Game of Risk

Tuesday 31 August 2011 - Game of Risk - 100

This is my one hundredth blip and I made a conscious decision not to do a special 100 picture, but to continue telling the story of my everyday life.

My grandchildren are home from their holiday in Mexico and so it is back to looking after them for the last few days before they go back to school. I worked all morning and as this blip shows, we played Risk, all afternoon.

It all began with some purple flowers and in between there have been a variety of shots including, more flowers, wildlife, cakes, cats, seaside and gardens to name just a few of the topics; I hit the spotlight with this on Sunday 17 July 2011.

I was introduced to blip by a fellow blipper, Painting with Light and as soon as I started blipping I became hooked;  thanks Juli. I hope I can continue to blip every day and I plan to produce a ?Blurb? book each time I reach a milestone; an idea pinched from a fellow blipper, thanks Xander.

So thanks everyone for looking and commenting on my journal as well as giving me stars and hearts; thanks also to the Blip team for making this possible.

Robin

It is cold and damp here today so not many blip opportunities. In the end I decided on this robin which visited our bird table. There were several other birds visiting as well as two robins, this one and a very scruffy looking one, which had more character, but did not photograph as well.

Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea, but no cucumber sandwiches and it was coffee, not tea!

This is one of two almost identical cakes, which I made yesterday. I could not blip them yesterday as I did not want my daughter to see them on the site which she looks at, but has not yet joined, which is why a large part of it has been eaten.

She arrived home from Mexico with her family this morning and although she has had three birthday cakes while she was away, none of them were gluten free so her son, my grandson, would not be able to eat any of them. So the two I made were gluten-free so that both me and Oliver can eat them.

So although this cake is for my daughter?s birthday, it is also for Oliver. Who needs three birthday cakes anyway, well obviously my daughter and maybe JaneW.

Reeves Muntjack

I had a busy morning baking and taking delivery of the groceries and putting them away and then I watched the Formula One on the television; it was not exactly the result I was looking for.

Then this afternoon, in between the rain showers and the sunshine, I was wondering what I could find in the garden to blip, when I looked out of the window and saw this Reeves Muntjack Deer eating the windfall pears in the orchard; I took a lot of pictures of it and then could not decide which to post.

Should I leave the surrounding area in? Or just include the deer? What about the one of it with its tongue out or the one with the pear in its mouth? In the end I decided to post this one as it appears to be posing and it was in fact looking directly at me, looking at it, out of the open kitchen window. It also shows its shadow on the grass as well as its lovely dark markings on its face.

Cromer Lighthouse

Today we went to Cromer, it was raining and dull when we went, but we thought it would brighten up and it did. Until three o?clock when we were as far away from the town as we could be, we had walked up the cliff path to the lighthouse and were just sitting on a seat before walking back down when the black clouds came in.

We got absolutely soaked, I had an umbrella, but that just kept the top of me dry. The rain came down almost horizontally and in less than a minute the front of our trousers was completely soaked. After about five minutes it stopped, but unfortunately there was nowhere to shelter and everyone, including us, just kept going. Once we got back to town, I bought a new pair of trousers and changed into them in the fitting room!

I took a great many sea, cloud and sky pictures today, but in the end decided on the lighthouse; it shows it doing what a lighthouse should do, with its light flashing to warn ships of danger.

Splodge

I took my first blip of the day at 0615 hours, it was raining and there was not much light and needless to say it was not particularly good; it was of a Reeves Muntjack deer in the garden.

It continued to rain most of the day and I continued to take pictures of wet flowers, dark clouds and even some blue sky which appeared very briefly; I was not happy with any of them. 

Even the cats were not very obliging, then when I was cooking the supper the sun came out and Splodge decided to sit on the wall in front of the fennel bush; so this is what you get today.

Splodge is getting very old now, fifteen and a half, although not as old as her Auntie Moggie and so she is getting very slow to move, but not so slow that she cannot catch a mouse or two!

It is only 1900 hours now, but it is already getting dark and raining again; maybe tomorrow will be better.

Spider

I realise that this is not the best picture of a spider as its front legs are out of focus. It was quite a large spider, I was using a macro lens and it kept moving before it disappeared into the foliage; well that is my excuse. I do not know what kind of spider it is, but I have posted it on iSpot, so if I get an identification, then I will update the details.

