Category: Nature

Taking part

Jacques Rogge, the IOC Pres, opened London 2012 with this observation: “And to the athletes I offer this thought: your talent, your dedication and commitment brought you here; now you have a chance to become true Olympians. That honour is determined not by whether you win but by how you compete”. A much-derided clichè, I know, in this world of fast money and instant celebrity. But I suspect that the two camps (pro and anti London 2012) are divided by a simple criterion: have you been a competitor in sport yourself? Continue reading “Taking part”

Gorge de Verdon

The scenery in Southern France around the mountains above Nice is fantastic. High mountains, rivers, gorges, villages perched on high cliffs – all so perfectly photogenic!

We had several days out, but my favourite was probably the day we walked along the Gorge de Verdon

Firstly we drove to the top to look at the view. The colour of the water gave the gorge its name.

Continue reading “Gorge de Verdon”

What’s the weather like? Photo competition 29

I have been away, in the sun. How wonderful. But back in the UK last night I’m had to put on long trousers, a jumper and my socks plus slippers, while I browsed the holiday photos.
It was actually dry as we landed at Heathrow yesterday afternoon, but we’d only been home half an hour when the drizzle started. Then the drizzle turned heavier and the possibility of cutting the rather lush grass turned into an impossibility.

Hey ho.

We stayed in the mountains up behind Nice, high up, in a small village. It was so beautiful. This was the view, on the first morning, which was a little cloudy. After the second day the clouds cleared.

Continue reading “What’s the weather like? Photo competition 29”

Henley the Bearded Dragon (Poetry Competition)

Wiki photo

Grey and pretty, frilled and scaled,
with blood around her head,
at first I couldn’t ascertain
if she were live or dead.
“Some bastard hit her”, I did cry,
“And left her on the road to die.”

Continue reading “Henley the Bearded Dragon (Poetry Competition)”

Midsummer

It’s called Sankt Hans Aften here, the evening before Sankt Hans, 24th June – alias St. John the Baptist whose birthday it purports to be. As usual the locals do it the evening before, like Yuletide, a kind of celebratio præcox, I suppose. And as usual there’ll be no trace of religion, even though it was nicked from the pagans yonks ago.

So we’re going north to stay with friends in Kerteminde on the island of Fynen, to do the hygge thing around a bonfire next to the fjord, although we probably won’t burn the effigy of a witch, the last of whom was so dispatched here in 1693.

And as in North Britain, it won’t be dark until well into the small hours and we’ll skim stones across the water into the setting sun, making a wish or two for the second half of 2012.

June Drops

My garden is battered, wet and lush. Luckily I put in plenty of stakes early on, but even so so extra support work is needed after yesterday’s wind. All the trees looked as though they were madly auditioning for a ‘because I’m worth it,’ hair tossing competition and this morning there are plenty of tattered green shreds on the ground.

For the photo competition

This afternoon my friend has her garden open in a village near Cheltenham – a whole group of them are open, which would be wonderful on a quintessentially warm June afternoon. Grey skies won’t pull the crowds. Continue reading “June Drops”

Ode to a Strawberry Roan: Poetry Competition

Ode to a Strawberry Roan

A flighty filly, highly strung,
Prone to sudden shies.
The dogs attack, in fun no doubt,
In gleeful barking cries.

The hounds close in, she tossed her mane,
And in a sudden rush,
Her rider landed, winded now,
Into a handy bush

Continue reading “Ode to a Strawberry Roan: Poetry Competition”