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A photo from my visit to Longleat. I loved wandering around the zoo as you could get so close to the animals. Even when we went into the safari park, the animals were quite close to the car.
Like most people of my age, I am absolutely devastated at Robin William's death.
He was a genius that touched my life, and like most genius's he had his demons, which in my eyes only made him more human.
It is haunting me that he felt so alone in trying to take control of his life and it is a sobering reminder that if one needs help, ASK for help.
I suffer terribly from depression, its something I cannot escape as it seems to go hand in hand with Narcolepsy. But I am one of the lucky ones as it can be controlled and on my dark days, I have Shane who is my light, who is my rock.
I have spent ages going through my photos as I wanted to post something that meant a lot to me, but was also appropriate in honouring Robin.
I took this last November on my birthday when we had a perfect day whizzing through the Highlands of Scotland.
This is Loch Lomand at sunrise, with a heavy mist in the background and a lone fisherman with his dog going to collect his nets.
It was such a peaceful scene and I am glad I was there to capture it.
Tomorrow we are heading off to Scotland again for a fortnight and I am so, so, SO looking forward to this holiday.
Dolphins are high on the agenda and because we are staying very close to Loch Ness, I will be doing some Nessie hunting at Dawn.
To all my Flickr Family, I hope you have all found your peace.
This is a side view of the Muscovy Duck that we saw the other day at the Hawkesbury River at Richmond. See photo in first comment box.
Taken during our drive through Addo Elephant Park in August, 2014. I love watching the babies racing along with their trunks swinging in the air.
We are going up to see Peter's Dad in the nursing home. He had to have a small operation about three weeks ago and the anaesthetic has knocked him around quite a bit and he is not doing very well. We have been told it may take weeks to get over the anaesthetic, but I feel that he will never be the same.
On our way to Willington in Derbyshire, we called in to wander around the Jaguar Fair in the grounds of Kedleston Hall. We were hoping to see Tim Wonnacott there, but missed him by a year LOL. We had rain, sunshine, rain and then more sunshine which lasted for the rest of the day.
We are now home after a long flight. We flew in at 6.15 a.m. this morning, Saturday. We lost Friday in transit.
We had a wonderful 9 weeks travelling around the UK but it is always nice to come home.
Merry Christmas everyone. We are well into Christmas Day now - a quiet day for us as we are having our family get together tomorrow.
I hope everyone has a joyous and happy Christmas.
I am home again after a few days in "Paradise", as my brother calls it. I will catch up with everyone later.
When we were staying near Ellisras, we went on an afternoon cruise along the Palala River. We were heading back to the jetty when I spotted these people walking along a ridge. The sun was setting and I didn't know how the photo would turn out - I love it!!
It seems like forever since I posted a photo of Castlerock which is very remiss of me as it really is a pretty little village.
One of the things that I adore about living here is that I have the beach at the end of our road.
So when I get the urge to do a sunrise shot, checked the clouds to see if its going to be an interesting sunrise, actually feel ok to do some photography, I can get into my mini and tootle down.
Every one that knows me, knows that I am always prattling on about the light, especially just after sun rise and before the sun sets.
It was particularly glorious last week, bathing the basalt rocks in a warm glow and really making the colour of the green slime pop.
All I know about the green slime is that it is slimy and only appears on rocks that are normally covered at high tide.
I am not holding my breath about having a lovely Summer this year. I swear it rained every day in May and the average temp. was about 5 degrees.
And so far, June is proving to be even more dismal!!
When we were staying in Marloth Park we went for a drive along the fence near the Crocodile River. We came around a bend and saw lots of cars parked and people sitting on chairs, drinking wine and having nibblies. We wondered what was happening and when we looked up we saw this massive herd of buffalo coming down to the river on the opposite bank. What a sight - it must be a nightly occurrence so everyone comes well prepared LOL.
Today we went to the Central Coast to spend the day with Peter's Dad on his 93rd birthday. We went out for lunch and spent the afternoon with him - it was a lovely day. Happy Birthday Bob. These Hibiscus flowers are growing in his garden and the photos were taken a couple of weeks ago when we were there.
I couldn't resist posting this photo - it made me laugh when I uploaded it. Taken at the Bentley Wildfowl and Car Museum, East Sussex.
