I had to sneak a quick snap of this kid in Target today. He’d been given a sticky badge by the cashier which said, ‘I’m a very clever kid.’ He immediately read out what the badge said, and followed it with, “I know everything about disasters, space and dinosaurs. And sharks and buildings.” He’ll go far in life.

Hundreds of shirts coming off the press. I had to recreate this art from a faxed piece of paper, but it turned out well.

The huge construction across the road has turned out to be 2 buildings, both of which are massive data centers. These are being built at an alarming rate in this area, even trying to encroach on rural land in Front Royal and Warrenton. A frightening prospect.

We have a shop in FroRo with large collections of various ornaments. I’ve never seen so many frogs in one place before.

At Bob’s house for Friendsgiving. A long way to travel but he’s a good friend and a long standing client, so I’d never say no.

25 Nov 2022

My friend Bill, stirring his homemade turkey soup over the fire in the old log house. We have this before the actual turkey, and it’s always outstanding. Plus, we got to bring some home. Yum!

Tricksie Treat having a leisurely Thanksgiving Day, and enjoying the sun shining through the window.

Someone’s obviously contented with his lot. 

One of the high end management members landed at the back of Rural King in town yesterday, by helicopter. Paid for by huge profits on junk sold at their store, such as these. 

No Christmas tree yet, but still lovely to see Main St decorated.

Elliott and I had lunch at a cafe in town that are doing soup flights. I had chicken, mushroom and rice, Hungarian chicken, and borscht, with bread. Not overly impressed but nice on a cold day.

We cleared the garden of pots and ornaments this morning, but most of the pots and anything that held water, including this glass, were frozen. All are now under the back porch until they defrost and I can empty them.

I see some interesting loads on my commute to and from work. This truck, and another the same, was being escorted down 66. I couldn’t make out if it was part of a bridge, but it was huge.

I went with Carmen this evening, as support, to show clients around a rural property. The prospective clients were lovely, but not the property, which was extremely run down, and had this sign on the door. They didn’t put in an offer.

I noticed this ‘Welcome all class’ lettering in a local church window, and wondered if it literally meant the poor could pray with the rich. I may have to ask…

Stuck in traffic again in the morning commute, but the delay gave us time to appreciate the gorgeous sunrise, even if it was foreboding bad weather in the afternoon.

While we were away on holiday, Malcolm covered my office chair in white fur, which took me nearly 10 minutes to clear. He’s now decided that this chair next to my desk should also bear his mark, and looked decidedly defiant when I suggested that needed to be cleaned as well. Here he is, standing his ground.

Elliott and I drove up to Strasburg, PA, for a ride in a carriage pulled by my favorite train, the Norfolk and Western, J class, 611. Here, at our destination, she’s moving from the back of the line of carriages to the front so she can pull us back to the station.

Interesting shadows created by the morning sun shining through panes of glass and then through the dining room curtains.

The cats are very happy to be back into their usual routine again.

10 Nov 2022

Decided to change my flight, anywhere’s better than Merica. Only joking! The guy standing behind me said it was unusual to see this so I snapped a photo for posterity.

9 Nov 2022

Having a last pint of England’s superb bitter in a rural pub near Mum’s house, and I spotted this cat climbing up the roof. It’s not real. 

8 Nov 2022

As we hiked back up to the car from from Durdle Door, I spotted these two, just sitting in the heavy winds, appreciating the waves down below, and had to snap this shot.

The Duke of Somerset and his wife, grandparents of King Henry VII, interred at the high alter in the Minster church of Wimborne, parts of which date back to 1120. These effigies above their tomb are made of fine alabaster.

Having Sunday lunch at the local golf club, and these are sturdy, determined golfers, playing the course in the pouring rain, and not even phased about it.

Elliott, Greg and I each had a plate loaded like this from a carvery pub in Dorchester. I had topside of beef and gammon, with roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, roast beet, peas and leeks in cheese sauce, swede, bubble and squeak, stuffing and gravy, accompanied by a fine local ale. And yes, I ate it all, and yes, it was far, far too much.

At Kimmeridge Bay, a Jurassic beach, where the Military of Defence hold training exercises close by, meaning we weren’t supposed to go past a certain point.

Elliott took this photo of me, Mum and Greg, after we’d all eaten a huge lunch at The New Queen pub. And the pub gave me a beer glass to take home.

Elliott very proud of his mosaic skills. We both played in the kids section of the incredible Roman Palace exhibition near Chichester.

https://sussexpast.co.uk/attraction/fishbourne-roman-palace/

This was outside a shop in Hastings, and made me laugh out loud.