Tuesday 19 November 2013

The view from here

The past few days have been a mixture of beautiful timeless countryside and buildings and glitzy pre-Christmas sparkle.


After a brief trip to a big out of town shopping centre on Saturday, we detoxed on Sunday with a visit to the country park.  I always feel in need of the outdoors after visiting the mall.  It was of course already Christmassy there, with a magical castle, ice-skating, lots of twinkly lights and this lovely carousel.  We spent a happy hour in the big bookshop there.  However manic and over-commercialised the mall is, entering the bookshop is like entering a sanctuary.  The atmosphere changes completely.  The books are waiting to transport you anywhere you want to go.  Somewhere happy, somewhere for adventures, somewhere creative, somewhere that pushes you to be a better person, somewhere that encourages and somewhere that will always have the capacity to surprise, amaze and inspire.  I can always find something I'd like to read.  I think that I have a slightly dreamy unrealistic idea that I'll find the time to read for long periods.  Reality is a little different, but when I'm in that bookshop, I imagine myself, in winter, curling up on a dark evening, next to a fire, with a hot drink, and completely immersing myself in whatever adventure I have chosen.  In summer I'll dream of lying on the grass in the sun, or on a beach.  And in spring it's maybe a warm conservatory, in the sun.  That's the feeling I get when I see all of those books.  Excitement, anticipation, luxury.

The next day at the country park we wandered round getting a little exercise in the cold autumn air.













The photos were taken on my little point-and-shoot camera, which puts dark shapes on some of the pictures.  It's the camera I use most at the allotment.  I've usually got a trug or two with me when I visit, and taking my DSLR camera seems like too much.  The little camera has been good to me over the years, I've got so many treasured photos that were taken on it.  The DSLR is much newer, and while I love it, I'll always have a soft spot for the little one.  I keep it in my bag a lot of the time - probably why it has dark spots on the lens - and it means I can snap pictures out and about whenever they occur.  For example, on the school run this morning I took these two photos.



It was such a stunning morning, with clear blue skies and sun on ancient stone and crunchy beech leaves.  Tonight the sky was still clear, and it was cold.  We went to see the Christmas lights being switched on in the centre of our little town.  There was a fun fair and a small food fair as well, although the food fair wasn't as big as the regular ones we have here.  The boys were told they could have one thing each.  The biggest boy was sucked in to trying to win a prize by shooting rings onto a bottle.  The littlest boy had candyfloss.  Despite initially refusing to share it with his brothers, he couldn't finish it, and declared in the end that he didn't like it at all and it was making him feel sick.  The middle boy chose the big wheel, so we went on together.  I am a complete wimp when it comes to rides.  We almost never go on them, and a big wheel is about as scary as I can manage.  The middle boy found it a bit much too.  When I suggested he wave to his brothers as we flew past, he squeaked, "I can't" as he held on to the bar with a death grip.  The view from the top was spectacular though, and well worth going up.  I still had the little camera in my bag, and I got a few blurry shots.




Now I'm happy to be home and curled up in the warmth though.  It's cold out there.  Something arctic is headed this way apparently.  I'm a bit of a wimp about that as well.

43 comments:

  1. Such a nice place to be visited. The scenery is so beautiful.

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  2. Sounds just the right mix of different things. I loved your description of bookshops and was there with you lying on the summer grass or beside the fire just now! So hope you do find some time to just read and have a bit of down time amongst the funfairs and so on! Where is that lovely park you visited I wonder?

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    1. It's Old Down Country Park. It's such a lovely place and we're very lucky that it's just down the road from us.

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  3. The pictures are lovelt and I know where I would rather be if I had to choose between the mall or country park! Curling up with a novel is my idea of a good time too.

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    1. You're right Sue, the country park was so much nicer.

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  4. You can keep the shopping centre, I'd rather be in the park any day. I used to love the big wheel but I've developed a fear of heights as I've got older so I wouldn't dare go on one now. I have a little point and shoot camera which I keep in my bag too, it's only a really cheap one, but it takes good enough photos.

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    1. The big wheel was a bit scary, but not a patch on the other whirling round thing that was there. It looked utterly terrifying.

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  5. Love the pictures even if they're with a point and shoot camera.

    I've a little point and shoot camera I can keep in my pocket on the allotment. I can snap a shot exactly when I'm ready and not have to go pick up a bigger camera from the car.

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    1. They are so handy, I almost always have mine with me.

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  6. I did smile at your description of unreality in the bookshop. Like marigold jam I was there with you! Christmas is about the only time of the year I actually get to sit and read for any length of time. Lovely shots from the country park too. Have you ever been to Westonbirt? The prices they charge in autumn are a rip off, but the colours are fantastic.

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    1. I have been to Westonbirt a few times, it's wonderful. But as you say, very expensive. I like it in early summer when everything is so intensely green. I've been lucky to go in the autumn recently with the boys' pre-school for very little money. But now they're all at school I don't get to go any more.

