What a wonderful place to live

Just four Fridays until it's Christmas Day! 

I always think there's loads of time, then bang, get to the end of November 

and any time there is just runs away from you.

It was back to work for me on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday ...

...but I got out with Sam on Wednesday, up in Ivythorn Woods. We crunched our way through autumnal leaves, past fiery red holly berries and then saw daffodils, out in full flower - it's November!!

So we've survived Lockdown round two, week 3, with a few more lovely walks ...

...and started Lockdown week four, with a beautiful cold, frosty morning.

It was stunning! 

Cold, frosty, misty, blue skies breaking through, so I decided to head down to the Levels and walk along the River Brue.

A lone fisherman on the banks of the river Brue.

Here are just a few highlights from my walk. I literally took 100's of photo's. 

I do share all my pictures over on various Instagram pages

@beckydotsandspots

@peapics50

@fab_fungi

That same evening, I persuaded Sam to come with me to Ham Wall, to witness the starling murmurations. I've been once before with Jeff but Sam has never seen them. I was prompted into action after watching a black shadow move silently across the Tor the day before, for a good 20 minutes and more, as the starlings returned to the reed beds at Ham Wall to roost.

It is the most incredible sight, definitely a bucket list item.

The above pic was taken by Sam

And this one attempts to show you the sheer number of starlings coming in to roost.

I have so enjoyed lockdown for making me get out in my local area again. I have all these fabulous places on my doorstep, literally within a 5 mile radius as the crow flies from my house. I've not ventured further afield, as it's lockdown and any other journeys wouldn't have been 'essential'! I won't go mad once lockdown is lifted, as to be honest the situation hasn't really changed but I do want to go back over to Stockhill woods, Wells and go see what the Newt is like over in Bruton, as I bought tickets for my birthday, which we felt we couldn't use.

But when you have this, en route to your Tesco supermarket run, 

a quick burst up Wearyall hill to see this magnificent view....

...and Glastonbury Tor emerging from the mist.

Jeff's had a rare Saturday off today, so we've just got back for a quick walk up on Collard Hill, not the beautiful frosts of the past two days, very foggy and damp but a much needed burst of fresh air.

Spotted my first catkins too!
So far I've seen daffodils in full bloom, all my bulbs are poking through, the magnolia tree out the front  is in bud and now catkins! Given the year it's been, nothing surprises me!

Have a good week - back to work tomorrow for my three day burst! It's getting busy, adding in a little overtime too, so got to make the most of my time off in between.

Seriously, where is November going???

In all seriousness - where is November going? The 21st already!!

And only 5 weeks to Christmas!!

Maybe because I've had time off, managed to get out for a few walks but the time is just flying by. This was Jeff and I last Sunday, a windy blast of fresh air up on the Poldens, a change from work.

On Monday I headed over to Lollover Hill in Compton Dundon. 

A very muddy, race against the wind and rain.

I worked on Tuesday and then on Wednesday dashed up Wearyall Hill in Glastonbury. 

Just a quick burst of fresh air before the rain arrived.

And that marked the end of week two of Lockdown, round two!!

Thursday was the best day forecast, so I was up and out early, in the car park by 8.20am. My aim was to walk the final section of the Polden Way to Hurcot Hill, pictured above

It was sooooo muddy, made it really hard walking but I kept at it, 3 and half hours of continual walking and I was super proud of myself by the time I got back to the car.

I did take time out to photograph a few bits along the way!!

On Friday it rained all day but this arrived in the post to cheer me up. A belated birthday card from a Uni friend, my partner in crime for many years, she was there with me, the night I met Jeff. We always had THE best time on a night out!! Big smiles, bright red lippy, a little drunk!!

Anyway Friday was also pay day and we we've been given a little extra discount, for four days at work. So I went Christmas shopping!! Bought all the store cupboard stuff, jars, pickles, jelly, crisps, nuts, crackers, panettone, christmas pud, wine, loo rolls etc. Of course the hardest part was finding a home for it all, remembering where I've put it all and hoping it's all still there come Christmas!! Might do a smaller round two on Monday, just in case we don't get as much of a discount again!! I doubt it. Always worth making the most of these little extras when they come along.

