Melford Hall

His nibs and I went to Sudbury and Long Melford today and may I ask who turned off the heat? I have sat in an office all week and come the weekend the temperature was about 15f lower!!

His nibs walked around Sudbury but at Melford he decided to sit in the car and listen to Radio 4. My father does not often laugh out load so it was good to see him really chuckle during the Now Show.

I went for a wander in Melford and left him to Listen to a Week in Politics and Any Questions.

Melford is a nice village but it would ssssoooo much nicer with no cars. Still there are some good old buildings.

And so to Melford Hall. It is a smallish house (comparatively) but it's the type of place the National Trust do well. I visited quite a few times but there is usually something new to see.

The next is new a computer generated image of what the Hall would have looked like when it was held by the Abbot of Bury St Edmunds (think that's right). Interesting as you can see the outline in the modern garden.

Beatrix Potter was a cousin of the family and visited frequently.

His nibs cooked a nice Fish & Chips for tea!

Wildlife on the way to work

As I've said a few times my normal journey to work is quite rural and given I'm on the road early it tends to be quiet.

This morning as I was about to enter Epping two deer ran across the road. It's happened a few times over the years at the same spot so I tend to keep my eyes open there (I once had about 20 fly across).

I then entered Little Owl territory, I don't see him THAT often but today he was sat on a footpath sign by the side of the road .... and he was my highlight of the day!

Rye Meads in the sun

I left the back of beyond that is Billingshurst LOL (private joke) in bright sunshine but the fog returned when I got to Kent on the M25 and stayed to about 10:30.

I went for a wander around Rye Meads after lunch.

Annoying there was a Little Gull there yesterday but alas not today!

The sun was shining and had some power. I do love Spring, lots of new growth and when you get warm days you can both sit and walk in comfort.

Lots of Chiffchaffs singing and one or two showed themselves if distant. At one point there was a Chiffchaff, Great Tit and Reed Bunting on the same branch!

West Dean Garden

Well I'm at Trisha's today. It's a very nice house but the location is ssssssssoooooo far out - for those not in the know Trish dismissed the location until I uhm.... ok nagged her and said that there was some promising property there! And actually sent her the link. Think she's grateful now :)

We did a detour to a camera shop where I came out with less than I went it, others didn't...

after brunch we went to the excellent West Dean Gardens....

There were some excellent birds Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Buzzards (lots of) and amongst them a Red Kite.

Cake was Coffee & Walnut and Peach & Fig loaf nice! and the weather was stunning.

As we walked back to the car there were lots of buzzards and I thought hang on those two big birds are flying differently. Stuck the bins on them and ..... Ravens!

St Mary the Virgin, Upwaltham

The unusual flag commemorates the deaths of British, Australian, Canadian and American airmen who lost their lives whilst serving there.