Ghost bird
A grey day
At the end of last week we were thinking of going away this week, because of the weather forecast, but by Saturday the forecast was changing again and we decided not to risk it. I’m glad we didn’t go as yesterday and today is grey, overcast, gloomy and not at all warm.
During the weekend, before the sun disappeared, Amanda photographed another butterfly in the garden. This time it was a Red Admiral. That name is actually a corruption of the original Victorian name of ‘The Red Admirable’.
I don’t know if anyone has actually noticed but putting Smilies in your comments is now very much easier.
Also I have made two additions on the Wells pages. Next to the picture of the clock in Wells Cathedral is a link to a short video sequence of the clock in action and next to the picture of the swans on the Bishop’s Palace moat is another short video sequence of the swans doing their thing. Both sequences are courtesy of that famous film producer ‘Amanda’. :)
Dark, wet and underground – what could be nicer?
In my previous post I mentioned, regarding our trip to Burrington Combe, that I started caving there as a youngster (ish). I was around 27 when I used to go there with a friend and this is a photograph of that friend in one of the Burrington Combe caves. I'm the one behind the camera.
The way out of this cave is where the water is coming in. We used to thoroughly enjoy getting wet and muddy.
The photograph is black and white as at that time colour film was fairly insensitive and, consequently, not really suitable for use underground apart from also being expensive.
The camera had to be carried in a waterproof container.
Anyone care to join me?
Singing in the rain!
Well, possibly. Except that if it is raining then I won't be singing. 
We are due to leave for England's smallest city, Wells in Somerset, next Sunday 10th August and staying until Friday 15th August. The weather forecast for that week is dismal:
"Showery weather will continue into Monday, with the risk of some prolonged and heavy showers. However, sunny intervals are also expected, especially in the east."
We'll be in the west. 
"It will be breezy in many parts with strong winds in the west and south. Unsettled weather will continue through the middle of next week with further rain or showers at times. Some short dry and sunny interludes are also expected, the best of which occurring in the east."
Did I say that we'll be in the west? 
"Temperatures through this period will be near average to rather cool. More unsettled weather is expected to continue through the second part of next week and over the weekend, with it staying on the cool side."
The idea was to put Wells, Glastonbury and other locations in the area onto the web site but that needs pictures in sunny weather. Pictures taken in dull weather nearly always look dreadful – flat lighting and white skies. Yeuk! 
I'll be able to photograph the interior of the Bishop's Palace and the cathedral (unless the roof leaks – is there something they haven't told me?) but I shall also need external shots to go with them so we may have to go again for those. We may go into Wookey Hole Cave as it doesn't matter what the weather's like for that.
We are hoping to visit places like Glastonbury Tor, Ebbor Gorge and Burrington Combe which will need sun for photographs.
All we can do is go and take whatever the weather throws at us. Four days and counting.
You can’t make a silk purse from a sow’s ear!
… but I’m still trying.
The Blog software has been updated and with it comes a new look although the content is still rubbish of course. I rather like the new look and especially the picture of Stonehenge – which I’m sorry to say isn’t one of mine.
Hopefully everything will run smoothly. Do let me know if you think you’ve found a problem.
Can the world survive this?
I have just bought a new pair of walking trousers which were delivered today. ‘So what?’ I hear you say. These are double zip-off trousers where detaching the bottom section gives a leg length which reaches down about half-way between ankle and knee but detaching the next section converts them to shorts.
What on earth is the world going to think of the sight of me in shorts?
Will it survive the experience?
We’re off again.
We are off to the Cotswolds tomorrow, Monday, and back home on Friday.
We are hoping to see the Rollright Stones which we missed last time and are staying in Chipping Campden for two nights then Stow-on-the-Wold for two nights.
Will report when we get back.