My December 2015 In Pictures.

To see my December 2015 In Pictures, click on the link below:-
http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/136335184792/my-december-2015-in-pictures-click-on-a-picture

The picture shows Christmas lights at 15:38 on Saturday 5th December 2015, Hythe, Hampshire.

My November 2015 In Pictures - Yellow.

I chose Yellow for my November photo challenge.  Click on the link to take a look at the pictures:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/134457993307/my-november-2015-in-pictures-yellow-click-on-a

The picture at the top shows a MIND THE STEP yellow line, at 09:51 on Thursday 26th November 2015, Southampton Central Railway Station, Hampshire.

To read about Southampton Central Railway Station, click on the link below:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southampton_Central_railway_station

My November 2015 In Pictures.

To see My November 2015 In Pictures, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/134275284502/my-november-2015-in-pictures-click-on-a-picture

The picture shows a Blackbird, at 10:03 on Wednesday 11th November 2015, Hythe, Hampshire.

To read about the Blackbird (Turdus merula), click on the link below:-

http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/b/blackbird/

My October 2015 In Pictures - Green.

I chose Green for my October photo challenge.  Click on the link to take a look at the pictures:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/132656705342/my-october-2015-in-pictures-green-click-on-a

The picture at the top shows moss between the flagstones, Hythe Marina, Hampshire, at 13:33 on Thursday 8th October 2015.

My October 2015 In Pictures.

To see My October In Pictures, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/132273892777/my-october-2015-in-pictures-click-on-a-picture

The picture shows mushrooms, autumn leaves, and flies, Exbury Gardens, Hampshire, at 14:52 on Wednesday 28th October 2015.

To read about Exbury Gardens, Hampshire, click on the link below:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exbury_Gardens

My September 2015 In Pictures - Red.

I have an affinity for the colour Red and chose it for my September photo challenge.  Click on the link to take a look at the pictures:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/130392415297/my-september-2015-in-pictures-red-click-on-a

The photo shows a big close-up of the funnel of ocean liner Queen Mary 2, alongside in the Port of Southampton, Hampshire, on Friday 11th September 2015 at 15:27.

To read about RMS Queen Mary 2, click on the link below:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Queen_Mary_2

My September 2015 In Pictures.

I love September and I love autumn, the shortening days, the quality of light, long shadows, turning leaves, a nip in the air - mmm... delicious.  A wonderful month, and to top it all there was a total lunar eclipse - full moon, super moon, blood moon - it was spectacular.

To see My September 2015 In Pictures, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/130194419377/my-september-2015-in-pictures-click-on-a-picture

To see my Total Lunar Eclipse September 2015, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/total-lunar-eclipse-september-2015.html

The picture shows Lichen growing on a wall of Calshot Castle, Calshot Spit, Hampshire, on Tuesday 1st September 2015 at 15:10. (Worlds within worlds - it looks just like a small planet.)

To read about Lichen, click on the link below:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen

Total Lunar Eclipse September 2015

I hadn't planned to be up and about in the middle of the night, but I woke just after 2:30 on Monday morning, stumbled out onto the balcony, clutching my camera, blinked up into the night, and saw it happening.  It was magical.

The picture at the top shows the Lunar Eclipse on Monday 28th September 2015 at 02:47, Hythe, Hampshire.

The pictures below show the Lunar Eclipse on Monday 28th September 2015 at 03:07 and 03:15, Hythe, Hampshire.

To read about the Total Lunar Eclipse September 2015, click on the link below:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_2015_lunar_eclipse

Red Arrows.

A spectacular Red Arrows display over Southampton Water last Saturday to mark the opening of the 47th Southampton Boat Show.  A first for the Boat Show and the fourth time lucky for Southampton (three previous scheduled events were cancelled due to bad weather - July 2012 P&O 175th Anniversary, September 2014 Southampton Boat Show, May 2015 Cunard 175th Anniversary).  The weather was perfect, sunshine, a light wind, blue sky, white clouds, and a good twenty-five minutes of loops & rolls, aerobatics, red, white & blue vapour trails, and countless astonishing, jaw-dropping manoeuvres from the 9-plane Red Arrows team.  Bravo Red Arrows, Bravo!

