juliachalkley

Stars

The Perseid meteor shower peaked right at the same time as the full moon. Law of Sod applies; meteor showers are best seen against dark skies. But we work with what we have. It’s been so hot during the day that going out at night is a relief. We spent time resting indoors during theContinue reading “Stars”

Hoo’s There?

The third visit to Sutton Hoo this year. This time to see the Red Rose Chain Theatre Company present Macbeth in the forest. I’m surprised there aren’t more plays performed in the open like this. We’ve seen a performance of Midsummer Night’s Dream in a park in midsummer, decades ago, and the memory stays withContinue reading “Hoo’s There?”

Sutton Hoo Part Two

During our first visit to Sutton Hoo we sat in the cafe and read the leaflets advertising the exhibition due to start three weeks later. ‘Swords of Kingdoms’. The curator at Sutton Hoo had arranged for part of the Staffordshire Hoard to be brought here to be displayed. There is a connection – the workmanshipContinue reading “Sutton Hoo Part Two”

Sutton Hoo

Back in April, we stayed at home while the schools were out – everywhere is too crowded for a visit, and places tend to run events aimed at those with the reading ability and attention span of a five year old child. Our first day out in April was to Sutton Hoo. At the time,Continue reading “Sutton Hoo”

And the writing…?

The main point of setting up this blog was to advertise the writing I was doing (and to prove to a writing friend of mine that I was listening to what she had said to me…). Sorry to report that the main part of what I’ve been doing over the last few months relates toContinue reading “And the writing…?”

Community Orchard – part two

Earlier this year, I reported on the odd project I got involved in. I’m a member of our local woodland trust, helping out as a volunteer. As part of that work, I volunteered to chart the orchard that had been planted in 2011 as a present for the founder’s 90th birthday. I thought it wouldContinue reading “Community Orchard – part two”

Playing in the Puddles

Yes, that’s water you’re seeing through that windscreen. Himself was lucky enough to get a Landrover experience voucher for his birthday, and what you’re seeing in the photo is what he saw while driving. We booked it for early July, left the already parched grounds of our garden behind and went out to stay withContinue reading “Playing in the Puddles”

Gold and Brown

This dry spell has been going on for months, and now we are all used to it. It’s been over three months since we saw any reasonable amount of rain – even for a dry region like ours, this is definitely out of the ordinary. Local weather forecasters have said that we have had 1%Continue reading “Gold and Brown”

Lots to do, so let’s crack on.

No, I haven’t posted. Yes, my last posts were gloomy, featuring a dead cat and a stunned bluetit. No, that’s not really me. Let me catch up on what I’ve been doing since my last cheerful post. The first genuine holiday I took this year was to Combe Martin on the edges of Exmoor. I’dContinue reading “Lots to do, so let’s crack on.”

Paying it back

I put our cats onto the “What The Cat Dragged In” project in March 2021. The project was set up by a PhD candidate for her dissertation, and it aimed to measure the prey taken by domestic cats. Our two were not hunters, and I hoped their records would help to clear the name ofContinue reading “Paying it back”