Friday, February 15, 2013
Slaugham Sussex.
Sunshine - not a heat wave, but it didn't feel cold.
A morning for a walk.
We parked the car by Slaugham church (pronounced Slaffum).
We walked through the churchyard and enjoyed snowdrops.
The land adjacent to the church now belongs to the village, bought by public subscription in 1995.
The fields and woodland are cared for and a picnic table has been put in.
The path was taking us to Slaugham Place.
Four hundred years ago an Elizabethan mansion stood - now ruined.
The land and the ruins are privately owned.
To one side of the ruins is a large well kept lawn.
This can be a venue for a wedding, with a large marquee on the lawn and the facilities to provide a formal meal for 250 people.
There is room enough for a helicopter to land.
So, not a cheap venue - but beautiful.
But we were not dressed for a wedding.
"What, in these shoes?"
It was very muddy indeed in places.
Even in wellington boots, Bill attempted to creep along the edge of paths to avoid the mud.
I was content to squelch!
Had to take care though - didn't want either of us sprawled in the mud.
We were squelching through the mud to the lake.
This is the stream flowing from the lake.
The tall trees are not yet showing signs of life. I guess that close up we would have seen small swelling buds.
Teasels in abundance by the lake - presumably the same ones we had seen when we were last there in the summer.
Lots of life.
Catkins, little buds - blue sky.
Spring is on its way.
Back in the village we were feeling warm.
What better than half a pint of Sussex beer to refresh us.
I chose the Arundel beer - and very good it was too. Bill had The Laines ale from Brighton.
We sat in huge leather sofas by the open fire with today's papers and a bowl of superbly cooked chunky chips.
A morning for a walk.
We parked the car by Slaugham church (pronounced Slaffum).
We walked through the churchyard and enjoyed snowdrops.
The land adjacent to the church now belongs to the village, bought by public subscription in 1995.
The fields and woodland are cared for and a picnic table has been put in.
The path was taking us to Slaugham Place.
Four hundred years ago an Elizabethan mansion stood - now ruined.
The land and the ruins are privately owned.
To one side of the ruins is a large well kept lawn.
This can be a venue for a wedding, with a large marquee on the lawn and the facilities to provide a formal meal for 250 people.
There is room enough for a helicopter to land.
So, not a cheap venue - but beautiful.
But we were not dressed for a wedding.
"What, in these shoes?"
It was very muddy indeed in places.
Even in wellington boots, Bill attempted to creep along the edge of paths to avoid the mud.
Had to take care though - didn't want either of us sprawled in the mud.
We were squelching through the mud to the lake.
This is the stream flowing from the lake.
The tall trees are not yet showing signs of life. I guess that close up we would have seen small swelling buds.
Teasels in abundance by the lake - presumably the same ones we had seen when we were last there in the summer.
Catkins, little buds - blue sky.
Spring is on its way.
Back in the village we were feeling warm.
What better than half a pint of Sussex beer to refresh us.
I chose the Arundel beer - and very good it was too. Bill had The Laines ale from Brighton.
We sat in huge leather sofas by the open fire with today's papers and a bowl of superbly cooked chunky chips.
