Architecture, art, Colour, history, Light, Monochrome, Nature, People, Photography, Religion, Wildlife, work

An A-Z of Somerset: Baltonsborough

12 August 2020 ckponderings 5 Comments

The second of the Somerset villages I’m showcasing, and it’s a short eight mile hop to the east of Ashcott where we find Baltonsborough.

This certainly has more of a village feel than Ashcott, mainly to to its smaller population – less than 900 inhabitants – and the fact that it’s not situated on a main road. The houses are, generally, older, and the centre of the village – the pub – is within spitting distance of the village hall and church.

The church itself is dedicated to St Dunstan. Born in Baltonsborough, Dunstan was Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey, Bishop of Worcester, Bishop of London and Archbishop of Canterbury before dying in 988.

Other notable sons of this quaint village include a Canadian politician, the person responsible for introducing rabbits to Australia and Victoria Cross recipient Edward Noel Mellish. While not born in the UK, actor Nicholas Cage has also made Baltonsborough his Somerset home.

The village centre is also where the War Memorial is located. Alongside the plaques to those who lost their lives in the two world wars is one commemorating the other villagers who fought.

Architecture, Colour, history, Light, Monochrome, Nature, Photography, Religion, story, Transport, Uncategorized, Wildlife, work

An A-Z of Somerset: Ashcott

8 August 2020 ckponderings 16 Comments

The first of an ad hoc, semi-regular roam around the villages of Somerset…

We’ll begin out journey in the village of Ashcott.

Situated on the side of the busy A39, three miles (5km) to the west of Street, Ashcott is a small village made up of a mix of old and modern buildings.

While the village seems to lack a real central focus, All Saints Church dominates the eastern heights.

The local amenities include a couple of pubs – the Ring O’ Bells and the Ashcott – and, while no longer served by the railway (Ashcott and Meare station and, indeed, the whole of the Burhnam branch line, were axed as part of the Beeching cuts in the 1960s), it is still a pleasant walk down to the Shapwick Heath and Ham Wall nature reserves, where the trains once passed.

art, Colour, Glastonbury, Light, Nature, Photography, Wildlife

Prickly

4 August 2020 ckponderings Leave a comment

Life may seem like you’re travelling through thorny brush, but there is still beauty to be found.

Thorns and spikes are there to protect; that protection is there to help the delicate and sensitive parts of the plant.

Sometimes the perceived darkness is there for good.

Animals, art, change, Colour, Glastonbury, Light, Nature, Photography, Wildlife

Ride

22 July 2020 ckponderings 2 Comments

Ride the great wave of life and see where it takes you.

Amazing adventures lie in store if you just take that one step out of your comfort zone.

Why say ‘no’, when ‘yes’ is so much more positive?

art, Colour, Glastonbury, Light, Nature, Photography, Wildlife

Unexpected

21 July 2020 ckponderings 3 Comments

Expect the unexpected.

One of the beautiful things about life is that it throws the unknown and unconventional our way.

Open your arms and embrace the new.

Animals, art, Colour, Light, Nature, Photography, Wildlife

At Your Pace

20 July 2020 ckponderings 4 Comments

Take life at your own pace.

We are not multi-taskers, you can only successfully achieve one thing at a time.

Do it slowly and do it well.

Animals, art, Colour, Glastonbury, Light, Nature, Photography, Wildlife

Calm

6 July 2020 ckponderings 2 Comments

Take time out to enjoy the world around you.

Breathe in, breathe out, and listen to the sound of silence.

Peace will come at last.

art, Glastonbury, history, Light, People, Photography, work

Judge

1 July 2020 ckponderings 2 Comments

Don’t judge a book by its cover, and don’t judge others by your own morals.

Everybody is different and that is what makes humanity work.

Be who you are and embrace that person.

Architecture, art, Colour, Glastonbury, history, Light, Nature, Photography, Religion, Wildlife

Focus

30 June 2020 ckponderings Leave a comment

Focus on the things that are important to you.

What is your priority right now? What can you do to address it? If you can’t clear it all in one go, break it down, and fix what you can; everything else will fall into place.

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Ruin

27 June 2020 ckponderings 5 Comments

Look after yourself.

Being there for other people is important, particularly in challenging times.

But you cannot help them if you are struggling yourself.

CKPonderingsToo