Day 180 A Cycle in the Sun

The weather this week has been wonderful!  It's slightly frustrating that we're stuck at home instead of  either Broadhaven or touring but MiL has a number of appointments  to get to and shopping to do. On Monday, providing she's still as well as now we're off to the Norfolk Broads in the touring caravan.  So I shouldn't complain....I just hope the weather doesn't take a turn for the worst next week!


Anyway, we had no commitments today so got the pushbikes out and went for a leisurely 15 mile cycle.  We stopped off at a pub midway for some lemonade and peanuts and enjoyed the view while sitting at a couple of benches en route.   We rode mostly on cycle paths or very quiet country lanes, it was very pleasant.   Afterwards LB needed a nap and I drove back to part of the cycle path where I'd noticed some very attractive swathes of ripe grass blowing in the wind.  Armed with tripod and camera I envisaged taking wonderful blurry slow shutter speed shots  of waving grass.  Well I took lots of blurry shots but they all looked rubbish! I think I like the black and white one best but have included some of the others too

Black & white Grass

Yellow Grass

Green Grass

Blowing Grass

Day 179 A Powerful Day!

Ok that's just a pun as my photo today is of the electricity sub station at the bottom of the hill.  It has three fences around it  but between it and the road is an earth bank that I could walk along, which meant I only had some of the fence at the bottom of some of the frames.  The interesting shapes caught my attention though I've no idea what all the bits and pieces in there are for.  I stopped off on the way home from the supermarket this morning & took a load of photos.  Most were just too complicated and went straight in the trash!  After that I spent most of the time waiting for a parcel to be delivered while LB went to the golf range for some practice. Now Huw has started beating him I think he may be going there more often!

I wonder what the numbers are on these discs

This last one is a sunset I took at Broadhaven last year.  I used it to practice a new ( for me!) processing technique.  I think it turned out quite well.

Day 178 MiL's Home!

It was one of those days when we couldn't settle to anything.. This was largely because we'd been told MiL was likely to be coming home but it wasn't until 3.00pm that we actually heard that we could go and pick her up.  She seems very well and this is the first of the three hospital stays she's had this year, that she hasn't wanted us to overnight with her until she settles in.  Once we'd brought her home and seen she was comfortable  we came back to our house and thought we'd sit in the garden and enjoy the June sunshine we're having.  Of course as we got the chairs and vino out it clouded over and a chill wind appeared! We came indoors! I did get one nice photo though and I've experimented with using textures on it. I quite like it but am open to criticism.  What do you think?

Space to Chill!

Day 177 Sker Beach

Sunday 26 June


What glorious weather we had today, it really was flaming June!  While the boys played golf I showed Mel the delights of Kenfig.  We had a stroll to the pool. The water level was the lowest I've seen & there were very few birds to be seen. We didn't stay there long but meandered through the sand dunes   stopping to eat our sandwiches at a lovely level wildflower meadow in the middle of the dunes. continuing on we reached Sker beach. This wonderful sandy beach is 2-3 miles long & is usually empty as people are put off by the half hour walk there.  Today there were more people than I'd seen there before but even so you could hardly call it busy.  I took a couple of landscape photos and then some of a young girl exercising her horse.  She came up to me later and asked me to email her some copies.  It was a bit of a trudge uphill back through the dunes as by this time it was really warm.  We were grateful for a cup of tea and some cake afterwards at my Auntie Doreen's, who lives just by the carpark.


Here's a selection of todays photos

Looking towards Port Talbot Steelworks

Mel getting her trousers wet!

Picnic Spot

Mussel Shells in the Sand

Day 176 Georgies birthday

Today we went with Huw, Mel & Mia to my brother's house in Somerset. He was hosting an 18th birthday party for his neice Georgie. It was a great family get together with good food, good company and good weather.  The latter was fortunate as it was a garden party! Mia enjoyed showing off her new skill of cartwheels

Huw & Mel  enjoyed the liquid refreshments!

There were interesting additions to the garden.  Anyone for a bath?

