecast is for some bad weather ahead. The evening sunshine did make the Coach House and Stable block glow…

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but the clouds told the story of change….

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Nor did those clouds tell any lies… today, the last day of September and it’s raining. We cannot complain as we do need the rain and today, we are certainly getting it !

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Please Remember ….

Stay Safe …. Be Kind…. Look After Each Other

30th September

Wordless Wednesday…… Another Favourite Place

Posted on September 30, 2020 by davidoakesimages under David Oakes - Images, Everyday Life, Favourite Places, Lancashire Coast, Lune Light, Morecambe Bay, Morecambe bay, Peace, postaday, September, Trivia, Wordless Wednesday

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Location: – Lune Light, Morecambe Bay from Cockerham Sands, Lancashire

It may well be Wordless Wednesday…… But we cannot let the passing of September go without some comment. Indeed, it is a positive comment as September, for the most part, has been more like summer than summer itself. You could say that summer was topped and tailed by a great Spring and now a great September.

September is also the time that I associate with sunsets. They suddenly seem much more intense an intensity which I think is helped by the arrival of colder evenings.

As for my favourite places….. The Lune Light, used to mark the entry into the River Lune from the wide expanse of Morecambe Bay, seen here from Cockerham Sands, it just has to be near the top of my list.

Where ever you are……

Please Remember ….

Stay Safe …. Be Kind…. Look After Each Other

30th September

Seems a Lifetime Ago…..

Posted on September 29, 2020 by davidoakesimages under Chanonry Point, David Oakes - Images, Everyday Life, Memories, Peace, postaday, Scotland, Trivia, U.K.Travel

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Chanonry Point Lighthouse. Moray Firth, East Coast of Scotland

29th September 2017…only three years ago yet it seems a lifetime ago. Even as we were enjoying a fabulous September, on an extended holiday in Scotland, with exceptionally good early autumnal weather that felt more like summer, we were planning “where next”.

Whilst it was true that we did get some rain on that trip, the truth is there where far more days of sunshine, blue skies, and drifting clouds. Yep, September 2017 was rather special in Scotland.

One of our destinations is high on the East Coast of Scotland. Overlooking the Moray Firth is Chanonry Point. It is a delightful spot close to Fortrose and Rosemarkie. Chanonry Point, in the shadow of the lighthouse, has become a Dolphin Watching Hot Spot, but at this time of the year they were making their home elsewhere.

Despite no Dolphins, 5 days here was a relaxing ‘wind down’ after 3 busy weeks in the Highlands, from one coast to the other. After all we still had another week in the Cairngorms to look forward to. Life seemed so free and easy then.

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3 years on, planning for the life ahead, let alone holidays seems rather problematic, if not impossible. I guess all we can do is live for each day and hope that one day life can and will get back to some sort of normal….. though I suspect a very different normal than we have been enjoying.

At least we have some great memories.

So, it is even more important than ever to…..

Please Remember ….

Stay Safe …. Be Kind…. Look After Each Other

29th September

A Brisk Bright Walk……

Posted on September 28, 2020 by davidoakesimages under Allestree, Autumnal Change, David Oakes - Images, Derbyshire, Everyday Life, Peace, PHOTOGRAPHY,, postaday, Trivia

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Allestree Lake, Derbyshire

A busy day ahead, so this morning Buster and I had to make do with a brisk walkies round the Lake. I say “make do” but it was grand out in the early morning September sun. Although it was early, it was not early enough to catch the low mist over the lake….. just a little lingered but was fading fast.

So here we go a brisk September trot round the Lake…..

A quick dash but invigorating, so with batteries recharged, ready for whatever the day was going to throw at us, it was back home. Home, with a reminder on the doorstep, that autumn really was on the way…. there may be lots of leaves still on the trees, but already a great many on our doorstep

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Autumn is on the way

Please Remember ….

Stay Safe …. Be Kind…. Look After Each Other

28th September

Moody Monday……

Posted on September 28, 2020 by davidoakesimages under David Oakes - Images, Everyday Life, Glen Lui, Memories, Moody Monday, Peace, postaday, Scotland, Trivia

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Luibeg, from Derry Lodge, Glen Lui.

Moody Monday, seems to be, a description that fits many a Monday. Nor is it always moody because of the weather….just the starting point of another week, which even if you are not working seems to have a routine mapped out for you. But sometimes it is weather related.

I do believe it was a Monday, a very wet Monday when we walked up Glen Lui, in the Mar Forest, near Braemar, Scotland. But even on a day of relentless rain there was a bright shaft of light as the sun tried but eventually failed to break through. tried