iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 01/10/2026

I'm working on a new Image of the Day post, I think I can probably make it live some time tomorrow. Here an image from the post as a taster. I'll link here to the article as soon as it goes live.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 01/09/2026

We had our family holiday in the Lake District again this year. here's our holiday house, almost on the shore of Ullswater with a private beach near the house. It was a great week as always.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 11/06/2026

Cirencester in 1500. Some thoughts about the town as it was long ago, Tudor street names like Batel Strete and St Laurens Strete, the state of the wool trade, and more. #Cirencester #Cotswolds #History jhm.scilla.org.uk/2026/04/14/t...

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 16/05/2026

The River Churn in flood on 20th March in Stratton Meadows. #Churn #Cirencester #Flood #Photo #Water

The River Churn overflowing its banks and finding an alternative route in Stratton Meadows, once used for growing willow rods for basket making.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 17/02/2026

It's a lovely sunny morning, so it was a surprise to see a snow warning from the Met Office.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 18/01/2026

Here are some shots from my evening stroll today

Misty fields west of the Gloucester Road between Cirencester and Stratton.

Ashcroft Road with car park lights at Waitrose.

Looking north along a misty Victoria Road.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 18/01/2026

Here are some more scenes from the lovely old town of #Cirencester. I walk the 4 km (2½ miles) into town and back almost every day. I love this place, it's where I was born, went to school, and grew up. My parents lived here, I met my first wife here. Enjoy the random shots below 🙂

Balls of evergreen foliage, the winter skeleton of Wisteria, and traditional, Cotswold architecture.

Georgian town house frontage, built from profits from the wool trade.

Black Jack Street and the Parish Church tower.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 13/01/2026

Streetlights on a foggy winter evening, magical and mysterious!

A touch of fogs makes the streetlights look mysterious, and demonstates the excellent full cut-off with virtually no light going upwards. Well-designed to reduce light pollution and wasted energy.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 09/01/2026

We had lunch at 'Jolly Nice' between #Cirencester and #Stroud. It was a cold, rainy day but the food was, as always, jolly nice. I had a sausage roll and coffee while Donna chose a bacon bap and coffee. They still had their Christmas lights on which was lovely. #Cotswolds #Photo #Food

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 08/01/2026

Here's another scene from 6th January, this is the Abbey Grounds in #Cirencester, areas of grass have flooded and frozen overnight in patches. So beautiful!

Reflection in water where the grass has flooded, an patches of ice with the lightest dusting of snow.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 08/01/2026

Here's a lovely view of Black Jack Street from 6th January. A great mix of afternoon sunshine and shade. #Cirencester #Cotswolds #Photo #Sunshine #Shade #Architecture

A shaded Black Jack Street in Cirencester with some sunlit highlights.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 02/01/2026

Just enjoyed another great day with my daughters and their families in York. We visited the Roman Baths ans the amazing Yorkshire Museum.

The Roman Bath pub, so called because in 1929, beneath the building, the the remains of the Roman Legionary fortress's baths were discovered.

The underfloor heating from the Roman baths.

Some exhibits from the Yorkshire Museum.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 02/01/2026

Dyrham Park and House on 30th December.

Looking down from the stairwell, Christmas decorations.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 02/01/2026

Some photos of Cirencester Parish Church on 30th December.

With the cedar tree in the West Market Place.

A more distance shot from Dollar Street.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 02/01/2026

We're in York, staying at Beth and Paz's home and meeting with Debbie's family as well. Great to see everyone, as always.

Daughter, granddaughter and Heidi the dog.

Part of the family (can't get everyone on a single shot).

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 22/12/2025

I've just tried a cross-pollination, using Clivia pollen on one of the Hippeastrum flowers. It'll be interesting to see what, if anything, happens. It would be brilliant to get a hybrid, though the botanical wisdom is that it won't work out. Always worth a try though!

Clivia pollen looking like yellow dust on the stigma of a Hippeastrum flower.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 16/12/2025

Days are slipping by with no Hippeastrum photos. Here's one for today. The second flowering stalk from one of the bulbs is about to open, and sunshine from the window is backlighting some of the petals. Leaves are developing from the two youngest bulbs.

