Flaming Skies

 The combination of rain falling, with dark clouds clearing the horizon at sunset, led to spectacular skies this evening. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 18.11.25 

Guess What's Back?

 Got out for a run late afternoon, where the clouds were just beginning to break up after an entirely grey day. 

The run had an objective in mind; to head to the cemetery to see if there are any snowdrops in flower, And sure enough there were! Right where I was expecting, the place they always come into flower first, just the one bunch in flower at the moment, but, they count!

The lake was peaceful, gently rose gold gilded, with the ducks congregating for a feed of grain from a young child. 

The sunset that followed, as I ran along opposite the hospital, was a firey and glorious spectacle. 

Is anything growing where you are?

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 15.12.2024

Sunset Bandstand

 I've accumulated a fair bit of Christmas chub alas, and after barely remembering the taste of non-cream cheese of the low calorie variety, I've found myself eating far too many wedges of Port Salou and blocks of Red Leicester on rich tea biscuits, which are at least the least-fattening biscuits you can get. 

It's going to be a long, tedious and joyless route back to trimness.

Cricket nets are looming this weekend, which strikes me as being a little risky in the current climate, but it's not for that reason I shan't be going. It's my spasmy back, which I intend to rest for at least another week before trying it out with a spot of bowling.

The other big worry is my ankle, I haven't done anything to put any pressure on it in months.

So, after a week back at work in either stygian gloom or freezing conditions, there's not a massive amount to see. But now, ever so slightly, there is a little more daylight, a little more time, to see and do things. 

I can hardly wait for spring.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 07.01.22

White Knuckle Dental Work

It's been a dull wet as hell day today, and so I've not really done very much outside today; my afternoon run was postponed due to endless black sheets of rain coming out of an angry sky.

I have however done two things, one pleasant enough, one less so. I've been scalped at the barber again, as my hair was getting to the length where I tie knots in it again and a curl at the front was beginning to irritate me. So that's gone, and I feel better for it, although the sides are rather more severe than normal.

More horribly, I had to go to the dentist for two fillings in back teeth. The first in an upper molar was no problem, although I find it impossible to relax and was gripping the armrests like I was stopping myself falling off a cliff.

No anaesthetic needed for that.

I tried to go dope free for the wisdom tooth on the other side, but after a couple of seconds of drilling where my nails nearly went through the chair, I ended up having to have about three jabs leaving me with a mouth you could have burnt with a blow torch without me noticing, while the tooth itself still hurt, rather uselessly.

As it happened, the filling I've got is only temporary, and I have to go to a specialist clinic to have the damn thing out, which sounds horrendous and might involve sedation. Luckily it doesn't seem to be hurting at the moment.

Pictures are from last couple of days, when I wasn't being subjected to the "Marathon Man" treatment.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 14.10.19

A Nice Twilight Run

Managed a sort of ok 5km run this evening, after a day when I was so exhausted I could barely rise from the sofa for most of it.

My pace was just over 32 minutes for the 5km, which is hardly earth shattering but seeing as I haven't run even as meagre a distance in this for a while represented some kind of decent progress.

I felt a bit tight chested and a bit sore in my right foot, and while the first is due to a lack of running fitness, the second means I'm always going to have to be careful with plantar fascitis and so I don't think long distance running over 10km is ever going to be an option, at least not in the short to medium term.

My route was basically down to the bottom of the accessible river stretch, then back up and round the park.

You can see from the photos how attractive it was.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 09.09.19

More Howling Winds

Plans to visit the nearby alpaca farm, or Langford Lowfields, or indeed anywhere on my bicycle today were rather shattered when I awoke to my windowpanes being  blasted by rain and gale force winds.

It really wasn't at all pleasant out there this morning! So I just walked to the park, around the park, and through the park to the cafe where I was able to have a very large and  hot cup of tea which I didn't spill into my crotch like I did yesterday.

Then after lunch, a long read and a bit of a nap, I went out pottering again as the wind began to drop somewhat, just taking photographs with the light, seeing if dwarf irises were up in the library park, and just seeing what was about.

I note also that today was "Time to Talk" day encouraging people to talk about their mental health problems. If you are struggling, I advise you to do so, and I wish you well!

And to remember the benefits of the outdoors, as I do.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 07.02.19

Show Off Red Arrows Again

Well, it was a bitterly cold night, leading to a bitterly cold cycle to work with the degree of hand pain telling me it was -2.

Accurate too, as ever!

The ghostly moon faded and sank into her bed as the morning dawn came on, leaving the seagulls almost dazzling bright in the light while the carrion crows looked like nuggets of coal, hard as anthracite.

More man made creatures were also at work, with the Red Arrows doing their practicing a few miles away off to the north over featureless farmland. The hawk jets are invisible, but you can see the smoke trail emitted as the practice looping the loop, then looping the  loop inside their loop the loops.

Us earthbound mortals drink our tea, look out the window and wonder how much pain I'll be in cycling home.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 23.01.18

Shaggy Ink Caps

It is the time of year when the shaggy ink cap grows on our campus wastelands on either side of the cycle path.

I believe also known as "Lawyer's wigs" for the appearance of the fruiting body, a sort of wavy haired effect that drips black at the end as the fungus begins to spore, these fellows are regarded as being quite  a delicacy as long as you get them before that aforementioned sporing.

Indeed, one of the reasons I've not seen so many of them in the last couple of years is that we evidently have some foragers at work who have recognised the goodies under their noses; I remember seeing a girl wandering  off in the dusk gathering armfuls of them last year.

Fair play to her. If she doesn't mind the light dusting of myxamotosis rabbit corpse that probably covers them.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 21.11.18

More Golden Hour

It was another glorious evening, the world was plated in a layer of gold and the sun set like god's own blow torch.

I had to take a couple of minutes to photograph it again!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 18.10.18

The Golden Hour

If last night's sunset was stunning, tonight's actually managed to surpass it.

Between 5pm and 6pm was indeed a golden hour; the light was incredible and gilded everything in the most wonderful way. Even my awful face. Probably.

Still lots of pennyroyal growing out on the grasslands; new growth is coming through. This morning the buzzards were circling low overhead looking for thermals, white underwing patches easily visible. The myxomatosis outbreak is over; no more bunny carrion for them.

Now the night is with us, I'm just back from a run, 5km in 27.07 and I'm boiling hot.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 10.10.18

Sugar Factory Sunset

So it has been my, gulp, 46th Birthday today, although I don't remotely feel that old either physically or mentally.

It's actually been a pleasant day at work, with kind gifts of rum, cake and chocolate, muchly appreciated too. I didn't even stuff myself too much, and most folk near my desk had a slice of chocolate caterpillar. Or "human centipede" as I referred to it.

If you don't get that reference, don't look it up.

The sugar factory, the town's Gotham City type most prominent landmark, is back on campaign, and the unmistakable earthy smell pervades the town again when autumnal winds blow from the north-west. When I'm out running or cycling in the countryside, the roads will be lined with the lumpy brown things, as Blackadder described the potato way back when.

I always find it odd that these most gnarly of roots end up keeping my cups of tea sweet.

The factory looked stunning, against the stunning sunset.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 09.10.18

Crepuscular Spectacular

Well, the  temperature has continued to rise today, resulting in a surprisingly sweaty ride home.

However, it was a beautiful one, because some curiously swiss cheese like cloud formations led to some incredible crepuscular rays as I rode home, bike lights shining for the first time this autumn.

Random alignments of sun and water vapour creating such beauty.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 26.09.18