During our trip, we called into Diss. It was an overcast day, but no rain. We called in to a cafe for lunch and when we came out the rain was torrential. We sheltered in the doorway for a while as the street became flooded. In the end we had to make a dash to the car with my camera covered by a plastic bag. I got drenched, but at least the camera stayed dry.
Another shot from our day at Taronga Zoo. It was a hot day and this elephant couldn't resist standing underneath a shower of water.
As we were driving around Kruger, we often came across giraffes standing off the side of the road. They were always very curious to see why all the cars had suddenly stopped.
We came across this place by accident when we were searching for another village. I am so glad that we went in as it was such an interesting place to wander around.
When we were driving around Kruger National Park and Pilanesberg Game Park, we saw so many rhinos which are amazing to see up close. On our last few trips the sightings were few and far between, so I couldn't help but stay and watch them (even though Peter wanted to be on his way to see other sights LOL). This was taken in Pilanesberg.
My newest creation - already claimed by my granddaughter. I am making another at the moment for her sister as one can't have one without the other LOL.
We were sitting at the waterhole in Addo Elephant Park for quite a while watching the elephants drinking and playing. This was my favourite photo of the session, pity it is a bit blurred.
I was going through my photos this morning and came across this photo that I took almost two years ago. This is a watercolour painting that Peter's father did of an old house in Hunter's Hill from memory. I have always admired it and when he moved into the aged care facility, he told me I could have it. He is a very talented artist and although he doesn't paint much these days, at 96 he is still amazing.
Driving through the Scottish Highlands is an amazing experience. Sadly there is not always any place to stop for photos, so these were taken from a fast moving car.
This beautiful avenue of beech trees was planted by the Stuart family in the eighteenth century. It was intended as a compelling landscape feature to impress visitors as they approached the entrance to their home, Gracehill House. Two centuries later, the trees remain a magnificent sight and have become known as the Dark Hedges.
"Don't be a goose" is an Australian saying when someone is acting silly LOL.
This is a beautiful Bar-headed Goose that we saw during our visit to the Bentley Wildfowl and Car Museum in East Sussex.
We visited Salisbury, Wiltshire, to meet up with a Flickr friend Paul Chambers. In the afternoon Peter went to find an antique shop and I visited Salisbury Cathedral.
www.flickr.com/photos/southpole4/
The Font was designed by William Pye in 2008 and is used for baptisms. The consecration marks made by the Archbishop of Canterbury are still visible.
I have decided to join Nina on her challenge to add a flower photo a day for 365 days.
www.flickr.com/photos/21560098@N06/
This Salvia is growing in a friend's garden and whilst I have seen a red and blue variety, I have never see the purple variety before.
Some unusual sheep that we spotted on the way to John O' Groats in Scotland. I love their colouring and I also notice that thet have four horns.
On our last trip to South Africa we only saw hippos that were too far away for decent photos, but on this trip the fact that we saw so many, combined with the fact that I had the Canon 100-400 lens with me, there was no such trouble.
We used to often come around a bend and find animals on the road in front of the car. This wildebeest was ambling slowly down the road and kept looking back at us as if to say "I'm in no hurry". Taken in Kruger National Park through the front windscreen.
My wave action photos from the other day actually turned out a bit blah, too much sea mist, light not brill, waves a bit too choppy.
Did get a photo of something I am not 100% sure of and I have posted it in the comment section.
The Gannets in the far distance were making a fuss over something but even with my zoom at its full extent couldn't see anything, so I took a few shots just in case.
Got them on screen and there was something there so I zoomed in 200% and I do believe I have photographed a shark. Its not a dolphin or a porpoise as their snouts are very different and the grazing sharks have long gone to warmer climes.
We have the Gulf Stream running past our beach so the water is a lot warmer here than the rest of the UK so its not beyond the realms of possibility that this is a stray one still lurking.
Reason 1004 why I don't go in the sea!!!
Anyway back to this photo.
Taken in Ballycastle and I am still chasing waves that were this fantastic on that day. I have posted other photos from this shoot, but as I have over 70 I can post them in dribs and drabs.
I took this just before Shane and I left, late afternoon, the sun had been shining all day and it was quite bizarre because that cloud appeared almost out of no where and showered whoever was underneath it.
I know this type of cloud has a name as I joined the Cloud Appreciation Society, but I can't be bothered to trawl through hundreds of clouds to get its name.