Contre jour lighting shows petal details in these Hippestrum flowers.

The third flowering stalk is lengthening now, and the two youngest bulbs have leaves developing, still showing bronze colouring in places.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 13/12/2025

A frosty, misty start to another fine day.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 13/12/2025

Here's another in the Hippeastrum series, taken from above this time. All four of the flowers on the first cluster are open or almost open, and the second cluster is close to opening.

Looking down on Hippeastrum flowers from above

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 11/12/2025

Here's today's shot of the Hippeastrum 'Bronze Lion'. Getting more and more impressive by the day!

The Hippeastrum is looking better and better every day, There are two flowers out now and more to come.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 11/12/2025

This is Daglingworth Brook running from right to left in the foreground. The channel heading away from the brook was dug to fill the pond in the middle distance, presumably to water cattle in the field. All of this - brook, channel and pond are all dry in the summertime. but look at them now!

Flooding beside the Gloucester Road, between Cirencester and Stratton.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 10/12/2025

More action from the Hippeastrum 'Bronze Lion' today.

The first flower is fully open now, the second flower stalk (on the left) is beginning to open.

This close-up shows yellow pollen appearing as the anthers open (top) and the female stigma ready to receive pollen extending below the petal (bottom).

Another view from a different angle shows the second flower starting to open and the third not faar behind.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 10/12/2025

Global warming is causing all sorts of strange things to happen, These cowslips were flowering in my garden yesterday, 9th December. The photo was taken today. #GlobalWarming #ClimateChange #Cowslip #Primula

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 09/12/2025

Here are some festive lights in Black Jack Street, #Cirencester, #Gloucestershire. The town is decorated for Christmas. Everyone loves the lights, of course, from the very youngest to the oldest! Even the sky is getting in on the act at Riverside Walk.

Gold and silver lights hanging between the buildings in Cirencester's Black Jack Street.

A colourful evening sky is reflected in the old mill pound along Cirencester's Riverside Walk.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 09/12/2025

Iris unguicularis in flower in our garden yesterday. These are native to North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria), are fully hardy in the UK, and keep their leaves all year long. Always a nice surprise to see the flowers in December or January!

A lovely, winter-flowering Iris in our garden.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 09/12/2025

The Hippeastrum story continues. The first flower is open and other three are beginning to bend down towards horizonal, the second flower cluster will open soon, and the third is starting to extend from the first bulb.

Hippeastrum 'Bronze Lion', first flower now open.

A second flower stalk is beginning to extend from the oldest and largest bulb. The younger bulb (on the left) is developing leaves, but no flowers.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 08/12/2025

Mr #Trump tells us that Ukrainians LOVE his pro-Russian 'peace plan'. One counter example is enough to disprove a claim. This video from an American, Greg Terry, is well worth watching. He puts a few things straight, makes a few things very clear... www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyTH...

A message to Trump from a Ukrainian from Donbas, posted by an American on YouTube - well worth a watch.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 07/12/2025

Here are the latest photos of the Hippeastrum 'Bronze Lion' flowers opening, yesterday on the left and today on the right. When each flower bud is mature enough, it moves from a vertical position to horizontal.

All the flower buds are in a vertical position.

A day later (7th December) the largest bud has changed to a horizontal position.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 06/12/2025

The Hippeastrum flower bud is getting larger and the individual four flowers are starting to separate. A second flower stalk is forming on the same bulb but there are no leaves so far.

Flower buds about to open, Hippeastrum 'Bronze Lion'

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 04/12/2025

Gloucester Street, Cirencester, on a sunny winter day. I love this grand old town so much. #Cotswolds #Cirencester

Houses of various ages in Gloucester Street, the Parish Church Tower peeping over the rooftops.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 03/12/2025

I can ß at least for flower buds now

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 02/12/2025

Detail of an orchid in our kitchen area, such beautiful detail and colouring in these long-lasting flowers! #Orchid

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 02/12/2025

The individual flower buds are now becoming visible on the Hippeastrum 'Bronze Lion'. Scroll down for earlier shots.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 29/11/2025

Flower stalks developing on our Hippeastrum 'Bronze Lion' that I bred some years ago now, a hand-pollinated cross of 'Red Lion' and a Pink and white cultivar. I didn't have the space to grow 100 seedlings to flowering age so selected this one because of its bronze foliage when young.

