AstraZeneca vaccine being delivered in Lightwater

Dear wife yesterday spoke to a friend in Lightwater who reported that she had had the AstraZeneca vaccine, delivered in All Saints’ Church Hall, and others had had the vaccination too. [Photo of All sSaints’ Church Hall below]

Good news don’t you think, especially as it’s the first day of the AstraZeneca roll-out. When one reads that the Covid cases in Surrey Heath have doubled in two weeks, vaccination can’t come soon enough.

Perhaps, now that the government has announced a nationwide lockdown, and that the vaccination targets have been announced, all the negative socialist activists will calm down, be quiet, and not get interviewed by the media so we can listen to sensible people like Professor Jonathan Van Tam, and the Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty.

 

Storm Bella did’nt deposit much water in our detention pond

Dear readers you know how I like to report on the state of the detention pond in Lightwater, well, here’s what Storm Bella left yesterday afternoon after a night of heavy rain.

Some changes in society I’ve spotted

We’ve all seen changes to our lives this year, and the Covid19 cause isn’t yet banished.

Look, I’m no seer talking about changes in our society, it’s just that I’ve seen some changes that I hadn’t expected. The main change I’ve noticed is the number of people walking, whether from their homes to the local shops, or more surprisingly in the local heathland and countryside. I’ve walked or cycled extensively and regularly in our local heathland for more years than I care to tell you. On many occasions I’ve been a solitary walker. So, what a surprise to encounter 30 or more various people in Folly Bog and Brentmoor Heath last Sunday.

This a healthy change I hope is maintained. Some of the greater numbers of walkers I put down to new dog owners, exercising their new puppies.

I wonder if you too have received early Christmas cards, many containing messages and comments about life and meeting up. The practice of giving and receiving cards was on the wane. I wonder if it’s about to become popular again. Although anno domini has made big holes in our Christmas card list. Perhaps not for youngsters, for whom a WhatsApp message or TikTok video is the current vogue.

Brrrr, it’s cold. But festive decorations amuse

I’m not yet attuned to the cold weather. Probably due to the direction to stay at home, in the warmth.

I have ventured out and think that there are generally fewer festive decorations than in previous years. This may not be correct as I’ve not ventured out far.

Anyhow, here are a couple of photos I’ve taken in local walks. One is a group in the square in Lightwater, and the other is of Father Christmas on a tree house in Lightwater Road.

The colours of fallen leaves

Nature never fails to impress. Among what we love about autumn is the colours of fallen leaves. In a recent walk, here are two that I admired.

Gulls and a Grey Heron enjoy the receding water of the detention pond

I visited, as promised, Lightwater’s detention pond yesterday afternoon. I found the water level seriously reduced, though not enough for a single Grey Heron and some Common Gulls to have a splash about and a, fruitless, search for food.

In one photo you can see the inlet to the pond, and in the distance the structure which is the outlet. Here are the photos of my visit. Enough, I think, for now about detention ponds.

Mark asks, where is the detention pond?

A reader asks, “Where is the detention pond in Lightwater?” A reasonable question since the dry detention pond is normally dry and only fills up when needed to hold over-flow water temporarily, until it drains into another location.

The pond was built at the same time as all the new housing estates in Lightwater alongside Red Road. In the map below, the green triangle in the centre is the dry detention pond. It lies adjacent to Red Road with its junction with Lightwater Road. Hope this helps.

A fellow observer sends a Lightwater detention pond update

Alan, a friend in Lightwater, yesterday emailed a photo of the detention pond in Lightwater, showing it full of rain water. Alan says, in his email,

At the risk of seeming obsessive, the Lightwater detention pond has been filled by the recent rain, again.

Not obsessive at all Alan, it’s a valuable service you’re doing helping to record the natural events in Lightwater. I’ll look at the state of the pond later today, after the promised rain. The detention pond protects the lower lying parts of Lightwater from receiving a rush of excessive rain water.

Here’s Alan’s photo below. My other articles of this detention pond can be read if you enter the words detention pond in the search box at the top right of the page.

In a group of six for a Blue Plaque launch

Previously I said I was in a group of six for a special event. Now I can tell you it was for the launch of a blue plaque on The Lodge of Paddock Wood Finishing School in Lightwater.

It was quite an honour to be included in the group of six, which included the Surrey Heath Mayor, Curator of Surrey Heath Museum, the owners of the Lodge, the past school students organiser, and yours truly.

The Lodge was home, as it says on the Plaque, to many of the activities of the school. The placing of a plaque on the building is a fitting reminder of the role it played in the life of the school.

Here are photos of the Lodge, the plaque and the launch party of six. Click on the images to expand. The role of the Lodge within the school is described in the Welcome page of Paddock Wood Finishing School website.

I won’t retell the fascinating history of school and it’s associated lodge, as it is covered in depth HERE, HERE, and HERE.

PS: My wife asked the question of me, who took the photo. It was taken by a member of Windlesham & Camberley Camera Club, suitably distanced from the group of six.

Being in a group of six for a special event

I was at a lodge house this morning, in a group of six people, for a special event. I’ll tell you more later, as have to dash off to London.