January Round-Up Blog

What a difference this January has been to last year. This time last year we were enjoying night time temperatures of 25°C and it was mainly dry. This year we have experienced snow covered, almost Arctic conditions. However, the snow did not really get going until the middle of the month and had gone by the end.

On the 3^rd we were able to make a first visit of the year to the allotment. The main purpose was to take up the overflowing waste food bucket and Irene wanted to spread a bit of compost bin. This came as something of a surprise for the poor frog nestling in the warm, rotting pile of organic matter.

The following day had some blue in the sky and we were tempted to trek over Stapleford Hill. It was not until we reached the bottom of the other side of the hill that we encountered any difficulties. During our last 15 years of exploring the area the bridge has crossed such a small amount of water and usually none at all. Today was different. Once over the muddy bridge we arrived at a field which was pure mud and the pathway only usable by the most adventurous. 

The Mud

The Hemlock Stone

So, we retraced our steps, went below the Hemlock Stone and crossed into the walled gardens. We are so pleased that the local authority is still committed to developing the area. One day I passed through and spoke to the gardeners who were planting a beech hedge and clearing up ready for the service around the Holocaust memorial.

Walled Garden showing the Holocaust Memorial

We went through to Bramcote Park and the interesting trees that grow there.

On the 9^th we were to go further afield and ended up at Breedon on the Hill. The church is visible from the A42 and on this day the contrast between sunlit and shaded parts was very marked and we enjoyed a time on top of the hill with mainly blue sky, but interesting clouds, giving some fascinating lighting for photography. 

The Priory Church of
St Mary and St Hardulph

Our lunch was to be down in the village at the Priory Garden Centre.

I can’t remember when the snow actually began, but our friend Jan announced it Facebook on 13^th Jan and my pictures show snow in the garden on Monday. It was to get worse during the week and many of our events in the community centre were cancelled.

Despite the snow we needed a trip out and used the need to purchase seed and seed potatoes as an excuse. Irene was successful in purchasing what she needed from Wilkos in Ilkeston, but I was less successful in finding the variety I needed, even having gone as far as Shipley Garden Centre where I purchased them last year. However, we did enjoy our lunch in their restaurant. The snow on the garden ornaments made for interesting pictures; especially the crystals and ice covered cob webs. 

Gnomes and Buddhas at
Shipley Garden Centre

On the way home we pulled up into a side road to admire the snow covered fields and trees and, of course, do more photography. Irene particularly enjoyed using the camera to photograph the snow laden branches in the hedge row.

On the 19^th there was more snow.

Once more we braved the weather to take the compost to the allotment. On the way we passed one snowman and wondered why he was the only one we had seen. The depth of snow was very evident and the compost had to be left in the greenhouse. Our neighbour’s ducks were particularly quiet.

Two day later, despite the snow, which was now getting less heavy, we made a sortie into Derby. It has become our practice to drive to Spondon and catch a bus in. Not being patient, I decided to get on the first bus in. Mistake. This bus was to do several detours though housing estates. It was a white-knuckle ride as the driver slalomed on the snow covered streets through vehicle parked at random intervals.

 It was lunch when we arrived and we made our way through the snow into the Westfield Shopping Centre to arrive at ‘Subway’. The shopping centre is more modern than those in Nottingham and a Kiwi or an Aussie would be at home there. From the shopping centre we followed the well sign-posted trail to the ‘Cathedral Quarter’.

Our first visit was to the museum and art galleries. I was pleasantly surprised. Although not a new building, the curating of it was very imaginative. Even the stairway had an inviting message. 

There were some old-fashioned galleries, but even then some paintings had been put in frames which protruded from the wall by varying distances. The 1001 pieces gallery was fascinating and the natural history section had specially designed display cases.

From the museum we went to the cathedral. http://www.derbycathedral.org/ Once again this was surprising. It lacked the old style stained glass, but was well decorated with very bright colours. The chapel in the cellar was worth the visit.

The Cathedral of All Saints

I made yet another mistake. The bus was labelled ‘Burrowash and Spondon’. Despite Irene’s protests we boarded it. It did not go through the estates, but it did turn too far north. I checked with the driver, who confirmed that it would go to ‘The Whitehouse’. What he did not tell us that it would be going north to Ockbrook, along the north estates of Spondon, down to Burrowash and would be returning to Derby before passing the stop we needed. However, he was kind enough to let us stay on past the stop and leave us opposite our car.

The 26^th turned out to be the last day of snow for us. We drove into town to buy fresh fruit and veg and I used the time to photograph our town under snow.

From Stapleford we drove off to see our friend Margaret in Stanton Hall nursing home. This was quite a treacherous drive through snow covered country lanes. Once more I had my camera and walked out to take photographs in this quite pretty village.

On the next to last day of the month the sky was blue and a walk was called for; but not too long. Attenborough was to be the destination. First I called in to Wickes to buy brackets for the latest D.I.Y. job before driving on to the car park. We arrived to find a lorry and equipment to spread gravel on the flooded footpaths and notices showing which footpaths were open. It was lunch time. We went over to the centre to purchase refreshments and found that it was possible to sit out on the balcony area. Irene spied a variety of geese we had not seen before and I met a friend who worked at the centre who told us that they were Egyptian geese.

Egyptian Goose

The footpath to the river seemed to be the best way to go. On the way we called into the ‘King Fisher’ hide. Below us was a large bird table. A squirrel had wrapped itself around one of the feeders. Blue tits and robins kept flying in. But below the squirrel was where most action was. There was a pair of mallards, a pair of pheasants, one of them being a vividly coloured male. But, surprisingly, a family of rats boldly mixed in, helping themselves to the falling food.

The main path along the river was closed while dumpers carried gravel to build up the path. The Trent was so full that it was flowing up the Erewash, trees were well submerged and, although we could just make out the far bank, the river was stretching well beyond that.

The far bank of the river is visible but
there appears to be water
beyond right up to the village

When we got home we still had an afternoon and spent it, as we have been doing during the month, working on the railway. I have installed a football field and team. Irene has added a lot to the farm garden and spent some time fixing ivy to some of the other houses.

The Flying Scotsman crossing the canal

Mum's garden.
The compost heap is just to the left, out of shot