Day 175 Hospital Visiting

Friday 24 June


It was a usual sort of day. Tidy up, have lunch, go to Porthcawl, pick up Dad, go to Bridgend, visit Mum, take Dad home, think about a photo!  dad lives in a village on the edge of Porthcawl called Nottage.  It's a pretty little place with three pubs and a couple of old farms at its centre. also, significantly, it has two wells.  Neither are in use now but they are obviously the reason the village is where it is.  I took my camera to one of them but it wasn't very photogenic.  The sign on the side of it says Ffynon Fawr or Large Well and underneath are some lines of a poem in Welsh and English. Looking through the iron gate I was dismayed to see people had been throwing rubbish in there.  why are people such pigs?  there's just no need for it. Anyway inside is a very substantial stone vaulted ceiling over a square stone edged pool of rather mucky looking water.

I thought the chain on this gate opposite made a more interesting photo. It's odd that they've put a lock on the hinge, perhaps people have been stealing the gate?

and I quite liked these little flowers growing out of the well wall

Day 174

Thursday 23 June


A fairly uneventful day. The boys and Mel came around in the evening so we had a lovely family meal together.  It was even more precious as Gaz has booked his one way ticket to Australia for mid August and we're all very aware we won't have him here for long.


I've a pretty rubbish photo for today.  It's just a quick snap as I was looking for patterns and shapes

Rx

Day 173 Home Again

It was a very quick visit to Stratford!  We must go again, both to the theatre and to explore the area. We had a substantial breakfast before heading to a golf shop near Solihull LB wanted to visit.  He's bought himself some new clubs and golfbag.  while he was shopping I went off with my camera but didn't find a lot to photograph in the area. This dead tree was quite striking and I've experimented with using textures to enhance the drama of it.

Back home, we visited MiL, who's a lot brighter and with no evidence today of any confusion.  The ward want to do the usual assessments before discharging her but she's hoping to be home next Monday. So life settles down once more....


One other bit of news, younger son and gf have had their Australian visas through.  They are now looking at flights and are planning to set off mid August.  :( Will miss them but also happy for them

Day 172 Wedding Anniversary

Tuesday 21st June


We had a rather hectic day today!  The hospital wanted us to drop off MiL's tablets so LB didn't wait for visiting but went in the morning, after the daily ward round would have finished.   We didn't think she would be discharged for a few days but we wanted it confirmed and he was lucky enough to speak to one of the doctors there.  Her brain scan showed evidence of a small recent stroke but of no previous  injury.  So this weekends episode was something new and her previous falls seem to be just that.  Good news. She's still awaiting transfer to the care of the elderly unit & won't be discharged for a while.  we've tee'd up the boys to visit her afternoon & evening today so at  12.00 I booked a guesthouse in Stratford and at about 1.00 we set off.  On entering Stratford we saw the sign to Anne Hathaway's cottage.  This is where she lived before marrying and becoming Mrs Shakespeare.  It's a quite substantial farmhous and amazingly dates back to the 15th century.  There are very pretty gardens too but we just had a look around the house then headed of to the guest house for a quick shower and change ready for the theatre.


We had a super meal in the Rooftop Restaurant and then took our seats in the auditorium.  Although modern outside the auditorium is quite Shakespearian with an apron stage, 3 tiers of seats all very close to the stage. We were in the second row of the stalls, so close we could see the sweat on the actors faces and it felt almost as if we were up there with them! It was a modern take on The Merchant of Venice and although the text obviously referred to Venice the setting was more Las Vegas, the main characters had American accents and Lancelot Gobbo was played by an Elvis lookalike who even sang snatches of his songs throughout the performance.  Bits of the modernity didn't really work for me but other aspects were great.  It related to modern problems over finance and ethnic prejudice & was quite thought provoking. We thoroughly enjoyed it & it was a great way to spend our 31st wedding anniversary.


