Romeo and Juliet

 Yesterday evening we were treated to Romeo and Juliet, performed by the excellent British Touring Shakespeare Company.

The programmes were designed by some of the village school children.

It was held in the meadow behind the church

The sensory garden is the perfect setting. The team that look after the garden have done a stellar job in difficult dry weather conditions.

The weather was good, a lot of cloud with a nice breeze, if it had been held on Friday I would have been very uncomfortable with lots of sunshine and 34 deg.

270 people attended.

A beautiful setting, good weather and accomplished actors

made for another wonderful time.

I hope they do another one next year.

 ∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

Brighton

My Ozzie daughter J has never been to Brighton, so we had a trip there last week.
Brighton is a seaside town on the south coast of England. Originally a small decaying fishing town it rapidly turned into an established seaside resort for the rich and famous thanks to the Prince of Wales and its proximity to London.
In the mid 1780's George, Prince of Wales, rented a small lodging house overlooking a fashionable promenade. He had been advised by his physicians that his health would benefit from Brighton’s mild climate and sea water treatments, which included ‘dipping’ (total body immersion into the salt sea water). We didn't even dip a toe in the water, we were more interested in walking around The Lanes, a historic maze of narrow, traffic-free pedestrian alleyways known for traditional jewellers, antique shops, independent boutiques, and lovely eateries. 

I like this shop and had visited last time I was there

 it's full of tat or treasure

I loved this hat but didn't buy it, I'm such a practical person and asked myself "When would I wear it"? and the answer was "Probably never".

This is a very small selection of items for sale,

the shop was almost bursting at the seams! 

Brighton has two very different historical piers: the Palace Pier is an amusement park, while the historic West Pier is now a sad skeleton. It was closed to the public in 1975 after decades of declining popularity. In December 2002 it suffered major storm damage, followed by two suspected arson attacks in March and May 2003 leaving a rusted framework.

But there is a positive outcome though - it now serves as a protected roosting site for local starlings.

oOo

We have been doing some retail therapy, enjoying afternoon cream tea, and going to a lovely lake where my eldest daughter does wild swimming. J and I walk around the lake and then have a picnic in the shade until A joins us.

Last time we were there we jokingly said the ducks were having a meeting to discuss what they were going to do about all those humans in their lake.

Yesterday it looked as if they were intending to sabotage the swimmers! They wouldn't though, ducks and swimmers exist in mutual harmony. 

On the subject of waterfowl I saw the Canada Geese family recently. The gosling with the deformed wings was preening itself and then spread it wings and flapped them and they looked perfect fully open, so hopefully it will be able to fly. Maybe it's just a problem when it tucks them back in. 

oOo

We have been to watch my son-in-law bowling this evening. It's a lovely way to spend a couple of hours with a glass of something chilled. The birds were chirping before settling down for the night, the very quiet bowling and the sound of the bells from the church next door, it is the quintessential English village. 

My son-law's team won.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

Spot The Parents

It's very difficult to identify the parents from the children now!

I'm pretty sure this is a parent

One of the goslings has deformed wings. The Essex Wildlife Trust have received

a number of calls but there is nothing they can do. I've asked around and other wildlife organisations say the same.

The poor little thing won't be able to fly, it will have to do the best it can.

I know it's nature, it happens but it's distressing, and I felt very upset. But watching it for a few minutes it is behaving exactly the same as its siblings, cleaning itself, eating and chasing off any of the ducks attempting to steal its food. A good friend B said "It might surprise you and end up being the strongest" I hope so.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

Happy Birthday

Yesterday my village pub celebrated the first year after re-opening. The AGM was a couple of weeks ago at which we shareholders were pleased to hear that the pub is doing well.

It was busy all day.

A guest singer was in from 1 - 3 and the regular singer was in from 3

The garden was popular

the weather was glorious

everyone had a good time

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

See How They've Grown

Not much is happening here at the moment. We've had work done to the house, cleaning patios, general tidying up, and I have done a lot of work in the garden which is looking lovely.

My friend M and I went to Colchester last week. It was a trip organised by the U3a with an optional onward trip to Wivenhoe. We've been to Wivenhoe before so we decided to stay in Colchester, there are some very nice shops and little alleyways and courtyards with individual shops.

On the way home I did my usual stop at the neighbouring village pond to check in on the Canada Geese goslings.

They spotted the food

Their tail and body markings are developing

They will soon be as big as their parents.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

My Favourite Family

The Canada Geese babies are doing very well

They all went for a swim around the pond

and then the babies decided to go for a walk.

I'm not sure because it happened so quickly,

but I think one of the babies saw off a duck!

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

A Round Up of 2025

 

Burns Night                Happy Birthday               Brisbane Art Gallery

Arlo & Lenny               Wallingford                Open For Business

A Midsummer Night's Dream        Morris Dancers        A (Fairly) Nice Day Out

Rayleigh                Poppies on the Pier                Christmas Tree Festival

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x

Christmas Tree Festival

The Christmas Tree Festival in a nearby village was, as expected, a resounding success with more beautiful, imaginative displays.

Jingle Bells by

Riding For The Disabled was my joint favourite with 

The Starry Night inspired by the Vincent van Gogh painting

by The Sewing and Craft Club

Catch-Up-Cafe Christmas Kitchen

When Santa is Away

I think some of the elves were misbehaving!

Hearts by The Link Club

A joyful heart is good medicine - how true

How clever is this

Austeritree

by The Guides

and this one

Fire & Ice

by The brownies

Robin Hood's Archer Tree with a casket of gold

The inscription reads

In Sherwood's shade where legends are told

Robin Hood smiles on the shimmering gold

"Be fair and be kind"  the brave hero would say

"Take JUST ONE treasure and skip on your way

one keeps it merry - more isn't ok".

The 'gold' was chocolate coins.

Come Dasher Come Dancer Sensory Arts

was lovely

Cymru by Chelmsford & District Welsh Society

Chelmsford Men's Shed showing images of days gone by, workshop things,

items of interest, cups of tea and custard creams! Great stuff.

This was adorable

Teddy Bear's Christmas

And this was very clever, The Fallen Tree by 1st Beavers

The cute beaver has felled the tree!

Bee Merry by 1st Guides

it's a shame I couldn't get a better view. It has little bees on it, bee sayings and bee homes, and the little packets of seeds say "scatter me to help a bee"

Fab..Yule..Ous

by Vanessa Brett Millinery

Girls Can Do Anything by 2nd Brownies

displayed women of influence throughout history

from Marie Curie to Taylor Swift. 

Our WI tree was similar but most of our women were from older generations, although we did include Dolly Parton and Michelle Obama

Trauma Teddies from our neighbouring village WI. They are donated to emergency services to give comfort to young children and help to distract them from emergencies happening around them. 

Cracking Tree Gromit

I'm a huge fan of Wallace & Gromit

unlike the Grinch, I hate it but I think this was very good

Come Fly With Me

How cute is the little balloon

100 Years of the Shipping Forcast

the photograph is Vice Admiral Robert Fitzroy. He 

was an English officer of the Royal Navy, politician and scientist.

and finally

It's a Wrap

rolls of paper attached to a white board, simple and very effective.

I hope you have enjoyed the Trees.

🎄 Be safe and well🎄

Polly x