Ruscombe and its valley, from Bread Street

I drove up this side of the valley after meeting my friend Philip B. We try to meet regularly for a catch-up over strong cups of coffee, and sometimes even get to have a walk.

Philip used to organise the Stroud Community TV website which was a showcase for films and videos made by and for local people. Each year we had the Awards Event during the Stroud Film Festival, which I helped to coordinate with him. Sadly since Philip stopped being the coordinator, the whole caboodle stopped. Those who'd agreed to continue it had no idea how much time and energy Philip had put into the project, and then weren't able to rise to the challenge.

But we had a good meet-up today and I managed to get a bright shot of the valley by pulling the car over and peering over the fence, without being stung by the nettles. You cans see how this settlement of Ruscombe has spread along the hillside matching the spring line. This is where the springs pour out of the carboniferous limestone where it lies upon the Fullers Earth strata, which is very clayey, bringing the water to the surface. This is a scene that happens all around our district where the various layers of both limestone and clay alternate.