Fordwich, Britain's smallest town

We walked from Fordwich village along the side of the river Stour (isn't it lovely?) to the "highly attractive" Reed Pond (according to the directions) ...which currently is infested with toxic algae and not that attractive after all. Lots of invisible birds in the treetops but only one item of wildlife to be seen...

The walk passes through Ministry of Defence land which explains this sign - haven't seen one of these before! I didn't stop for long, honest officer.

The picture below shows the contrast between the public land - the side I'm standing on - and the other bank of the river which is somebody's garden. Gorgeous!

We then strolled around the village - which apparently is a town.

 A VERY small town, two pubs and a decommissioned church and fabulous architecture.

We had a drink in the George and Dragon, our table started life as a huge bellows, presumably from a blacksmith. Isn't it great?

The town sign shows the legendary Fordwich trout which was known to Izaak Walton who wrote the Compleat Angler in 1653, I'm guessing the fish is long gone :-)

One of many fabulous historic buildings - this was the home of artist Alfred Palmer from 191 till his death in 1951.

I really like the brickwork at the roofline on this next building, which according to its blue plaque was the home of  John and Gregory Blaxland who lived here between 1769 and 1806 in between exploring Australia. According to wiki "The government promised them land, convict servants and free passages, in accord with its policy of encouraging 'settlers of responsibility and capital" (not like the other settlers who had made the mistake of stealing a loaf of bread then.)

This next building, unbelievably, is the Town Hall. It's closed for the winter but has a ducking stool and is registered as a wedding venue (at which presumably the ducking stool is not used).

Th other pub - the Fordwich Arms - look at the chimneys! The window brickwork is great too.

I loved this little cottage next to the church, not sure how I would feel about graves next to my window but then I took a closer look...

I don't think I've seen tombstones with skulls before, aren't they wonderful?

One last architectural gem, look at the way these windows are leaded. Beautiful.

Bluebell time!

Back to Blean Woods today to enjoy the bluebells, such an icon of English springtime. (You can enlarge the pics by clicking on them)

The woods are home to several sculptures, some woven with willow, others carved from fallen trees:

We saw the sculptor last time we were in the woods, this is what these looked like last time...

He told us then that he was planning a moth. Here it is!

There are wood ants EVERYWHERE in the woods, but fortunately most of them are smaller than this.

I wasn't expecting this ring of gnomes!

I don't care what ikea say, gnomes are quintessentially English! Their new advert does make me laugh though...

Happy St George's Day!

Meerkat St George

Jack in the Green

By chance I got chatting with a couple of fellow beach-combers on Sunday, and they told me that it was Jack-in-the-Green weekend, with lots of morris dancing and drumming and a parade...just my type of event!

It turned out to be the home turf of Mad Jacks Morris who I knitted years ago for the Tenterden Folk Festival.

Sadly there were no buses running so I couldn't join the VERY busy drinkers, but I still had fun!

Here are just a few of my 125 photos! I started off standing with the drummers who were waiting to join the procession - yes, it was *LOUD*!

 So many fabulous costumes - mostly featuring green, not surprisingly!

I hadn't realised that the town entered into the spirit of the event so thoroughly and was quite ashamed not to be dressed up myself - next year I will! I did get splodged on the nose though...

Even dogs like to attend - though some of them aren't up to the long walk. I noticed the pram several times during the day, and only once did I see the dog awake, despite the noise! After the procession passed me I followed the crowd to get ahead of them and found a wall to perch on.

There were several giants, I'm guessing these are Autumn and Winter.

Great to see so many kids involved.

I don't know who the ladies below are, they certainly don't look like morris dancers but the crowd loved their flamboyance!

 This is "Jack" himself with his entourage - all green of course!

A giant mermaid (and why not?)

I wondered why there was a big gap before the next person...then I realised...

Not sure who these guys were intended to be - the leader was offering the one behind as a potential husband to the ladies in the crowd!

The end is in sight! This is the view down from the castle mound with the end of the procession and just a few of the spectators. There were great views over the town and sea from the castle, I'll have to go back another day when the weather is a little more friendly.

Happy St George's Day!

Read all about our Patron Saint here

Order your own Niftyknits St George from Etsy or Zibbet

My neighbours

I live in a VERY ordinary house. We like it, but it is *not* picturesque in any way.

Yet within yards, on our daily walks, we pass these historic beauties (Did you know you can enlarge the pictures by clicking on them?)



This terrace is literally at the end of our road. The houses carry a date plaque - 1870! We actually viewed one of them when we were looking for our current house, they are really cute but the rooms are tiny. There isn't a right angle to be seen, not a straight wall or corner - very sweet, but not too easy to fit furniture! Along the back of the entire row is a path, running through all the neighbour's gardens! Unusual nowadays, but it was originally the access for the coalman.




This is the nearby farm. The pond has the biggest bank of snowdrops I've ever seen, just passed, and they butcher their own meat and sell the best sasuages in the world. I love the arched porch.




Not the best local oast house, it's a bit too "done up" for me, but it is the nearest. We have a local kitchen fitter who specialises in round kitchens. Imagine.



Of course, if you're hankering after one of these lovelies but can't quite make the price, why not settle for a knitted version?




This last one is just gorgeous. Look at the angles! I can't decide if the beams and windows have "dropped" over the years, or if they were actually built like that. Soooo pretty.

I just need to sell a couple more meerkats....

It's snowed!

It snowed most of yesterday, but today was bright and sunny and the snow was perfect underfoot, dry and powdery and looking as though it had been sprinkled with glitter.







I spent yesterday huddled in front of the fire and crocheting myself an earflap hat. It's not a brilliant pic, but can you see the curly "dreads" on the point?



We walked across the fields to town and then back again in time for lunch. I love this area, real English countryside.