More of our Rutland trip. there were so many beautiful looking houses of all shapes and sizes. The leaves had all turned or were just turning, so the country side was a riot of colours.

There were also so many animals around, sheep, cows, horses, pigs and chickens, I am not a country girl but l must admit l am more comfortable in the country these days than l used to be. At one of the houses we went to see there was a beautiful horse. Its leather and brass were shinning and its coat appeared to be padded. In the same field were about 6 chickens running around and making a huge racket!

In one of the houses we went to see, there was a tree in the back yard that was so full of berries. Even though the tree was very heavily loaded with berries, the ground was also covered with hundreds of red berries. The ground below the tree was laid with lots of tiny stones and pebbles. I had to take a photo because it just looked so bright and merry! In fact quite Christmasy!

then we went to see some friends and they had a huge wood pile. I have never seen so much wood in one place. But it was a good place to see logs that showed you rings..so u could see how old they were. I was also surprised by all the different colours, size of rings, textures ect. I spent ages just looking at them...they fasinated me.

This household also has the most funny and colourful chickens. Even though it was bitterly cold and l could hardly feel my fingers BUT l stood and watched them for ages.

Here are to of them. I really dom think it must be my age...l am being to like the country, Me..a townie..oh dear! be very afraid!Ha!

As you know, if you read my blog sometimes, l love fungi...and on this trip to Rutland we saw a lot! I thought these were so tiny and beautifully shaped. Just like little bells. There were hundreds of them all over the field.

When l caught sight of this fungi, it was just as if l was being allowed a glimpse into another world. When my children were small about 2 and 3 years old, they used to believe that fairies lived inside fungi. They would have loved to have seen this one. i cant just hear them saying, "Oh look mummy, a fairies house and is is so sweet and it has a staircase up the middle. Both my two had/have amazing imaginations and kept each other amused for hours with made up stories. Happy memories.

At the back of the house, which my son hopes to rent, there was a large field and in it was 4 Jacob sheep. They are beautiful animals with brown, cream, black and white wool. Also at the back of the field was a stable with a horse in it.

I saw this beautiful fungi at the base of a tree when photographing another sort of fungi. I thought it really was a drawstring purse....Then realised it was a fungi..velvet but spongy to touch. I must find out what it is called.  It really is a beautiful deep velvet red..no photoshopping l promise. I wish l could have dug it up and bought it home.

As we were just about to leave the area, we came across Burley Court. The main house had been turned into flats. The main house was in a curve shape (like the cresent in Bath) and had been converted into flats with a lot of style. When l looked at this image l had taken of the old main gate, l decided to redo it in Black and White....made it feel really old and some how instyle with the house. Lucky people to live in such splendor.
Had been a busy day but well worth the visit. It gave my son and his new wife, a better idea of where they are going to live and what they really wanted.

The start of our day in Rutland County

I have had a lot of fun with my camera over the last few days but was frustrated because l couldn't upload them, as my laptop had decided to go on strike..NO IMPORTING!!!! Anyway, l have now found away round it until l can get Apple Engineer to have a look at it. Anyway on to the subject of what l took images of..Every time we go past Ikea, l try and get a couple of the many Ikea flags flying the same way.I must have tried at least 20 times and always failed until this Saturday!! I am so proud of myself..ok l admit there was a lot of luck in this....l managed to get ALL, yes all...the flags fluttering in the same direction. Fluke said my family..no expert photographer l replied!Ha!

 As we got to Wembly Stadium area, we saw this wonderful car! So funny, not sure why but we all giggled when we saw it!

The reason for the trip was to see where my son and his wife will be living in April next year.Wow! we were very surprised, it is a beautiful county. As we got never our destination a rainbow began to appear., very faint l have to say but...a sign of good luck l felt.

Can't remember off hand  the name of the Service Area we stopped in but it was where we saw this gorgeous Wagtail...or the black and white bird as it is an "in" joke in our family. When we lived in Papua New Guinea, my husband was playing golf ( he only last one or two session but thats another story!) and suddenly saw this bird under a tree and it was singing beautifully. Tony asked his local caddy what it was called. "Ah yes that is the black and white bird"! and that was the answer we got no matter what sort of bird it was. If it was black and white then it was the ..black and white bird!!!! became a family joke from then on!

It's markings are so clean and precise. It was hard getting an image because it kept the bird was moving so quickly and in all different directions. I could have sat there and watched him for ages.

