Some Photos

This photo was not taken be either Mike or myself. It was sent to me in some graphics and is so beautiful I wanted to use it.

I mentioned that after I left the doctors on Thursday morning we had a short drive around the area.  It was bitterly cold so we did not stay out too long. I always take my camera with me when I venture out and and I was glad that I did, it makes a change for me to take some photographs.

I love interesting properties even if they are new ones.  If they have something unique about them then they are my cup of tea.

I decided to share with you today the pictures that I took then.  There are two shots of each property.  This first one built in.................well  you can see the date, I could not fit it in completely as it stands on a road that is very narrow and on the other side is a ditch and a fence so you cannot get back far enough.

The next property I chose because I love pargetting.  There are many towns and villages in Essex and, indeed, in many parts of England that have properties decorated with this charming plasterwork.   We came across this one by chance.  It is on a very quiet lane that does not get a lot of traffic, so when we pulled up outside, the lady of the house looked out of the window.  She must have wondered what we were up to!  I felt uneasy about invading her privacy so I asked Mike to go and knock and tell her that we loved pargetting and taking photos of unusual properties in general and also ask if she would mind us taking a couple of pictures.  She beamed.  She was very happy to show it off to us and waved us on our way when the shots had been taken.

She even took us round to the side of the property so that we could see this.

The last property is one of the oldest in this area.  It was being inhabited in 1440  but was probably built at least a couple of years before then. It once belonged to the Earl of Warwick.  Although the windows seem to look covered as if they have paper over them, they are, in fact, lace curtains. 

Can you imagine the history this place has seen - 600 years of it, countless monarchs, the plague, the great fire of London, world wars.  Far too much to mention.  It is wonderful to know it has stood firm through all these centuries and through countless troubles and is still being inhabited today.  I would love to live there.  From the other side, it looks completely different.

I wonder if a ghost or two wanders its corridors!

I hope you have enjoyed seeing these photos.  Oh, I did get one more tranquil picture just as the light improved.

I meant to mention before that Daniel had his follow-up appointment at Great Ormond Street last Wednesday.  They are very pleased with his progress and how the wound is healing and do not want to see him again for two months. Great news.

Wishing you all , dear friends and readers, a great weekend.