The Thames at Wallingford
Football-related injury at the weekend, so dropped F at sixth form and then walked the dogs at the other end of town. Variation.
Arrived
H's new digs. Very similar to the last digs. Probably won't be as much fun as last year, but after six months stuck with us I don't think that matters!
Do you have everything
This morning's discussion: do you have everything? That's, of course, everything.
Winter, it's coming
Up for an early call and then a walk with the dogs. Overnight nature had decided to send a reminder that the seasons are changing. The first of the autumn leaves are down. Winter is coming. But then winter is always, always, coming.
The Doors
H does the doors. There's now more space and more light with them removed. But. The dogs now have freedom to roam. Didn't think that one through did we!
5k with F
Third 5k ever. That's ever ever, and the second with F. This time he'd recovered from whatever football-related injury he was carrying, upped the pace by an extra 1m30s per km, and left me back in the metaphorical dust.
I say that it was an injury, but it might have been slow-dad-sympathy.
The View From The Pod
Sat in the pod admiring the view and getting distracted from the work I should be doing.
A grey day view
After a week of mornings each blessed with a lovely sunrise today was grey. There's beauty in that there gloom.
Watching the Game
September sun. Perfect conditions for watching youth football. Enjoy it now before spectating in the wind, rain and sleet that we'll have to endure before Lockdown II.
3-0 up. 4-3 down. 4-4 final score. The right result. Bonus: a stonking left footed curving shot from outside the area, into the top corner of the net from F. Well played all.
Freecycling Bar Stools
Three Ikea bar stools have been with us since flat pack heaven. The last 10 years they've been in the shed, but now they have a new freecycled home. Nice one F.
A Walk at Christmas Common
A catch up, lunch and a walk at Christmas Common, with the lovely H&D.
I have a feeling this is a prelude to something we've seen before. Wow, that was six months ago.
Castle Meadows Evening Stroll
A lovely evening stroll with F, Ewok and Yogi around the Castle Meadows. The whole world felt like it was getting ready for bed.
For some reason I had Halide set to computational photography depth mode, so the DoF effect is very overdone!
Online Tutor
F's college transition session was with a tutor via a video call. Not quite the on-campus experience he was hoping for.
Morning Dog Walk Views
The sky put on a very VERY good show for this morning's perambulation.
Watching a pod grow
Jon built an awesome pod for us in the garden. Sparks by Tom. Network by me. Views by God. It's the work from garden plan for the winter. Brrrrrrrr.
Scythe
I borrowed Doug's Austrian scythe for an overdue cut of the wild flower meadow.
I learnt there's a reason people get "farm fit". Yogi & Ewok learnt to get "jump clear of an out of control swinging razor-sharp blade fit".
Stadium Views
Another Sunday, another stadium view. This time the main pitch at Wallingford Town in the social-distance enforced stands. Football in the sun with decent coffee [1]. Pitch perfect.
[1] Home brewed, of course.
Misty Morning
Autumn is on the way. It's dark in the morning again. Clear, cold nights and mist in the morning. Heading down the field the path disappeared to nowhere. But along the bank it cleared… until the next patch rolled along.
River Bank Picnic
A bit more than a year later we headed up river for a stretch and a picnic. Tranquil. We should do this more often.
A new spot to work from
This thing appears to be going on a bit longer than most folks expected. So some commute $€¥£ diverted into a pod space place in the garden.
Puntmageddon
There is something to be said for lounging on the river bank, watching random strangers navigate a gentle waterway in punts.
There is something to be said for lounging in a punt, watching random strangers on the riverbank waiting for you to fall in.
Schadenfreude.
Botanic II
A COVID compliant afternoon at the botanic. As lovely and beautiful as the last and first time we visited.
A night out in a quiet Oxford
Masks on for a bus ride into Oxford.
Running Views
Running views. The fields are ploughed, so the footpath is rough. In places some kind of inspection cylinders have appeared.
Cars!
The Waterfront had a queue longer than the waterfront. Genius idea from Fay — picnic along the river instead. Grub from M&S at the garage. But OMG, cars! Number 18 was cute though.
