Great Nephew&Niece

We visited them again, little people grow so fast, B is nearly 1, has real teeth and nearly walking. A is entranced by the Safari Fennel, how much wildlife can thrive in one potted herb?

B rides her Mother's shoulders fearlessly like a roller-coaster.

Boscastle and BTs

We had a fantastic walking weekend in Boscastle so I thought I'd put 3BTs, (maybe a few more) about it while I organise photos.
1 The weather, making amends almost 10 years after the flood, and swimming in near-Mediterranean (coloured)sea
2 Seeing seals.
3 The way the village put itself back together, closer and better than ever.
4 Finding it was fete and duck race day.
5 Winning two raffle prizes from four tickets, sadly the phone call got through after we'd left for home so the school benefits twice.
 Update:F&R were still there & got my text, so I now have four bottles of wine, and biscuits from the Museum of Witchcraft
6 Our walking group.

Harry Potter!

L&A took Rosey and me to Harry Potter World for our Birthdays, what a wonderful treat. I'm sure everyone's seen the films, so won't show the major scenes, just some of the incredible fine detail and planning is such a film.

Fire basket in the Great Hall.

Iced drinks at the Yule Ball

Forced perspective in the Leaky Cauldron corridor makes it appear twice as long as it was.

Bishop from the chess set, with fine detail of poor dragon on his crozier.

Warwick Davis' ears as Griphook, he also plays Flitwick and did several explanatory film in the exhibition.

Fenrir Greyback, each hair stabbed in individually.

Gringotts door knob.

Thestral.

Hogsmeade.

Architectural plans

small model of Hogwarts

and the huge one used in filming.

Hebrides 4: random jottings

Can't escape without some wildlife, sadly no otters!

Birds' feet are masterpieces of art and engineering, the gull is basically a clawed hunter scavenger. Moorhens are my favourite, I must chase some for  good photo. They're becoming less shy along the canal.

White Ermine Moth, Spilosoma lubricopeda, has an unexpected yellow patch on its abdomen, and collects plant toxins for its own protection..

Carnivorous sundew, Drosera intermedia (L) rotundifolia (R) not quite maneaters but maybe useful for midges.

Early Purple orchid, Orchis mascula.

Ragged Robin, Lychnis flos-cuculi. Quite uncommon nowadays, drainage for "improving" land led to habitat loss, so always pleasing to see. The Latin means "cuckoo flower", but that's the usual common name for Cardamine pratensis, sometimes known as "Lady's Smock", no idea why. Don't muddle with "Lady's Mantle" Various species of Alchemilla. Anyone else confused?

My old friend not-very Common not-always Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii. Always pleasing to see. Heath Spotteds are said to be common there, and sometimes hard to differentiate, but have a less toothy lip.

Hebrides 3: Mull

               

Abstract shapes, colours, sunlight and reflections, photographer's paradise in Tobermory...

until the weather let us down next morning,

but only briefly. By the time we got to the hills round Craignure it was good again.

The coast walk to Carsaig Arches,  perfect as a finishing point.

Some geology for the geeks.

Oyster catchers, Haematopus ostralegus, always hungry and always appealing.

Beadlet anemone, Actinia equina, with my new toy, a Fujifilm Finepix waterproof camera. Not bad for the price but the macro isn't wonderful and the image stabiliser nothing compared to something like a GoPro, but it does mean I can take watery photos without worrying about my Lumix.

Hebrides 2: Eigg and Muck

Looking back at the harbour on Eigg, weather as good as you could wish.

An Sgurr, much less dunting than it looks to walk up, fine views from the top.

Back to the harbour at nearly high tide, it's so long since I've spent time by the sea I'd forgotten how mesmerising the rise and fall is.

The wonderfully nosey seals of Muck. As the tide came in and they took to the sea, the crept in closer to watch me watching them.