Tuesday 25 April 2017

waiting for some rain

fields on Romney marsh


So all my children have eloped to Canada where it rains a lot. Twice as much rain there as we have here in London.

For the last 6 weeks they have had rain almost daily, while we have had none. That'll learn 'em.

At some point the farmers and gardeners amongst us will be complaining.......

I saw a big cloud this week, but it didn't release any droplets despite my asking.




I shan't complain about that but I would like to complain about my geraniums.

The foxes have stolen them before I could plant them.

They haven't told me where they have taken them to, and they are probably dead by now.

But I am not in the mood for complaining.

Other half (OH) has done more than enough of that recently. He has developed a rare and dangerous rash of unknown cause. It makes him itch and scratch. I provide helpful doctorly advice such as 'put some cream on it'. He ignores my advice and then complains some more.

His legs aren't much cop either. He is talking about getting an electric wheelchair. Always the optimist....

None of this has stopped him going to work, or cycling to the pub.............. but it is all very serious nonetheless.

To compensate and in an attempt to keep myself in a  healthier state than OH I have taken up running.

Couch to 5k is my goal. I am on week 5 of an eight week programme. Today was hard. I had to run for 16 minutes. Now for a marathon runner that is absolutely nothing, but I am a mere beginner, and it is only my friends that are keeping me at this. Without them I would have fallen at the first hurdle.

The sea wall at Camber is a great place to watch clouds and birds. Or go surfing. Or walking, or running.



sea wall, camber sands



I keep trying to find landscapes in the concrete.

This is my latest. it reminds me of sea and sky on a grey day.

Even grey days have their upside.

Landscape photographers love them. The moodier the better.



Wednesday 12 April 2017

seeing double in Scotland on the North Coast 500 route.



Something is wrong.

I have come back from Scotland with no blurry images

AT ALL.





It must be my course; MA in book art.

Every time I click the shutter I am thinking about what I will be using the photo for. Projects whirring around in my head.

I do have a nice photo of a mug though.

I was staying in Lochinver, way way up on the north west coast of Scotland, near lots of my favourite mountains.




I met a man called Billy in the car park at Stac Pollaidh. We were both planning to climb it. He had spent the night in his van. I arrived fresh from my tasty B&B breakfast. He kindly made me a coffee in his only cup, while we waited for the clouds to clear.

They didn't.

I decided to go up anyway. Billy waited a bit longer.

The mountain looked like this.





The day before the mountain has looked like this.




Stac Pollaidh

I had not had time to climb as I had arrived too late in the day.


That's mountains for you.

So I climbed into the cloud, thinking about a book called "The Mountain that tried to Hide"

I could still see the grass.


As I came down I met Billy coming up.

We went our separate ways.

I had to make do with the photos I had taken the previous day on the lower slope of the mountain.


from Stac Pollaidh on a cloudy day

Stac Pollaidh

Stac Pollaidh

Stac Pollaidh

Stac Pollaidh
Stac Pollaidh


Nearly all the same view, but with different ground surfaces.

It seems to be the style that I have adopted for the present time, as I am thinking about points of view; near and far. What we choose to look at.






I did take loads of watery pictures too, but they are all in focus too.

These from the River Inver.




Och well

I guess I'll get back to blurry sooner or later...........