There has been some bad flooding in other parts of the country and the ground here has been sodden for what seems like weeks. Storm Christoph added to the problems last night. Although no serious difficulties in our area, this lane on the local nature reserve, one of our regular walks, was flooded. Fortunately, we were wearing wellingtons, and Lucy doesn’t mind getting her feet wet.
A cold, cloudy, windy day in January. How about a swim? In the sea? Sally snapped this hardy group by the pier in Clevedon. From the same club that were pictured in the BBC1 television ident, by photographer, Martin Parr.
We’re not supposed to drive, at least not out of our local area, for anything other than a limited number of reasons, which doesn’t really include exercise. Our nearest walks, the Lake Grounds, Portishead Marina and Portbury Nature Reserve, are good regulars but have become very popular with bored Bristolians looking for adventure, particularly at weekends. A longer walk, which we can do from our front door, takes us over Clapton Moor to Clapton in Gordano, then back down to Big Wood Nature Reserve and a disused quarry. We’ve walked this many times before but it’s long enough to make it seem like an excursion rather than a chore. We passed this friendly horse at Sperrings farm in Clapton.
We’ve put a few new bird feeders in the garden. Word quickly gets around…
Fortunately, there were some more conventional punters, including a greater-spotted woodpecker and many blue tits…
Another new tradition started? Lots of people (socially-distanced, mostly) gathered on the beach (some fires lit) and above the pier next to the marina entrance. Fiona and Paul brought cans of G&T and Scotch and ginger.
Low tide dog walk. We were not the only ones to have the idea.
No in-house mixing allowed on Christmas Eve, so Miles and Flo (and Mabel) were confined to an al fresco visit, aided only by food, alcohol and a blazing fire. We, however, were able to shield in the relative comfort of the kitchen.
Sally said this picture of the Walton Common volunteer party looked like a record album cover from the ‘seventies. We have had several, without exception unflattering, suggestions for possible titles. 
Picture Mike T.
Between Weston-Super-Mare and Kewstoke.
Birnbeck pier (technically a bridge to an island) at the north end of Weston-Super-Mare has declined over the years and is now dangerous. It has been in various private ownerships for decades and the council has recently decided to compulsorily purchase it. There will be some appeals by the current owner, but, if the council gets its way, the plan is to licence it to the RNLI.
You can see the extent of the necessary repairs. Just behind the viewpoint of the above picture is some wall painting which seems to recall better days:
Martin's Mag. 
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