Mating Swans

Normally I have an idea whet I am going to post on Our World Tuesday in advance then the night before I write up the blog but there are times I m out and get some photos that throw the whole lot in the air. Last week I was walking around a small lake at the Campsite we go to and noticed a pair of swans dipping there heads in the water and then preening, while doing this they mad odd mewing noises. The swans were not the only reason I was there so I wandered off to see what I had come to see which took around 15 min.

They were still swimming together

Dipping their heads in unison

The the male mounts

the female. I had witnessed a mating ritual 

Then they faces each other 

Making a heart.

I Began to wish I had taken some video. I felt Privileged to have witnesses such a thing

Taking Part in Our World Tuesday

St Nicholas Baulking

This week the Church Explorer takes you around a mile North of the last church and back in time with wall paintings and reminders of a time long past in St Nicholas Baulking

Sky at Blooms Cottage

I took these photos a couple of weeks ago after going for a short walk to check if any progress had been made on a building site. The sky looked perfect with the clouds over the cottage.

They looked good over the stations well. Happy Skywatch

Cholsey Rock

New Thatch

Walking along Station Road in Cholsey I noticed some scaffold around this thatched cottage, the owner told be it was having the ridge re-thatched.  A day or so later the thatcher had started

Lots of material falling off the roof

A few days later it looked finished and the chicken wire was being placed over the thatch

The front was nearly done

Days later it was finished and the scaffold gone

The chimney was finished off with mortar to inhibit water ingress

The whole roof looked much better and I'm told added another ten years to it's life

Taking part in Our world Tuesday

St Mary Uffington

This week the Church Explorer visits Uffington & St Mary's church which is know as the Cathedral of the Vale. It is unusual from its octagonal bell tower

February Flowers