Sunday
Timothy settling into his new home from home.
D bought us a clock for the caravan. I don't think it is easy to hang items on caravan walls! so B improvised with a piece of wood wedged across the gap above the fire and attached the clock to that!
Caravan in its new location. Quite secluded as there is a hedge to one side and then just five caravans further down the hill. The one next door will be empty shortly for a while as the owners there have bought a new caravan which has been located further along the row.
On Sunday morning we went a local walk along the lane to the small village of Hatfield.
View as you walk along the caravan park drive.
Just at the end of the drive is a sign for a bridleway which is something to explore in the future.
In the distance in the centre of the photo is the area where the caravan is situated.
A Peacock butterfly decided to land on my trainer.
The lanes were quiet - we didn't see a soul and just a few cars and a tractor passed us.
St Leonard's Church, Hatfield.
The chancel is 13th century and the western part of the nave with its bell turret is 14th century and was weather boarded in 1903. Part of the south wall is 17th century having been rebuilt after the nave wall collapsed!
The Early Norman Nave's North wall has herringbone masonry with a tympanum decorated with a trellis pattern.
The front part of the churchyard was kept neat and tidy but at the rear of the church there was a beautiful "living churchyard" where grasses had been left unmown and wild flowers flourished. It really was delightful and very tranquil and peaceful. There were many bees and Meadow Browns flying around.
The open timber West Porch is partly 14th century.
The church was open for private prayer and there was a bottle of hand sanitiser to use. I would have loved to go and have a look inside and it looked deserted but I didn't partly because I don't think being open for private prayer is the same as wandering around taking photos! and to be honest I am still very reluctant to go inside any building (or shop).
B and E had gone to explore the village apparently the Old School House there is for sale!
When they returned we walked back to the caravan.
Distant view of a Comma.
We left at about 4.30. We did make a detour initially as years ago when she was at primary school E attended a 5 day outdoor activity residential course at Bockleton Hall and she was keen to see it again. We failed to find it! although there was some sort of fete on in the village with deckchairs and teddy bears outside the cottages and bunting everywhere. The traffic was fine on the way home and it took about 90 minutes after the detour!
All photos taken by me with the Pansonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera.
15 comments:
What a lovely secluded spot to have a caravan and surrounded by beautiful countryside and walks. Love the butterflies.
How cosy your caravan looks inside with the fire place! This seems to tick a goodly number of all the right boxes, with top of the list being socially distant. What a Godsend it is, indeed. Somewhere safe to escape to. Timothy seems very happy indeed, and might I suggest making sure he is in the car when it's time to go home? Small bears have a way of staying behind if they think they can get away with it.
Margaret Birding for Pleasure - Thanks so much. The location in particular appealed to me :)
Rustic Pumpkin - Thank you - the interior is quite amazing! Double glazing, central heating, carpets, big shower cubicle, two toilets, microwave etc (so much already kitted out including curtains) and the storage they provide is incredible. They are really well planned. Easy as you say to socially distance there! It is nice to have somewhere in the countryside we can now go go to (unless they close again!) and feel safe as I wouldn't face a holiday in self catering this year. Timothy says thank you for reminding me to take him home! He likes it there but does not want to be left on his own!!! :)
How nice to be able to go on holiday
Your caravan is lovely and the area surrounding it looks so peaceful for family walks. It reminds me very much of the caravan we used to stay in in Wales near Tremadog. The church looks interesting and I love the wild areas just mown enough for a pathway through. I ventured into a shop last week, with mask and gloves, for the first time since before lockdown. I had to go to the surgery too again with mask and gloves - all very strange and surreal:)
Simon Douglas Thompson - Thanks so much Simon.
Rosie - Thanks so much. I remember you mentioning the caravan at Tremadog that was owned by neighbours/friends. Will be good when I can actually go inside a church again and explore! Well done on venturing to the shops and surgery. Life is very strange and really horrible at the minute. My daughter has gone back to work and is finding it very hard to cope with anxiety and then all the different measures - masks, social distancing, hand sanitiser etc. etc. I can't believe at times the life we used to have when it was normal and you could go out, go shopping, go the theatre etc without worrying constantly.
What a wonderful new adventure this must be, RR. The caravan and site look perfect, and I love the way Timothy and the beautiful bee picture are colour coordinated! The clock looks very smart, too. The area, with fields and hedges (all looking so green compared to Suffolk right now) looks as though it will be brilliant for butterflies. On a different note but still to do with countryside, have you read 'The Grassling'? I am greatly enjoying it (though it's about Devon, where I have family roots).
Caroline Gill - Thanks so much. I am looking forward to exploring the area more although with the situation at the moment it all feels a bit strange! I haven't read "The Grassling" - it sounds good and I will search it out. Always good to hear of good books to read and I do like Devon.
I like the photos of the old doorway now bricked up, the church isn't going anywhere so you have plenty of time to go inside and look around, you need to enjoy the place rather than feeling guiltily for being there. On another day (perhaps by your self) some time spent looking for wildlife in the grave yard would be a nice afternoon.
The area looks lovely and quiet.
Amanda X
Amanda Peters - Thanks so much. The church and churchyard were wonderful. Herefordshire has some brilliant churches although how I convert my family into visiting them will be problematic!! Bodenham Lakes was quite busy but rest of area was very quiet :)
Lovely, I can see you spending a lot of time here!
Pam - Thank you and yes I will :)
the copper in the garden was a good find!
understand what you mean about the church.... I went in as there was no one there EEK
The Quacks of Life - Thanks Pete. We rarely get Small Coppers so I was pleased :) I suspect St Leonard's wasa empty but I am afraid it raised the question of actually having to open door and touch door knob!!! Even though there was hand sanitiser there. Awful times :(
The countryside looks lovely and the pathway looks tempting.
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