Messing about by the river

Yesterday my daughter and I walked along the River Thames from Hampton Court to Kingston-upon-Thames. This was a walk of about 4 miles. We did the bits of shopping we needed, had some lunch and then caught the bus back in the afternoon.

It was good to have a nice "girlie" day. When I got home, I immediately went out again as a particular car dealer had left a message advising that the car I wanted to test drive again, was in their showroom.

I've made a decision to buy a new car to replace my very elderly car which won't last very much longer. So better to be able to make an informed decision as to which car it's to be than have to purchase one in a hurry when my current one gives up!

This morning, I placed the order..... watch this space!! I couldn't have the bulk standard colour that I wanted (choice of red or black so I'd opted for red) as there's none left! So, had to purchase extra paint (rolls eyes heavenwards) and now my car is to be Blue. I'm sooo excited.....

So having spent a bit of time on the phone this morning, I headed off to Richmond Park after an early lunch. I suppose by now I should know better; Richmond Park's car parks were completely full; go early morning or not at all (on a sunny Sunday) - hey ho. So off I went to Ham House (just down the road) and managed to find a space there.

Had a quick walk around the grounds whilst the sky got darker and darker. However, after a short shower, the sun shone and I headed off along the tow path to Richmond upon Thames.

It was a great walk and on arriving in Richmond I awarded myself an ice cream before walking the mile back again. I was rather pleased to be sitting down in the car after all that exercise!!

Anyway, here are some pics. Today I used the Nikon D70 (courtesy of Hugh) and the Nikon 18-55 lens (courtesy of Pete)

Lavender beds with very formal planting in the gardens of
Ham House


The Terrace Gardens of Richmond - these look very newly landscaped and I have not seen these gardens before today.


The gardens live up to the "terrace" and rise quite steeply to the top of Richmond Hill

You might be forgiven for mistaking this for a jungle dwelling. It is, in fact, a small cafe in the Terrace Gardens - selling Fairtrade products.

Having climbed up through the gardens to the top, you arrive on Richmond Hill.
This is probably one of the most photographed views of the curve in the River Thames as seen from the top of Richmond Hill. Whilst taking this picture, two Kestrels were hovering over the field. Whilst I grabbed a couple of shots with my own camera and big lens, they weren't worth keeping!

Back down at river level now, looking downstream towards Richmond Bridge





and the other side of the bridge looking upstream towards Ham

The building on the right is the Star & Garter building.

Richmond undertook a great deal of modernisation of it's river front some few years ago. Herewith the result.


At ground level, the "most photographed" curve of the Thames

View of the the south facing side of Marble Hill House
across to the Twickenham side of the river.

Why am I not surprised?

Most of you will be aware of the 3,000 blank Passports that were stolen last week (see here for the BBC News account). At the time, it was claimed the stolen items couldn't be used as "passports" because of the technology used in producing them. The Times (a couple of days ago) now points out that this is not the case! Not, I imagine, that many of you will be surprised about this!

And I quote:

Using his own software, a publicly available programming code, a £40 card reader and two £10 RFID chips, Mr van Beek took less than an hour to clone and manipulate two passport chips to a level at which they were ready to be planted inside fake or stolen paper passports.

I always consider denials, following Government faux pas, rather empty statements and this one is no different than others.

Colourful clouds for Skywatch Friday

I saw this amazingly colourful "cloud" in October 2006 from my garden. I believe it's a plane's vapour trail which has caused ice crystals to form at high altitude, thereby reflecting the colours.

However, if YOU have another explanation, I'd love to know it please :)

I was going to Wisley RHS today

Up until the point where I was standing at the front door, with camera bag and car keys in hand, I was going to RHS Wisley for a wander. No, thought I, I'm off to Barnes (London Wetland Centre)- and off I went.

In terms of birds it was very quiet; in terms of children, it was incredibly noisy.
(Note to self - go very early in the morning during school hols!)

However, a few pics
I'm pretty certain this is a Holly Blue
but.. if anyone knows different, I'd be pleased to know?

Dean has now advised me that it's a male Common Blue
Thanks Dean!

