Familiar Haunts: Caldecotte Lake

Our time in England has been a time of reminiscing, firstly back in MK and now in Lincoln. These two places where I lived for 38 years in total, so familiar. As well as visiting old friends it has been a chance to revisit places – familiar haunts.

Caldecotte Lake

Probably the place I visited most often in my time in MK – place of countless runs and walks over the years. We walked it On one of the hottest days of the U.K. this year. A large lake on our old doorstep when we lived there.

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Caldecotte Muse

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Muse.” When we lived in Milton Keynes I would often visit our local lake. Caldecotte was much smaller than Lake Victoria but was the scene of many photos. The local pup/restaurant/hotel was built in the shape of a windmill and could be seen from across the lake in many places. It appeared in many photos.

(Ab)Zorbing Experience for the Unbirthday Bash

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My daughter’a birthday will be in November after we have left England. Whilst we are certain she will make new friends in Mwanza we though it a good idea to have Bex’s early Birthday Bash (an unbirthday bash if you please!). So today we are hosting 11 of her friends for an afternoon of Zorbing on the lake, followed by a movie and a sleepover. What have we let ourselves in for! 12 teenage girls in one conservatory – it’s going to be fun!

Travel Theme: Shine

A submission to this weeks Travel Theme on the topic Shine. All taken in the period from Late December 2012 through to Mid February 2013.

Christmas Lights at Shining at Oxford Street and Shiny Baubles at Coventry Garden in London

Ice Palace shining an eerie glow at Hyde Park, London

New Year’s Fireworks shining out over Horse Guards Parade in London

Sun shining over Caldecotte Lake in MK

The shiny polished metal bottom of the Cutty Sark sailing ship and a view across to the lights shining out from Canary Wharf in Greenwich, London

The glow of candles shining from
My birthday cake 🙂

Light shining through wooden slats at Kew Gardens in London

Finally light shining through a Snowdrop at Anglesey Abbey, near Cambridge.

Lake Run

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I woke up early. So did something I haven’t done for a while (in the morning at least!) and went on a run. I really should do this more often. Caldecotte Lake is a very pleasant lake to run around. The adrenaline buzz is great. Note to self to do this more often.

Photos below we’re not taken this morning but on previous walks.

Familiar yet Unknown

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Every day I see her. Depending on which time my car reaches Long Crendon, depends on where along the road she is.

Do Nothing Days!

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Today is a “Do Nothing Day”, or more strictly a “Do Nothing on the House Day. Time to relax and do other stuff. It’s been pretty intense these past few weeks so it’s nice to have a break.
So what are we doing?

Caldecotte vs Victoria

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One of the attractions locally is living close to Caldecotte Lake where I have had many a good run or walk over the years.

On an entirely different scale will be Lake Victoria – the second largest lake in the world. Mwanza sits on the lake’s southern shores, just 2 degrees south of the equator in the North West of Tanzania. The lake and the altitude (at over 1000m on a par with the top of Snowdon) means it’s slightly cooler than the plains below at a relatively cool 28-30 degrees C. Unfortunately the presence of diseases such as Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia) mean there’s no swimming but there are some spectacular sunsets apparently. For now I shall have to settle for the sunsets over Caldecotte.