Blogging

There seems to have been a fair bit of anti-blogging comment around at the moment. My usual read for news is the Times (London, of course), but even here there have been several articles lately generally deriding the purpose of the blog. The latest on the subject came on Saturday Week on the web which made me begin to think that perhaps they had a point.
I had rather assumed that they were having a touch of professional pique, not appreciating the army of amateurs parading their skills and bringing a breath of fresh air to the happenings of the world around us. But I do get the feeling sometimes that blogs generally contain an awful lot of crap; some of it mine I might add.
One of the problems with the various blog surfing sites is that it seems that their main purpose is to get people to your blog. This can work quite well, but getting the numbers does not necessarily mean getting anything you write read. Traffic Racer is a case in point. Here you can surf remotely without the inconvenience of having to waste time reading, but what I have found is that even if you convert your automatic credits to manual credits, very few visits to my blog come from that source. It would seem therefore pointless, unless you are happy to have bloggers on auto pilot visiting you, but not reading.
What is the secret of a good blog? I wish I knew. Perhaps then I could write one. When I surf blogs I do try to read them, but there really is a lot of rubbish around, so maybe the Times has a point. However, having said that, I do believe it is great that there can be a medium that is available to all and in which you can indulge your passion.
My main passion these days is to try to record what is around me with photography. Just now I seem to be having a few problems getting to grips with it. I am not entirely sure if it my own lack of skill, lack of good enough equipment, or just a phase; I suspect the first. Looking for inspiration today, the best offering I can come up with is to resort to the cute factor, and so here is one of my daughter's cats looking suitably unimpressed.

Cleo 

London Again

We are just back from another trip to London in which I had hoped to get a few decent pictures, but I fear that this was not to be. The weather was bitterly cold, it tried hard to snow and the light was poor. Some photos were out of focus, or so I thought; on closer examination, nothing in the photos was sharp so I can only conclude that it was down to camera shake as a result of the cold. Not a problem I have ever experienced before.
We had been round Westminster Abbey which was only marginally warmer inside than out. I think I must be getting old or something. Anyway, all the pictures I took after we came out have been discarded, so I just hope that the next time it will be warmer.
These few photos didn't get away, and I include them just so that the trip wasn't a total waste.

This first needs no introduction.

Big Ben


I quite liked this picture as it clearly shows the contrasts between ancient and modern. 

I hope that the Olympic committee found things warmer than we did, on their recent visit to London. There is something of a social comment here, with the London 2012 flags flying next to the various placards trying to call attention to some other more important issues.

Flags 

Lost Gardens of Heligan

I have added a new gallery of photographs of the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall, covering two visits there in 2002 and 2004.


Lost Gardens of Heligan


This visit was very wet.


Every corner of the gardens contains a surprise.

For more information take a look at The Lost Gardens of Heligan

Let there be light

The weather was cold so I didn't feel like taking the camera outside. This seemed like something interesting to have a go at without any suffering. 


This is much more low tech, but smells better. 

Queen: No sex before big day,Charles

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A strange dream

Last night, I had a most strange dream. It was about next door's cat trying to catch this very large bright green frog. The frog was trying to get under the garage door to escape, whilst I held onto the cat's tail. Now next door's cat is a bit of a minx, and most certainly would have torn me to shreds, frog or no frog, if I had dared to touch her tail. Indeed, touch any part of her. But I digress, what is the point of all this. Well, when we went out this morning and opened the garage door, there was this quite large, green (though not bright green) frog sitting just inside. That is what I call spooky. We have never had a frog in the garage before to my knowledge, so why now, and why should I dream about it at this precise moment. If anyone has any ideas, I would love to hear them.

I looked up a few dream sites, but they seemed a bit short on frogs in general. One said frogs were, "A good dream whether you saw them, heard them, or ate them; they signify personal contentment, success within your sphere of activity, and sincere friends." Dreaming@SWOON

So I suppose that's alright then!

I is for Immigration

I have had two previous attempts to write this blog and have lost them both thanks to Blogger. I have learnt my lesson, and am trying again, this time using Word so that I do not lose it again.

