The diary of a cheeky chap: A relaxing day out.

After a day enjoying the relaxing and beautiful countryside that surrounds my hometown it is hard not to feel relaxed. Especially as it involved the photographing of a church, newly discovered, and the sampling of a lovely pint or two at one of my favourite pubs. Hint the pint is called “The Compton Swan” and it is so tasty. We took the decision to get out of the flat today and enjoy the sunshine and see if we could discover somewhere new. Well some new roads were travelled along that is for sure which is why a new church has been added to my list to photograph.

The church is located in a small village called Welford, a place I have been to many times when I spent time over the summer holidays staying at my aunt’s Vi’s shopping in Chaddleworth. Or so I thought, clearly there are one or two corners of Welford I had not been to hence my surprise to find a church there. From the exterior the church looks stunning and sits in some impressive grounds adjacent to a very big country house. Today’s visit was only a brief on, an exploratory visit as it were, so only a few photographs of the exterior where taken. The inside was well, surprising, I was going to say a disappointment but I am trying to avoid negative words at the moment as there are far to many being banded around as it. Why surprising, well it was very plain, some of the walls had clearly seen better days and the smell of damp was very strong. I get the impression that the parish struggles to maintain the up keep of the church. It is a very big church and so beautiful it is a shame that is slowly succumbing to the elements.

The photographs will appear at the end of the post as usual and you can expect a rich supply of photographs over the next week and a bit as I intend to be out with my camera everyday without fail. There are four churches I intend to revisit on of them being today’s church St Gregory’s. There is the church at Catmore, one in Frilsham and the final one the church in Oare. I have a very specific composition in mind for the church in Oare which is going to need sunshine and patchy clouds and some patients. I think pack lunches and flasks of tea and bottles of cold drink are going to be in order. I am also seriously considering a trip to Didcot Railway Centre again on a non-steam day. Mainly to retake some photographs if the weather holds up but also to taste their amazing sausage chips and beans but I think I will leave that one for later on in the week or early next.

It is difficult not to be refreshed and relaxed after a day in the countryside enjoying the sights and sounds. Hopefully it will result in a less troubled sleep tonight.

Now you know you are getting older when you find yourself stood in a cue at the local supermarket surrounded by school kids and you haven’t a clue what they are talking about. I did not even recongise some of the words being used and can only guess that they were new versions of cool, fab or wicked. I made the usual nuisance of myself at the checkouts having a laugh and joke with the staff whom I have got to know very well. Now the tail end of the afternoon was spent sleeping of the pints of Compton Swan consumed lunchtime but I woke up refreshed and eager to process the photographs or should I say snaps. Well they are snaps to me as I did not use a tripod and did not spend the usual amount of time playing with compositions. Not that it was in anyway obvious but I am clearly in serious need of some photography therapy and I am sure the doctor would agree.

I have also been thinking about this short book with photographs detailing my battle with depression and alcoholism and part of me is not sure that I am far enough along the journey to tell a complete story. I need to give it some more thought as a book needs a conclusion and I am not sure I have one at the moment. It was suggested that I turn this blog into the book but I think there is to much and the storyline if you can call it does not flow very well as it is almost a day to day blow. I think a book should be more specific on the subject and have some sort of flow to it and less of the silly little details, more focus that is what I am trying to say. I am going to start to write it and see how it pans out.

Well that is all for now, time for photographs and bed.