Green Sandpiper - but wouldn't come any nearer


Lots of wild flowers

And some curly woolly sheep - they must be hot!

This Coscoroba Swan is, I'm sure, laughing as it has a bathe



Lots of Lapwings

Early morning serenade.

You could not be blamed for thinking you were in the Himalayas when you hear the sounds that serenade me every morning during late spring and summer.

I filmed this last month and all filming was completed by 6.40 a.m. at the latest. By which time things were beginning to quieten down!


Untitled from Tricia on Vimeo.

On reflection!

Today has been one of those - nothing in particular days!! I had to take my car to the garage, (for it's MOT - which the old girl passed I'm delighted to say - the car that is!!!) So backwards and forwards on the bus - very relaxing but not the most exciting of things to do.

I started thinking about photography. I had a Brownie 127 when I were but a lass and that's, I suppose, where it all started. Many years went past and then, with more modern cameras, I bought a film SLR and eventually graduated to the modern days' digital SLR; the rest, as we all know, is history.

However! (oh yes, there's always a "however" with me!) I got to thinking about "photography" and what it means.

To me, it's so much more than taking pictures. I was extremely flattered today when someone said (referring to my self-description on my blog of being an "amateur" photographer)that she didn't feel my pictures were at all amateurish and, in fact, they had inspired her with taking her own pictures.

I can't tell you how enormously pleased that made me feel. Not that the lady in question found my pictures more than "amateur" standard (that was a huge compliment in itself) but I have, quite unintentionally, inspired someone whom I've never met, to enjoy taking pictures and to aim to get better in so doing.

Taking pictures, must encourage you to look at your subject from a different perspective. Looking through the viewfinder concentrates the eye (and mind) on what you can see within the limitations of the viewfinder. It should also, (in my humble opinion) encourage and inspire you to look at life in different perspectives as well. To attempt to get out of the "norm" and say, "OK, suppose I looked at it this way?". Not easy I know, but just occasionally, take a breath; take a step away; and think "could I see this differently?"

That I could have inspired anyone at all, to do anything at all, is probably the kindest and most rewarding compliment anyone could pay me so

a HUGE thank you to Jayne for your very kind words.

Wind, sun, sea, sand and surfers

Down in West Sussex this weekend, after a very wet start the sun shone and we headed for the beach. Lots of wind surfers and deep blue sky and sea - bracing stuff.

Home earlier than expected with car problems - it doesn't like the rain - which we had a lot of this morning!

Flight with sails










Flight with feathers

Flight with fixed wings

Fatherhood possible after a 36 year wait!!

I was interested to read this story concerning Lonesome George - a giant tortoise.

Lonesome George, who is the last survivor of the Pinta Island giant tortoise species, looks set to become a Dad after a 36 year wait. He shares a pen with two female Wolf Volcano tortoises and one of them has now laid eggs.

You can read the whole account here

It is sad that, although it's likely he's about to father a new generation, his progeny will be of a mixed breed.

If at first you don't succeed - wait till the rain stops!

Mostly domestic morning (you know, the "H" word and washing - boring!) and so put plan A into operation: started out to get petrol and take the dog for a walk. So - Plan B - get Petrol and return home until rain stops!! Which it did, so we ended up at destination B which was Bushey Park.

All the usual culprits about; young Mallards getting bigger and many many Egyptian Geese - they are beginning to compete with Canada Geese and Coots in terms of numbers now. The lone Greylag Goose was evident today and enjoyed a preening session accompanied by a Coot.

One of the usual Cormorants was flying about and the young Egyptian Goslings were swimming and others flying in the face of the strong wind! Around the Diana Pond were about six Pied Wagtails - they seem to enjoy this spot.

At the very real risk of boring all my readers, here are some familiar shots..
Greylag Goose

Preening Greylag and Coot

Originally thought Pochard - but apparently not. Any ideas anyone????

Cormorant taking off.....................

Growing Goslings


Landing - unfortunately this Goose had something wrong with it's left leg and couldn't walk properly.

Coming in to land



We have touch down!

One of the many Pied Wagtails

and, I assuming, a juvenile.