10 4 10-10-10

Well the idea was to go and take some autumnal photographs but nature had its own ideas.

With poppies still in bloom, it was a struggle to find any golden brown leaves at all.

  
Oak leaves are so stunning, especially against a cloudless sky.

The t-shirt and shorts 19 Celsius demanded a longer than usual walk past the green lane which goes up to St.Mary's ...

... down towards South Pickenham and the road section of Peddars Way ...

... towards the traditional Norfolk road sign with the updated Houghton on the Hill direction board.

After startling what may, or may not, have been an escaped fir farm mink, the hedgerows show signs of last year's tree cull from our unusually long winter.

Only the silver birches show any sign of being really ready to shed their leaves.

One sure sign of autumn in East Anglia is the sweet smell of sugar beet harvesting, but the machinery here is still dormant ...

... unlike the local kids on their bikes enjoying the sunshine denied them during the school holidays.

.All photos © J Reed

Wish you were here?

Norfolk is just a beautiful place. 

© J Reed

Evening walk up to Houghton on the Hill, 3rd June 2010.

Contrite Communiqué to the Co-op Checkout Cashier Couple

On a quick dash to the Necton Co-op before its 5pm Sunday closing hour, I mistakenly offered consolation to the staff that the sunshine was to last and the temperate climate look set to stay. On my return home, Bertie took me and my camera for a walk.

All was set fair to the south, with warm T-shirt wearing sunshine and light winds. To the north the rain clouds gathered, however.

Beautiful contrast of light and shade.

Chased by the looming rain clouds we raced towards Houghton on the Hill, looking back down towards Houghton Ponds in the Wissey valley.

The sunshine highlights the large amount rapeseed being grown in East Anglia this year, much to the annoyance of hay fever sufferers.

Then a sudden chill as the weather front ushered a cold steady breeze, the darkness from the clouds progressing purposely across the Houghton plateau.

All photos © J Reed

The downhill return to Pickenham was dark and bracing, to say the least. So apologies to the shop staff, I promise to keep my mouth shut next time so as not to put the kibosh on your evening sun worship.

Furtive Fly Tipping Twits

Fury was felt when favourite walk was fractured by furtive fly tippers.

The phantom fly tippers have struck again in the Houghton on the Hill area, this time being doubly offensive by spoiling the idyll of StMary's which has been lovingly restored and kept by volunteers and charity.

The people that do this have no regard for the beauty of our countryside. The likelihood is the culprits have been paid to take away the trash but are unwilling to pay any landfill tax. Instead, Council Tax payers will foot the bill for clearance.

All photos © J Reed

What makes this near desecration more galling is that the dumped detritus is only 1.8 miles away from Ashill Recycling Centre. I've done a map to show you the beautiful countryside and the route to the dump.  You can be fined if caught illegally disposing of waste.