17th November photo - new backpack

Here is one of the things I bought with my birthday money - a new backpack.

It has a very comfortable back support and is nice and roomy - I am very pleased with it.

I am very sad to see the old one go though as it had been a very good companion to me.

16th November photo - 3D specs!

This week Channel 4 is going to be showing some TV programmes in 3D - but you need the special glasses to see them. Steven was brave & kind enough to agree to let me take his photo - looking daft taken wearing them! No one else would allow me to take their photo.

Tonight at 21.00hrs its a film of the Queen's coronation which has never been seen before - so at 9 o'clock we are all going to settle down on the sofa and look as silly as Dad and hope that it will be a good telly experience.

15th November photo - Chester with the girls

The girls & I made the journey to Chester to do some shopping today - I managed to spend a little of my birthday money. But the most successful part of the day was visiting London Camera Exchange shop, where they were able to clean the sensor on my DSLR camera - yay!! - no more specks of dust on all my photos or blobs where I have tried to edit them out.

The following photos are just a few shots around Chester and look no specks anywhere!!!

My POTD is of the 2 girls on one of the Chester 'Rows'.

14th November photo - half a century!

It is my 50th birthday today - so I am officially old now!

It started out with the children waking me up for my special breakfast and then the opening of 50 presents! I was very spoilt.

This is my favourite present - a witch weather vane. It is going to go on the shed so I can see it from my kitchen window.

13th November photo - Wheaton Aston & canal

Today I had a lovely, but long walk along the Shropshire Union canal. I started my journey at the lovely village of Wheaton Aston in Staffordshire - finding my first cache hidden by this lovely church.

it was then off into the surrounding countryside passing beautiful homes such as this.

Before long, I found the canal which was quite busy with narrow boats today.

and nosey birds - wondering if I had any food for them.

One really nice aspect of walking along the canal at this time of year is that the narrow boats have their wood burning stoves lit and the lovely smoky smell reminds me of camping out with the guides when I was younger. I think this brightly coloured narrow boat, with the smoke emanating from its chimney, is going to be my POTD.

12th November photo - Bright Star

I have been to the cinema to see this divine film. It is about the love affair between the poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne. It was such a beautiful film - I am at a loss to describe how beautiful it was - I was mesmerised from the start right to the end. When they were parted he wrote to her of his affection and how precious her love was - his letters were just beautiful. Some of his poetry was also featured in the film - but I did not understand all of it - its not as clear in meaning as Pablo Neruda's. Perhaps like all passionate love affairs are doomed to - this one also ended in tragedy.

I have bought the book of his letters to Fanny so I can indulge in reading them when ever I want to.

11th November photo - nature

I had a nice walk today out towards the edge of Shropshire and visited Leintwardine which is just over the border into Herefordshire. Even though it was misty I managed to get a few nice nature shots.

This is the weir and bridge at Leintwardine which was in full flow today due to all the rain we have had lately.
In some woods - I spotted this Robin - I really would have preferred him to have been a bit closer in, but I did not want to change my lens in case he flew away.

I think this first photo of the robin is going to be my POTD.

It was very misty in the woods and I just love all the rain drops hanging from these red berries.