Martin's Mag.

Busy today, and I happened to have my camera with me.

Deerhurst in north Gloucestershire, a few miles south of Tewkesbury, dates back to Saxon times. The small village, which lies on the banks of the River Severn, is remarkable in having two well-preserved pre-Norman conquest buildings so close to one another – the Priory Church of St. Mary and Odda’s Chapel.

After exploring the village (with it’s spookey “angel” etched in the church wall) we walked down the river to Apperley, which we visited a couple of years ago, then back over mostly low-lying lanes and farmland.

We hope not, but it’s Autumn and the very first day of school tomorrow.

Along the partially disused Thames and Severn canal, here parallel with the river Frome, east of Stroud in Gloucestershire.

A very attractive, quiet, Cotswold village built in a valley below a prehistoric, later Roman, fort. Best known (to me, at least) for its brewery.

We’re in the general area of Bristol’s “floating” harbour quite often, either walking or visiting the pubs and museums, etc. Something is always different. This time Pero’s Footbridge had become impassable due to an accident during “testing”.

It looked like the last good-weather (i.e. rainless with parched lawns and complaining farmers) day for a week or so, and we were lucky to have organised our family picnic while Rosie is still here from Madrid. All went well. The children always seem to enjoy meeting each other. Well, and the adults, of course. [Pictures by those present]

A while since we were in Aberaeron, in Ceredigion, Wales. 2013, in fact, if these notes are to be believed. We were here for some walking and the partial eclipse, which has been eagerly anticipated. Also we were joined by Wendy and Graham, who had put in some work constructing solar viewing boxes. Good though these were (far better than my piece of card with some holes punched in it) the solar experience was rather underwhelming. As we were by the seaside we managed a traditional fish and chip supper by the harbour, aided by cider and a bottle of Muscadet.

However, despite national record temperatures and drought, we managed some good walks around the area, including to New Quay, where we both swam in the sea, and along the River Aeron to Llanerchaeron. W&G, using their mystic powers, managed to conjure up some sea mist and light drizzle on the day we left.

A picture from our back garden, found in a camera I haven’t used for a year or so.