All posts by Armin Grewe

Hi, it's just me.
Pictures, Thoughts

May colours at Westonbirt Arboretum

2 Comments

My first real day out for over a year since the pandemic started, my last big day out before was a trip to Oxford on the day I picked up my new car (which stiil has less than 2,000 miles on the clock) at the end of January 2020. Spurred on by memories of May 2020 where we had some beautiful sunny weather (but couldn’t get out much under lockdown) I had decided to take a week off in May 2021 for some first tentative steps to get out a bit further than the local walks and weekly trip to the supermarket. Of course the weather didn’t really cooperate, although I probably picked the best day for the only real trip I managed to get in:

After not having been for probably more than a decade I decided to visit Westonbirt Arboretum, in the hope of some nice spring colours. A few days before I pre-booked my ticket online, for the time being admission is only with pre-booked tickets so that they can control visitor numbers and make sure it doesn’t get overcrowded, allowing social distancing to keep everyone safe. After an uneventful drive I arrived at 11:00 to some mostly cloudy weather with occasional showers. Luckily the clouds broke up early afternoon, giving me some beautiful sunny intervals to enjoy the colours. My hopes for some beautiful May colours were certainly fulfilled, lots of plants in bloom and a lot of fresh greens (and reds). I took a lot of pictures, here are 10 of my favourites:

  • Picture of three small trees with different leaf colours, green and red
    Three colourful trees
  • Picture of some wet red flowers after a rain shower
    Wet red flowers
  • Picture of a big beautiful tree with big branches behind a field of Bluebells
    Big tree behind Bluebells
  • Picture of a small meadow covered in Bluebells, surrounded by trees
    Bluebells in a sunny meadow
  • Picture of trees in various colours and shades (red, amber, green) over a carpet of Bluebells
    Colourful woods, red, green, amber, blue
  • Picture of trees in various shades of red and green leaves
    Shades of red and green
  • Picture of a pink Rhododendron bush with some green leaves visible
    Green leaves and pink Rhododendron
  • Picture of two red Rhododendron bushes behind a carpet of Bluebells
    Red Rhododendron behind Bluebells
  • Picture of Lime Avenue at Westonbirt Arboretum in the fresh May green on a sunny afternoon
    Lime Avenue at Westonbirt Arboretum in the fresh May green
  • Picture of three tall tree trunks behind some Bluebells
    Three trees behind Bluebells
May colours at Westonbirt Arboretum (click on the pictures for the larger versions)

I spent the whole day until closing time at 17:00 walking around, discovering new views, new trees, new colours, new plants, revisiting places for different light after the sun came out and more. It wasn’t busy most of the time, I think through a combination of the pre-booked tickets and the not very promising weather forecast (with the weather turning out much better than forecasted luckily). Some features (e.g. small parts of the treetop walk) were closed to ensure social distancing, but the vast majority was open. My enjoyment of the arboretum wasn’t diminished at all. The staff was friendly and helpful when I needed them. All in all a great day out, I felt safe pretty much throughout and enjoyed the May colours I had come for.

On my return journey I decided to a small bonus and made a detour to an old haunt of mine, a place I had visited many times when I first arrived in the UK, Avebury. I didn’t stay long, but had a nice time revisiting familiar views.

I arrived back home in the evening very tired, but also very satisfied after a great day out.

Pictures, Thoughts

Big Stones at Avebury Stone Circle

3 Comments

On my first big day out for over a year due to the pandemic I went to Westonbirt Arboretum (pictures from that in a separate post) on a May day with changeable weather. On my return journey I decided to make a detour via Avebury Stone Circle, a place I had great memories of from my early years in the UK 25 years ago. I hadn’t visited since moving to West Berkshire over 10 years ago. I had the place pretty much for myself (well, apart from the sheep and lambs) and took a few pictures of some of the standing stones during a few short sunny intervals. I used my wide angle lens and went close up, hopefully showing the massive size of these stones.

  • Picture of a stone circle seen from an embankment on a May evening with sunny intervals
    Avebury Stone Circle
  • Picture of standing stones in a stone circle on a sunny May evening
    Big Stones at Avebury Stone Circle (1)
  • Picture of standing stones in a stone circle on a sunny May evening
    Big Stones at Avebury Stone Circle (2)
  • Picture of a standing stone in a stone circle with a big tree in the background on a sunny May evening
    Big Stone and a Big Tree at Avebury Stone Circle
  • Picture of standing stones in a stone circle with a big tree in the background on a sunny May evening
    Big Stones and a Big Tree at Avebury Stone Circle
  • Picture of standing stones in a stone circle on a sunny May evening, a sheep wandering past
    Big Stones and a Sheep at Avebury Stone Circle
Big Stones at Avebury Stone Circle (click on the pictures for the large versions)

I didn’t stay long as I was tired after a long day walking around Westonbirt Arboretum, also some heavier clouds moved in and it looked like rain was on the way. But I’m sure I’ll be back later this year or next year as we hopefully progress with overcoming the pandemic and the country opens up further. In the meantime I hope you’ll enjoy these pictures.

