The Imp & The Magna Carta in Lincoln

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The magnificent castle at Lincoln was built in 1068, it was one of the first to be built by the Normans after the defeat of Harold in 1066.  It is set high on a hill very near to the Cathedral, which I told you about, here.


According to the Domesday book 166 Saxon homes were cleared to make way for the castle.  It dominated the skyline until the Cathedral was built.  An original copy of the Magna Carta is displayed in the castle prison.

I use a car park which is situated right next to the castle walls, facing the cathedral. Yesterday when I visited, the clouds were low and heavy rain was forecast.  

The famous Lincoln Imp is to be found in the cathedral.

Davina and I were on a mission to buy a christening gown for baby Francesca - and Davina knew just the shop, an added bonus was the fact that there was a sale on.

We looked at every gown and eventually made our selection.

Onward, down Steep Hill ... and the siren call of the Chocolate Shop was too strong to resist ... especially as it was Davina's birthday.




Out of the chocolate shop, turn right and this is what you see....

..the white building is a wonderfully higgledy-piggledy, crowded bookshop - always a great excuse to stop and catch one's breath on the return journey up the hill - our walk continues to the left of the book shop and

down this aptly named hill, the gallery to the left is a superb arts and crafts centre.



This is the approach to the really steep part of the hill...it has a gradient of one in seven -  and the return journey is a test of stamina and fitness.

I don't mind climbing back up - but I find walking down very frightening when it is wet - I have this irrational fear that I may slip...

Once in the main part of Lincoln we did some more shopping, had a coffee, etc. and then began the trek back up Steep Hill.  This is the view from near the bottom, you can see one of the cathedral towers in the distance.

Luckily the hill is packed with interesting little shops, so anyone who is finding it hard going always has an interesting shop window to examine while they catch their breath.

The Jew's House is on Steep Hill.    It is one of the earliest (still existing) town houses in England and dates from the mid-twelfth century.

This is the part which leads up to the REALLY steep section, time to pace ourselves and not talk too much!

Arnold's Magic Trick, Fairy Doors & Toby

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Arnold is a well-fed, happy, old horse, who enjoys my visits, especially the part which involves treats.




He gets a little grumpy when I produce my camera instead of carrots, tells me to make it snappy.

No image 'thinnification', this is what he does, I simply
drained the colour for added effect.

He possesses an unusual ability - one I really wish that I could mimic - he can make himself look very thin (so thin that he looks as though he will expire if I don't give him something to eat) ..


a puff of wind could blow him away...

feed me, please....

He had his carrots, his apple, and two mints.  He was a happy boy and he suddenly resumed his normal proportions!



I wonder whether he has learnt this magic trick from the fairies who live in the yard...

..I found these two fairy doors right next to Arnold's paddock.  

They are in the base of that gigantic ash tree.  Split ash trees are supposed to have magical healing properties.



I wish I had remembered that yesterday.



Toby may be the grumpy one when I tell you that I had to ring for a wheelbarrow to take him home from Arnold's...he had hurt his front right leg and couldn't walk on it.   I couldn't find a thorn, a cut, a bee sting, or any obvious reason for the pain, but he wouldn't allow much probing.

Normally it would probably have been possible to hobble back the short distance home - but given Toby's recent problems with his rear right leg ... he just wasn't going to get anywhere on two legs!   He was embarrassed, but tried to look dignified.

He had a check-up at the vet's and he couldn't find anything either.  Salt water bathing was recommended.  Watch, wait, and see whether anything develops.

This morning he is walking without any problem.  Fingers are crossed.  A walk without Toby is not the same.

Romance and Rainbows

My walks with Toby are gradually becoming shorter, he's not as young as he used to be.  We often take a stroll down to the watermill and then up the hill to Claythorpe.    This does have one advantage - I becoming more familiar with the birds there.

I am becoming familiar with the strutting cockerel, and the parading peacocks.

The lonely swan...who has spent so many months on her own in the mill chase pool....

...swimming here ...

dabbling there...

always elegant, always alone

...now has a friend...

Could this be the start of a fine romance?

Tonight there was a double rainbow - it ended in "our" barley field....