In The Pink

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I am reading a great book at the moment which my nephew bought me for Christmas. He always gets me excellent presents, often dog orientated, however this time I think he took some good advice from my sister with regard to my other tastes and got me Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. The book is about vampires. It is out in film version at the moment and I am avoiding any contact with the film, it's cast and obviously the story line given that I am still only half way through! I do not want to give anything away to anyone who has not seen or read it and is planning to but I just wanted to record my impressions so far as I think everything is about to turn upside down in the story, its got that edge of chaos feel to the chapter I am reading! I, like many others I assume and hope, have a small obsession with vampires. Don't get me wrong I do not want to be one, or meet one for that matter, but I love stories about them, am an avid fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and dream about them wi...

We are going on a short walking holiday next week, not on the Pennines but on Bodmin Moor . We have decided to have a mid year break and get some fresh air and so have rented a cottage. We will take the dogs with us of course and roam the Moor for 5 days. We also hope to get a visit in to the Eden Project which we have not visited since the year it opened (2001) and we know there have been some significant changes such as the landscaping of the grounds and the construction of another dome. I also hope we will have time to visit The Lost Gardens of Heligan, which is a favourite place of mine. However most importantly I am looking forward to packing the rucksack for the day and yomping off with the pups to see what we can see.

I cannot take credit for this image which was taken by Lord L, a fellow photographer and occasional guest blogger over at Bowledover , however I thought this just had to be shared. This shot was taken lastnight at sunset and has undergone no enhancement. I couldn't believe the brightness of the colours.

Ok, just in case you are now on the edge of your seat expecting me to reveal the answer to all of your problems, there is no such thing as a get rich quick scheme, at least not without some loss of dignity! Neither is there a get thin quick scheme, not without a risk to health! I set myself a task last year to get really fit. It was going pretty well for a while too and I managed to loose 2 stone, mostly through an increase in exercise following the arrival of the pups and an abstention from alcohol for several months. My body loves the sugar in alcohol and hogs it all. Usually if I stop drinking for a couple of days I immediately loose a couple of pounds! Anyway, I am aware I am a weight yo yoer and have little interest in obsessing about weight or dieting but as I have put most of that 2 stone back on and I would like to get back so the size I was before giving up smoking, I have decided to put myself back into a regime. I don't know if stopping smoking makes you put on weight bu...

I heard a great saying while recently watching Kung Fu Panda and have been trying to find its origins, me and many other folk it would seem. There are loads of questions posted on the net seeking the first recorded incidence of this and no one seems to know. A couple of people who have used it famously in speeches are Eleanor Roosevelt and Joan Rivers. I expect it is a gem that stems back centuries and has been passed down due to its beauty and positive message. Anyway here it is the way I first heard it, spoken by Master Oogway.

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My Dad reminded me of another song he used to sing to me and my sister when we were young and it has been playing merrily in my head ever since. I searched on You Tube and what do you know, there it was! I am not sure about the video...but it sort of seems to go! And the belly dancing is very hypnotic! Enjoy! Here are the complete lyrics: WHEEZY ANNA (Leslie Sarony) There’s a girl, a great big girl, and all who’ve ever seen her They know that every time she breathes she’s like a concertina When she was young she bought a small mouth-organ for a tanner She swallowed it and ever since they call her Wheezy Anna Wheezy Anna, Wheezy Anna, down where the watermelons grow (And they’ve got big pips in) Wheezy Anna, Wheezy Anna, she’s the grandest girl I know Who’s got eyes that are the best? - Wheezy Anna One looks east and the other looks west - Wheezy Anna Who’s got eyes as black as night? – Wheezy Anna With the left one blacker than the right – Wheezy Anna Wheezy Anna, Wheezy Anna, down wh...

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The most amazing thing happened this afternoon. We found out that BB King is touring the UK again this year! I missed him last time he was here and had thought that given his age (currently 84) it was fair to assume that he probably wouldn't come here again to play, I know he still tours the States but I also know he doesn't like flying. But, wonder of wonders I am now the very proud owner of 2 tickets to see him play in Birmingham on 25th June! He is such a unique and special talent, and an inspirational man. I have no idea what he will play, obviously there are a few tracks I would really like to hear but bottom line I just can't wait to hear him play live. We went to see Bob Dylan the year before last and he played lots of stuff I had never heard before but it really didn't matter. It was a brilliant gig, he sounded amazing and we had such a good night. I am really pleased to be getting some gigs lined up for this year. We are going to see Porcupine Tree for the thi...

I have decided to join Camera Critters for a few reasons: it is a great way to view brilliant wildlife shots and stories from around the world, I have two beautiful pups that I love to talk about, and I like being out and capturing the wonders of our wildlife on film. I have taken less wildlife shots in the past year due to the arrival of the pups. When I am out and about they have my full attention and any other wildlife that is about is usually warned off by their barking and scent way before I get in camera range. That is however no excuse and I am keen to return to my previous levels of photography trips, and look forward to sharing my shots via this meme. For now though, here are the pups. I have taken many, many pictures of the pups over the past few days. The main problem I have is that they move so bloomin' fast my shots usually blur like this: Their coats seem to lend themselves to the blurred image style but I occasionally get a shot like this: To join in or see other par...

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Ah many a true word spoken in jest! My Dad said this to me in jest the other day following the first snowfall of the week. As it turns out we really did not get a lot here unlike at my parents place and some other parts of the country who reported snow falls of 8-9 inches, which for the UK these days is significant...although while watching an episode of The World at War the other weekend I did see footage of 6 foot snow drifts and noticed that despite this the the trains were still running! Anyway I digress. In our meager snow I managed a day out in my truck, thanking my 4 wheel drive and enjoying the opportunity to be a child again. Today is a different story! I found out yesterday that more snow was forecast for today and have woken up this morning to 5 inches and rising! The difference today is I have booked leave from work and paid for a course on managing veteran trees to be held in Windsor Park by some of the leading arboriculturalists in our industry! I was due to pick up a co...

Sorry! Ted Striker put me in the mood!

Just press play.....if you have not seen Airplane just press play anyway!!

I had a top day out at work today, for four reasons mainly: I was out on site, there was lots of snow, the dogs were with me and I have 4 wheel drive!! Most of the snow we have at home has gone now but there was plenty in Dorset and along with checking off tree works, inspecting trees and measuring site boundaries we had a blast! I know most of the dog shots are of them standing and sniffing. I have hundreds of shots of them playing however they move so quickly that they are all either blurred or of their backs as they turn away at the crucial moment! This is the only time they stand still!

Well it's the first of February, a favourite month of mine as it is so very close to spring and also the month of my birthday! We have had a good start to the month and weekend and been very busy. Having popped in to see the chap who sold me my truck yesterday I have found out there has been some interest in my old car which is good news. I won't get a fortune for it but anything will be nice and it is such a good car it deserves to be passed onto to someone. After that my fella went to try out drum kits at a drumming store locally and I went camera shop hunting for a few bits and pieces. I also made a quick trip to The Body Shop and got myself a few spoils. It was busy as usual and while queuing I managed to talk myself into trying two new products! Today we have cleaned the house, shampooed the carpets and cleaned out the garage. We are now patiently sitting and waiting for the snow that has been forecast so we can go out and play with the dogs! I am sorry to everyone who doe...