Wednesday 31 October 2012

Just got bad from the Doctor


Hi all, 
Just got bad from the Doctor, the good news is I am already on the mend, the bad news I have Acute Bronchitis and it has a  6 - 8 week  duration so it could take another 4 weeks to clear up, its a virus and there is no treatment other than reducing the symptoms and rest. So its continuing with the cold and flu drinks with decongestant  and rest and keep warm for the next few weeks.

It looks like mom just had a bad cold so that's good news as well.

Doc said I am lucky because of my underlying good health and fitness, and it could have been much worse than than it is. 

He said that not re-hydrating enough after exercise could have left me vulnerable to the infection as 10% de-hydration can suppress the immune system by 25%!!!!

Sorry not to get around to your posts but to be honest I do not have the energy to sit here and type.

I hope all is well in your worlds thanks for the kind words, thoughts and prayers to those friends who have endured one of the worst storms in living memory, I hope the road back to normality is a quick one;)

Be safe and may your God be with you;)

Tuesday 30 October 2012

Hi All

First off thoughts and prayers to all my friends in the Eastern States may you all be safe and your property undamaged as this huge storm subsides.

As its been going, this bug eased over the weekend and came back with a vengeance on Monday. I called the doc and so many  people are sick I cant see him until tomorrow morning, its frustrating, because I am not really ill and not well either its like constantly having a head cold and cough and no energy.

Mom seems to have it as well she stayed in bed yesterday and feels better if my doctor gives be antibiotics tomorrow we will call her doctor and tell him what treatment my Doc has put me on.

Be safe wherever you are have a great week again thoughts and prayers for those enduring the storm  

Friday 26 October 2012

Hi all

This bug is driving me nuts if I sit around and rest I am fine but as soon as I make an effort to do anything even light exercise the cold type symptoms come back, I did 30 mins on the bike yesterday and have the sniffs and am congested again today. If its not clear by Monday I guess I need to see the Doc and see if I need antibiotics.

Anyways the good news is its the weekend have a great one and I will get around some of your posts in the morning with my coffee;)

Wednesday 24 October 2012

A Two Year Tale

Marci and I first met in October 2010 in Washington DC, its been an amazing time. I made a video to celebrate the adventures we had along the way and in anticipation of many more to come ;)


Hi all

Wet and miserable here still not feeling 100% and totally uninspired to post or shoot at the moment, but I will when I have something worth posting have a great week;)

Monday 22 October 2012

Happy Birthday Sweetheart xxxx

Happy Birthday Marci have a wonderful day I am sorry I cant be there with you today xxxxxxxxxxx

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Saturday 20 October 2012

In the Early Morning Light

Hi all, thanks for the kind words yesterday Mom and I are both feeling a lot better today. I have to go to the store to get Watercress for Sherpa, on the way back I stopped at the overlook to get a few early morning Autumn shots here are a few, I will get around some posts later. Have a great weekend;)


Friday 19 October 2012

Good Morning all, its OK I am still alive LOL;)

Hi all, sorry if I worried a few of you by not being around, I had some emails from you so I know I have. 
Everything is OK, just a lot going on and not much interesting at the same time LOL. 

 If you remember I had what I thought was a cold a fe weeks ago, well its hung on and keeps coming back so I think its some sort of mild virus, anyway Mom seems to have it as well so we have not been very active the last couple of weeks.


Except for getting the garden ready for winter and this really is the busy time of year in a garden like mine getting all the shrubs cut back and shredding the waste. 


I was joking about the Tortoise he is not much bother just been spoiled by my cousin with hand feeding which I believe he does not want or need! So he is not getting that here and seems to be loving his new freedom. He is living in my conservatory as its already too cold for him outside and he has been very ill in the past and is not heavy enough to hibernate so he is kept active through the winter. 


He is a "Golden" Greek Tortoise - Testudo graeca. They are found in southern Spain, Eastern Europe, Northern Africa, and parts of Asia especially the Middle East. They are found in a variety of environments from seashore dunes to rocky mountain steppes but usually in very hot, dry and arid regions with high summer temperatures. 