Immigration has become something of a hot topic with the possible approach of a general election. Almost everyone has an opinion of some sort about it, although I am not sure that some of the views are particularly well thought out. On a recent trip to London, it was very noticeable that the whole of the service industry was totally reliant upon foreign labour. Most of the people with whom you come into contact, use English adequately, but not as their first language. But without these people, how would hotels ever manage to open, restaurants serve food or busses and trains run.

My daughter recently had to spend some time in hospital where most of the nurses, many of the doctors and almost all of the auxiliary staff were foreign. The care given was superb. Unemployment levels in this country are mercifully low, but it does mean that we are dependent upon immigrant labour.

Following eight years of ineptitude, the government have now decided that it is about time it had a policy. As many people believe that all immigration is a bad thing, the government have decided that there are some votes to be won here and consequently have chosen to get tough, only allowing in those people who have the skills that we are short of. This might be a good idea as the education policy has resulted in many of the native population being lamentably skill deficient.

Much of the anti immigration outlook is based upon illogical racist views. Many opposed to such people are glad to buy their cheap produce from the supermarket perhaps not appreciating that it is only there because of the cheap labour used to pick it. Whilst I accept that we should have some sort of policy, it must be fair, fast an efficient. There can be no excuse for keeping people waiting for months or years even to get a decision on whether they can stay. Even if eventually they are accepted, they are going to feel bitter and not make good citizens. These claimants are in limbo, they cannot work, they are a burden upon the country’s resources and liable it come into conflict with the resident population and the police.

Surely, either those arriving here have the correct paperwork, or they don’t, and if the latter, then they should be immediately returned from whence they came. Apparently, it is possible for some illegal immigrants arriving at Heathrow Airport to destroy all their paperwork on the plane, and then travel some way through the airport before getting to passport control. By this time, it is impossible to know which flight they arrived on, and so cannot be returned to their country of origin. It might cost a bit more in passport control officers, but why can’t they be placed at the point of departure from the plane so that if they do not have a passport, they can be sent straight back.

This country has always welcomed migrants, and should continue to do so. What we need is a good, fair and workable policy. I doubt we will get it.

The following sites give a few slightly differing views on the problem.

Migration Watch UK

How dare Blair call me opportunist when he has failed and failed again

Tony Blair’s response to concerns over immigration

BBC NEWS | Politics | Clarke unveils immigration plan

Harbingers of spring

I have been looking for inspiration to get my camera out to try to find something worthy of record. Wandering around the garden, I found a few harbingers of spring which brought a certain amount of joy to my heart, as things seem to be starting to wake up now.

anemone

An evergreen candytuft (Iberis Semperoirens) is certainly very early this year even allowing for the comparatively mild winter.

Candytuft

Tucked away under the shelter of some larger shrubs I found some narcissus just about to come into flower.


Narcissus

The crocus I photographed a few days ago has been joined by some more now.

Crocus

One of the few berries left by the birds.

Hollyberry

Cartoon 3 

Mrs Droopy Wing update.

After a couple of days of silence, I heard Mr Blackbird in full song early this morning advertising for a new mate; his period of mourning was obviously now served. Sure enough, by breakfast time there was a new resident in the garden, and she had not one, but two somewhat droopy wings, so I suspect it is one of his former mates offspring. Also, looking more closely at him, he also has a droopy wing and a small white patch under the chin so that he is probably also one of her offspring. I'm not very good at relationships, but I think that means we probably have a case of incest in the garden!
Who needs to go to the cinema.

Exbury Gardens

It's getting to that time of year when we start to consider what to do about holidays. A year or two back we visited Exbury Gardens in Hampshire and I have now added a gallery of photos.

Exbury Gardens were created under the inspiration of Lionel Nathan de Rothschild. It was his vision, his dedication and his resources which have created one of the finest woodland gardens in the country. Exbury House is an imposing neo-Palladian house which was designed for Lionel in the 1920s. It was built around an existing structure and faced with Portland stone.


