Canal Life {Bradford-on-Avon}

This weekend we took a family jaunt along the Kennet and Avon canal, this time at Bradford-on-Avon.
This canal is a favourite of ours and we regularly take a walk alongside it at various spots locally.

 Determined to use the DSLR more I had it at the ready.

The colours, detail and additions to the narrowboats caught my eye; plant pots, woodburner chimneys and even a heron on board.

This time the men led the way having some deep detailed conversation about WW2 as they walked side by side.
Occasionally the boy would look back - not looking for me but with concern about approaching dogs.
We are still working on that.

We found a bench upon which to sit, and shiver, whilst we had our lunch.
I'm determined not to let the weather stop us eating al fresco!

At Avoncliff we stopped to take in the view, avoided the pub, and began our return to town.

Following a selection of rain, sleet and hail the sun came out providing some perfect light and reflections on the water.

Finally, can we mention this boat?!
I love this boat. I'm not stalking the boat, honestly, but it is very similar to one that I have spotted before, and fell in love with.
The colours are beautiful and it looks so inviting.
Just to say I didn't, but I really wanted to peek in the portholes. I have images in my head of what lies beyond.
Every time I see these boats, and walk the canal, it ignites my desire for a simpler way of living.

Maybe one day.

As a weekend getaway.

x x x

The B&W Photography Project no. 6

Door.

Driving out of Bath last week we found ourselves sat in traffic alongside this doorway.
Not your typical Bath Georgian exterior.
The slightly ajar door made me question what lay on the other side?

The original colour image is on Instagram here.

 

x x x

Project 365 2015 #8

It has been half term week so some downtime with the kiddos was in order.
The weather was a mixed bag but we made the most of the sunshine and caught up with friends on the rainy days.
All perfectly planned!

Project 365 #8

Day 46
The husband was at work so I had a lazy day at home with the kiddos. I say lazy - I cleaned the house top to bottom, baked and did laundry. Outside though I spotted the pots that the husband did yesterday. All lined up on the piano. Yes. There is a piano on my patio.
Day 47
Dentist day!! Does anybody actually enjoy this necessity? For once I managed to get through my check up without a telling off or a suggestion to see the hygienist at £40 a pop. Result. Outside the surgery, in the rain, was the town's yarn bombing. We are clearly hip round these parts.
Day 48
A beautiful sunny cold day today so we headed up to Dyrham Park where the kiddos showed me how to use my DSLR. I did manage to take some of my own photos - this being my favourite tree in the world.
Day 49
School day today - the only time I get to go in with my job-share and sort out the room without 30 children under our feet. Luckily it was a morning only job and the sun was still shining so in the afternoon we headed out to Lacock for a wander around the children's trail in the Abbey grounds then ended up in the play park. Here the boy finally mastered the balancing. You may not understand how long this has taken and how I proud I am.
Day 50
The rain came back. All day. Luckily we had plans in the form of friends visiting so I could drink tea and chat and the kiddos could play. Later I chilled with my new colouring book. Can highly recommend.
Day 51
A brighter day today but I needed to get on with a fox costume for World Book Day, Comic Relief and possibly Camp Bestival too. Hopefully I've made it to be robust!
Day 52
Today we spent a couple of hours alongside the Kennet & Avon canal at Bradford on Avon walking, picnicking in the cold and playing at the park. I love the idea of canal life and can never resist a peek at the real lived in narrowboats along this stretch.

Linking up with The Boy and Me...

x x x

Lacock Abbey ~ Spring World

It was only a couple of weeks ago when Lacock Abbey was a Frozen World but now it is definitely heading towards Spring.

Whilst the sun shone this week I took the kiddos for an afternoon stroll around the Abbey Grounds for the children's trail.

Whilst we found out some facts that, despite countless visits, we didn't know, I snapped some signs that Spring is nearly upon us.

In the Botanical Garden the famous Lacock cat sat watching over the Galanthus 'Magnet' snowdrops whilst the Peony buds ever so slowly begin their journey to full bloom. Nearby, the walled greenhouse was bursting with colour, the crocuses in particular catching my eye.

Inside The Brewery we noted inscriptions in the wall alongside etchings to ward off the threat of Witchcraft back in the 1400s to 1700s. The children's trail alerted us to this - it is amazing what you miss when it isn't pointed out to you. The door handle, although nothing of importance to my knowledge, was, for me, needing to be photographed!

Back outside, the grounds continue with their carpet of snowdrops and crocuses. I will never tire of this sight this time of year. Particularly beautiful, to me, were the clumps of crocuses beneath the old tree by the pond. This will always hold a special place in my heart having been proposed to here nearly 15 years ago.

x x x