The pictures show the Red Arrows on Saturday 12th September 2015 at 15:08 and 16:04, over Southampton Water, Hampshire.

To see more of my Red Arrows pictures, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/129152897807/the-red-arrows-aerobatic-display-over-southampton

To read about the Red Arrows, click on the links below:-

http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Arrows

To read about the Southampton Boat Show, click on the link below:-

http://southamptonboatshow.com

My August 2015 In Pictures - Insects.

An explosion in the insect population last month caused my photo challenge to burst at the seams.  Click on the link to take a look:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/129061487337/my-august-2015-in-pictures-insects-click-on-a

The picture shows a Common Pondskater on Saturday 1st August 2015 at 12:28, Knighton Park, Leicestershire.

To read about the Common Pondskater (Gerris lacustris), click on the link below:-

http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/common-pondskater

To read about Knighton Park, Leicestershire, click on the link below:-

http://www.leicester.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/parks-and-open-spaces/our-parks/knighton-park

My August 2015 In Pictures - Butterflies.

The air was filled with butterflies last month, so my photo challenge was an easy choice.  Click on the link to take a look:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/128908584242/my-august-2015-in-pictures-butterflies-click

The picture shows a Speckled Wood butterfly on Thursday 27th August 2015 at 15:49, West Street Allotments, Hythe, Hampshire.

To read about the Speckled Wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria), click on the link below:-

http://butterfly-conservation.org/679-746/speckled-wood.html

My August 2015 In Pictures.

To see My August 2015 In Pictures, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/128039601932/my-august-2015-in-pictures-click-on-a-picture

The picture shows a once-in-a-lifetime shot of a micturating Cormorant, on Friday 28th August 2015 at 12:51, Hythe, Hampshire.

To read about the Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), click on the link below:-

http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/c/cormorant/

My July 2015 In Pictures - Insects.

I chose insects for my photo challenge last month - a carnival of creepy-crawlies.  Click on the link below to take a look:- (Spoiler alert - includes big close-up of small spider!)

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/126429932647/my-july-2015-in-pictures-insects-click-on-a

The picture shows a Garden snail on Friday 24th July 2015 at 16:40, Hythe, Hampshire.

To read about the Garden snail (Helix aspersa), click on the link below:-

http://www.uksafari.com/gardensnail.htm

My July 2015 In Pictures.

To see My July 2015 In Pictures, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/125917835192/my-july-2015-in-pictures-click-on-a-picture-for

The picture at the top shows a Goldfinch on Friday 10th July 2015 at 12:48, Hythe, Hampshire.

The picture below shows the moon on Wednesday 29th July 2015 at 21:02, Hythe, Hampshire - a blue moon and two days shy of full. NB: A blue moon is the second of two full moons in a calendar month - the next blue moon will be on 31st January 2018.

To read about the Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), click on the link below:-

http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/g/goldfinch/

Dear John....

I have a brother, his name is John, he is two and a half years older than me, and he has some form of dementia, grouped under the heading Alzheimer's.  I can no longer communicate with him, aside from sending him a monthly picture letter that probably helps me more than it helps him.  He lives two hundred miles away and I see him once every six weeks or so.  I'm not sure he recognises me now, but I think he feels some sort of connection.  It's a deep sadness for me and today I decided to write down the thoughts that swirl around in my head - they've taken the form of a letter....

Dear John,

When I think of you, I see you as a child of 9 or 10, full of mischief, or with a puzzled look, as though you're not quite sure what is happening.

You're my big brother.  When we were children I'd do anything you told me to do, then you'd tell mum & dad and I'd be chastised, firstly for doing whatever it was and secondly for doing it because you'd told me to.

Nothing seemed to bother you, but I took everything to heart, especially when I was wrongly accused.  I'd be upset for days and you'd skip off and have forgotten all about it in a twinkling.

I've never really known you.  You tolerated me when we were children, thumped me whenever you could, avoided me when we were adolescents and distanced yourself when you went off to work.

I don't know what you think.  I know you've never had much to say - at least not to me.  I can't recall you ever starting a conversation, beyond asking me "Are you alright?".  I don't know your likes and dislikes.  I know you like birdwatching, you were never keen on tomato cores, you'd rather not eat fish, and that's about it.

