The weekend of 14/15th May 2022.

Sorry I've been neglecting my blog again, health issues keep getting in the way, so for now am working on my family history again, last week or so been working on my wife's tree, her paternal side are from Chaddesley Corbett, so yeaterday we spent a little while in and around Chaddesley taking photos, when viewing Parish records they often reveal the area of the parish in which people were living, some which pop up now and then are Mustow Green and Harvington, which I will add on another day, Chaddesley interests being Woodrow, Bluntingdon, Tanwood, Brockencote, Lark's foot Hill, now Lark's foot hill has got me beat to be honest, I personally think it is where the point to points are held, but I am most probably wrong, if you know the answer then please contact me spennellspensioner@gmail.com 

Anyway let see a few photos: first three are from Woodrow, an area I know well as we used to live only half mile from Woodrow Lane.

Bluntingdon next, at the end of Woodrow Lane.

Cross the road to where the white houses are and you are in Tanwood.

A drive of a mile or so along Tanwood Lane will lead you to Chaddesley Woods.

Come back and turn left into Chaddesley Corbett

    

                                       This one is at the bottom of Briar Hill looking back up.

Stewards Cottage at the foot of Briar Hill

Looking toward the woods from Briar Hill

The Holloway, very narrow lane leads back to woodrow, cross here and nice walk to

Hillpool, lovely waterfall at the bottom of the bank, looks best after some rain.

Took this one a few years ago.

The village centre, always lots of parked cars.

Not the best view but church covered in scaffolding at the moment.

St Cassiens, I took this one a couple of years ago.

Brockencote

Brockencote Hall

Bridge on the main road outside Brockencote, few names here.

Brockencote from the main road, (Bromsgrove Road)

The village Hall

Top of the bank past the point to point for Clattercutt Lane.

Back to the bottom of the bank, looking back up from the school, 

could this have been Larksfoot Hill?

Next mission will be a few photos from Harvington.

 Cotswolds

Friday 18th Feb 2022

Lovely day so we popped over to the Cotswolds, had a look round Blockley which is where they filmed a lot of Father Brown, then off to Chipping Camden, some lovely cottages round there, then a walk round some lanes before we went to Snowshill Manor for our lunch, followed by a walk round the village which I must say is beautiful and so well kept, then a scenic drive home, won't be long before we go back.

Here's just a few photos from the huge amount that I took, again Canon 700D & 15-85 lens.

Saturday 19th March 2022. 

An enormous catch up.

Thought it's time to bring the blog up to date, sorry but illness got in the way, one of the problems of getting old I'm afraid.

Have been out and about quite a lot this past month or so, to be fair I had no intention of going out during the first couple of months in the year, the weather was awful.

Right then, although I am still doing some photography in my local area, it's not enough to keep this blog going, so my blog will now include all my photo excursions, my nature photos are now restricted to my Canon 7D with 300mm lens and my Canon sx60, my Canon 700D will also do some nature but mainly be used for landscapes.

My Tamron 150-600mm lens has gone, mainly to the fact that it is too much for me to carry now, I miss that lens so much but it just had to go.

Before I start adding my photos I will say that I have joined gurushots.com, a fun way of showing and competing in photography, costs nothing so thought I would give it a go.

Lone Great Crested Grebe, there were two on Captains Pool a few days ago but the one has now sadly flown away much to the disappointment of this one. Canon 7D & Canon 75-300 lens.

Candian Goose drying off, same camera as above.

Daffodils on the walk to the pool, same camera as above.

Old Silver Birch trunk on walk up to pool, same camera as above.

That was this morning, this afternoon we had a walk round Harvington, one of our favourite places as we used to live there, now live just a couple of miles away.

These photos were all taken with Canon 700D and Canon 15-85mm lens, what a cracking lens this is, days out and this is the one that goes with me. The 700D is also a cracking camera, the flip screen means it is easier to get low down shots.

Chimneys on Harvington Hall.

Tree at rear of the Hall

Rear of the Hall

Rear of the Hall

Berry Lane

Berry Lane

New camera.

 Been a quiet month, had the odd few days out, spent a few hours in Evesham and on the way popped to Wick and found this lovely field, shame it was dull when we arrived.

Took these next two photos with my new compact camera, Sony RX100M2, very very pleased so far, it is as sharp as they come, main reason for buying it is that it will fit into my trouser pocket quite easily, I've never used a camera so small, will keep you informed on how it goes.

Now thinking of buying an attachment which will enable me to use some close up filters, the macro on this will get me in as close as 5cm, the two hoverfly shots here I have cropped by well over 100% and they are still very sharp.

Marmalade hoverfly by Captain's Pool, literally millions of these about at the moment as the majority migrate from Europe.

Scaeva Pyrastri also by Captains, love the markings on this hoverfly.

A selfie from my new Drone, daughter got me this for my birthday, lot more practice needed, camera seems impressive, so hoping to post a few drone shots soon.

Note, I was sat in a field but no crop on this part and as my mate is the farmer I just sat where he told me, plus he was there helping me.

The BIG catch up

June 2021

Robin in the garden

Drinker Moth caterpillar, Chaddesley Woods.

Bluebells, Chaddesley Woods.

One of my watercolours below, am getting some practice indoors for now as I haven't painted for a few years, but am intending at some point soon I can get outdoors locally and paint outside, if anyone is interested in joining me then please let me know, spennellspensioner@gmail.com There are many places of interest around our area, Spennells, Stone, Chaddesley, Clent and of course there are lots of National Trust properties local. Probably more fun if we could get a small group together, say 3 or 4 of us and meet up for a few hours with the paints. I've already got a few spots in mind, if no one wants to meet up then no problem as I will go on my own. Beginner or experience, won't make any difference.

Public footpath, Stone, ideal spot for a bit of painting perhaps.

Chrysotoxum Cautum, Hoverfly

Hoverflies, mating by Captain's Pool.

Goldfinch outside my house

Knot Grass caterpillar, Spennells.