Four Hippeastrum bulbs in this pot now, and two of them getting ready to flower.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 28/11/2025

Today I made good progress on my next Blast from the Past article for JHM. It's now complete back to December 1975 when my daughter Debbie was just nine months old, seen here with my Mum. And yes, Mum was wearing a real fur coat - entirely acceptable in 1975. It was a hand-me-down family item.

My daughter (nine months old) and Mum (49) discussing something. Abbey Grounds December 1975.

Debbie enjoying the swing in the Abbey Grounds play area.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 25/11/2025

Walking back from Small Group tonight I took a few star photos on my phone. I love how easy this is to do and how well a phone manages to do it. Here are the Hyades below and the Pleiades above. Not great astro-photography, but fun and lovely.

Two nearby star clusters, the Pleiades upper-right, and the Hyades below-centre.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 25/11/2025

What a glorious morning! I had a shower and washed my hair and later I plan to walk into town, get my hair cut, and walk back. If I do an extra loop around Stratton that should get me 10 000 steps.

A lovely sunny morning with a cloud-free, blue sky. Just glorious today.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 19/11/2025

Look what we woke up to this morning!

Heavy snowfall in our garden, though it may not last long and will soon melt away, I think.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 17/11/2025

We had a remarkably clear sky all day, not a cloud in sight, I think. The sky was blue after sunset, apart from a strong orange glow along the south-western horizon.

Trees in the foreground, backed by a stronge orange glow along the horizon.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 10/11/2025

Wow! One of the most intense rainbows I've ever seen has just appeared! Really awesome. Gone now but brilliant for a couple of minutes.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 08/11/2025

Coffee at Jacks with Donna.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 07/11/2025

These autumn leaves are from a Ginkgo biloba 'living fossil' tree in West Way, Cirencester, just where it joins Cricklade Street.

Fallen leaves of Ginkgo biloba spread across the pavement.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 03/11/2025

Looking through some old #photos to use on 'Journeys of heart and mind', I spotted these glorious, #autumn, #beech leaves, taken in #November 2010 in #StNeots.

Coppery autumn beech leaves in St Neots.

Another view of autumn beech leaves in St Neots

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 26/10/2025

Today was a special day. The minor symptoms of my microstroke have improved, my daughter Beth and her family are here, and a train has appeared in Cirencester Town Station, closed in 1964. I remember travelling in a diesel railcar like this one, it ran several times a day to the main line at Kemble.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 15/10/2025

Old town houses in Gloucester Street, #Cirencester. Wisteria on the front wall, and it's easy to imagine a horse and carriage coming out from the passageway behind the large door. Times past, how the reasonably well-off lived in early Victorian times.

Looking north along Cirencester's Gloucester Street.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 15/10/2025

Mop came to town, reminding me of Mop fairs from childhood, rolling big, old pennies down the slot to try for a prize and winning a budgie in a cage one year! I remember the motorcycle 'Wall of Death', dodgems, and the smell of diesel, fried onion and candy floss. #Mop #Fair #Cirencester

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 11/10/2025

Enjoying the autumn colours at Westonbirt Arboretum.

A patch of colour peeping through green conifer foliage

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 11/10/2025

Here's our Hesperantha schizostylus again on 11th October with 1½ new flowers now open. The cultivar is 'Mollie Gould'. You'll find this plant on sale as Schizostylis (the botanical genus) as well as Hesperantha (the correct name). Other cultivars include red and white forms.

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Chris Jefferies @scilla.org.uk · 09/10/2025

#Hesperantha coccinea flowing outside our greenhouse a couple of days ago. It's a beautiful plant flowering very late in the season and tolerating semi-shade very well indeed. Graces any garden in the autumn months. You can see there are a lot more flower buds to open yet. #Autumn

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