365/131: 30 June 2010: Herb Robert

Geranium robertianum is another of those delightful hedgerow plants which are easy to overlook because they are small.  Apparently, in Washington State it is known as Stinking Bob, which seems a bit harsh – even if the smell of the crushed leaves is a bit acrid.

It is supposed to ease toothache and nosebleeds – although I’d be tempted to stick to a dentist and a good hanky respectively. It is also quite popular with the buff-tailed bumble-bee.

Leading candidates for the source of its name include a French monk, Robert  - Duke of Normandy, and St Rupert of Salzburg. Am I alone in thinking that if the latter was correct it would be called Herb Rupert?

365/130: 29 June 2010: Thistle Do

Spent a very pleasant 40 minutes in the market garden next door watching a barn owl hunt for food. Sadly, didn’t have the right kit  for medium sized birds at long distances – as the 20 unusable photos clearly demonstrate. So…it’s this rather thorny thistle instead. Did it in B&W because I thought it showed the thorniness better.

365/129: 28 June 2010: Wellies

Scarcely classic Hunter, but they have a certain je n’sais quoi. Thought I’d post these in recognition of the wet stuff falling from the sky.

365/128: 27 June 2010: Ostrich Steak

First time I tried Ostrich I thought it was a bit gamey, but it obviously likes being barbied because tonight it was delicious. Thinking I may roast one for Christmas – should keep us in sandwiches and curries until well in to the New Year.

365/127: 26 June 2010: Walking Around Maryport

Perhaps it’s not the trendiest place in the world, but there are some lovely walks along the upper and lower prom at Maryport, and someone seems to be putting real effort into developing the network of walking and cycle paths in the area. This shot was taken on the path from the Battery (Senhouse Roman Museum) towards the golf course. Could anything be more cheerful than a foxglove in flower?

365/126: 25 June 2010: Carlisle Cathedral

Always a sucker for cathedrals – I always amazed at what belief will inspire mere mortals to build.My previous cathedral visit was in Chester, and Carlisle seems quite cosy by comparison. Even so this stained glass window and the altar below it are everything you could want them to be:

365/125: 24 June 2010: My Mate…

…Marmite. Possibly the world’s tastiest spread. And it spices up scrambled egg, mashed potato, mushrooms on toast – according to this cook-book you can even make Marmite oil and Marmite vinaigrette. Can’t wait to try them. Of course, I realise that not everyone adores Marmite.. but they’re just weird, aren’t they?

365/124: 23 June 2010: A close shave

Marion cut my hair again this evening – both of them. Thought the razor looked like a tempting subject and came up with this rather stylized view of the cutting edge:

365/123: 22 June 2010: Wake Up! It’s a beautiful morning

I fact the kind of day that makes even a motorway service areas look pleasant and inviting. And to prove it – here’s the view from my window. 30 degrees in London when I got there – scorcio!

365/122: 21 June 2010: Toilet roll holder

Another in my occasional series of bathroom fittings from hotels around the country. this time its the loo roll holder from the Days Inn at Warwick Services. No-one can say I don’t  know how to live. Spending the night here on my way to collect Ashley from London at the end of his diploma course.

363/121: 20 June 2010: In the wink of an eye..

Visited The Sage at Gateshead again today…this time to see Suzanne Vega. Misjudged the timing a little…got there too late to shop but too early for the gig. Had just convinced Naomi that she really wanted to look in the Baltic when the hooter went off to tell us the Millenium Bridge was going to be lifted.
Quite surprised by how much the whole structure seemed to flex as it was being tilted. Not sure if that was genuine or an optical illusion – either way, here’s a picture of it. It seemed quite a lot of effort for the rather small boat that passed through.

365/120: 19 June 2010: Cows and Calves at Sunset

Nice bucolic scene for today – not sure what breed these cattle are, but their orange colour is displayed to good advantage by the light at sunset.

365/119: 18 June 2010: Czech Spirit

Our eldest has just returned from two weeks inter-railing around Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic and Croatia. Among the many things she appears to have brought back was this bottle of Czech spirit – an interesting herbal concoction. We drank as shots, but I subsequently discovered it’s supposed to be sipped. Whatever! it was very pleasant anyway.

365/118: 17 June 2010: Crosscanonby Saltpans

3Now here’s a conundrum. The best view of Crosscanonby saltpans is from the top of the small hill opposite, which by chance also hosts an old Roman fort – Milefortlet 21.  For reasons which I think are to do with preventing petty vandalism and probably saving money the steps from the car park to the top of this hill have been removed. This means that access to the fort is available only to those who know it’s there and are prepared to take a risk. Such is life – i guess it’s the price we pay for morons.
But what I struggle to understand is why – given that they’ve made access impossible – the Council have now erected a ruddy great road sign announcing ‘Milefortlet 21’. I realise there have been a couple of tragic deaths in the area in recent years, so I would fully understand a warning sign – but why advertise an obviously interesting feature that no-one can get to? Anyone?

And I can’t leave this post without mentioning that the sunset was excellent this evening even by Solway standards – here’s a couple more shots - ‘cos I’m feeling generous :0)

365/117: 16 June 2010: Hooray – I’ve survived 51 years.

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me etc etc.
Thanks to everyone for your best wishes.

