End of the Year 2017 Part 1

Here we go again, a record of my year in photos, I really enjoy doing these two blogs, as I am reminded of  all the lovely things that have happened during my year, that I have been able to catch in photos.

It has been an up and down year for us as a family, but nothing too serious thank goodness. Our daughter has been home from China three times, which has been lovely even if one of the visits was an unplanned one due to health issues. Thankfully she is fully fit now, and we have had a lovely Christmas with her home. Our son is currently in Canada, working and improving his skiing, he was missed by us all at Christmas. 

JANUARY

St Peter's Church, Sandwich, looking good in the winter sunshine.

Sun rise and misty fields on the way to work.

This is just about the only thing to remain of Walmer Place, a once luxurious Manor House built on Walmer seafront in 1901. The house was owned for some time by the Marke Wood family, who paid for the building of our local Victoria Hospital, which was left to the people of Deal, and also contributed to the Marke Wood recreation ground, which was left to the children of Walmer. The photo shows a very small part of the wall of the grounds of the house, which was demolished in 1965, and it shows in the background the new flats which were built on the site.

FEBRUARY

A beautiful present from my daughter, a Chinese dragon on a silk background, it is too nice to use as a place mat, which is what we think it was intented for, so I am keeping it safe until I decide what to use it for .  

Daffodils hiding in a corner in Sandwich, so lovely to see, especially as it was only February :)

Part of an art display my friend and I went to in the Turner Contemporary, Margate.

MARCH

A reminder of a lovely night spent in the Mermaid Inn, Rye. I want to go again!

On our way back home from Rye, we visited this beautiful church, St Thomas a Becket at Fairfield, which sits all alone in the middle of a field, and is famous for its interior, which has its original Georgian box pews still in place.

The beautiful blossom on an old tree in the grounds of Walmer Castle, every year it was such a lovely sight, as can be seen from the photo below. Sadly the tree has now gone, I did try to find out why it had been cut down,  but I think it had just gone past its best and maybe was no longer safe to leave. Whatever the reason I am very sad that is is no longer there.

APRIL

Rochester Cathedral, we had a lovely day out :)

Blossom :)

The River Stour at Sandwich.

MAY

A tiny statue of Pan, who lives in an alley in Wingham!

A duckling at Russell Gardens, Dover, all his brothers and sisters were duck coloured so this one was very special :)

A swan at Kearsney Abbey, I have to have a swan, I love them!

Russell Gardens looking especially beautiful, having the seagull in the photo was just a bit of luck.

JUNE

Under the pier, photo taken from the lower deck, it makes for a good photo.

A Hollyhock in Sandwich Library Garden.

Just lovely, photo taken in Walmer Castle meadow.

End of the Year 2017 Part 2

Beautiful lilies in Walmer Castle Garden

JULY

Derek Jarmans Garden, Romney Marsh. A walk along to see the garden is always nice after an excellent lunch at The Pilot Inn on Romney Marsh.

St. Mary in Castro Church, Dover Castle 

AUGUST

Walmer Green looking lovely in the sun :)

SEPTEMBER

Another gorgeous rose.

A Waterlily on the pond at Walmer Castle.

Pengy and I enjoying a yummy ice cream after our adventure on the pier :)

OCTOBER

A real patchwork of colour, dahlias in Walmer Castle garden.

I was very worried about this bee, went back to look after 5 minutes and he had gone, so I can only assume that he was just taking a rest.

A spectacular sunrise, taken on my way to work.

NOVEMBER

St Mary the Virgin's Church, Eastry. My friend and I had a lovely morning looking round.

A tomb plaque in St. Mary's Church dated 1625, which makes it nearly 500 hundred years old, I wonder what sort of person he was?

Another beautiful view looking towards Worth Village.

Deal beach looking North, one of the many wonderful views to be seen from Deal Pier.

DECEMBER

The last rose in my garden of 2017, we took it indoors on Christmas Day, it lasted a couple of days much to my surprise.

And the last orange poppy, they will start blooming again soon, a welcome sight in dark Winter days.

Sunrise again, I love this one :)

These are my photographic memories of 2017, it has been a funny year, I am looking forward to a good 2018, especially as I am going on holiday to China again in April, I can't wait!

I hope 2018 is good for you all x

Merry Christmas :)

A photo from our house to yours to wish you all a very Happy Christmas, may peace and happiness be yours at this time of year xxx

Wingham Scarecrow Festival 2017

As mentioned in my last blog, the pretty village of Wingham held their 'Scarecrow Trail' earlier this year, I was very lucky that I was able to visit the event as I only found out about it on the day it was on.

The Aliens have landed :)

Dougal and Florence from the Magic Roundabout :)

As with my previous visits, the Scarecrows were amazing, Wingham is a lovely village, well worth visiting at any time, but is definitely enhanced by the Scarecrows :)

The Churchyard had been decorated by the children of the village, with various scenes showing the animals that went on the Ark

Noah and his wife

The lovely Ark :)

And Tigger went too!

Fantastic Mr Fox

'I'm Late, I'm Late' the White Rabbit disappearing down the Rabbit Hole, I really loved this one :D

And here he is again, before he went down that hole :)

Alice and the Cheshire Cat, from Alice in Wonderland.

The King of Hearts, a tiny man compared the The Queen of Hearts below, but he is still smiling, he is obviously not scared that he might lose his head!!

'Guards, off with her head'

The Walrus and the Carpenter.

The Mad Hatter complete with a jam tart :D

Mr Badger and Ratty from The Wind in the Willows.

Tom and Jerry still fighting over the cheese, just lovely :)

Harry Potter playing Quidditch put in an appearance too.

Minions taking a break from the hectic day.

Peeping over a fence :)

The BFG, he really was big :)

and look what he had in his hand!

Finally just a very pretty little scarecrow making sure everyone had a lovely time :)