I love pylons...but l have to admit they are not the prettiest thing on the landscape. I think it is something to do with all thoses lines and patterns they form. Apparently l have been fasinated by them since l was a tot. They are menacing in some way...l always feel as if they are about to move and walk all over the country side. There was a lot more of the journey to go but it is 01.44 in the morning and l am tired. So until tomorrow or rather today..goodnightx

Images from my wanderings this week. 16-20 of November 2009

London never seems to sleep and that is one of the many reasons l love it. Apart from St. Ives in Cornwall, there is no where else l would want to live. I have travelled all over the world and loved every minute of it but l am glad l live here in London now. Never thought l would say that when l was travelling, but the older l have got, the more l wanted to settle in London. You can get anything you want...different foods, clothes, foreign books, films and so on. I enjoy just getting on a bus or train and just wandering for the day. So here are some images from my travels this week. Enjoy!

This reflection of a security camera made me giggle...not only are you being watched, so is your reflection....!! Mine you, in Papua New Guinea, where l lived for 3 years, some of the natives would have thought it was watching your soul. Now there is an image to conjure with!

This is a pisture of an empty, well almost empty gas container.When you think that this tank holds highly flammable gas...does it fill you with confidence? Also it is right in the centre of town....l have always felt uncomfortable around them. Apparently, or so my mother tells me, l was frightened of them as a child, even before l was told what they were! The only thing l like about them is the colours of the rust!

I was in a traffic jam in Wandsworth and in the car next to me was this guy smoking. He had all the windows closed and the car was foggy with smoke. My roof was down on my mini and l could smell the smoke coming from his enclosed car!ugh! I hate the smell. I was very pleased that this image came out as clear as it has, as l had to take it through his window.

Still talking about smoking, which incidently l have never done, thanks to my dad. He made me smoke the one l pinched from him all the way to the end...and l was VERY sick and have not touched another one since!! clever Dad!. Anyway, we were walking along the street in town and outside a Health Food shop l saw this bin with an ash tray on top!!!! Good advert for healthy living l thought! This is just a days worth as l was there yesterday and it was empty!

From there we went to our local tip t to get dispose of some household rubbish. I dealt with plastic stuff, books and mags and tony got rid of an old electric shredder in another part of the tip. Just as l got back to the car, this guy was shouting and waving at the fork lift /digger guy. Apparently the driver had not realised our mini was so close to the containner..(as we are so small!!!) and nearly started dropping stuff over our car and into the big yellow container!!!!! You should have seen Tony's face when he realised his precious "pocket rocket "was in danger!Ha.If you look carefully you will see the bucket just over the yellow container on the top left hand side of imahe. Unfortunatly the bucket and the spiral staircase, of the flats run into each other and so the image is a bit confused. I took it very quickly, so as not to miss the actiont but didn't really have time to compose the shot properly..sorry!

My daughter has a flat in East Sheen, which she is just about to rent out. It is a beautiful flat and in a lovely location. I love planes, properbly because my dad was in the R.A.F, so l enjoy watching the planes go over her flat from her lounge window...one every 2 mins! Good job she has double glazing!Ha.  Today the sky was blue, there were a few white fluffy clouds around and the planes were desending just at the right high and angle and...Bingo, l got the shot l had been waiting to achieve for months. Not just blue sky but a cloud to make it more interesting. Hope you think so too.

AND ON THAT HAPPY NOTE, I WILL SAY GOODNIGHT AND HAVE A HAPPY SUNDAY.
Lyndaxx

back on track with images.

I have been unable for nearly a week, to download my images from my camera to my laptop!! Very frustrating and l don't seem to be having much luck with Apple either. Anyway, found a long way round but have now been able to download my images and l am back up to scratch!
It has been quite windy and rainy for the last few weeks and so l took a few dramatic images on Putney Bridge.

There were people trying hard to walk across the bridge but were finding it extremly hard work!

The clouds was amazing and the clouds were moving so fast across the sky line. Then when we reached the village of Lenham, the weather was so different and bright sunshine. In the front garden of my aunt's block of flats, we could hear a beautiful sound coming from a tree. We looked everywhere and then suddenly... realised the sound was coming from a tiny robin high up in the tree. His red breast eventually was how we found the "song"!

Then on the way back home, we went via the outskirts of the centre of London to take our son home. Below are some of the images l took on that journey.

A bit bright!!!!!

I really laughted when l saw this graffiti on some boarding! l wonder if the spelling was on purpose or the person just couldn't spell!!? Either way l think still think its great!

This is not a very good image but l have put it up because of the story that goes with it! We caught up to this motor bike by the traffic lights and my son suddenly said, "For goodness sake look at that guy. He really is posing" I repied, " What do you mean, he has all the right kit on and looks very safe, whats wrong"? "Yeh l know! he has all the right kit on but look at his feet. Would an enthusiast or safety freak... be so stupid to wear..plimsols!"? He is right of course!