They inhabit areas of sparse vegetation where they browse on grass and plant growth. 


This tortoise is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: VU - Vulnerable and is listed on CITES: Appendix II. 


The Greek Tortoise or Spur-Thigh Tortoise is small with most reaching only about 8 inches (20 cm), though there are occasional specimens reaching up to 12 inches (30 cm). Their coloration of the is not overly bright, but it is variable and attractive. A primary characteristic, as indicated by the name, are the 'spurs' found on their thighs; two small tubercles, one to each side of the tail. 


I still have a lot of work to do it the garden and with this bug its slow going. 


Also I guess I have having one of those "My Muse has gone walk about" moments, probably because my camera is broken, my long lens auto focus stopped working after the trip to Monkey World and I am expecting to be told I either need a new lens ( which now cost £500 / $1000) or it will be very expensive to fix, so I am not a happy bunny about that right now. 


To be honest I have not been blogging so much because I realized I was wasting so much time when we were back over on Multiply that I was neglecting things I also enjoyed in the "real world" and before the bug I had got back to a really great level of fitness out on my bike, so I doubt that I will ever be back posting at that level again.


I have some bulb planting to do in the garden today and if the weather holds we may head out to one of the country parks for a few hours and I might take a few shots with my other lenses. 


 Anyways, I hope your all well, have a great weekend, be safe and may your God be with you;)

Tuesday 16 October 2012

Sorry I have not been around I have a visitor!!!

Also its the busiest time of year for me in the garden lots of Maintainance to do before Winter sets in, but its my guest who  has been the time graber!




He is Greek!











He is 66 years old




and 




A very finicky eater!



His name is Sherpa!











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He has been my Cousins house guest since she was 4 years old, she will be 58 next birthday, she is a photographer as well and is off to China to photograph Panda in the wild for 3 weeks and she asked if Sherpa could visit with me while she was away and he has been keeping me busy. I will get around and visit as soon as I can. Thanks for all the kind comments on Images and Words have a great day;)

Thursday 11 October 2012

Jim Cronin's Monkey World

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James "Jim" Michael Cronin MBE (15 November 1951 – 17 March 2007) was the founder in 1987 of Monkey World in Dorset, England, a sanctuary for abused and neglected primates. 

He was widely acknowledged as an international expert in the rescue and rehabilitation of abused primates, and in the enforcement of international treaties aimed at protecting them from illegal trade and experimentation.


In 2006, Cronin was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II for services to animal welfare. Cronin has also received the Jane Goodall Award.


Cronin died at the Cabrini Medical Center, Manhattan, New York, on 17 March 2007, following a brief battle with liver cancer. His wife Alison is now in charge of Monkey World.



Monkey World ( fully referred to as Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre) is a 65-acre (26.3 ha) ape and monkey sanctuary and rescue centre near Wool, Dorset, England. 

Set up in 1987 by the late Jim Cronin, and later operated by both him and his wife Alison, it was originally intended to provide a home for abused chimpanzees used as props by Spanish beach photographers, but is now home to many different species of primates.


Monkey World works with foreign governments to stop the illegal smuggling of wild primates.

The facility made the news in January 2008 with what The Guardian called "the world's biggest rescue mission of its kind," when it saved 88 capuchin monkeys from a laboratory in Santiago, Chile, where some of the animals had been kept in solitary cages for up to 20 years. 

The operation was carried out at the request of the laboratory, and with help from the Chilean Air Force, who flew the animals to Bournemouth airport with special permission from the British government.


In August 2010 Monkey World rescued a Bornean Orang-utan called Oshine from Johannesburg, South Africa. On December 7, 2010 Monkey World rescued an orphan baby Sumatran Orang-utan called Silvestre from a zoo in Spain. In January 2011, Monkey World rescued a chimpanzee named Kiki from Lebanon.


He ain't heavy!