PS If anyone knows how to photograph a flame against a white background please let me know

365/116: 15 June 2010: A Rubber Cow

Funny how the photographic muse (moos) takes you. Travelled back from Trawsfynydd today over the road to Bala. Absolutely gorgeous afternoon, stunning scenery and absolutely no urge to photograph it. Why?
Anyhow, just to add to the mystery, I got home and sat at the computer to read my e-mails, notice this rubber cow staring at me from the shelf and get an irresistible urge to photograph it. So here it is as a counterfoil to the designer reindeer from earlier this week.

PS Don’t ask why I have a rubber cow on my bookshelf – it’s just there.

365/115: 14 June 2010: A Welsh River

Spent the evening in Betws-y-Coed ahead of meetings at Trawsfynydd the next day. Quite a pleasant evening so took a stroll into the village and took lots of photos which i think I’ll be using for my next assignment.
Not tried one of these blurred water shots properly before but as the accessible waterfalls were in the shade it seemed a natural thing to do. For those that don’t already know the effect is achieved by putting the camera somewhere sturdy and stable (a tripod is ideal, but a handy rock will do) then reducing the aperture to get a nice long shutter speed.

365/114: 13 June 2010: Reindeer

Thought I’d photograph something that seemed appropriate for the weather. Can’t believe I was driven to light the stove earlier today. So much for ‘flaming June’.
I bought this little guy in Stockholm on a business trip to Forsmark, Sweden probably around 1990. It’s a design by Lisa Larson from the Skansen collection for the Gustavsberg Studio (yay Google). I though it was delightful at the time, and the years have not changed my mind.

365/113: 12 June 2010: A Game of Two Halves

I’m talking about today, not the football.Gorgeous this morning and gloomy this evening – so I went with a shot from the morning. It’s the buttercup filled paddock next to my house, and to use a line from my eldest ‘It’s splendid’. Can’t beat blue, green and yellow as a colour scheme.

365/112: 11 June 2010: Playing with my wide-angle

Put the ultra wide zoom on when I went for a stroll tonight – just to make me think differently about the pictures I was taking. Think these azaleas were the most fun – taken at 7mm for lens geeks.

365/111: 10 June 2010: A stroll in Annan

Went for a lunch-time meander in Annan today – not something I’ve done before. In particular I went down Port Road. In truth ‘Port’ is rather ambitious although I guess it was once rather busier than it is now. Someone is obviously spending some money down there to smarten it up – but currently their efforts are being hampered by this rather forlorn wooden hulk.

365/110: 09 June 2010: Crosby Villas

A little hamlet on the main road near our village. A perfect row of terraced miners cottages (I’m guessing) from the days when there were several – perhaps even many – coal-mines in the area. This seems to me to be even more British than thatched cottages and hay-wains.

365/109: 08 June 2010: Puddles and reflections

I love the countryside after a decent rainstorm. Everything smells fresh and clean, drops of water sit on the grass like jewels and everything somehow looks greener. You also get lots of puddles, and the reflections in this one caught my eye.

365/108: 07 June 2010: More random stuff from a hotel room

Love the contrast between the shiny chrome bar and the fluffy white towel in this shot. Took several goes to get right because the average hotel bathroom is not brightly lit once you move a way from the shaving lights. In the end I used my flash gun bounced of the ceiling to give a reasonably diffuse light source that didn’t reflect too dramatically in the chrome.

365/107: 6 June 2010: At the Piano

Did a shot like this with my first digital camera 6 years ago, so thought I’d give it another go. For the geeks in the audience I used a low ISO and small aperture to force a long shutter-speed, which allows Marion’s hands to blur as she’s playing. It wasn’t a particularly fast piece so the motion blur is quite deceiving. Who says cameras never lie?
Camera was on a tripod, as I needed the keys to be sharp to make the effect work properly. Then I turned it into a black-and-white – because I think it works better that way.

365/106: 5 June 2010: At the Sage

Spent most of today at The Sage, Gateshead taking part in a ‘Come and Sing’ performance of Rutter’s Requiem. A bit of a challenge as my sight reading is OK for musical instruments but not so good (read non-existent) for singing. Luckily the chap I was sat next to seemed to know what he was doing so I sang along with him until I got the hang of it. he was very supportive when I apologised for my tuneless droning.
Anyway – this is a photo a day project, not an mp3 a day, so I needed a picture. sadly it was too dull inside without using a flash so I’ve tried to capture a bit of the outside that gives a sense of location instead.

365/105: 04 June 2010: Something Different

Not quite sure why but feel like something a bit more off the wall today so here’s a green bullrush leaf on a largely green background. Not sure why I like it, but it simply appeals.

365/104: 03 June 2010: Another Solway Sunset

Went for a walk in Maryport this evening – or more accurately along the prom then back along the top. Nice warm evening and the light as the sun was setting was absolutely stunning – took about 50 pictures in an hour. Just love the golden hues you get at this time of the evening when there is a little bit of haze about.

365/103: 02 June 2010: A sad day…

…so I’ll say no more than that my thoughts are with those affected by the events in west Cumbria earlier today.

365/102: 01 June 2010: The switch

Does what it says on the can. Took this one in my room at Cottons, near Knutsford. It’s the switch on the rather fancy chromed bedside lamp. Tried it in black and white but preferred the slightly warmer colours in this version