Romanesque Cabbage Detail

This has got to be the most psychedelic-looking vegetable ever! You really can lose yourself in the intricate fractal beauty of a Romanesque Cabbage!

Elveden Forest, Norfolk

Elveden Forest

Elveden Forest is believed to be alive with faery magic. Passing the forest on my way home from my holiday weekend in Norfolk, I could not help myself but stop off here to stretch my legs a little, despite my recent back injury. I was unable to walk very far into its magickal terrain, but I hope I captured a sense of its beauty and enchantment in the few photographs I took of the forest.

Sunshine Seeping Through The Leafy Boughs Of Elveden Forest

There have been numerous reports in Elveden Forest of faeries luring travellers away from their paths and into the faery realm. Beguiling music, the tinkling of bells and strange ethereal laughter have all been reported beneath the boughs of this magnificent forest. Such is the strength of this faery folklore that the forest even takes its name from these strange, alluring tales:  Elveden - literally the den of elves. 

Be Careful Not To Be Pixie-Led in Elveden Forest 

Heading Home With An Ouch!

Ouch! I woke up this morning with excruciating lower back pain and very limited movement. The only thing that I can think could have caused the injury was my collecting fallen twigs and branches from the surrounding woodland for our campfire the night before! Still, a seven plus hour drive home awaits. Thankfully, we wife will be at the wheel...

Time To Head Off

A Father's Day Evening in Burlingham

My last evening in Norfolk. It was a lovely birthday weekend and it was fantastic spending some time with my daughter again :) We (my wife, my daughter and myself) sat around the camp fire chatting and making the most of our time together.

Chilling and Chatting Round the Fire

Unfortunately, whilst I was collecting wood for the fire I did my back a bit of a mischief, the consequences of which I wouldn't feel until the next morning.

Yours truly collecting wood for the camp fire

Despite the lower back pain that was waiting quietly to plague me in the morning, I thoroughly enjoyed the evening and will treasure the memories of my birthday weekend :)

Warming up our yurt for the night ahead

A Blackbird and a 450 Year Old Horse Chestnut Tree

I fell in love with this old chestnut tree whilst staying in our Norfolk yurt last week. It repeatedly drew my attention and got me exploring it on numerous occasions. If ever there was an enchanted tree, then this was most definitely it!

Sunrise at the 450 Year Old Chestnut Tree

Sunset at the 450 Year Old Chestnut Tree (pictured on the left)

I also fell in love with a characterful Blackbird that was nesting in this tree. He really was a bit of a chatterbox.Unfortunately, I did not manage to photograph him but you can hear his dawn chorus call here and in the clip below you can hear the slightly different call he made each evening:

The Blackbird's evening call was apparently made to deter other Blackbirds from entering and roosting in its territory. This magickal tree was its domain and he was intent on keeping it that way! :)

Elm Hill, Norwich

June 19, 2019

My daughter took me on a tour of her favourite places in Norwich last weekend, during which she led me up Elm Hill. This is without doubt the most picturesque street in the city. Indeed, its scenic beauty has led it to being rated as the seventh prettiest street in the whole of the UK!

Elm Hill, Norwich

The street is probably most famous for being used as a set location for the classic fantasy film based on Neil Gaiman's excellent novel Stardust. You can view some great pics of the street being transformed for the movie here.

Horsey Wind Pump, Norfolk

On our way to Horsey Gap the other day we stopped off at this impressive building - Horsey Wind Pump.

Horsey Wind Pump is a drainage windmill situated on the Norfolk Broads. It is a Grade II listed building. Its current structure was built in 1912 and the construction was carried out on the site of the original 18th century Horsey Black Mill. It was designed to drain water from the surrounding land that that it could better be used for farming. The windpump remained in working order until 1943, when it was struck by lightning. The National Trust is currently managed by The National Trust.

Horsey Wind Pump

The building is said to be haunted by the sounds of playing children who drowned in the nearby waters and the fact that the wind pump leans to the west is explained by a lovely piece of folklore.

Horsey Wind Pump

A man, desperate to own some of the land adjacent to the wind pump, wagered his soul to the devil in a rowing race along the nearby waters. The Devil easily won the competition but the fearful loser raced from his boat where he took refuge in the wind pump, bolting the door closed behind him. The Devil, furious at the man welshing on his bed, beat and pounded and pushed at the wind pump for the entire day and night before finally giving up and moving on in search of other souls. When the terrified man left the wind pump the following morning, he saw the building now leaned curiously away from the front door.