I personally thought it looked like a spaceship and the thought did cross my mind that the Aliens had finally found me and I would have to return to the Planet Nongl
Still here though!!!
These are the last in my series of photos from Rievaulx Abbey. I loved wandering around this place - so much history.
We were driving through Kruger when we came upon a massive traffic jam. We knew instantly that it would be lions and as we tried to squeeze our way in, I could see a few lions laying on the sand in the middle of the Sabie River. We couldn't get a view good enough for photos, but we managed to squeeze in behind another couple taking photos. We thought they would take their photos and then move on which is what I do, but no, they just sat there talking - not even taking photos. Peter gave them a toot on the horn which was ignored. I was becoming angry to say the least but there was no way they were going to move. The car in front of them moved off so we pulled in to their spot, but by this time, the lions were up and moving to the other side of the river and out of view. I took my photos and we tried to move on, but the cars were all over the road and it took us ages to be on our way. ,
Peter had to do some errands today and we drove to the river at Richmond to see if the resident black swans were there. I took my 7D MK II and the Tamron 150-600 lens to try it out as I have been having some problems with it auto focusing. Silly me forgot to check the battery and it ran out after about 10 photos LOL. I am normally pretty good checking things, but my mind seems to be all over the place with what is happening with my two brothers healthwise. My middle brother spent another night in ICU due to seizures and my youngest brother goes into hospital tomorrow to have a brain aneurysm repaired. It will be a long day tomorrow waiting to hear how he gets on.
Another beautiful duck that we saw at the Bentley Wildfowl and Car Museum in East Sussex.
We are just about to book out of the hotel and make our way to Windsor, where we will spend the last few hours until we fly out.
The next time we chat, it will be from "down under". We have had a wonderful trip, but it will be good to get home.
We spotted a couple of Highland Ponies when we were driving around Scotland. I love them - such powerful looking bodies.
I have decided to join Nina on her challenge to add a flower photo a day for 365 days.
www.flickr.com/photos/21560098@N06/
We are now home from Peter's Dad's house and it is all cleared out - the end of one stage in his Dad's life and the beginning of another. It was sad to see most of his belongings go, but he seems to be settling in okay at the Aged Care home. He was able to take of lot of his favourite things with him though.
Taken at Addo Elephant Park. After drinking and play was done this herd of elephants started off up the hill as another came down to drink. It was magical to sit and watch all the activity.
My Cosmos flowers are slowly fading away, but the occasional flower blossoms. They are smaller now than when they first started blooming. I have saved some seeds for next year, so we will see if it works - it is the first time I have tried this.
Another beautiful sunset from our week at West Bay, Dorset. We had a chalet across the road from the water and it was lovely to watch the sun go down each day.
When we were driving around Pilanesberg and Kruger we saw a couple of occasions where the juvenile elephants showed that they were the boss. They usually gave a couple of mock charges, before giving up and moving off into the bushes.
Another view of the Blue Banded Bee. They are only tiny - around 1 cm and very fast and noisy. I usually hear them before I see them.
Another one from my files that has never seen the light of day.
Listening to the Weather Forecast this evening I got a bit excited as they are forecasting snow inland and on higher levels over night.
Mr.Killen had to stop me from doing my snow dance in triple time as we all know this Aussie LOVES snow.
But, I can't have too much snow until after the weekend because we are going over to the West Coast of Scotland for my birthday which is this Saturday.
So I had a look through my files for appropriate Wintery scenes and I went back to the big freeze in December 2010.
This is just down the road from us, Bishop's Gate which was the private entrance for Earl Bishop Hervey.
One of my fave gardens (run by the National Trust) which looks even more magical when covered in snow.
Beachy Head is a chalk headland in Southern England, close to the town of Eastbourne in the county of East Sussex, immediately east of the Seven Sisters. Beachy Head is located within the administrative area of Eastbourne Borough Council which owns the land. The cliff there is the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain, rising to 162 metres (531 ft) above sea level. The peak allows views of the south east coast from Dungeness in the east, to Selsey Bill in the west. Its height has also made it one of the most notorious suicide spots in the world. We were told this on our first visit in 2011 and on that day there was even a van parked there to give counselling to those who felt so desperate that they felt they had to end their life.
These are some photos from a few weeks back. I have seen quite a few Blue Banded bees around, but they have been so fast and it has been so breezy that it has been difficult to catch them.