If you do not like spiders then do not view it large.

Victoria Plums

I took pictures today of amongst other things, apples, pears and bullrushes, but decided that these plums, with the light shining through the branches was the best for sharing.

As you can see there are a lot of plums on this branch waiting to be picked, many branches on this tree are now bare; probably the wind has blown them onto the ground.

It was supposed to rain today, not that I am complaining, that it has been sunny and warm, but the plums and the ripening fruit make me think that Autumn is on its way even though it is still August; did someone say it will soon be Christmas!

Penfold Hexagonal Postbox

Today it has been very wet for most of the day, unlike forty years ago when it was brilliant sunshine and very, very hot; how can I remember that you might well ask. It was the day my daughter was born, although not until 2330 hours when it had cooled down a little. 

I will not be celebrating with her today, she is in Mexico, but before she went we did celebrate her birthday, see here if you are interested for the blip showing her face when she opened her present.

Today I had to go to Cambridge to collect a book, which had been ordered for the next Open University course which I plan to study and despite the rain I still took my point and press camera.

This is a Penfold Hexagonal Postbox and this was the standard design for Post Office boxes in the United Kingdom between 1866 and 1879.

This one was taken outside the main gate of King's College, Cambridge. Traditionally postboxes in the United Kingdom are marked, at the time of their installation, with the initials of the reigning monarch. In this case, the post box carries the initial VR for Victoria Regina, indicating Queen Victoria.

I understand that these are quite rare and until recently this was the only one I had seen, a few weeks ago I saw another one in London, but did not blip it at the time; next time I go I will try to remember to do so.

Harvesting the Wheat

When I was a small child, many years ago, our wheat was never harvested until the third week of August, that, my father said, was when it was ready. Other grain crops could be harvested earlier, but not wheat.

Here we are some sixty years later and what are they doing in the field near my home and in the fourth week of August, harvesting the wheat; and I thought everything was supposed to be earlier now.

I took several pictures this morning, but I was not particularly happy with any of them. Then I went to feed my daughter's animals, (she is still on holiday) and on the way back I noticed the combine harvester. I took quite a lot of pictures of the activites, including removing the grain from the harvester into one of the trailers, but on the whole I liked this one best.

I still have the dust up my nose, in my hair and on my T-shirt, but I think the pictures were worth the dust.

Pump

We went to Great Dunmow today for lunch at the China Garden Restaurant and when I came out I saw this pump and thought it made a good blip. Shame about the scaffolding, but I could not get the picture without it, if I had taken it from the other side, there was a rubbish bin just in front of the pump and sting nettles growing out of the base; at least the grass this side does not detract too much. I decided there was too much scaffolding to try to clone out.

On the way home I saw two more pumps, one green and one black, so maybe I will go back and blip them sometime.

Lovely and sunny here today although I undestand it was supposed to rain, not that I am complaining. The sky in this picture was interesting too, being blue and white.

Pink Rose with Raindrops

I have been to Cambridge again today and the weather was warm and dry; now I am home again it is raining but it was expected.

I took the camera to Cambridge, but did not see anything I wanted to take, that I have not taken many times before, so today's blip is again from the garden; the centre of a pink rose with raindrops.

Japanese Anemone

This is a pink Japanese Anemone and the first one to flower this year; we also have some white ones, but they are not out yet.

I decided to blip early today as I still have a lot of work which I want to get finished before the weekend. I hope to catch up with comments this evening.

Green Tomatoes with Raindrops

Well you can quess what it is doing here.

It was fine this morning when I went shopping but has been raining ever since I got home. It has not been a very exciting day as I have been working all afternoon, except for a brief conversation on Skype with my daughter who is in Mexico.

Now I have to go and feed her animals and then cook the tea, but at least I do not have to work this evening, so hopefully I can catch up with some comments on here.

Artillery Hall

We had planned to go to Cromer today, but did not realise until we were in the traffic almost into Cromer, that it was carnival day! The roads were packed with cars, crawling along and more people than on the Mall on the day of the Royal Wedding, or so it seemed. We were later arriving in Cromer than we planned to be, which with hindsight was a good thing; looking at the Cromer webcam, we would still be trying to get out of the car park at almost 2100 hours tonight.

