A corner turned, A walk in the woods...

A lull in Storm Dennis last Sunday and with some some winter sun on my back i took a walk around the Estate ponds early morning where i grew up,
It was so quiet out of the wind that has been blowing for nearly 2 weeks now, and it was nice to enjoy the ponds and reflect on recent things and changes...
Today i opened a letter that arrived the previous day with results of the recent CT scan i had last month for my 1 year post Op for Kidney tumour removal, and i am all clear!
no recurring Cancer cells... a tear in my eye over that news and a great weight off my shoulders...
Feels i can get back on track again, just the MS treatment to get sorted in May but i can deal with that myself, i have had to learn to deal with a lot of things in life alone, it`s just the way it always seems to pan out for me...
While sad to be single again, i now have focus on the future with these positive health results,
And taking stock of everything `Life is Good` - a saying i like to use when good new comes...
I am now in a good place of work with a great bunch of supprtive guys, and i could not wish for better friends and a cool place to live,  and cycle through the Seasons with friends...


So on with the Alice in Wonderland Gosford Pond tour!...
Curling House, proper curling has not been on the ponds since the big freeze in the late 1970`s, everyone on the estate was there and we have family pictures of being on the ice...

Boat House, also now locked it has lovely woodwork in the rafters...

This stone conduct feeds fresh water into the pond from a stone floored burn that circles the ponds and overflows exiting back into the Ha-ha lined burn keep the ponds at a constant level and the exchange keeps the water fresh and less algae...

Gardeners bothy...

Autumn is probably the most scenic time here though soon the daffidols and bulbs will nbe out adding colour, winter sun lights things up in the meantime...

The House, North wing has no roof, removed for tax reasons, along with many windows bricked up, something you see on many big houses of the period...

Nearby the House are some buildings more modern but now nearly 80 years old, the former WW2 No16 POW camp here on Gosford Estate housed nearly 4000 Germans by 1945, the Coolers, Guard house and Gymnasium are a half mile east of the main camp...

Locked up todaythey used to also be open and you can read all about them Here....


The Lily pond, which leads to the ice house...

Like the Curling House the Ice House has the same Gothic finish with volcanic stone and shells...

In Victorian time blocks of ice were lowerd down inside where meat was stored...

Near the waterfall one of the pond overflows exit, this burn along side a Ha-ha wall has a stone lined floor, we used to walk along it as kids...

And nearby the Musoleum, You don`t need to go to Egypt to see a Pryamid, the tomb is lined with shelves for coffins but there is only one coffin in the centre, You get a huge echo if you knock the door but don`t wake the 7th earl who is still inside...

`Happy as a Pig in SXXX` so the saying goes for this fellow...

 More cycling soon...