Some pictures from around Entwistle reservoir yesterday. The tree decorators have been out in force this year but there is a note from the water company saying that if the decorations are not removed after Christmas then next year they will not be permitted and will be removed as soon as they are put up. This is because apparently; the Countryside Ranger time is too valuable to be used to remove them. But if they are going to remove them one way or another then they don’t actually gain anything, so humbug to you United Utilities.

This one is desperately sad – shame on you tree decorator people

Some other shots

 

A heavy hoar frost has been with us for some days now. It is thickening its grasp on the trees and plants. Even without snow after a while it starts to look almost like we have had a blizzard.

Uncalled but not unlooked for on the horizon

The first snow of the winter season fell today
Swirling in unison down onto hard starlit paths
Highlighting the fading relief on ancient words
Biting through melancholy; wrapping us in glee
Whispering promissory notes of cold sterility

On a clear and frosty day to surely attend

Under trees; do shadows and sun blend
The beauty of the winter we may lend
But remember, fauna from the cold; fend

Most authorities trace the name 'Darwen' to the Brythonic* derw "oak", originally applied to the river; an etymology supported by an older form of the name, Derewent (1208).

The area around Darwen has been inhabited since the early Bronze Age, and the remains of a barrow from approximately 2000 BC have been partially restored at the Ashleigh Barrow in Whitehall. Artefacts including a bronze dagger and urns containing human ashes were found, and a small number of these finds are now on display at Darwen Library Theatre. The Romans once had a force in Lancashire, and a Roman road is visible on the Ordnance Survey map of the area.

Mediaeval Darwen was tiny; little or nothing survives. One of the earliest remaining buildings is a farmhouse at Bury Fold, dated 1675. Whitehall Cottage is thought to be the oldest house in the town, and was mostly built in the 17th and 18th centuries but contains a chimney piece dated 1557.

* The Brythonic languages derive from the British language, spoken throughout Britain south of the Firth of Forth during the Iron Age and Roman period

Here are some pictures from the walk around Bury fold the other day.

 

It's a bit wet here but forecast drier and also much colder for the coming week. Took Robbie out this morning and the overflow from the reservoir was going over well. Probably the best I have ever seen it. Some areas of the country have had bad flooding these last few days.

Jumbles reservoir which is 1 of the 3 close by.

I took my neighbour to the acupuncturist the other day. His practice is in Wheelton near Chorley but I have never been into the village before. It’s a nice place and I just thought isn’t it amazing where you have never been despite being so close to. She was in there an hour so I did get a bit bored and took some photographs to pass the time.

• The clock tower in the background behind the road sign is a war memorial.
• The police station is for sale and has planning permission for 2 residential semi detached houses (see link below)
• The Red Lion pub actually has a red lion statue on the top.

 http://www.theauctionpeople.co/

It’s amazing what is for sale when you look through their property portfolio. The number of pubs and police stations, schools etc is amazing. A lot of them in really good places too. Our local pub is being turned into small flats. Big money to be made in all this. Someone will always turn a profit in anothers misery.

 

 

 

These will be the last autumn colour pictures I'll probably take (collective sigh of release)

A blustery but colourful day walking around the lake

 

A walk around the locality this morning - it's very still here but I just saw the storm was beginning to hit the east coast of the US so I expect things are going to get pretty windy there soon. Hope it is not too bad.