Marc Provins

I've lost my voice recently. By this I don't me I'm hoarse and having to whisper, I mean I've not been able to write. As a consequence my blog has been neglected, stuck on pause for a few weeks. It's never happened before even when I've been incredibly busy and stressed I've still enjoyed making time to gather my thoughts and write an entry. Strangely it coincided with my all time page visits for this blog clicking past the 50,000 mark and one of my posts reaching 1000 visits on it's own. I know this is small fry compared to the big boys but I'm thrilled that my little endeavour has found an audience and I'm constantly heartened and encouraged by visitor's positive remarks.  Three pictures here taken in Nottinghamshire a few weeks ago. We stayed in a log cabin in Sherwood Forest right next to Edwinstowe, the village my mother in law was born in. She doesn't live there now but in the ex mining town of Hucknall, half an ho...

Four of us have just spent five days in Sherwood Forest in a wooden lodge. This was our view from the deck, a scattering of silver birch and the forest beyond. It was west facing and so  each evening we  were treated to a sunset, the light subtly pulsing through a spectrum of hues before dimming to reveal the stars. We nearly always gravitate towards the coast for holidays and so initially it seemed strange to be inland, until I realised that being around so many trees can have a similar grounding influence as staring out to sea; Swaying trunks in strong winds replace the lapping rhythm of the tide and listening to the power of nature, whether it is shingle being dragged across a beach or branches rustling and creaking, is still humbling and awe inspiring.  We stayed just on the edge of Edwinstowe where Major Oak stands, a tree that is believed to be more than a thousand years old, and is part of the Robin Hood legend....