Once you have looked at this image....can you see the red door? I made up all sorts of reasons why it might be there. For example it could be the doorway to an amazing garden, like the Secret garden maybe? Or it leads into another universe where there are no adults! what would your story be?
Right..thats enough for today..off to bed. night allx

A walk that was stopped early when the heavens opened and down came the rain!

Just a few images of a days walk..through the woods and down to Putney! I am always amazed that l do this walk at least 4 times a week and still see lots of things each day that l didn't notice the day before.  T hats because they were not there..!!..but also l could have over- looked them or they had not grown big enough until today to appear over the leaves!. My Life is so full of wonder! Today l saw loads of fungi..some in clear view and others l moved the carpet of leaves and there they were.

This delicate pink fungi really was hidden well under a covering of leaves. I only found it because l dropped my lens cap and had to move some leaves to find it. I was so glad l did because there were so many of these pink wonders all over the area. They are very difficult to see..but once you have seen one..my eyes seemed then see loads of them! All slightly a different shade of pink and some seemed to have a lot more detail to them. The fungi below was upright yesterday but must have been investigated by an animal l think because they had been dug up and half eaten.

Now all you see is the hundreds of wet leaves on the floor of the woods but if you stop and wait till your eyes get accustomed to the light and leaves..you see fungi all over the place!

 The bus stop just outside my gates has had some new graffit added over night! It is now a "LOVE" bus stop. In this weather, you must be joking! And they did what most "children" enjoy doing..breath on the window and write!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Found another clump of these amazing orange fungi and l have not used Photoshop on them. They really are this amazing shape of orange!

Then l went further into the woods, off my normal foot path and found these

  They are so small and so cute. You can see how small they are if you compare them to the ivy leaves you can see in this image. L tried to pick up one that had been pulled out of the soil by an animal, l would think, and it just broke up. It was so tiny and oh so delicate. 

Then just as l went to stand up, something caught my eye on a near by rotting log. A very tiny white fungi, so delicate and tiny and some of it missing. I am amazing at how tiny some of these plants are. Then all of a sudden the heavens opened and down came the rain. I covered my camera and made a run for it. Arrived home 10mins later looking like a drown rat!! but a happy drown rat l have to say!!

An interesting day!

A day walking through london with no destination in mind. A bit frightening for me as l have no sense of direction! many a time l have had to ring one of my family and a) where am l and b) where is the nearest tube or railway station!Ha.so here goes. I took images that interested, amused me or just items or drawings that other people may not notice. Enjoy!

The usual warm welcome from London Underground !

One of a few really colouful posters advertising the future opening of a new store l think.

When l first saw this guy on his scooter, l thought he was asleep at the traffic lights! then when l really looked l thik he was actually ready a map book. Ha!

Two of the famous forms of transport in Central London..Red Doubledecker Bus and a London Duck!Adding colour to the London Scene.

Lilies laid on the new monument for the Royal tank Regiment. I love these flowers but the orange pollen just gets every where and also it stains!

I am so angry and confused.....in my viewfinder you could see the empty capsule..which was being repaired!! Why it hasnt come out on here is a mystery. will have to go back to original and find out what has gone wrong!!

One of my favorite buildings..Battersea Power Station...seen through the window of my train....going home. today l didnt get lost!

I go past this Siver Birch tree a couple of times a week and love watching these fugi grow on them. This is one that hasn't gone rotton or been chopped down like a lot of the Birchs in these woods. Such a beautiful tree...very peacefulx

These are the leaves just out side my front door. I dont like the dark nights of Autumn but l do love the colours!

An Amazing fungi find

The other day l was going down Putney Hill on a red double decker london bus. Normally l stay downstsirs because l have not got far to go. This day downstairs was packed, so l went up satirs.Halk way down the hill l looked out the window and so the most amazing site. In front of a new block of flats and a seven foot wall, a tree has been cut dow. Growing around, on and over this tree stup is the most amazing fungi. I would never see it normally because of the high brick wall.

There are parts that are deep brown and already dying and others are young and really fleshy.L am so glad l sat on the top of the bus that day

Rainy days and evenings in Putney!

These images of rainy days and evenings in Putney! Just thought l would warn you...l love snails!..so if you don't ..LOOK AWAY NOW!!

Just for 2 nights the grass in a small area by the cricket pitch was covered by hundreds of snails...then they were gone! Where do they go?