The Bellman Goeth - and me too, for a bit

I don't know what the Hungerford Bellman was intending to do as he strode down the High Street, here. This West Berkshire town has many ancient customs and traditions, and the Bellman, as his name suggests, usually has a large bell which he rings now and then - lthough he also has other duties. His uniform, though distinctive, doesn't usually include yellow stockings, though. As I took the photograph last December (and there are Christmas trees above the windows) I reckon he was on his way to the annual Victorian evening, dressed in slightly more old fashioned garb than usual.

He looks very grand, I think - straight out of Dickens.

I'll be on the road for the next couple of weeks, all being well. I'll try to post but I don't know how easy it'll be to do it from my new phone. I'll continue to visit others' blogs, even if I don't leave as many comments as usual.