Thoughts, Video

What I’ve been listening to recently

Leave a comment

Having been moved from Google Play Music (now shut down) to YouTube Music by Google a few months ago I’ve been playing around with playlists a bit. It seems I can share them, so here’s one I’m using a lot at the moment:

My “Bad Mood Blaster” playlist, showing the first song on it. Not ideal but that’s what it does. Open it in YouTube to shuffle, view the full list etc

I’ve called it “Bad Mood Blaster”, partially because it came to my mind first and after that I couldn’t think of anything better, partially because that’s what it helps me with, picking me up and cheering me up both when I need it and just generally. I’ve described it as this:

Loud songs to blast any bad mood away. Guitar, bass and drum focused. Max 2 songs per artist. From the 1980s to the 2020s

That’s about it. It will continue to grow and change as I add artists and in some cases possibly switch out songs (as I want to stick to the max 2 songs per artist “rule”). Some well known songs/hits you will probably know, some lesser known songs you might not know.

Obviously includes six songs from the three bands I discovered for me last year, The Mysterines, Dream Wife and The Big Moon. I wonder which bands new to me I will add this year, if any?

Pictures

Goldfinch in the Autumn Sunshine (+bonus Starlings)

5 Comments

The last day of October 2020 brought a dull and grey morning and some heavy rain over lunchtime and early afternoon in West Berkshire. But around mid afternoon it cleared up and the sun came through, giving some nice autumn afternoon sunshine. As soon as the rolls I had started baking at lunchtime as the heavy rain stopped me from going anywhere were finished I grabbed my camera to try and get a few shots. I only had about an hour before the sun went too low and no time to go far, but I managed to catch these Goldfinches on a tree in its autumn colours (and some bonus Starlings on the top of a bare tree branch):

  • Picture of a Goldfinch in some autumn leaves under a blue sky
    Goldfinch in autumn leaves (1)
  • Picture of a Goldfinch in some autumn leaves under a blue sky
    Goldfinch in autumn leaves (2)
  • Picture of a Goldfinch in some autumn leaves under a blue sky
    Goldfinch in autumn leaves (3)
  • Picture of a Goldfinch in some autumn leaves under a blue sky
    Goldfinch in autumn leaves (4)
  • Picture of a Goldfinch on the top of a tree in the autumn afternoon sunshine
    Goldfinch in the autumn afternoon sun
  • Picture of seven Starlings on the top of a branch in the autumn afternoon light
    Starlings in the autumn afternoon sun
Goldfinches (and bonus Starlings) in the autumn sunshine

As usual click on the pictures for the large size gallery view. I hope you enjoy and like the pictures, I must admit I’m quite pleased about the first picture, managing to catch the Goldfinch just in the hole in the autumn leaves (there were also plenty failed versions of that picture…).

Pictures

Autumn colours along the Kennet & Avon Canal in West Berkshire

4 Comments

Having decided not to travel to Islay because of the Covid-19 pandemic this year I had a two week staycation at home in West Berkshire. Unfortunately the weather didn’t turn out as nice as I had hoped, so I didn’t get out for walks as much as I had thought (I ended up visiting a Swedish furniture store and completing some home improvements I had thought about for a while instead). Still, I managed to squeeze in a few short sunny walks along the Kennet & Avon Canal allowing me to take a few nice autumnal pictures (click on the pictures for the full size gallery):

  • Picture of two trees in their autumn colours next to a canal, seen from a window overlooking the canal
    (1) Colourful trees from the window
  • Picture of two trees in their autumns colours reflecting in the water of the canal
    (2) Autumnal trees reflecting in the canal
  • Picture of a canal boat moored along a canal in the autumn sunshine, trees in their autumn colour in the background
    (3) Canal boat in the autumn sunshine
  • Picture of Chestnut trees in their autumn colours along a canal
    (4) Chestnuts in their autumn colours along the canal
  • Picture of a canal boat moored on a canal under colourful autumn trees
    (5) Boat moored under colourful autumn trees
  • Picture of a canal boat cruising through fallen autumn leaves floating on a canal
    (6) Canal boat cruising through fallen autumn leaves
  • Picture of colourful autumnal trees along a canal
    (7) Colourful autumnal trees along the canal
  • Picture of colourful autumnal trees along a canal and floating fallen leaves on the canal
    (8) Autumnal trees and floating leaves on the canal
  • Picture of a beautiful tree in its autumn colours next to a canal towpath
    (9) Colourful autumn tree next to the canal towpath
  • Picture of a beautiful tree in its autumn colours next to a canal towpath
    (10) Looking up a beautiful autumn colour tree

Except for the first picture (which is from my flat overlooking the canal in Aldermaston Wharf) all the pictures are from the towpath from Aldermaston Wharf walking west towards Woolhampton. Some really nice autumnal colours around, especially over the second week. All the pictures were taken with my large wide angle zoom lens (14-24mm, mostly towards the 14mm), allowing me to capture some big views of the trees and their autumn colours.

I hope you’ll enjoy the pictures and the colours.