Winter in the New Forest really doesn't get much better than this.
Up early for breakfast in Lyndhurst, the ground white with frost and clear blue skies, positively lifts the soul.
Shame that we've had rain pretty much every day sine these pics were taken.
Merry Christmas
The lobster pot Christmas tree, on the town quay Emsworth looking splendid as usual.
Local church St John's at Locks Heath held a Christmas tree festival, local schools and club were invited to decorate trees with a theme. I didn't count how many trees there were but the church and the church hall alongside were full of wonderfully decorated trees. To add to the event local musicians were on hand and refreshments were being served on a cold and dark Saturday afternoon.
Suitably decorated in musical theme The Joy of Singing by the Sheppard Singers.
Probably a good reminder as we go into Christmas and the all too usual over indulgence, St John's Slimming World tree, probably will pick up a few new members in the new year :O)
Celebrations vs Heroes by the Churchwardens, bit of a play on words as both are chocolates, a good way to celebrate our heroes
This was really lovely, you could write a dedication or memory to someone on a paper star and hang it on the tree which was very popular as can be seen.
Local Beaver troop (where Joseph got started with Scouts) - you can't help but smile.
The cold spell that has been around for almost two weeks is coming to an end. With the wind swinging around from the north to the south replacing the cold with warm air from the Mediterranean and north Africa temperatures were set to rise from all day sub 0 degrees C rising over the weekend to reach as high as 12 degrees C today.
Unless we have another cold spell this might be the last we see of the cold landscape for a while.
Above the ponds at Holly Hill, in the foreground presumably the constant motion of the water has kept the surface clear while the upper pond is solid.
Ice capped mud on the little creek by Brooklands.
Following the Itchen Way out of town are the remains of Wolvesey Castle, know as the Old Bishop's Palace. Now in ruin but sympathetically stabilised. The original site dates back to 970 and was briefly fortified during the later years of Henry of Blois, the Bishop of Winchester around 1126.
The Itchen trail follows delightful water meadow out beyond the city limits.
The water is fast flowing and crystal clear filtered as it is by the chalk hills of the south downs.
The cathedral is a major landmark, visible from the surrounding hills and is perhaps one of the finest medieval cathedrals in England and even Europe. I'm sure the cost of upkeep is huge but I do have an issue with the church charging £10 for entry, that seems very counter to it's purpose.
A fine settled day for a ride along the coast from Gilkicker, Stokes Say, Lee on Solent and finally stopping off at Hillhead. Two local fleets were out sailing in the light airs, looking westward Hillhead SC
And looking eastward Salterns SC
One of the last rides of the season before I put the bike away for the winter, I don't like cleaning and polishing much so keeping the winter dirt and especially road salt off the bike is a good way to go.
With a low over the Baltic and high pressure in the Atlantic we've had cold, northeasterly winds culminating in a spectacular clear sunny day.
Even at midday the ornamental lakes in Holy Hill were frozen, no where near enough for skating solid enough.
Sun over Bunny Meadow
Doesn't get much better, white frost still hanging around in the shadows
We were in France again for the autumn half term holiday, quite a few people ask what the Eurotunnel between England and France is like, and for us the answer is really good. Our experience, as you arrive the terminal the number plate recognition systems pulls up your details instantly, stop for a coffee and stretch legs after the journey down to Folkstone by which time it's time to drive onboard the waiting train.
Above, we were the first car on the train, would have been interesting to record the distance 200 or 300 meters maybe. After that it's sit back, in my case snooze and half an hour later drive off pretty much straight onto the French motorway.
This year especially, both the French and English passport/customs checks have been very smooth, even with the post Brexit changes.
Especially at this time of year it beats bouncing around for hours on a ferry like we used to.
We stopped off in Coquelles for something to eat, maybe not typical French food but they do serve beer in McDonald's.
Noirmoutier-en-iles apart from being a charming place has more than a few classic wooden boats and it;s own wooden boat regatta. Sadly we has missed it.
A very off looking craft and rig seen on the Medina, sadly too far out for a better look or picture.
Nice surprise this morning at the start of advent.
Twenty four cans of beer, given that I don't actually drink much these days might be a challenge or the opportunity to get some help in to work through the variety of festive ales.
Today's starter beer is Viennese larger, cooling in the fridge.
Interesting that in many eastern European churches, the nativity Fast is a similar period of penance and preparation that occurs during the 40 days before Christmas, given the excesses most of us indulge in over Christmas that might perhaps be a more sensible preparation.
However you engage with Advent, most would see it as a see it as a time for hope and joy which we could all do with more of in the world today.
A few local classics at the Elephant Boatyard, the dark water reflecting the high trees does seem to set them off very well.
Above just about my perfect boat, powerful, lovely sheer, stepped coach roof. Below although not especially a fan of canoe stern, Saluki is really lovely.
Much as I actually enjoy varnishing, I prefer to see this much on someone else's boat.
Gipsy Moth IV is a 53 ft (16 m) ketch that Sir Francis Chichester commissioned specifically to sail single-handed around the globe
What better spot to chill in the early evening after a day on the water.
From a distance I thought this was slab sides Phil Bolger type boat only to realise that it had full topside protection deployed.
Walking past, it's actually quite a pretty boat, presumably the maroon topsides are subject to fading with the strong sunlight. The starboard side was facing south west and port north east so guessing the reason for the asymmetric cover.
Back in the balmy summer we cycled up the old railway track from Yarmouth and then out to Freshwater bay
Open to the south west it can probably be a wild and windy spot during winter gales, but this settled morning it was perfect, calm and the water crystal clear.
Later taking the coast road south above Blackgang Chine, the view back to Freshwater and the cliffs of Tennyson Down.
Not exactly what one would expect to see on an island on the west coast of France, this little boat has the distinct look of a Cobble from NE England
Be interested to know if it was an imported boat or if the characteristic tumble home to the rear topsides and the cod's head widest beam forward are local features.
Above view to the west from La Guérinière looking out into the Atlantic. Below on the eastern side looking into the bay of the Cote de Jade and mainland France.
Access to the island is across a new bridge or you can brave the causeway when the tide is out as below, not a place you'd want to break down.
There are three large villages and miles of beaches which were almost deserted when we were ther in late August.
Really good slipways, presumably built to support the local oyster farms, but equally good for recreational boating with acres of free parking.
Fantastic place on the settled days we were there, probably very different with a winter gale blowing off the Atlantic, but no less spectacular.
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