Saturday and I persuaded this one to come out for a walk with me! Working from home, she can spend days where she doesn't even leave the house. She's always been one for the rules and with a huge fear of dogs, she doesn't enjoy going out walking but because Ham Wall is a RSPB reserve, dogs are not encouraged and have to be on a lead, so she had no excuse. We had a lovely walk and we left with the promise she'd do it again!! 

Anyway my time off is coming to an end. I've enjoyed having no set agenda, just being able to get up and go out walking, on my own, wherever I fancy. It's been nice having nothing specific to do, a lot more restful! I'm not looking forward to going back to work, it's already starting to get busy and I do find the increased responsibility quite stressful. Gone are the days when I was just on a till chatting away to the customers.... I miss it. I now run around like a little crazy, mad woman, running and doing customer service.....anyway just four Sundays to go, as I've one booked off, to put up the Christmas tree!! Five Mondays but one of those might be until midnight!! Five more Tuesdays, plus a bit of overtime thrown in for good measure. It feels awful counting down like this, work is always better when it's busy but we're often short staffed, so are doing above and beyond anyway. I'll need a bit more holiday the way this is looking but sadly have only 24hrs and 50 mins remaining until March 6th 2021!

 

Mid November already???

So walking is still my happy thing to do. I've been on holiday, holiday booked last year, if I cancelled it to rebook it, where and when would I book it for before March!?!  So I decided to take it anyway and if dry, get out walking.

Having worked the Monday, on the Tuesday I got up and out early and walked up and around Dundon Beacon. This it photographed from Coombe Hill Woods. 

Annoyingly my walk didn't quite go to plan, as I met someone I knew from yoga walking her dog and sort of got hijacked into a fast paced walk to the top, where we then parted ways and I finished with a more leisurely amble through the woods!! It was lovely and I will go back to explore some more.

On Wednesday, after a quick Sainsbury's shop, I headed over to Combe hill woods. It was a race against the rain, forecast to arrive later in the day. I spent a good couple of hours, even Remembrance Hour in the woods, on my own and it was lovely.

Thursday and the promise of a sunny morning, I got up early and headed up Glastonbury Tor. Now I've not been up the Tor for a good year and a half. The last time I went there was when the festival was on and we went to see how much of the festival we could see. There were a few people around but not as busy as it has been during the first lockdown and the summer, that's why I'd avoided it- too busy!

I spent a good couple of hours after my initial climb to the top, meandering around the sides and lower area of the Tor and found an unexpected amount and variety of fungi to photograph.

Friday, another dry day, I got up early and headed over to Shapwick Heath Nature Reserve, neighbours with Ham Wall RSPB Nature Reserve, both within my 5 mile radius from home. It was so quiet to begin with but by the time I left, it had got quite busy. It felt good to be outside and make the most of the good weather as rain, continuous rain!! was forecast for the weekend.

And so Saturday, my 50th birthday, it rained ALL day! 

Not to worry I had a lovely day, felt totally loved and spoilt rotten by friends and family. All things considered, being in lockdown, everything cancelled, I had a lovely birthday.

Now to embrace my 50's!!

 

The BIG 50!!

I'm 50!!!!!!

Came down this morning to a room full of balloons!! 

Had always said I wanted the big helium 50 balloons but of course they're not an essential item in Lockdown!!! So Sophie surprised me with these.

Had 'sparkling' panettone for breakfast, what a treat x

I had such plans for my 50th! Have never really celebrated a big birthday other than my 21st when I threw myself out of an aeroplane and did a parachute jump!! Big trips to Florence with my sister and Barcelona with Jeff were obviously cancelled!! Trip to Plymouth to see Deacon Blue play tonight obviously cancelled too. Trip to The Newt for lunch with my sister then cancelled too, and even a walk up the Tor with Sam cancelled, due to the rain!!!! There's a theme.......so I'm cancelling turning 50 and going to stay 49 for another year, simple! I still feel 21 some days!

I've had some lovely presents, plus my camera.....

...and some lovely flowers.

I've eaten so much food.....

Sophie made me a cake....

....I taught her well!! 

Sam treated me to a 'Birthday Banquet' for lunch....

...and continuing with tradition, 

the first 'proper' mince pie of the year, on my birthday, always.

And a Chinese takeaway for tea, no cooking for me x

Finishing off the days celebrations with cake!!

All in all, a lockdown birthday made super special by family and friends.

Thank You xx