This is my first blog since 31st October 2025 – exactly a year ago - the longest “radio silence” by far since posting my first blog in January 2020. The reason? From January, Carolann and I have been caring for her father in Halesowen 75% of the time due to his declining, complex health condition. As a result, routines changed and daily living and care needs have taken much time and energy. There have been rare opportunities and few “creative juices” for going far and pursuing photographic interests. Since mid-September, we are up here again for the duration…
However, there have been three notable exceptions: early morning forays into nearby woods during the Spring and early summer; and a day spent in the Ashdown Forest while taking a week’s holiday in Sussex. And third, a more unexpected advantage of our situation: I spent more time on a latent interest which has lain dormant for twenty years - cultivating bonsai. To whet your appetite, these three subjects will form the subjects of my next three blogs which I aim to publish in close succession…
I’ve featured The Leasowes before (June 2021 link). During the past few months their close proximity and welcoming silence has provided a wonderful antidote to the sometimes intense situations we’ve faced, both in hospital and at home. They’ve also provided a welcoming and suitable environment to pursue various healing practices described in recent blogs. Especially at bluebell time, they came to life and provided many wonderful landscape vistas, the essence of which I tried to capture.
I’m letting each image speak for itself without embellishing them with titles, thoughts, feelings or perspectives, nor am I adding any technical information. They’re simply here for you to appreciate…
Their numbers allow you to comment if they have struck you in some way...