Exbury House

The Top Pond is the largest in a series of three concrete-lined, ornamental ponds created by Lionel de Rothschild and fed by a natural spring. A full display of Exbury deciduous azaleas surrounds the pond with fiery colours; primulas and iris fringe the water’s edge; and giant carp and golden orfe can be seen swimming lazily.

Exbury Garden

An impressive sweep of deciduous azaleas have been interplanted with acers and backed with pines to provide a colourful spectacle in both Spring and Autumn.

Exbury Garden

There are an amazing number of rhododendron and azalea shubs which give a spectacular display. We visited in May which is probably when you get the maximum impact, but there will be colour at most times of the year.

Exbury Garden


There are often special exhibitions showing, and during 2003 there was a display of African sculpture by Just Zimbabwe. A quote from their web site says
"The journey of Zimbabwe Stone Sculpture through National Independence, economic hardship and political transition is profound. All art 'moves' to express the epoch of its time, each piece interprets the artist's personal interaction with life. This ancient medium of stone, is an investment in Zimbabwe's artistic heritage and shaped by the sculptor for our appreciation." Just Zimbabwe Ltd. - Finest Selection Of Zimbabwean Stone Sculptures

Just Zimbabwe

Royal Katiyo was born on the 20th March 1972 in the Murewa district of Zimbabwe.
In 1992 on a visit to Mvurwi he met the Mugavazi brothers who introduced him to sculpting. A few years later Anderson Mukomberanwa helped develop his skills further - here he developed the technique of forming the contrasting finishes that are distinct features of his work.

Quail Family - Springstone - Just Zimbabwe

Anyone wanting to visit the gardens should look at the Exbury Garden web site where you will find a wealth of information.

Mrs Droopy Wing

For many years now we have been being visited by an alpha female blackbird. Sadly, this morning, my wife found her body lying by the pond. It didn't look as if she had been got by the neighbourhood cats as there seemed to be no damage to be seen. Just old age I guess. Her partner is sitting in one of the trees now waiting for her to come home. We called her "Mrs Droopy Wing" for obvious reasons as she always trailed one wing almost on the ground. She also had a little white bib which made her instantly recognisable.

I was never able to get a photograph of her as my camera really does not have a good enough zoom. If you want to see stunning photography, take a look at Sensitive Light where you will find some of the best bird photos I have ever seen.

Cezanne

Our recent trip to London took us to the Courtaulds collection at Somerset House where we were pleased to see one of Paul Cezanne's many painings of Mont Sainte Victoire just outside Aix-en-Provence. Our reason for this unexpected pleasure was that we had recently bought a print from a work by Rolf Harris, Mont Sainte Victoire (Homage to Cezanne) and we were interested to see the real thing. Our excuse for buying the print was that it was more affordable than the original, and seems to look pretty good to us.
The official site for Paul Cezanne (1839 - 1906) shows several more similar paintings done by Cezanne, but not the one we saw in London.


Cezanne - Mont Sainte Victoire 


Rolf Harris - Mont Sainte Victoire (Homage to Cezanne) 

London

We took a trip to London last week-end. This was really to visit our younger daughter and her husband who live there, but we also took the opportunity to do a few touristy things before coming home. In general, I would have to say that I do not like London very much; to be more accurate, what I actually dislike is the traffic chaos that reigns supreme. Whatever the time of day or night it seems that you can find a traffic jam without much effort. As my daughter lives on the south side of the river it does mean that we have to cross from north to south each time. We can cover the 90 miles to the end of the M1 motorway comfortably in about 90 minutes, but it can then take as long again to cover the remaining 13 miles! That's not my idea of fun.

However, I am starting to rant again, and we did actually have an enjoyable break. On Sunday we visited Somerset House where they have a fine display of art from the Courtauld Institute of Art. There is a good range from Renaissance to Impressionist and more modern as well.

Outside the gallery the final day of the ice skating was in full cry. Sadly, I have never been a skater and I was certainly not starting now.


Somerset House

Not far away, across the other side of the Strand, we wandered around Covent Garden where the whole world appeared to be meeting over a coffee or two.


Covent Garden

There were deals to be done, in this case one supposes, nothing more sinister than an art deal!


Covent Garden