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  7. I'm gong to Bristol in a couple soon to 'do the malls' - John Lewis specifically. After living here for so many years, I get quite overwhelmed and pannicky in places like that now. Thank goodness for the bookshop! I totally agree with you, CJ. A bit of peace in an otherwise manic world. I love the shots from the ferris wheel of your town. And I admire your bravery. I cry at the top of a step ladder!!

    hank you for your continued support and lovely comments. I'm afraid the video is me in all my glory. My poor children...

    Leanne xx

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    1. I hope you have a nice trip when you visit Bristol. The mall is quite overwhelming, I know what you mean. The video was fab, it made me happy to see you singing.

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  8. A real mix of lovely different things. Seeing the Christmas lights being switched on is such a lovely thing to do, I am really hoping that this year we can all go together. The gardens are so beautiful, I really enjoy walking around places like this. I love Christmas and know that I will be pretty giddy once the lights are on. xoxo

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    1. I hope you have a nice time seeing your local Christmas lights switch-on. It does make things feel very festive.

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  9. As always an enjoyable post and good pictures.
    I love what you say about the bookshop and reading.
    When it comes to rides and big wheels I'm a complete wimp and there's no way that I'd go on them. Flighty xx

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    1. Thanks Flighty. The big wheel is about as much as I can manage!

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  10. Your photos are so wonderful, first capturing the beauty of Autumn, and then the liveliness of an evening Fair.

    Just beautiful.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  11. These photos are absolutely beautiful! I love how they capture the small moments that make life so wonderful. I loved reading about how you feel when you enter a bookstore. I feel the same way--you did such a lovely job putting those feelings into words. It does always seem like there are endless possibilities awaiting me in each book. The view from the top of the ride are stunning--looks like an incredible fair:)

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    1. I'm glad you understand what I mean about bookshops. I always find it a bit of a thrill to enter one!

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  12. Lovely to see you walking under the beeches too! It looked a lovely clear night to switch on the Christmas lights even it was cold. Those pictures of the night are so clear and stunning and such a contrast from your trips in the countryside.Thank you for your comments you can create lovely collages quite easily I have added a link on the reply to your comment on my post.
    Sarah x

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    1. Thanks for that information Sarah, I'll give it a go.

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  13. lovely post - makes me want to read a book now.

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  14. What beautiful scenery you are surrounded by ... just gorgeous

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  15. I found myself nodding the whole time I read this post. It seems like such a nice weekend and I love how you describe books. Your photos are, as always, beautiful. They have the ability to transport me to where you are as well.

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  16. What beautiful pictures. My preferred ones are #11 and #15. Yes, I do love bookshops. I could stay there for hours! I buy way too many books as I always think too that I will have time to read. I have a terrible weak spot for cooking books...
    You have been lucky with the weather, it has been mostly grey, here, in Luxembourg and we had the first snow during the night. Wishing you well.

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    1. I know what you mean, I always overestimate how much time I actually have to read!

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  17. A lovely post with some beautiful images of autumn where you are. I love your description of visiting a bookshop, I feel exactly the same although I do miss the really old ones I used to visit. They had a wonderful atmosphere. And I only really get time to read on holiday or perhaps at Christmas, so buying books now is all about keeping them back for a special occasion.
    I don't like heights these days either, so I think I'd have that death grip on the wheel, too!

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    1. I love old bookshops as well, I used to go to lots Before Children. Hay-on-Wye is the best place for second-hand book shops, I don't know if you've ever been there. It's well worth a visit.

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  18. Goodness me - after so many beautiful and supportive comments on my blog I finally get around to visiting yours and oh my goodness, I LOVE it! What a gorgeous post, you totally 'get' book shops in the same way as me and a good walk out in the autumn air = bliss. What a spectacle your town managed for Christmas light turning on night - ours is wick, haha. Will be following you from now on xx

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    1. Thank you for visiting Carrie, and for following, I am very happy to have you here.

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  19. beautiful! just beautiful. thank you so for sharing. xo

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  20. What a treat your blog is! I'm so glad you visited mine (new post due tomorrow) because now I have found you. Scrolling down your last few posts I've been struck by your wonderful photographs and also by the fact that the things which make you tick are important to me too.

    I wish you a very, very lovely weekend to come. In true French style one of the things which excites me at this time of year is the promise of good, festive food!

    Stephanie

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    1. Thank you Stephanie, and thanks for visiting. I've really enjoyed your blog, and I'm glad to have found it.

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  21. Beautiful autumn colours. How come your Christmas lights look festive and jolly whereas ours look cheap and tacky? Thanks for dropping by on my blog, it's been lovely to find you and flip back through your last few weeks.

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    1. I have to say our lights are a real mish-mash. But they're cheery enough and the children love them. Thanks for visiting, I loved visiting your blog too.

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    2. Yah really beautiful autumn color. It seems beside blogging , you are a very good photographer also CJ. :) Wish you all the best.

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