Hello and thank you for calling in...

My name is Helen and I am a Photographer living in England. I started this Blog on the day that my Grandma died, three months after my Father died and several weeks before a third funeral. Initially it was a very personal way to stay connected to the people I'd lost and it helped, it really did. But writing and taking pictures everyday has opened back up a creative side that I had lost during the everyday. A big thank you to my followers, to those who take the time to comment and to new visitors, I hope we will become Blog friends too...

Friday 4 January 2013

Wichert Walls

Today was a good day, two good friends getting new jobs! My friend and I worked at the same photography studio for most of last year, both loosing our jobs before Christmas under not very nice circumstances and both feeling aggrieved and a little nervous for our futures. So the job hunting had begun and today we travelled down to the village that I was born in for my friends interview, a pure coincidence (or was it...) and a job that she really wanted. I had had an interview just before Christmas for another studio position but although I had been offered some hours I'd heard nothing more and was beginning to feel very twitchy! Well my friend received a phone call on our journey back to say that she had got the job and I had an e-mail waiting for me when I got home outlining start date, hours and rate. We certainly are two happy girlies today!
Now the village that I was born in (well I was actually born in a hospital but brought back to the village only hours old) is one of the most picturesque Anglo-Saxon villages in Buckinghamshire and is one of only three wychert villages nationally.Wychert describes a method of construction using a white clay mixed with straw to make walls and buildings, which are then thatched or topped with red clay tiles. It really has the most beautiful thatched cottages down its little winding lanes flanked by the areas distinctive walls and I could have taken the most gorgeous and endless photographs but it was my friends show and she is not a photographer. Sometimes you have to let the opportunities slide and I knew that throwing anything else into the mix today would stress her and I have vowed to re-visit alone with my camera another time.

3 comments:

  1. Hi there. I came across your blog while I was googling for wichert. Being Haddenham born and bred I got caught up reading this post. If I still had a Blogger account I’d follow you, but alas I don’t.

    If you do return to take photos of the village I’d be really interested in seeing them, will you be posting them on your blog?

    PS we have ducklings on our ponds now too.

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  2. Hello Matthew and thank you for your lovely comment. I haven't been back to the village since but you have inspired me to, especially with mention of ducklings! Although I have relatives in Aston Clinton I don't get down there as much as I should so now the weather is warming up I will take a trip and capture some pictures. I really must get back into my photography after taking a break for a year!

    Are you lucky enough to still live in the village?

    I'll put the pictures on here when I do but I can send you some if you would like. My website is www.helenwatson-jones.co.uk and e-mail helen@helenwatson-jones.co.uk

    Helen

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    Replies
    1. Hello Helen. Like you and your friend I lost my job in not very nice circumstances, and I moved back in with my parents (in Haddenham). So I’m still rediscovering the village, and revisiting places of my youth.

      At the minute I’m making a humble living as a dog walker, and wandering around the fields of Haddenham is hardly a hardship. I usually have a camera with me as it is such a pretty area, but never a good quality one, for two reasons: 1) good quality cameras and young bouncy Dalmatians (my own dog) aren’t a good mix, and 2) I don’t have a good quality camera anyway. My own inferior snaps are on my own website (here (the second gallery)), for what they’re worth.

      Oh, I already had a peek at your site, by the way, and am very impressed. I will keep my eye on your blog for your photos, but, yes, if you don’t mind, I’d love you to send me some. My email address matthewdotrace@gmail.com. Many thanks.

      Matthew

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