Westcott Visit – to Lend a Hand

I was invited to my younger daughter’s so that her husband Tim could lay some boarding in the loft, and obviously enjoy some time with their family; I was to be downstairs in the garden measuring up the planks as directed from the loft, by Tim, and sawing them to the dimensions directed, then passing the cut lengths to Josh, who would then transport them indoors and up to Tim, who was suffering in the heat and the loose fibres from the insulation.

From my observation later of Tim when that task was complete, suggested that I might have been the luckier of the two, since I was in the open air, despite the mugginess, as Tim absolutely needed a shower, and was very itchy. I also had some breaks awaiting the next dimensions, so had grabbed the camera and caught some shots of his garden’s flowers before the sun left the top end of the garden.

Josh had taken one of my offcuts and was intent on trying his skills in the carpentry field, so I decided to step in to offer guidance, since I felt that my steadying hand could offer a degree of safety that would otherwise be lacking. Tim by now down from the loft, spotted the opportunity to pick up my camera and take a record of the event, hence the shots that appear in the gallery.

Later, despite having the wrong lens for the subject, I did get some distant shots of their Red Kites, whilst out with Lizzy, Tilly and Josh as they had a promised cycle ride, I was also able to capture a few more flower and insect shots, that can often be used for cards for Birthdays and other occasions. Since that meant I had fallen back from the others, I found myself confronted by one of the local cats in the middle of the road, and since it was surrounded by an expanse of unobstructed tarmac, I stooped low and slowly approached aforesaid cat taking a few shots with each few steps – at first it had seemed as if the cat was standing its ground to protect its territory, but in reality it was simply enjoying a stroll in the sunshine, but I was grateful for the opportunity it offered due to the expanse of surrounding uncluttered space.

Westcott Red Kites

My daughter unexpectedly needed me to allow her a chance to leave my youngest grandchild in my tender care such that she could visit her loft and dig out some needed documents on a weekday, so I found myself taking a trip to Westcott. Knowing that there was a good chance of sunshine and that the local Red Kite often flew low over the village, I decided I would take my long lens with me in case I managed to get some time after my babysitting duties and ladder-holding to get some bird photography in.

Fortune shone us all that day, for the documents were found, Tilly despite a bad night of incessant coughing was in good spirits and I was rewarded by getting some time taking a few photos, and the sunshine was giving the raptors a chance to soar and thronged at my daughter's end of the village, possibly encouraged by occasional chicken carcasses put out by the neighbour opposite!

Hence this small gallery devoted entirely to the beautiful bird, the Red Kite; one frequent visitor is less than perfectly beautiful that has acquired the name of 'Broken Wing' as it has some feather damage and is therefore more memorable.

Bluebell Wood near Preston

I went for another walk in a Bluebell Wood, close to Preston in Hertfordshire, and parking nearby found something resembling liana vines in a scene from a Tarzan novel. Before entering the wood I also noted how badly this year's weather had damaged our crops – in some fields between 30 and 50% had been lost – a sure sign the cost of our food in the coming year will be considerably more expensive.

I travelled up a lane, and accidentally strayed into the grounds of a cottage, but fortunately I was soon routed back to the public footpath, and despite the very low light levels managed to capture the abundance of bluebells carpeting the wood. The golden brown of last season's leaves formed the pathways through, and the lush new leaves seemed to float in horizontal clouds, with here and there brighter glimpses of open land beyond. There were even a few tentative signs of weak sunshine towards the end of my walk, but even 'fleeting' is an exaggeration for how long they appeared.

After I returned to the car and had a welcome sip of hot coffee, I drove first to Tringford, then on to Westcott near Waddesdon to return my grandson's coat which had accidentally been left behind, and as I approached Quainton, where a Thomas the Tank Engine can sometimes be seen, I spotted a bright Virgin Hot Air Balloon preparing to take off in the evening calm; I took some shots from where I first saw it, then drove to the railway bridge to get a couple of shots as it headed east towards Waddesdon and Aylesbury, and then I headed for Pitchcott and Whitchurch and home.

Tringford and Westcott – In Flight

I paid a visit to Tringford for relaxation and to use just the 300mm lens, I hoped for some glimpses of dragonflies, and the outside possibility of a kingfisher, as one had been spotted, but that was not to be, and in fact even the dragonflies were infrequent visitors, though damselflies were prolific and I caught sight of a lone demoiselle, and a lazy swimming frog. A spider had a well-stocked larder drying in the sun!

I did manage one sharp shot of a dragonfly in flight which was rewarding, in the afternoon as I parked my car I caught sight of a less flitty butterfly that was visiting a single lavender plant, and managed to capture it in flight. The compromise was high ISO making for a graininess of result, and the need for more accurate exposure, so I was lucky.

A Few Westcott Flowers

My daughter needed a rest from the constant feeding, comforting and nappy-changing, so I visited Westcott to give her that respite and naturally to indulge myself with my new grandson.

We went for a long walk around the village to help him sleep, but he took a while to succumb! I spotted a couple of bright white and pink roses by my parked car and after our long walk, whilst he slept, I took a handful of shots in their garden.

Westcott Village Flowers

It is always a pleasure visiting Westcott, and my younger daughter; this visit was to help in putting up plasterboard in the bathroom ceiling – a task she would have helped her husband with had she not been so close to delivering my next grandchild.

Parking the car, I spotted an unusual blue flower which a neighbour assures me is a Clematis, so before I offered my help I asked for permission to delay the start, so I could take a few photos. There were others besides, and even some to which I was invited to see by her neighbour, even some tulips in her own garden, so out came my macro lens and these now form another gallery.

In the confines of the small, but newly extended bathroom, getting the boards in place was soon underway, and after some garden re-organising the day was rounded off with a barbecue.

My daughter’s Westcott garden

England’s summer arrives on St. George’s Day. Friday is not a normal day to spend in a garden unless on holiday, but it proved to be ideal – mildly warm and sunny. It was a day when Spring was not yet over and the birds were in abundance with joyous song and much flirting and flitting about. I saw a robin, sparrows, blue tits and even a goldfinch with overhead, gulls, crows and pigeons. A lone self-set tulip stood proud to be away from the crowd, with a silver birch beyond.