Rushbrooke Walk

A chilly walk today in the strong breeze. I had to keep moving to keep warm even with my thick coat on. Still just walking from home, today I went under the A14 at the underpass by the new Suffolk Park Industrial Estate and then turned towards Rougham. I turned up Elderstub Lane and followed it to the top and down Eastlow Hill Road, diverting to look at Lake House and the lake, and then up the hill to Rushbrooke. I returned via Rushbrooke Lane and recrossed the A14 at the Sainsbury's roundabout before heading for home via Layhill Covert and Sebert Wood School.

This was my route (about 7 1/4 miles).

Here are a few photos.

A lot of the snow has gone now, except in the shade.

Approaching the underpass with all the tubed trees.

Iced plants beside Elderstub Lane.

The road itself was still rather icy too.

The little detour into the woods was my only section not on hard surfaces. Fortunately the mud was still frozen solid. I don't think I'd like to come along here again next week.

I liked the snowman goalie in the grounds of Lake House.

The lake was only partly frozen over as there was still quite a lot of water flowing through it.

As I walked up the road to Rushbrooke, several skeins of geese flew over.

I passed the church...

...water pump...

...and thatched cottages.

I did think of taking this path across the fields and behind the driving range, but stuck to road to get home before 5.

A good walk without getting at all muddy. Hooray!

You can see more details of my route here on MapMyWalk

An Easy Quick Crossword from Oink

Times Quick Cryptic No 1809 by Oink

A fairly gentle Quick Crossword, I think, from Oink to end the week today. I always enjoy an Oink puzzle, and this one was as fun as ever. It also includes a trademark porcine clue as we have come to expect. I don't know whether you have found the same, but I think some several of the QCs have been a bit easier this week than of late. I fairly whizzed through this one pausing only for the clever 8D and my Last One In, 20D, for any head scratching, finishing in 3:37. Thank-you Oink. How did everyone else get on?

Fortnightly Weekend Quick Cryptic. This time it is my turn to provide the extra weekend entertainment. You can find the latest crossword, entitled "A Fine Romance", here. Well it is February 14th on Sunday... Enjoy! And if anyone is interested in our previous offerings you can find an index to them here.

( Read all about it... )

Weekend Quick Cryptic 18 - A Fine Romance by Johninterred

Click here to read about the origin of this series of crosswords.

A brief history of the origins of these crosswords for those who are new to them. As a blogger of the Times Quick Cryptic Crossword on Times for The Times every other Friday, I have often had comments on the blog bemoaning that The Times only provides a Quick Cryptic on Mondays to Fridays. When I finally gave up work at the end of February last year, I decided that I would try my hand at compiling crosswords. It was with some trepidation that I published, in May, the first of these Weekend Quick Cryptics to fill the gap. Well it seemed to go down well so I did another. And then my fellow crossword solver and commenter on Times for the Times, Phil Jordan, volunteered to produce some too! So now we alternate, publishing each new crossword via my Friday Quick Crossword blog. You can find an index to the complete series of crosswords here.

This time it is my turn to provide the fortnightly Weekend Quick Cryptic crossword.  It being February 14th on Sunday, there is a bit of a story in the puzzle. This week we are going to try an find a Nina. [If you  don't know what that means, you can learn about Ninas here].  There is also a down clue (not answer) that is followed by the Nina and then two across answers to complete the "romance", such as it is.

You can try and solve it interactively here or download a PDF to print here. Alternatively you can copy and print the image below. Comments and queries welcome here or with the solution post (which also gives some help on finding the Nina). I will react to them as soon as I can. 

You can find some hints for the perplexed and the solution here, and an index to the complete series of crosswords here.

First Pickling of 2021

When I did the food shopping yesterday, I couldn't find any pickled red cabbage to go with the Shepherd's Pie I was planning to make today. (A traditional accompaniment, at least in our family). So I bought a cabbage and made my own. In the end, I didn't follow any of the recipes I'd found exactly but mixed an matched. For spices I added some black peppercorns, coriander seeds and caraway seeds, which provide a little explosion of flavour when you bite one.

It didn't take long to make (about 20 minutes in total) and should last for 2-3 weeks in the fridge. 

And here is my pie ready to serve...

...with the pickled cabbage and some peas. Comfort food! It went down well and there's not much left over for "leftovers lunch" tomorrow.

Snowdays

Yesterday and today have been designated "Snow Days" for Thurston Community College, where Dawn teaches. In the past, that would have meant a day off for teachers and pupils, but learning is all online at the moment so the schooling continues even though the school buildings are closed.

It had snowed a bit more overnight, so I had to shovel about 3 inches of snow off my car before I could go and do the weekly food shop. Meanwhile Dawn and William had a Snowman competition.

Dawn's in the front garden...

And then William got to work in the back...

Well I know which I prefer.

Snowy Walks

Some pictures from a couple of snowy walks recently, both from home. The first, as the snow was beginning to settle yesterday, is just as far as the end houses on the new estate and back via the estates. 

The second, this afternoon, took me a bit further across the railway line and up to wards Great Barton Stud before returning via Hollow road, through town and along the River Lark. 

In between, but not tracked, we did a walk yesterday evening around the industrial estates as the snow was being blown horizontal.

Here are a few photos.

 

 

 

You can see more of my photos here on Flickr and more details of my routes here and here on MapMyWalk.

River Linnet Walk

Today I thought I'd take a walk along the River Linnet towards Westley and then back through town. It was a nice afternoon with plenty of sunshine and fluffy clouds... and lots of robins! I wasn't sure how much of the path along the river had paved paths and I did indeed find a certain amount of mud, but it wasn't too bad and my shoes didn't get too muddy. This was my route....

Her are a few of my photos. The river was quite full and flowing quite fast.

I fund some crocuses about to open in someone's garden

Once out of the housing I got a view towards Ickworth House Estate and its magnificent trees.

I saw plenty of winter aconites. Very cheerful.

I left the river and followed the path up the hill here instead of continuing along what was becoming an increasingly muddy path along the river, so I didn't quite get all the way to Westley. But time was getting on and I wanted to be home before 5 pm.

I crossed Gainsborough Recreation Ground with a dramatic sky behind me...

...and headed for the West Road water tower, passing All Saints church, scene of many a Suffolk Youth Music concert in which Sarah and William performed.

Going down Abbeygate Street, I could see the fields and trees towards Moreton Hall and home over the other side of the River Lark lit in the late afternoon sunshine.

The setting sun lit up the cathedral beautifully.

Then it was out along Eastgate and up Mount Road to get home and start on the evening meal. Well that was a lovely bit of fresh air and some countryside... and my longest walk this year so far at just under 8 miles. I must get out more!

You can find more details of my walk here on MapMyWalk.

My new pens...

...have arrived!

 

Lovely! First task with the new Amber Rollerball - complete this week's Times Literary Supplement crossword.

More Tasting

I'm not allowed to give any details, but I was feeling vaguely queasy after I finished. I've now earned 92 points (worth £92) and a £10 love2shop card so far this year!