Holiday memories.

When we got up this morning the sun was shining, the sky was blue and we were planning a good long walk. Then our friend Kay knocked on the door to see if we were walking and if we would like to walk with her. Which we did. About a mile from home, it started raining. Then it got heavier so we returned home and dried out.

So instead of a few pictures of our walk this morning, I thought I would post a few of our recent trip to the Greek island of Zakinthos. We went there in October and were extremely lucky with the weather which was sunny and warm for the whole two weeks.We were not so fortunate with the accommodation however which was appalling. After complaining, we discovered that accommodation in Greece is almost all like that so we had to 'put up with it'. The best bit about the apartment was the bougainvillea growing around the terrace.

Looking on the bright side, we had some wonderful walks around the south of the island, through the extensive olive groves.During the holiday we had a trip to the main town on the island - Zante Town and on the way had a wonderful view from a high point above the town.Looking around the town we visited the large church of St. Dennis. The church was beautiful and the decoration, as you would expect of a Greek Orthodox church, was stunning.The Church was right on the sea-front and as the sun went down it took on a quiet and rather magical quality.

Back to our base around Laganas, we walked around the small harbour area every day looking for Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta). We were lucky enough to see a few of these magnificent creatures swimming around the harbour. Please click on this link to see a short video of one. We were also lucky to see several Kingfishers chasing each other around the harbour and particularly around this rocky outcrop which seemed to be their home.Close by this rock was the small island of Agios Sostis and the wooden walkway across to it from where you could see many colourful fish and hundreds of black, spiky sea urchins.Walking 'the other way' from where we were staying, we came to Kalamaki beach. This beach is a protected environment where the turtles lay their eggs. Again we were very fortunate and actually got to see a few hatchling turtles making their way to the sea. I probably shouldn't have done it but one of the tiny, exhausted little hatchlings was finding it impossible to get past the breaking waves and into calmer water, so I picked it up and waded out beyond the breakers to give it a 'helping hand'. Well, I couldn't see the poor thing struggling could I?

The beach was wide and quiet and beautiful and towards the end there were cliffs and rocky outcrops.

The cliffs were made of several different rocks and a large amount of what looked like alabaster crystals which sparkled in the sunshine.Atop the cliffs was an old look-out post which had seen better days and looked about ready to fall on the sunbathers below. Given that frequent earthquakes rock the island it is amazing that it's still there at all!

Back up the hill!

What a difference a day makes! Yesterday was dull and grey but this morning - after last night's rain - was bright and sunny. Best make the most of it because the forecast for the weekend is dreadful. So this morning we decided to head back up Shipley Hill to take a closer look at what remains of Shipley Hall, the old residence of the Miller-Mundy family who I mentioned yesterday. We stopped briefly on the way up the hill to look at the view back down the hill towards what used to be the Woodside Colliery and where until recently, the theme park was situated - looking back towards where we were yesterday. The fine old Sweet Chestnut tree in the foreground looking dark and skeletal against the bright sky and the trees further down the hill. Then, as we turned onto the site of the gardens of the old hall, we were greeted by the most brilliant colours of a couple of Acer trees.They really looked as if they had been painted, the colours were so vivid. I was just saying yesterday how nearly all the 'reds' had gone from the leaves. How wrong I was!Reluctantly turning away from this colourful scene, we took a look at what is left of the hall itself. Sadly there isn't much to see now except the outline of the rooms which made up the ground floor of the building. Here for example we would have been standing in the entrance hall looking into the house. To right and left we would have seen a grand dining room and a billiard room. The green baize of the billiard table now replaced by grass! The ramp in the foreground of this picture is where a large, glass corridor was once to be found.Behind us as we can see the old water tower which was separated from the hall by gardens. The tower is now a private residence with a splendid roof-top terrace. Just the place to sit and sip a gin and tonic in the sunshine! It all looks a bit different from when the Miller-Mundy's were in residence, as this old photo (taken from HERE), testifies.

Shipley Wood.

It has been slightly better weather today - well at least it hasn't been raining. So Malcolm and I did a circular walk from home, past the Ilkeston Hospital and into the Shipley estate at what used to be the main entrance to the Miller-Mundy's estate. The area has seen much activity over the years and has gone from stately home and park to mines and heavy industry. For a brief period the area saw a Theme Park on the site of the old 'Woodside' colliery but even this has now closed and the site lies derelict awaiting decisions about it's future.
There is not much to remind you of the mining past of this area except for the old winding gear left at what was the entrance to the Theme Park.The whole site is still fenced off with warnings about how dangerous and deep the water is and reminding you that Police dogs patrol the site both day and night (no mention is made of dog handlers! Maybe the dogs do it themselves these days - who knows!) Anyway the site is now left to the wildlife. It must be said that the ducks and geese seem to be managing the site better than the humans have done in recent times!Carrying on from the old colliery site, we climbed Shipley Hill up to the site of the old Hall itself. I will post some pictures of what's left of the hall another day but if you are interested, you can do no better than to click on THIS LINK where there is plenty of historical information about the rise and fall of the Miller-Mundy family and their estate.Nottingham Lodge here (originally called Ilkeston Lodge) and it's neighbour Derby (previously Mapperley) Lodge were built around 1911 and are among the few visible signs of the once fine estate. Even these buildings seem sadly run-down and neglected now.Just time to indulge in a little more autumn colour. Although the leaves are becoming rather scarce in places, there are still some beautiful sights to greet you. Most of the leaves are now golden brown and yellow, the reds seem to have all but gone.....Although there still a few tucked away among the gold.

