Sunshine and Absent Students

Out with Bella this morning on a leisurely morning walk, I had time to admire the newly emerging Spring shoots in the morning sunshine.

It had been a cold night, as this residual frost attested. 

The scrubby bit of ground on Fairfield Park Road that is used as a dumping ground by some has acquired these signs in the last day or so. 

Is it anything to do with these logs left over from tree surgery some months back? 

Malvern Terrace with Solsbury Hill in the background. 

Peering over a garden wall to see these pretty pansies. 

At UWE, the sun affected attendance at tutorials today - to the extent that I had two completely empty sessions and lower attendances than usual in the others. During the first one, I leant out of the window to photograph the pond outside Q Block.

Over in N Block, big excitement from the lorry cleaning the side of the approach road:-) 

Going back over to Q Block (such a busy day!) newly painted steps gleaming in the sunshine. 

Last session of the afternoon, admiring the glow of the sun on the student village tower blocks.

Spotted Martin's Aston Martin on the way to my taxi with Su. Stopped for a tasty meal on the way home in the Rose and Crown at Wick.

This day a year ago, we went to the Holbourne Museum and admired their paintings by Gainsborough, Contable and Turner as well as this Double Action Harp. 

March Marches On

Out with Bella this morning, I properly noticed the "No Smoking" sign in this open telephone booth for the first time.

Some excellent chalk art on this garden wall. 

The skies looked as if they might actually not stay grey all day. 

And so it proved, as I saw when I emerged from teaching into a bright Spring day at UWE. 

Because the van needs another injection of cash - this time to fix a noisy exhaust, Su has been my taxi today. On the way back over Lansdown, the light was lovely. 

 There is even a single wind power generator up there - don't know what it powers (probably something to do with the farm).

Behind the trees lurks Beckford's tower 

This day a year ago, it was a day of rapidly changing weathers - here is one dramatic transition in progress. 

Sunless Sunday

Today was the day of the Bath Half Marathon, with both the Lower Bristol Road and the Upper Bristol Road closed off to traffic.  This meant that all around Bath were signs reading "Marathon Diversion". They certainly were - we did a massive circular route around Bath to make the equivalent of a four-mile trip there and back.

Part of our diversion took us through Saltford and Keynsham, where we saw these trees coming into blossom. 

Having circumnavigated Bath,  we got home and I eventaully capitulated to Bella's desire for a walk in the freezing cold wind.  The promised sun and 7º temperatures never arrived today - a disappointment after yesterday's glorious sunshine.  While out found this evidence of a recently felled tree - it looked OK when I last went past it.

This was as good as the weather got all day. 

I don't know why this house is so called - it is hidden behind a great big gate and wall, so hard to see any obvious reason.

It also has this false wall making it look twice as wide as it actually is.

Budding pavement artists at work up by the swings on Richmond Hill. 

A celebration doorway up the road. 

This day a year ago, we were down at Brean on a nice sunny and breezy day - ideal for the sand yach races that were going on. 

Sunshine Lifts the Spirits

Today seemed destined to be another grey day, but my mystery malady of yesterday has passed, thankfully.  Out with Bella, saw that these daffodils just need a little tickle of sunshine to open out.

Sign indicating a workperson having difficulty putting up a sunshade - but no need just at the moment. 

Back at home, enjoyed the jolliness of our window box. 

Su treated herself to a new camera yesterday, and has been trying it out on anything that moves - or not (me included!) - ever since. 

Later on, we noticed that the skies had brightenied up and then that they'd turned blue - at last! 

With this unexpected change in the weather, Su's new camera and Bella's need for a longer walk, we took ourselves off for a jaunt - through Marksbury. 

We arrived at Chew Valley Lake where it was a little cool, but bright with clearing skies. Busy, but all the people were on the way back to their cars as we walked in the other direction. 

 After days and days of grey skies, what a treat to see blue.

These grasses looked lovely in the sunshine. 

The water was so still the reflections of the trees were like a mirror. 

With the birdsong and the sunshine, it started to feel like Spring. 

 More reflections.

And even more reflections. 

Looking over the hedge  

Walking back to the cafe for a drink. 

We drove home the long way round the lake as the sun was setting over the hill towards Nempnett Thrubwell.

Back in Bath on Lansdown Crescent, looking West to the last of the sun's rays. 

This day a year ago, I was struck by these skies that reminded me of Biblical film epics from my childhood movie-going.

Mystery March Malady

Walked down to the chemist with Bella this morning, passing Mad Max's tour van on the way.

Lots of barriers surrounding another barrier…

Great inscrutable markings on the pavement near to the excavation.

This daffodil just needs a bit of sun to be out for St David's Day - no such luck, though.  By the time I got home, I felt a bit unwell woozy with a headache. So I have spent most of the day in bed - not the day we'd planned at all. Su has once more looked after me - an early night will hopefully sort me out for tomorrow.

This day a year ago, I walked Bella up at Brockham End past the golf course under blue skies and sunshine - unlike today.