The photo above is from a few years ago, but it’s representative of what it’s been like being back. The roads (and sky) are wide and quiet, and peddling my bike down a big empty street seems kind of otherworldly after a year in a much more crowded part of the world:

The other huge difference is the damn mosquitoes. Didn’t really miss them while we were gone, and wasn’t too thrilled to see them again (in vast quantities) upon our return.

Oh, and burritos are much better in Minnesota than in the UK (and much better in Texas than Minnesota). Really. Much better.

The hand over occurred a few days ago, and tonight was our first chance to frequent the establishment under their new ownership. Sadly, it wasn’t nearly as good as before. They had definitely changed either their suppliers and/or their processes. The fish was hard and rubbery, and the chips were pale and greasy. All in all, not the win.

Very sad, really. Luckily there are other chippies within ready walking distance, and we’re only here another month, so this isn’t catastrophe it might have been. Still, we will miss the Peggottys folks, their hospitality, and their food. If I’d thought of it sooner, it would have been really cool to have taken a photo of them all at the shop, but that moment has passed.

A mentioned earlier, our friend Jane stayed in Peake’s House, a wonderful old Landmark Trust property here in Colchester. This photo is Jane, Sub-Evil Boy and WeatherGirl as they walk towards Peake’s House (the half-timbered building on the left) in the evening.

We were so inspired by that great house, and the wonderful collection of properties being preserved (and made available) by the Landmark Trust that we promptly booked a stay in one during Sub-Evil Boy’s term break. So soon we’re off to Methwold Old Vicarage, which should be really fun. Between that and some looming deadlines, though, not much on-line time for a week or so. Just thought I’d warn you.

Back soon, though!

Just before we came up to Preston for the holidays I was able to spend some time taking photos in the beautiful frost we’d been having in Colchester. This is one of the results of that little adventure.

Happy Xmas Eve!

Gotta love cool street names. This is in an area just north of the Colchester City Centre called the Dutch Quarter (see map).

The tour of Colchester Castle not only took us down to the Dungeon, but we also got to climb up onto the roof. My pictures from up there aren’t terribly interesting, but I liked the staircase on the way up :-).

This is a detail of an old public water fountain set in the wall of a “great house” here in Colchester. Apparently something like 9 houses were destroyed to make room for this monster, so perhaps the fountain was an attempt to assuage some guilt?

For those who would like a little context, WeatherGirl posted a nice shot of the whole fountain.

I just finished a long overdue upgrade of all the UnhinderedByTalent.com WordPress installs, so everyone’s all spiffy and shiny now.

The photo (from the Green Fair where we met the River Nene folks) is just there to fool you into believing this post actually had content :-).

Someone asked over on Flickr if I knew who this was. I didn’t have a clue who he was until the question prompted me to do my homework. You’re looking at Bob Breeks, the guitarist and singer for The Bad Terrorists, a band here in Colchester. They were played with (I’m assuming) reduced amplification at the fair, so you really couldn’t hear the vocals for crap, but the playing was quite fun.

Apparently they’ve had snow back in Morris, but we’re not likely to see any of the white stuff here in Colchester. The leaves are turning with enthusiasm, however, and it’s definitely crisp when Sub-Evil and I walk in together in the mornings. We’ve even seen a little frost. Hats and gloves are good, but a sweatshirt with rain shell is sufficient outerwear if you’re walking.

Colchester is one of the drier parts of the UK as it has about the most land west of it of any location on the islands. We’ve walked in some intermittent drizzle, but I’ve yet to walk any distance in real rain. (Sub-Evil’s not been so lucky, however, and got drenched one day coming home.)

The photo is from a nice park/green space in Colchester (see map) that was the Quaker cemetery from the mid-1700′s to the mid-1800′s. Sometime after they quit using it as a cemetery, they donated it to the city. Remaining head stones were moved to the edges of the space, leaving a wonderful little park.