Two photos today - Anne Hathaways cottage and a view through a stairwell window in the theatre

Anne Hathaways Cottage

Window view

Day 171 In Limbo

MiL had here brain scan this morning but we've not had the results yet.  She's still a bit confused & is on the acute medical unit but is awaiting a bed on the elderly care unit ( it's all units in hospitals these days!) They're unlikely to discharge her tomorrow so LB and I have decided, if there's no change in the hospital plans tomrrow am to go up to Stratford in the afternoon. We've a restauarant booked and our tickets to see The Merchant of Venice. We'll have to book a hotel just before we set off.  We'll have one night there, then come back.  We'll have to go there another time to see the sights.


Just a simple photo today.  Yesterdays daily challenge was "through a window".  I couldn't find any really  interesting windows or views as current events rather limit photography preparation time, however there is a window into the tumble drier. I could have put a few more clothes in it but never mind. As you see I've processessed it a bit more than I usually but I think it looks more mysterious!

Electric  Blue

A rather more mundane view

Day 170 Mother in Law Woes

Well, after writing my last post circumstances changed dramatically. At about 11.30 we reeived a phonecall from Lifeline to tell us MiL had pressed her emergency button. We went down to find her sitting on the floor unable to get up. It seems she'd fallen in the bedroom, had then gone to the kitchen and passed out. We got her up and as she seemed ok decided to stay with her overnight & get the gp to make a referral for investigations on Monday .  It seems likely that her previous falls hadn't ben accidents and this was the fourth episode in a series over several months. She was ok in the morning though a bit shakey. we went home ( only a few hundred yards up the road from her) and popped in frequently throughout the dy. By the afternoon she was becoming confused so off we went to the hospital. After 5 hours in A&E she was settled in to a bed with the intention of a brain scan in the morning.  Needless to say we have  abandoned our caravanning trip to Stratford.  


In the midst of all this we did manage an hours walk at Forest Farm. so here are yet more FF photos

Green Reflections

Something in the Undergrowth - LB"s attempt at nature photography!

Blue Damsel Flies

Duck amongst the Water Lilies

Day 169 H is for Hairbrush

Had a lazy day today.  Sorted out the stuff to take away tomorrow.  Have I mentioned we're spending 5 days in Stratford on Avon, including Tuesday night at the RSC theatre watching  The Merchant of Venice starring Patrick Stewart?  It's our wedding anniversary so we thought we'd do something different. We've booked the caravan into a site right on the banks of the river.  Just hope the weather improves!  


Anyway todays challenge was something beginning with H so I picked on my hair brushes. 

 I also photographed a bird that appeared in the garden. I' don't know what it is but am wondering if it's a juvenile whitethroat.   If any ornithologists out there could enlighten me I'd be grateful!  

Aah, have just discovered it's a juvenile starling. I should have realised. We have lots of them around here, I just haven't seen one quite this young

Day 168 Vanishing Points

I use vanishing points all the time on the bike but when our daily challenge sets that as todays challenge I struggle! The weather didn't help, wet, windy and grey. I certainly wasn't going to chase after bikers  The arcaades in Cardiff might have given some good photos but I went to Porthcal and Bridgend to see Mum and Dad so didn't have time.  Ended up with three different photos though not really happy with any.  If you want to see some stunning vanishing point photos look  here.  The big difference is the lighting and also that they are mostly 3D not 2d vanishing points.  Here's my feeble efforts

Day 167

I'll keep it short and sweet today.Not an exciting day, gardening, shopping etc. Our daily challenge was "opposites" so I did black and white though if you look down carefully in the black plates you can see the sky reflected so could just about be up and down.

Black & White

Day 166 Snail Day

It was another dull wet morning and when LB went to take his Mum to the opticians I took my camera into the garden, in the rain, thinking drops and drips might make a reasonable photo. I took a few shots of dripping flowers then noticed a great big snail on my chives. I took him off and put him on a stone on the wall.  He wanted to head downwards so I turned the stone making him do a few circuits before letting him on to the wall where he made a beeline ( snail line - am I mixing metaphors here? :) ) for a drainage hole.  I took a mix of photos with the slr and G12.  The final shot of him entering the hole was taken blind on my part. I just pointed the camera into the hole.  It was quite a surprise when I looked at the photo on the computer screen and saw he had his family in there! the rest of the day was fairly ordinary although the good news is that after charging the caravan battery for nearly 48 hours the caravan movers are now both working! Hooray! Unfortunately the side that wasn't working now makes a horrible noise and the manufacturer thinks a bearing may have gone.  They're hoping to fix it before we go away on Sunday though.  Anyway here's a snail fest!

