Late afternoon walk at Shipley Park

Monday was a lovely, sunny, almost Spring-like day, and, as it was the last day of her Christmas holiday, the teen decided we should do something rather than just laze around (yes, that would have been my plan!). 

In the spirit of trying to get more exercise this year, I agreed, but found that after so many idle days, and so much Christmas food, it was a harder walk than I expected. Fortunately, getting out of town, and the stunning sunset made up for the exertion, but I must make time for more walking this year.

October Wood

 October dawned bright and clear - the start of another warm, mostly sunny, day.

But the equinox has passed and despite the strange summery weather, the trees know it's autumn really...

Most mornings the Wood is misty and mysterious

And the view out over the Derbyshire hills already looks bleak.

Scotland 2014 #5 Portobello Beach

 No holiday is complete for me without a trip to the beach - and fortunately Edinburgh has one right on the doorstep at Portobello

And so few beach trips are complete without a dash for the car as the rain moves in!

Super Moon

 We didn't get a clear night here for this week's Super Moon but even so it looked pretty dramatic.



I don't have long zoom lenses for my camera so the moon appears slightly off-round!

Random sunset photos for no good reason

 When I'm on holiday, preferably by the sea, I always try to catch the sunset. At home, I rarely bother.

But last night, tempted by a red sky, I decided to make the effort. I didn't think to take the camera (!) so took the photos on my phone - they're pretty, but probably technically rubbish.

I had to walk through the dog-walking wood to get a clear view and at first thought I was too late but as I walked along the lie of the land made the sun appear to rise in the sky.

The 'blobs' by the sun aren't bits of dirt in the camera or on the lens, but odd smudgy clouds.

Welcoming in July

I'm often up and awake till 3 am at a time when the sky is starting to brighten again but haven't for a long while stayed up all night and seen the sun come up. I'd had a bit of a plan to stay up on Midsummer's Eve and welcome in the dawn but it fell through.
Last night though, with a good clear weather forecast, seemed as good a time as any to give it a go. So after a marathon all-night session of old episodes of Cold Feet, I was off out into the bright morning at about 4:30. I wasn't wanting to see sunrise over bricks and mortar so walked up to a spot where I felt we'd see the sun rise over open fields.
It was already light and for a while we thought we might be too late ...

...but we weren't.

As it started to climb though, the sun disappeared behind trees

..before emerging higher and brighter.

One last look as we headed home to bed - but I'm left with the thought of trying this every month...