Today’s picture was sent to me by Fiona, a Langholmite living in Newcastle. It shows a large scale land sculpture called Northumberlandia, an ugly name for an potentially beautiful place. It is a work by Charles Jenks, an interesting artist. And if you look carefully, you can see what the landscaping represents.
I don’t know when Fiona’s husband took the picture (she describes the trip as ‘recent’) but it certainly wasn’t today as pretty well the whole of Britain had a horrible day. It rained gently but persistently from leaden skies from morning until night in Langholm, rendering the day unsuitable for walking or snapping…..or anything much at all. We are suffering from cabin fever.
The highlight of the day was a visit with Santa to Levi’s bike grotto at Longtown. I always like to hold Santa firmly by the hand when she is choosing on my behalf and as a result she has got me some very smart rechargeable cycle lights as I am going to try to cycle in the dark evenings during the winter if I can’t get out when it is light. I shall be suitably surprised when I open the neatly wrapped parcel on Christmas Day. The front light is quite small but Levi assures me that it will be bright enough for someone travelling at my speed. Hm.
I did try to to take a picture or two through the kitchen window but I swear it is getting darker every day.
I am getting to quite like ghostly bird shots.
A sitting target is always easier.
Even in the plum tree.
I don’t know what was over there but it was obviously interesting.
My cold continues to get better owing to my masterly skills at doing nothing but there is still a day or two of life in it yet which is a bit annoying. My son Alistair and his wife Clare are joining us for the holiday season tomorrow so that should brighten our lives up a bit which will be very welcome.
It threatens to be a bit drier later on tomorrow and I am hoping to get out for a short walk.
Another dull post for another dull day.
A brambling zooms through the murk for today’s flying bird.
I always get nervous when hubby bikes home in the dark at this time of year, but he assures me the lights front and aft and on his helmet are bright enough and irritating enough to attract the attention of any motorist. But some motorists are blind! That is what concerns me. On our trek to the mountains today, one turned right in front of us without even looking. That’s when you need an air horn and not a Honda horn.
I haven’t biked in the dark for ages so I hope that I do still have the nerve when I try it.
They pack a lot of illuminating power in small packages these days. I could get a replacement helmet light that is smaller, brighter and longer lasting but it’s hard to convince myself to spend the money as my current light still works.
Levi claims mine will give me an hour and a half on full blast which wouldn’t be enough if I was doing serious training.
Good lights are very important at this time of year. I travel on a “quietish” road, which is pitch black, however cars are allowed to travel at 60 plus, some idiots do go much higher. My lights allow me to be seen a long way off, which hopefully, make sure drivers are aware of me well in advance. I see several cycle commuters on “my” stretch nowadays, some with hardly any or no lighting, and others with incredible luminosity, or overkill (sorry, bad turn of phrase). But at least the latter make drivers know they are there, whereas, those with virtually nothing, run a terrible risk, I wonder how they even manage to see where they are going?
As a driver as well as a cyclist, I sometimes object to the barrage of light put out by some cyclists, especially if it is flashing on and off as it make s it difficult for a driver to see anything else and may endanger pedestrians.
As a driver also, I have to agree with you on that, but I find it very annoying when drivers keep their full beam on when approaching me in the dark.
That is a very bad habit. I hope your cycling goes well in spite of bad drivers next year.
TThanks for that, and I hope the same for you, and that cold of yours has gone. Cheers.
I loved the murky brambling and, of course, the birds in the plum tree. Do hope the gloomy weather lifts soon.