Memorandum Monday: Some of those Scarecrows at Last

 Well as I write this on the last day of October we are completely surrounded by mist. Our elevated position makes this quite common at this time of year. Older daughter has already made a trip to Sedgmoor market with some lambs to sell and the fog is apparently clear as soon as you slip down off our hill.

 It's time to send a wave to Sian to send her all our support and also a wave to all the other bloggers. I am also sending a thank you to all who have kindly sent me messages of support and condolence in the last few days for the loss of my dad. They were truly appreciated. So for us it has been a weekend of adjustment, planning and reflection with time spent laughing and smiling about past times with the aid of old photos and treasured memories. 

 We also took some time to take my mum and my sister to see a few of the scarecrows around the village.  The trail is reaching its end having been running since the beginning of the month. Some of the scarecrows did look a little weather worn. The theme this year was Story Book and there was certainly quite a range. Some familiar to us all such as these two Hungry Caterpillars.

Some I needed some assistance with by the younger generation. The Snail and the Whale is a creation by The Gruffalo author and past Children's Laureate Julia Donaldson. I shall be searching this book out to read to my Great Nephew when he is a little older. Don't forget to look carefully to spot the snail.

Some needed quite a lot of thinking about. This Enid Blyton Famous Five was very cleverly laid out and planned complete with treasure map and ginger beer.

Golly! I forgot to see if there was any potted meat or perhaps Timmy the dog has eaten it.

This other Enid Blyton creation was unknown to me and needed a little google searching when we got home.

Any ideas on this one? No I don't think it is a Portaloo....

You make recall from last year that there were several thefts. We weren't sure if there had been one back at Lilliput that I featured a couple of weeks ago or whether this referred to past misdemeanours.

I have more but guess what? I am going to make you wait till another day to see them!

Something Has Landed

Should you be driving through Winford you could indeed wonder what has landed on the church.

I think it could be Biggles and it is part of the Scarecrow trail. So lookout tomorrow for MORE. Meanwhile the churchyard looks suitably autumnal.

Such Lovely Colour

I stopped for a short while today to have a coffee with my walking friends before they started off on their walk and no this hut is not the cafe!

 I waved them off hoping they didn't get lost without me. I was off to see my mum and sister with many things to plan.

I just took a few moments to admire the Autumn colours.

The colours are certainly at their best at the moment.

My Dad

Thank you so much for all your good wishes and prayers for my dad in his recent illness. Sadly dad passed away peacefully yesterday morning. 

                                

He will be deeply missed by all of us as a husband, dad, grandad and great granddad. 

A banjo player, steam train enthusiast and antique dealer he was never short of interests. Today we have been recollecting stories about him through tears and laughter. We have great memories that we shall never forget.

A Bit of Colour

These grow in mum and dad's front garden. A lovely cheering spot of colour.

Memorandum Monday: A Little Bit of Cheerfulness

I am extending a wave to Sian and all the Monday bloggers. The main thing that I have learnt this weekend is that from my past experience of being a nurse it is far easier to be the busy one rushing around the ward than it is to be the helpless relative.

A little bit of cheerfulness came to give us all a breath of much needed fresh air. This was in the shape of my great nephew who did a grand job of distracting us all.

Come and see us again soon young man!

The Sun Shines

Yesterday was after a foggy start another sunny autumn day.

Much of which we spent visiting dad.

Autumn Around Us

The colours continue to change around us.

My father is very unwell so my posts may be brief or absent over the next few days.

Short Story: Night

Joining Miriam with her Six Word Story. This week's word is night.

Trying out the Walk

Last week my friend and I did a "trial run" or should I say walk for our walking group. It is quite important for someone to test the route prior to the group walking it to check for any problems, detours etc. It was just as well as we managed to take the wrong way twice!

It looks to be a promising walk following the River Chew.

We have sussed a coffee stop in Chew Magna and even a scarecrow to see on route.

There will hopefully be time to look around the church.

And to admire the Autumn colours.

Everyone is always keen to know how many stiles there are. This walk is well blessed with kissing gates which are easier to manage. There is one stile.

It is not compulsory but they can use it if they are feeling left out!

 The climb towards the end is rewarded with fabulous views.

Then the last stretch gives views across the Chew Valley Lake.

I think they will enjoy it and the fish and chips which of course we tried out!

Snap: Tick Tock

A new cafe in the village of Chew Stoke in Bell Lane is built on the site of an old clock making business. The Bilbie family made bells and later long case clocks in the 17th Century in the village. The cafe has a display of clocks on one wall in recognition of this connection.

This gave me an idea to join in with Helena's Snap this week. So I found a few local clocks.

1. Firstly a snippet of a very early church clock built by the above mentioned Bilbie family and still preserved in Chew Stoke Church. 

2. In another part of the Chew Valley in the village of East Harptree this clock rower is at the top of the street.

3. Moving over to Bath a slightly different view of the Holy Trinity Church clock on Combe Down.

4. Looking through the window of Combe Down's tiny museum I spotted this clock. Not the best quality picture.

Have you ever used one of these? Clocking in and out was the procedure for many workers at the start and finish of their shift. This is from one of the old stone quarries. I had a job as a cleaner in a hospital on leaving college where we used such a system. It was not foolproof as far as I recall. It was not unknown at lunchtime to clock back in and then sit down for another 10 minutes or so if the supervisor was not in sight! Do you have any memories of using such a clock?

Familiar but Unexplored

I spent some time with my parents last weekend and during the afternoon went for a little walk around the area. Autumn was very evident in this leafy suburb of Bath.

The leaves are changing.

And rapidly falling. Just right for a kick and a rustle.

I was brought up from the age of 5 in this neighbourhood so knew it well. It was a bit of a walk down memory lane although there has been a lot of new building and definite disappearing of many small shops and banks that are now just private houses.

Passing the parish church I realised that  this not being our family church I had never walked around the churchyard.

 I was surprised to find no graves but a series of undulating banks and mature trees.

I had more to discover. On my way back I walked along by a very high wall that I have passed many times. I was aware of what was behind this but had never seen in. On this occasion however I discovered that around the corner all was revealed. This Jewish cemetery dates back to 1842 and was last used in 1922. 

Hidden behind gates it had been virtually forgotten and was totally overgrown until it was restored.

It includes a small prayer room on the right. I was never aware of the cemetery's  existence until recent years but talking to a lady who lived nearby she told me she had played in there as a child.

It just goes to show what is on your doorstep or in a familiar area that you don't really know.