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Tuesday 9 October 2012

Hi All

I seem to have picked up a bug so might not be around much the next few days, enjoy the rest of your week;)


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Monday 8 October 2012

View from the Quay


Christchurch Quay is a beautiful riverside open space in Christchurch town centre with a variety of events and facilities available throughout the year.Christchurch Quay has views of the 11th Century Priory and is the starting point for many water based activities. The large grass area is known as the Quomps and is perfect for a variety of activities including picnicking, relaxing, sports and games. The smaller paved area next to Place Mill is known as the Town Quay.  We ensure the unique character and heritage of the Quay is maintained in harmony with the facilities and leisure opportunities available. For more information about Christchurch.Christchurch Quay operated commercially from the thirteenth century until the early 1900s. The River Stour has since been used by leisure craft. The Quomps, a name recorded from the 1700s, is historically used to describe a marshy area. The Priory fish ponds were located here and whilst subject to regular flooding, the area was almost certainly grazed by livestock. River system improvements to the lower Stour have removed much of this old landscape.Place Mill has medieval stonework and Tudor and eighteenth century brickwork. The mill was used for cleaning and thickening cloth and grinding corn until 1908. It was then used as a boatshed for 70 years before being purchased by the council and carefully restored.


Sunday 7 October 2012

Avon Heath Country Park - Southern Section

Yesterday Mom and I Went over to one of our favorite spots, Yesterday Mom and I Went over to one of our favorite spots, Avon Heath Country Park. 
Capture


We had never visited the south section of the Park which is separated from the North by a major road. 
We walked along the Bridle way and into the South Park. It has a completely different character to the North.

This slide show follows our walk in sequence I hope you enjoy it, have a great Sunday;)


Saturday 6 October 2012

View from the Edge: Matchams View Point Dorset England

Matchams View Point Dorset England, looking out across the Avon Valley to the New Forest in the distance, in the first picture Hengistbury Head can be seen in the far distance on the coast


Good morning. Have a great weekend;)

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Final Harvest

Despite the tomato crop being beset with blight I think we have done very well this year over 25 LB of Tomato's not including those already eaten. Some for freezing, damaged ones for mixed tomato chutney, cherry tomato's for eating like fruit now, Green tomatos to ripen in Conservatory. Its better than I expected.

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Red and Green Tomato Chutney



Thursday 4 October 2012

Autumns Chill

Autumns Chill
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Clear night herald  Autumns Chill.
Silver Moon plough's blue sky's, still.
Warm breath floats like morning mist.
The wonders nature does enlist!

Morning dew hangs on spider web.
Festooning pine like gossamer thread. 
Sun bathed world shimmers Gold.
A wealth of wonders to unfold.

Long shadows cast there eerie shade.
Leaves turn red in Forest glade.
Silence sits upon the land.
Awaiting the touch of Winters hand.
                                       bAZ©2012

Tuesday 2 October 2012

Creative Challenge #224 - Fool

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The Road Less Traveled?

I never could run with the crowd LOL!Capture

Reflections of Autumn 2012

The Reflecting Pool is on of my favorite locations to shoot, but I recently discovered Moors Lake and its fast becoming a favorite of mine.

Seeing Autumn reflected in its waters was beautiful.

I took Mom for her afternoon walk around the lake and took the opportunity to capture some more shots here are a few that I liked I hope you enjoy them as well, have a great day;)


 

Monday 1 October 2012

Return to the reflecting Pool

I dont know if your the same, there are just some places I can go shoot over and over again and never get quite the same shot twice? The Reflecting Pool is one of those places for me

I took Mitch to shoot there and I went back with Mom on Saturday and the water was like glass and I was able to get closer to the waters edge and get some really nice shots, here are the best of the bunch I hope you enjoy them, have a great day;)


Images And Words 178 ~ At The Gates

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At The Gate.

Its the gate we fear to enter.
The one we dread it seems
The on we cast our eyes from
It fills our darkest dreams
In the end no choice avails us,
Slip the lock
Up the step
To the Hill of endless dreams

bAZ©2012