Life Observed

This is what happens when five blokes can't agree which sword is the bendyest.

Just look at this bird. Is it not totally fit for purpose? I finally got to see a flying display at the weekend. The Owl was smart, the Eagle was impressive, but the Falcon was just plain scary. It shot to and fro, past and through the crowd at forty miles an hour. To see that bird flying straight at you at head height is to suffer a genuine rabbit in the headlights moment...

Down in the Servants Hall, everyone is summoned by bells. This is Kingston Lacy again. When the wire and pendulum arrangement eventually failed there were still bells on the telephone to summon the Butler or the Maid of all work.

Lakeland sheep are a hardy breed. Dangerous too and not to be sniffed at. Being masters of disguise, they can blend into the landscape waiting for unwary visitors.  Here is a nice view of the Buttermere valley. Can you see the sheep hidden in this picture? And there are seven sheep in this picture.. When they have selected their prey they suddenly jump out and overcharge them for the car park.

.. showers of course.  Sunshine and showers has been the pattern down South for the past fortnight., We have had a succession of Atlantic Low systems passing over the UK*. Normally these track north of Scotland dusting us with light rain from their outer skirts but this latest batch seem to have taken a shine to Brist ol. The weekend visit to an open garden was marred by rain. So much so that this was the only worthwhile picture.  On the other hand, the hastily modified refreshment tend sold an awful lot of Tea and Cakes... *I am quite interested in Weather and I am getting quite good at retrospective forecasting . "Ah yes, it would have done that because...."

A wet bank holiday. What better opportunity to flex your National Trust card and go look round a posh house. In this case we are at Mompasson House , near the Cathedral in Salisbury. This little gem is a small but perfectly formed oasis of calm in the busy city. The N.T. are operating their new found reasonable attitude to photography: Photographs are allowed*, but no flash and no close up details. (Let's hope these pictures are not too detailed then ....) There are some fantastic moulded ceilings to observe, but for me this glum moulding over the fireplace was the star of the show... Finally, they have that most essential facility, a National Trust tea room . Lovely. *Compare their attitude to that of Durham Cathedral....

Like so many of the Saga generation, we are members of the National Trust. It is a fine organisation and what could be better than a nice day out at a stately pile with a tea shop... Here's a wide angle shot at St Michaels mount, a NT property. When we visited early last year I discovered that certain NT properties have relaxed their baffling No Photography Inside rule. Later that week we went to Lanhydrock, an excellent house with wonderful gardens. Once again I was allowed to use the camera (no flash please*) indoors. I do approve of this enightened approach. Here, as an example of the memories I could take away, is part of the extensive kitchens featuring the Large Cleaver.... I never did understand the photography ban. What was the logic? You may not take pictures inside but perhaps you will buy some of our NT postcards. I don't think that's going to happen. My pictures end up on disk, so how will a paper postcard help me? it's as if the N...