Friday Five

Hello everyone.  I hope that you're keeping well.  Today we're experiencing a day of sleety rain so we're staying indoors.  Here are my Friday Five which sums up some of what's been happening in our corner this week.

1.

On Sunday we lit the first of the candles on the Advent wreath.  I used holly from the garden and added some pine cones and artificial berries for colour and interest.

I've been opening the Advent calendar that I've used in recent years and must have bought when the two local grandchildren were younger. The scriptures each day are from the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke and tell the Christmas story.

2.

I've hung up a Christmas wreath outside.  I was hoping to go and get a real one from the florist's to support our local businesses, but I'm behind with all my Christmas preparations and now the cold and wet weather is against me going out for the time being.

3.

Instead I've been concentrating on getting the artificial Christmas tree down from the loft and starting the decorations.  Dancer the Reindeer is kept out all the year around and usually lives in the entrance hall.

I've placed some more decorations in the front window. You can see the rain is coming down thick and fast.

4.

Christmas cards are beginning to arrive.  The above is the first one and was sent by Grandson No 3 and his girlfriend A who  made the card and did the cross stitch robin.  

5.

Finally, the Christmas cacti pot plants that are in the living room and out in the hanging basket in the covered yard are beginning to produce buds and flowers.

Well, this is all the news for now.  I hope you have a good day and a peaceful weekend and I'll catch up with you soon.

Another visit to Bradfield

Our drive last Thursday took us passed the entrance to the Common where I sometimes take a walk and soon we were out in the countryside, surrounded by farmland with several farms dotted here and there.

The above building is the local secondary school.  We stopped so that I could take some photos of the fields and woods.  It was break time for the young people and one group was in the large exercise yard further down the hill.  

 

The post van was out and about.  We appreciate the regular service especially in the remoter rural areas.

Further along the lane is a cottage at the entrance to the Carmelite convent.  I noticed the bunch of poppies on the gate left from the recent Remembrance weekend and Armistice Day.

The villagers of Bradfield keep the flower planters looking good in all seasons.

There's a farm right in the heart of the village with a beautiful monkey puzzle tree.

Here's one way to get over a wall.

Whilst Mr P stayed in the car I took a quick walk along by Agden Brook.  

There are two or three bridges that cross the brook and several paths that take a walker out into the surrounding countryside. 

I was soon back in the village where I passed the tennis courts, cricket pitch and the bowling green....

.....and the post office.  There had been quite a queue outside as people waited their turn to go into the building, socially distancing from one another, but on my way back from my walk they had gone so I was able to take another photo.

It was the same situation at the local café; many people were out and about when we stopped at The Schoolrooms Café.  Restrictions mean take away only is allowed.  People were mainly getting takeaway coffees and sitting in the walled enclosure where the ducks roam around and swim in the brook.  We decided to stay away from the crowds and go back home for a warm drink.  It had been a chance to get out and about and an opportunity for me to take a walk in the fresh air, thanks to Mr P driving us around.

This is a recently carved stone inscribed NHS.

It's a reminder that we should continue to appreciate all the staff of the National Health Service in these very challenging times.

Almost back home now.  Above, just beyond the farmland is the line of trees on the edge of the Common and in the distance are the hills overlooking the Loxley Valley. 

Thank you for your visit.  Have a good day!