Day One

Weekly Photo Challenge: Fresh

Posted on July 21, 2013 by Barbara

This week’s Weekly Photo Challenge is Fresh

This week we have been experiencing the third week of a wonderful heatwave here in northern Europe. We haven’t had a good summer in ages, probably since 2002, so while the country has almost ground to a halt with people doing only what absolutely must be done, nobody is complaining that it might be too hot, as we are afraid of ‘jinxing’ the weather and returning to the cold wet Novemberish summers that we have experienced for the last few years.

Nevertheless, when a fresh breeze picks up, it is gratefully welcomed! (The shops have sold out of electrical fans completely)

I captured these images near sundown last weekend in Chichester Harbour…. A boat taking advantage of a lovely fresh evening breeze

Sailing home as the sun sets

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Posted in Boats, Chichester Harbour, England, Photography, Summer, Water | Tagged Chichester Harbour, Fresh, Heatwave, Panasonic DMC-FZ62, Postaday, Postaweek, sailing, Sunset, Weekly Photo Challenge | 12 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: The Golden Hour

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Barbara

This week’s Weekly Photo Challenge is The Golden Hour

In photography, the “golden hour” is the first and last hour of sunlight of the day. Photographers venture out on sunrise hikes or sunset treks to capture a magical shot, due to the quality of the light during that time of day. For this challenge, we want you to go out and snap a photograph, wherever you may be, during this Golden Hour — and pay attention to the natural light around you.

Last weekend we were staying on the boat in Chichester Harbour. The sunsets were beautiful & i took hundreds of photos. Then on Sunday morning I woke up at 5am, and realising it was close to dawn I crept out again with my Camera again.

I think WordPress really are looking at what photos I am planning to share and are writing their posts around them!!

Here are some of the photos I took;

Langstone Village

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Posted in Boats, Chichester Harbour, England, Photography, Water | Tagged Chichester Harbour, Langstone, Panasonic DMC-FZ62, Postaday, Raglan Road, Sinéad O'Connor, Sunrise. Sunset, The Golden Hour, Weekly Photo Challenge | 39 Comments

Gordon & Doris’ Poppies

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Barbara

I love poppies, I always have. I read a book a long long time ago called Mr God this is Anna by Fynn. If you haven’t read it give it a go. I’ve read it several times, and to my children. I can never get through it without crying, it is a great book. Anna collected poppy seeds, and without realising I was emulating her, I started doing it a few years ago. This year seeing these particular poppies reminded me to sow them, hopefully in good time for next summer.

Some seeds survived

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Posted in Life, Photography | Tagged FJR1300, Fynn, Gordon & Doris, Motorbikes, Mr God this is Anna, Panasonic DMC-FZ62, Poppies, Rememberance Sunday, Syd Hopkins | 17 Comments

Photography 101: The Fundamentals of Light

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Barbara

Thank you so much for this post, it is EXACTLY what I have been looking for! Idiots guide to my camera settings in plain English that even a dyslexic like me can follow! I have recently been given a ‘bridge camera’ which has lots of brilliant auto settings, but can also be set manually. So far the auto comes out with much better photos than I can manage with the manual settings and to be honest I am just getting to grips with the camera’s capabilities and idiosyncrasies however I really want to learn how to deliberately create photos like your Shibuya Street rather than accidentally manage a photo such as my Bee and Poppy photo!

I will print out your post and take it with me in my camera bag on my next outing…..

Watch this space!!

Posted in Dyslexia, Photography | Tagged Fundamentals of Light, Panasonic DMC-FZ62, Photography 101 | 2 Comments

I remember that summer in Dublin

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Barbara

Whenever the sun comes out in Dublin in the summer, and people start taking lunch breaks in the park, this song comes into every Dubliner’s head who was around in the 80’s

In the olden days, as my children say, the Liffey really did stink on a hot day! You had to take a deep breath in preparation for crossing O’Connell bridge, and try and not inhale again until you reached the other side! It was noxious! Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin, Photography, Summer | Tagged Bagatelle, Botanical Gardens, Glasnevin, Nostalgic, Panasonic DMC-FZ62, Postaday, Summer in Dublin, Weekly Photo Challenge | 25 Comments

If you go down to the woods today….

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Barbara

Al’s post about the strange garden he passes on his walks sometimes reminded me of a very strange sight we found a few years back when walking in the woods near Farnham in Surrey

This was what drew our attention to the gardens... The blue and yellow was a definite anomaly in the woodlands!

This was what drew our attention to the gardens… The blue and yellow tugboat was a definite anomaly in the woodlands!

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Posted in Art, Autumn, Boats, Dragonflies, Photography, Surrey Hills | Tagged Farnham, If you go down to the woods today, Surrey, The Sculpture Park | 17 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Companionable

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Barbara

This week’s Weekly Photo Challenge is Companionable

Wilson is one of the friendliest dogs, he only ever barks to let us know there is someone at the door, and when we open it he is so excited to see who our guests are. My Daughter had her 16th birthday party at our house recently. They had planned a sleepover in tents in the garden, but the morning of the party was raining, and despite constant checking, the rain didn’t stop all day. In fact it got worse!

By dinner time the garden was a quagmire, and if we had pitched a tent it would have floated. We admitted defeat and agreed all 10 teenagers could sleep indoors.

Imagine Wilson’s excitement when he came down in the morning to find 10 sleeping bodies, all on the floor at his level :). He gave them all his best good morning kisses & then snuggled down with them for an early morning nap 🙂

Wilson loves sleepovers 🙂

Posted in Animals, Birthdays, Camping, Pets, Photography, Teenagers, Wilson | Tagged Black Cocker Spaniel, Companionable, English Summers, Postaday, Sleepovers, Weekly Photo Challenge, Wilson | 13 Comments

Charlotte’s Prom

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Barbara

Charlotte’s Prom

Sorry I have been quiet for a few days, preparing for Charlotte’s prom was a big deal! We bought 3 dresses, 3 pairs of shoes, truckloads of jewellery before she was ready!

Proud Mummy

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Posted in Photography, School, Special Dates, Teenagers | Tagged Ball Gowns, Débs, Débutante ball, Graduation Ball, Leaving School, Prom | 6 Comments

A visit to the Doctor!

Posted on June 26, 2013 by Barbara

Brilliant!

Posted in Health, Jokes, Teenagers | Tagged Children, doctor, Humour | 12 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: The World Through My Camera’s Eyes

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Barbara

This week’s Weekly Photo Challenge is The World Through Your Eyes

Last week I posted a photo that I had taken of a blue Geranium, and I mentioned that this photo was the result of a single shot not the hundreds that I normally have to take to get a photo that I am happy with. After having taken that photo, my camera’s battery ran out, so it really was a one shot wonder!

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