Day 165 A Quiet Day

Yes a quiet day at home, the usual post holiday stuff - some paperwork, washing, cleaning etc.  LB was kept busy sorting out several minor problems his Mum had encountered.  Physically she's recovered reasonably well from her falls though remains unsteady and frail  but she no longer copes well with everyday issues and needs constant reassurance, advice and help which is very wearing for LB. I didn't come across any obvious photographic opportunities so checked Our Daily Challenge on Flickr which was "In a Row"  This is not the best fork & reflections photo around, I really must practice with different lighting but anyway....

Day 164 Home Again

Monday 13 June


It took us a while to pack up the caravan and awning  and get on the road home.  Back at the caravan storage depot we had a bit of a struggle getting the van back into position.  It's too tight to reverse it on the back of the car and some potholes in the road just in front of our pitch made pushing it hard work. We managed in the end and have removed the battery to recharge it fully as it's very low on power. If that doesn't fix the problem we will have to call the company to get it fixed.


 Back home we were tired to say the least.  It always surprises me how tiring it is enjoying oneself, or perhaps it was just all that shivering that wore us out! Anyway we slumped rather and did very little other than unpacking for the rest of the day.  I was just about to go to bed when I realised I'd not taken a photo.  Horror!  I grabbed the point and shoot looking for inspiration and light.  Of course! Inspiration is always depicted as a light bulb so that was my photo. Not much planning to this one, it was literally point, shoot then go to bed!

Day 163 Race Day

Sunday 12 June

Phalanx of Moto2 riders

Bradley Smith gets in front of Scott Redding

As forecast, raceday dawned cold wet and windy.  Our breakfast chef cooked under the awning and we had our bacon rolls indoors then wrapped ourselves up well and headed to the track. Once there we froze!  Although sheltered from the rain by the grandstand roof the wind was blowing in our faces and was cold and penetrating, hard to believe it's June!  We'd missed the warm up sessions as that was definitely going to be a misnomer!  First race was the Moto2.  It wasn't a bad race considering the conditions.   Great to see Bradley Smith working his way through the field to come second.  As soon as the riders were over the finish line we left the stand to escape the wind!  It was actually less cold standing outside behind the stand where we were more sheltered. 








Chips and a hot coffee helped to warm us before the main race. After the first couple of laps it was a bit of a procession with not much action once Lorenzo, Simoncelli & Spies had crashed out.  It must have been horrendous riding at those speeds in such atrocious conditions.  In the interviews afterwards the top three all said how miserable and cold they'd been.  Ride of the race was undoubtedly Edwards who came third despite fracturing his collar bone a week ago!  Respect to the winner, Stoner - he's not exciting to watch but boy can he ride!

Lorenzo leads the pack early on

Finally it was the turn of the 125's.. By this time Ann & Andy had left and after 2 laps LB joined them as they couldn't stand the cold any more.  V,P & I being more hardy, or foolhardy, were rewarded by a more exciting 125 race. A bonus was the 3 Brits, who normally are lucky to get a point between them, coming 10th, 11th & 12th.  I doubt if either of the two later support races had any spectators at all as the shivering crowd, us included, all left immediately after the 125's finished.  

Standing water & Stoner takes the lead

Back at the van the heater & kettle was on. A&A had already taken down their tent and took their leave of us after a cuppa. We've all agreed next year we're going to skip Silverstone, and watch a MotoGP in warmer climes!  Then we were four. We spent a very pleasant evening cooking & eating in the warmth of the caravan while watching the even worse weather at the Canadian F1 race and Jenson Buttons amazing win.  What a day!


I took hundreds of photos at the race so hope you enjoy this selection!

Simoncelli chasing Dovizioso

The grand master - Rossi

Spray!

Crowds in the hospitality boxes