Instead of finding somewhere to park, there was a car park, a long way from the town centre, we decided to travel along the coast road and find somewhere quiet for coffee, a walk and lunch. We have often seen the Muckleburgh Military Museum, but never visited as someone told us it was expensive and rubbish! So today we decided to give it a go; they were wrong, if you are interested in this kind of thing it was an excellent way to spend the day. It is similar to Duxford War Museum, near Cambridge, but smaller and more compact. They did a great lunch suitable for me as a coeliac, it was good value and tasted good. There are also plenty of places for children to run around and to eat a picnic.

During the afternoon, amogst other things, we visited the 'Radio Room', Mr Arkensiel is very interested in this area and inside he met someone he knew from twenty-five years ago!

I did not know which photograph to include today, but finally decided on this one of The Artillery Room. I can recommend a visit if you are in the area and if this is the kind of thing you are interested in; they have a website which gives more details.

Wheat Field

We went for a walk early this morning on the footpaths and by the fields of grain near where we live. This field of wheat has not yet been cut, probably needs about another week before it is ready.

The sun was shining when we started out, but these clouds where gathering by the time we were on our way home. However, it is now almost lunch time and the rain has not yet fallen although it is overcast.

Many thanks to everyone for their comments, hearts and favourites; they are much appreciated. If I have missed commenting back to anyone, my apologies as I do try to reply to everyone.

Lower Orchard and Marsh

I took this at 0630 hours this morning and here we are almost fourteen hours later and it is only just getting posted.

It has been an 'Addenbrookes Hospital' day today. My husband has a medical condition and sometimes we spend the whole day in clinic; today was one of those days. Afterward we went into Cambridge and had our tea at John Lewis before we came home.

This is part of our lower garden and the bottom of our orchard, but also shows the marsh, which long ago was a water meadow. There was a slight mist over the marsh this morning, but it does not show up very well here. This is going to be one of those pictures which I will take, on the fifteenth of each month, to show the changing seasons over this area. I started one showing the orchard on Monday 1 August 2011 and this other view will be posted on the first of every month.

Another Bee

Another bee blip today!

I did take ladybirds, various insects and flowers today, but finally settled on this one as I also liked the detail on the ends of the petals which you can see quite clearly, if viewed in large, as well as the fine detail on the bee itself.

Mint Moth

This tiny moth is called a Mint Moth (Pyrausta aurata) and is part of the Family Crambidae. It was seen feeding on the Water Mint flowers in our wild garden.

Red Rose

This is a miniature red rose and ten seconds before I pressed the shutter there was an insect in the centre; alas it disappeared before I could captured it so you have just the flower instead.

I did not have to look after my grandchildren today, they are going on holiday at the weekend and their father was working from home today, so I have been to Cambridge with my husband, but did not take a camera!

We had quite a lot of rain yesterday evening as the sky from yesterday's blip indicated; today it has not rained all day except for a few drops while I was driving home. However, the sky is now overcast and it looks as though more rain will fall tonight.

Weather Station and Storm

I took pictures earlier today of bees and ladybirds, but had not quite decided which to use. When I arrived home this afternoon my husband had put up the weather station we bought some while ago, so I decided that this would be my blip today.

I was going to crop it to remove the washing line, the weather station is attached to the washing line pole and some of the sky, but in the end I decided to leave it as it was taken, especially the sky, which shows the storm that is brewing.

Yellow Lichen probably Xanthoria parientina

It was difficult to decide which blip to use today as I had some good ones of a very large bumblebee as well as a ladybird feeding on wild thyme.

In the end I chose this yellow lichen which is probably Xanthoria parientina. It comes in several shades of yellow and orange; this one was growing on the felt roof of the nesting box of the chicken house.

Zoological Museum

Today was a educational fun day at the museums, so we went to Cambridge to visit two of them.

Oliver is more interested in rocks and fossils, but Victoria prefers plants and animals, so we visited the Sedgwick during the morning and the Zoological during the afternoon. They did a quiz in the Sedgwick, which had been prepared for the school holidays so probably learnt something, but during the afternoon we looked at the exhibits.

Morning coffee with cake and lunch were both eaten in John Lewis as this is not too far from either of these museums.

Today's blip shows them at either end of the skeletons depicting the changes from monkey to man. I keep watching to see of the one at the end is going to reach out and grab Oliver by the scruff of the neck!