I know there have been times of crisis in your life that have affected you deeply.  I offered support to try and help.  I knew you were upset, but I never really knew how you felt or what you thought.

Looking back, it seems as though you've been carefully locking away the pain of all those treacherous times.  And little by little, you've finally locked yourself away and none of us can find the key.  We can't help you, we can't reach you. We don't know where you are.

I suppose I imagined that as we grew older, we'd somehow grow closer, we'd have more things in common, there would be more time to get to know each other.

Instead I'm writing this letter for both of us ......

I love you.

My New Shoes.

I love my new shoes, they're called Howard and I found them at my favourite shoe shop, Tracey Neuls.  I bought them online and they were delivered swiftly, beautifully wrapped and a joy to behold.

Visit the Tracey Neuls shop at 29 Marylebone Lane, London Wl, and click on the link to take a look at the website:-

http://www.traceyneuls.com

My June 2015 In Pictures - Wood.

As an additional challenge, last month I photographed wood in an attempt to capture as many different forms as I could find.  It was fascinating.  Click on the link to take a look:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/123879251887/my-june-2015-in-pictures-wood-click-on-a

The picture shows a petrified tree at Coombe Abbey, Warwickshire, on Sunday 21st June 2015 at 14:33.

To read about Coombe Abbey, click on the link below:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coombe_Abbey

My June 2015 In Pictures.

To see My June 2015 In Pictures, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/122856381962/my-june-2015-in-pictures-click-on-a-picture-for

The picture shows the sky at sunset on Tuesday 9th June 2015 at 21:21, Hythe, Hampshire.

My May 2015 In Pictures - Roses.

The third of my three themes this month - a study of Roses.

To see My May 2015 In Pictures - Roses, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/120924687782/my-may-2015-in-pictures-roses-click-on-a

To see the second of the three themes (My May 2015 In Pictures - Colour), click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/120696129742/my-may-2015-in-pictures-colour-click-on-a

To see the first of the three themes (My May 2015 In Pictures - Sky & Water), click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/120431079797/my-may-2015-in-pictures-sky-water-click-on-a

The picture shows a Rose on Saturday 30th May 2015 at 10:35, Eling, Hampshire.

To read about Roses, click on the link below:-

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=153

My May 2015 In Pictures - Colour.

The second of my three themes this month - a study of Colour.

To see My May 2015 In Pictures - Colour, click on the link below:-
http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/120696129742/my-may-2015-in-pictures-colour-click-on-a

To see the first of the three themes (Sky & Water), click on the link below:-
http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/120431079797/my-may-2015-in-pictures-sky-water-click-on-a

The photo shows Coral bells and Bluebells on Monday 11th May 2015 at 13:13, Oadby, Leicestershire.

To read about Coral Bells (Heuchera), click on the link below:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heuchera

To read about Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), click on the link below:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyacinthoides_non-scripta

My May 2015 In Pictures - Sky & Water.

Spoilt for choice, I've decided to focus on three themes this month - the first is a study of Sky & Water.

To see My May 2015 In Pictures - Sky & Water, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/120431079797/my-may-2015-in-pictures-sky-water-click-on-a

The photo shows a Robin on Monday 18th May 2015 at 14:53, Hythe Marina, Hampshire.

To read about the Robin (Erithacus rubella), click on the link below:-

http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/r/robin/

My April 2015 In Pictures.

To see My April 2015 In Pictures, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/117775175567/my-april-2015-in-pictures-click-on-a-picture-for

The picture shows a Peacock butterfly on Wednesday 22nd April 2015 at 11:38, Mottisfont, Hampshire.

To read about the Peacock butterfly (Aglais io), click on the link below:-

http://butterfly-conservation.org/50-848/peacock.html

To read about Mottisfont, click on the link below:-

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mottisfont/

My March 2015 In Pictures.

To see My March 2015 In Pictures, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/115119737162/my-march-2015-in-pictures-click-on-a-picture-for

The picture shows spring blossom on Saturday 7th March 2015 at 14:26, Hythe, Hampshire.

Scraping the Bottom.

