Day 21 - January 21st

My Mum & Dad have grown the biggest Amaryllis plant I have ever seen. 

Day 20 - January 20th

This cactus (and its partner) are my nemesis! Given to Lara several years ago, they now stand on my kitchen windowsil. I have to be so careful when my hands are anywhere near it because its prickles are lethal.

Day 19 - January 19th

This morning we drove to Knebworth for an almost 8 mile walk through the grounds of Knebworth House and the surrounding countryside.

As soon as we entered Knebworth Park we were greeted with the sight of a small herd of Red Deer cautiously watching us from a distance.

We passed the Grade II listed Knebworth House which has been the home of the Lytton family since 1490 and the nearby Church of St Mary and St Thomas.

We then headed out of the park through woodland .

We found ourselves in open countryside and farmland.

Heavily coated sheep watched us pass by.

Towards the end of the walk we re-entered the Knebworth estate passing the Monument to Elizabeth Bulwer Lytton, who died 1842, and was erected by her son the 19th century novelist Edward Bulwer Lytton

Day 18 - January 18th

I found time today for some scrapbooking.

Day 17 - January 17th

I bought some bunches of tulips today. I love the variety of colours in each bunch.

Day 16 - January 16th

Today was a very important day with my mum undergoing long awaited surgery. She had to be at the hospital at 7am but luckily was shown straight to her room where I was able to wait with her until she was taken to the operating theatre.

Day 15 - January 15th

The Hellebore plants in my Mum & Dad's garden are always so pretty. Although often known as Christmas or Lenten roses, because they flower from late winter into spring, hellebores aren’t related to roses. Instead they belong to the buttercup family.

Day 14 - January 14th

Snowdrops are appearing.

Day 13 - January 13th

Polyanthus flowers are beginning to rear their heads in the garden.

Day 12 - January 12th

This afternoon we went for a walk with our monthly walking group. We walked a 4 mile loop of Chicksands and Sandy Smith Nature Reserve, Beadlow.

The Nature Reserve is owned and managed by the Greensands Trust and our walk took us though a corner of Chicksands Wood, the edge of Rowney Warren and then across open farmland.

Due to recent cold weather, the ground was reasonably firm and not too muddy.

Day 11 - January 11th

My first baking session of the year - ginger biscuits.

Day 10 - January 10th

The first bunch of daffodils bought this year.

Day 9 - January 9th

Killing time whilst waiting for a hospital appointment.

Day 8 - January 8th

A pit stop for a bite to eat and a drink whilst shopping.

Day 7 - January 7th

Just Tux.

Day 6 - January 6th

The Christmas tree has been put away for another year but rather a lot of Christmas chocolates remain.

Day 5 - January 5th

Today we woke to a scattering of snow. Thankfully, It didn't last long. 

Day 4 - January 4th

Today we went for a walk. We walked from the Lee Valley White Water Centre alongside the River Lee to Ponders End.

It wasn't the most picturesque walk, but there were some nice bits like the first section beside the water at Waltham Cross where there were quite a few narrow boats in their winter moorings.

At Enfield Lock we noticed a cute library in a box. I had a quick look at the books inside but nothing really appealed.

We spotted a few birds on the water, like this Cormorant.

We passed a number of ornate metal pillars. I'm not sure if they are just pieces of art or if they are mooring posts.

Part of our walk took us through Rammey Marsh - an area of roughly 100 acres which is owned and managed by The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.

Hiding in the bushes we spotted a couple of foxes, something we've not seen before on a daytime walk.

We ended our 9.8mile walk back where we started at the Lee Valley White Water Centre.

We watched the canoeists for a bit and enjoyed a posh fish finger sandwich and some chips.