A rural wander around Crux Easton, Hampshire

A complete change of scene, and scenery, for today's post. These pictures were all taken during one of our recent post-Christmas walks, this one being a 5 mile loop around Crux Easton in north Hampshire.

Silhouetted trees in the late afternoon sun 

When this electricity pylon came into view, I was immediately reminded of the cover of the excellent book, The Unofficial Countryside by Richard Mabey.

Electricity pylon with the setting sun

Sunset near Crux Easton

It's been a while since I photographed any decay, dereliction or abandonment, either urban or rural, so here are a few pictures of a slightly forgotten but favourite subject matter.

Rural decay, a broken fence post

Rural decay, a derelict farm building, near Crux Easton

Rural decay, a derelict farm building, near Crux Easton

I must have taken tens of pictures of the sunset today, of which these are my favourites.

Sunset, near Crux Easton

Sunset, near Crux Easton

Sunset, near Crux Easton

There's something about poles and wires disappearing into the distance.

Sunset, near Crux Easton

And finally, the perfect ending to a perfect walk, the last glimpses of the winter sun as it sets behind the windmill at Crux Easton.

Crux Easton Windmill

    

A New Year's Resolution ... of sorts

First of all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR to the handful of readers who regularly look at this blog. As usual, this blog is for things that don't really fit on to my vintage postcards blog or my vintage magazines blog. You'll fund all sorts of things here, from my (slight) obsession with London mews, to mountain biking, books, music, the great outdoors, and all sorts of other things.

Apart from the dream of turning my vintage and music hobbies into multi-million pound businesses, I only made one New Year's resolution this year which was originally to try and do something new or different every day, but already I have downgraded that to weekly. Hopefully I'm not being too ambitious here as this covers everything from visiting new places, eating in different restaurants, trying a new beer, reading a new book, etc. Three days into the New Year and I have met my first week's target on New Year's Day when we took a walk with friends up on to the Wayfarer's Walk and did a 6 mile loop coming back across Coombe Gibbet. The pictures below are a few I took along the way, and whilst the sun was shining for the most part, the ground underfoot was incredibly soggy.

Musically I've been quite active over the Christmas and New Year period, mainly thanks to my Christmas present of a Sonos Bridge and Sonos Speaker. It was a genuine surprise for which I was very gtareful, and the sound quality is amazing. I've really had a hugely varied playlist but a few standout albums this week have been The Orb - The Dream, Small Faces - The Autumn Stone and Public Service Broadcasting - The War Room.

      

Unusually I did not get any books for Christmas this year, so will have to scout around some of my favourite secondhand bookshops in the next couple of weeks. I'm also planning to continue my visits to new places in London when I get the opportunity during lunch breaks and after work. Hopefully more posts to follow with more London mews, alleys and side streets.