Oliver

This is Oliver playing badminton in the garden, he is playing against Grandad and Victoria who are out of shot; he is very sporty and wins, even when it is two to one!

Birthday

We went for lunch at the China Garden Restaurant where they do a decent buffet lunch on a Sunday. It is where we usually go to celebrate birthdays, anniversaires and special occasions. This occasion was essentially for my husband's birthday, which we celebrated in July, but at that time we were unable to go out for lunch.

However, my daughter has a special birthday soon, one with a zero on the end. As she will be on holiday on the actual day we decided to give her a surprise early present. She has wanted an iPad for a long time and her husband suggested that instead of individual presents this year we bought her a joint present; as you can see, it was a complete surprise.

Red Begonia

I have been shopping in Cambridge all day with my daughter and granddaughter and seem to have walked miles. Looking at my pedometer it is only showing eight and a half kilometers. Amongst other shops, we visited the new re-modelled BHS and I bought some clothes as well as more clothes from Debenhams; I had no plans to buy anything when I went out!

We met my husband for lunch in John Lewis, he was doing his own shopping for computer parts, then after lunch we did some more shopping before coming home.

Once I got home it was a quick trip into the garden to take something for today's blip. Having taken several different coloured begonias, I then did not know which one to choose; in the end I decided the red one was the brightest.

I hope tomorrow will be a more restful day; I can but hope.

Buff-tailed Bumblebees

I was taking photographs of various insects and butterflies, feeding on the lavender in the garden and it was not until I downloaded the images that I realised that I had captured two bumblebees on one plant. I think they are Buff-tailed Bumblebees. 

Today is mainly sunny and warm after the heavy rain we had all day yesterday, but occasionally the sky clouds over and we get just a few spots of rain.

The housework has been done and it is nearly time for lunch. Then I think I will have to do some work, script marking, before playing a board game with my grandchildren later this afternoon.

Gluten Free Bread Rolls

We had planned a trip to the museums today, but it was bucketing down this morning (still is, mid-afternoon) and although the museums are indoors, we would have got very wet walking from the bus stop, so we decided to do something else instead.

We decided to make white and brown gluten free rolls and these are the results. Although they look a little pale, we ate some, warm for lunch and they tasted good, although they were a little harder than they should have been. I blame my daughter's oven which has never been the same since it was mended.

Tomorrow we have to do the housework so everything is clean and tidy for the weekend, so we can go shopping on Saturday and out for lunch on Sunday.

Lunch in the Garden

As it was such a lovely day we thought lunch in the garden under a shady tree would be a nice idea. Unfortunately the wasps thought the same thing; we retreated to the house and left them to it.

This is my daughter's garden, not mine.

It has been extremily hot here and just before supper we had a thunderstorm which took out our electricity and set off all the alarms. It came back on again quite quickly so not too many problem with computers and Internet.

Cromer, Norfolk, United Kingdom

It was raining when we left just before 0800 hours and raining when we returned twevle hours later, but in between we had rain, sun and wind.

Overall it was a good day and we walked eleven and a half kilometres. We walked in the sea, looked in the rock pools where we found fish, shrimps, crabs and red sea anemones. We had a good lunch as well as eating all the other things you generally eat at the seaside.

Of the many images taken it was decided that this one should be used here and shows Victoria with a slush drink, Grandad with his stick and Oliver with candyfloss walking down the street towards the beach just after lunch.

Orchard on 1 August 2011

This shows part of the orchard and was taken on 1 August for comparison with other photographs, which will be taken on the first of each month and posted here to show how things change throughout the changing seasons.

It also shows some of the deliberately unmown wild parts of the garden left to encourge wildlife and some of the bee hives. We have a wide variety of fruit trees in the orchard including, five varieties of apple, two cherry trees, two pear trees and two plum trees. We also have three nut trees, a Sweet Chestnut, a Cob Nut and a Walnut, although not all of these are visible here. 

This image was taken at 0612 hours Greenwich Mean Time or 0712 hours British Summer Time. 

However, all of the photographs will not all be taken at this early hour as it will be too dark during some months. I may also take another blip of a different part of the garden on the fifteenth of every month, again for comparison to show how the garden changes throughout the year.