Grey day

Yet another grey, miserable day. So I thought we could do with some cheerful, colourful pictures to brighten things a little. Earlier in the year, Malcolm and I went to Cornwall for a few days. The weather was fine all week except for the first day when it was remarkably like it is today. So we decided to spend the day under cover at the Eden Project and these are just some of the colourful flowers that greeted us. The reds and oranges seem to stand out so clearly against the dark green background leaves, which is of course, why so many flowers and berries are red. The blues looked pretty good too. This Ipomoea seemed to glow in the dim light. Clivias are popular as house plants and looking at large, beautiful, orange specimens like this, it is not difficult to see why. As we headed out of the Eden Project, there was the most fantastic display of tulips to send us on our way. Every colour and shade you could imagine. Tulips never looked this good in our garden! Oh well! Back to reality. Lets see what the weather is doing now....... Oh look! It's still drizzling!

It's raining again!

Not much chance of a walk today.

It's one of those days when it isn't really raining, it's just drizzling, dark, misty, damp, murky, cold......need I go on? I think we all know what I mean. Oh Well, maybe tomorrow will be fit for a walk.

Nutbrook Trail

After the nasty weather yesterday, it was nice to get out and about again this morning and in spite of the grey skies it turned out to be a good walk. We decided to follow the Nutbrook Trail towards Sandiacre - a route we had not previously taken. The fields were certainly very wet after all the recent rain and in parts they were completely flooded. The water was flowing from one field to another, across the grass and through a hedgerow... ...eventually it found it's way into a nearby brook and flowed away in a more usual way. The Nutbrook Trail follows the route of old branch lines which once served the nearby Stanton Ironworks, as well as numerous coalmines. There are many reminders of this long-gone industry as you walk the trail.

Running everywhere along and around the trail are countless brooks and streams. Many of these are full of wildlife and even at this drab time of year there are still plants to be found, like this diminutive plant. Duck Weed is common enough but still looks good. More bridges criss-cross the path and make you wonder what the area must have been like when the heavy industry of the area was in full swing. It must have been a very different sight then.

Turning to head back home, we got the strangest feeling that we were being watched......!

Passing under yet more bridges - this one carrying the A609 Derby road - we returned to Straws Bridge lake known locally as 'Swan Lake' and then back home for a hot cup of coffee.

November already

So we have survived Halloween. This year it all passed us very quietly in contrast to the last few years. Last night we were spared the sight of gangs of hoodies terrorising the neighbourhood, 'egging' houses, throwing other missiles and abusing all and sundry, as we saw last year. We didn't even see teen aged mothers thrusting babies in pushchairs into any opened door and demanding money with menaces as we got in 2006.
Last night we were ready for them but got nothing - hooray! The only sign of Trick-or-Treat was a few small children dressed as witches (and looking better than they do going to school), parading around the streets and not even knocking on any doors. Which beggars the question, 'why bother?'

Anyway, the cold and drizzly weather today makes you wish for summer sun and warmth - the sort of weather we had in Benidorm in January this year. Avoiding the bustle of the high season (not to mention some of the British Tourists!), we had a wonderful time walking around the cliffs and headlands to the north of the resort. Looking back towards the town you get a real idea of the scale of the place.The hill certainly gives a great vantage point and you get a close-up view of the famous cross which stands high above the town and is lit up at night. The flora of the area was wonderful with so many flowers blooming in the early spring weather. These Hollow Stemmed Asphodels (Asphodelus fistulosus) were everywhere. As were these beautiful, blue Shrubby Globularia (Globularia alypum).

And the bright yellow of the Vetch (Coronilla valentina) looked particularly good in the sun.

A little further round the coast we came to the cliffs. A spectacular sight and an internationally important site for wildlife.

Back into town and passing by the more rowdy parts, you get to the old town and the site of the old castle - sadly no longer there - but now a very popular and beautiful view point.

As the sun goes down you can watch it from the lovely square in the old town.

As it gets darker and things quieten down, there are few places as nice as this.

And a world away from rainy England........