Golden leaves and blue skies

In between today's hail and rain there was a glorious period of sunshine - just in time for this morning's dog-walk.













 I had to take the camera along again, as I can't get enough of this autumn's glorious colours

Branches and trunks

As the leaves fall, branches come into their own......
the bare bones of the trees showing through

The woods are lovely ..... sunlit and golden

 I could spend all day at this time of year strolling round the Wood trying to take in all the combinations of yellow, russet and gold - and, of course, taking endless photos. Here are just a few of those I took last week...

 There's always something slightly mysterious about woods but especially so with sunlight shining through the leaves.

Y Gwyll/Hinterland

 The winter nights are drawing in so it's time to settle down with the latest foreign language crime thriller on TV.
Well, not quite on TV this time and not quite 'foreign' language either because although Y Gwyll has the bleak landscapes, brooding skies, and Volvo-driving detectives it isn't the latest in a long line of Nordic Noir imports but a new Welsh-language production from S4C. This is where the 'not quite on TV' aspect comes in, as I can't get S4C on my Midlands-based Freeview, but was intrigued enough by the word I'd heard on Twitter to catch it on S4C clic  with the English subtitles option.
Did it live up to the hype?  Well, I must admit I was a little surprised when within the first hour, the investigating team of detectives seemed to be well on their way to solving the case. I had, for some reason, being expecting a long drawn out story arc such as seen in  Broadchurch or The Killing, but I'd got it wrong. The first case - the murder of an elderly woman formerly in charge of a children's home - filled two hour-long episodes, and I assume this is the format to be followed in future weeks. So far, it's gritty 'real crime', with a lot of blood but no stomach-churning violence.
It's set in and around the seaside town of Aberystwyth with the wintry countryside showing a dark and barren aspect. For emptiness and bleakness, it definitely rivals anything Scandinavian.
I'm a bit disappointed that the BBC haven't picked it up to show in their 'foreign crime' slot but presumably they think there's more audience for Scandinavian or French drama. Hopefully, the word about it will spread and we'll see Y Gwyll on mainstream TV in future.  I for one will be watching again some time this coming week - probably after the next two episodes have been released on line, so I can see them together.

Weekend away - part 4 Seaside at last!

 

At last we reached the Norfolk coast - well, almost, as Wells next the Sea isn't quite on the coast but has a proper fishing village feel with boats, people trying to catch crabs on the quay and shops selling buckets and spades.

Away from the quay is a network of streets where it's possible to imagine Wells as it was before tourists.

Then one last stop - Hunstanton, to watch the sun set into the Wash before we headed home

Weekend away - part 3

 Norfolk at last!
 After getting side-tracked through Lincolnshire on day 1, there were only so many places we could visit before heading home.




Fortunately we had an extra hour due to the clocks going back so started the day with a sunny morning pottering round Holt.

which is quaint even when the dustbins try to hog the spotlight.

I could have spent all day exploring alley-ways and browsing shops but, only having one day in Norfolk, we wanted to pull in as much as possible..

 Yet another National Trust property - Blickling Hall - where a lot of time was spent with my head tilted back to see their magnificent ceilings. I rather fancy the painted one to replace my 1980s artex :)

After a short walk round the gardens and lunch in one of the cafes, it was time for the most important part of our trip - on to the seaside!!