It's the time of year for scraping the barnacles from the bottoms of boats and the local marina is busy with sailors cleaning, repairing, repainting and generally making good.  There are boats of all shapes and sizes marooned in metal cradles along the quayside, suffering the indignity of having their undersides on show.

I'm no sailor and I have no boat, but I love a nautical aspect and enjoy strolling around with my camera, snapping away at this and that, boat bottoms included.  My photos have proved to be an unexpected and fascinating study of colour and texture.

This picture shows close-up detail of the underside of West Point, a mahogany and teak Bermuda sloop, at Hythe Marina, Hampshire, on Thursday 5th March 2015 at 15:34.

To see more of my Scraping the Bottom photos, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/113867838212/scraping-the-bottom-a-close-up-study-of-the

My February 2015 In Pictures.

To see My February 2015 In Pictures, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/112319349322/my-february-2015-in-pictures-click-on-a-picture

The picture shows a Dunnock (Prunella modularis), at Hythe Marina, Hampshire, on Friday 27th February 2015 at 10:29.

To read about the Dunnock, click on the links below:-

http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/d/dunnock/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunnock

My January 2015 In Pictures.

Fireworks and farewells this month, as cruise ships set off Round-the-World, returning at the end of April. Turbulent weather too, with high winds and astonishing skies.

To see My January 2015 In Pictures, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/109684679847/my-january-2015-in-pictures-click-on-a-picture

The picture shows unusual cloud formation over Hythe and Southampton Water, Hampshire, at 08:12 on Saturday 17th January 2015.

La Coruña 2014.

La Coruña, Galicia, Spain - the final port of call on my Canary Islands Celebration Christmas Cruise aboard MS Queen Victoria (see my blog dated Sunday 18th January 2015).

The picture shows the Tower of Hercules (Torre de Hércules), La Coruña, Galicia, Spain, at 06:37 on Saturday 27th December 2014.  The Tower of Hercules has served as a landmark and lighthouse at the entrance of La Coruña harbour since the end of the first century AD.

To see My Pictures of La Coruña 2014, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/108458638922/my-pictures-of-la-coruna-2014-la-coruna

To read about La Coruña, click on the link below:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Coruña

To read about the Tower of Hercules, click on the links below:-

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1312

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_Hercules

http://www.galiciaguide.com/Tower-of-hercules.html

La Palma 2014.

La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain - the third port of call on my Canary Islands Celebration Christmas Cruise aboard MS Queen Victoria (see my blog dated Sunday 18th January 2015).

The picture shows La Palma (La Isla Bonita), Canary Islands, Spain, at 16:53 on Tuesday 23rd December 2014.

To see My Pictures of La Palma 2014, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/108455848562/my-pictures-of-la-palma-2014-la-palma-canary

To read about La Palma, click on the links below:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Palma

http://www.visitcanaryislands.org/holidays-in-la-palma

http://www.turismodecanarias.com/canary-islands-spain/tourism-office/la-palma-island/

Santa Cruz 2014.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain - the second port of call on my Canary Islands Celebration Christmas Cruise aboard MS Queen Victoria (see my blog dated Sunday 18th January 2015).

The picture shows the  Auditorio de Tenerife 'Adán Martín', designed by architect Santiago Calatrava Valls (completed in 2003), Avenue of the Constitution, Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, at 12:00 on Monday 22nd December 2014.

To see My Pictures of Santa Cruz 2014, click on the link below:-
http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/108453742347/my-pictures-of-santa-cruz-2014-santa-cruz

To read about Santa Cruz de Tenerife, click on the link below:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Cruz_de_Tenerife

To read about the Auditorio de Tenerife, click on the link below:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auditorio_de_Tenerife

To read about architect Santiago Calatrava Valls, click on the link below:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_Calatrava

More Madeira Wall Art 2014.

More Wall Art at the Port of Funchal Madeira, Portugal - the first stop on my Canary Islands Celebration Christmas Cruise aboard MS Queen Victoria (see my blog dated Sunday 18th January 2015).

The picture shows the Tall Ship STS Sedov, a Russian training ship, Wall Art at the Port of Funchal Madeira, Portugal, on Sunday 21st December 2014 at 13:33.  STS Sedov is the largest training Tall Ship in the world and in 2016 she will celebrate her 95th anniversary.

To see My Pictures of More Madeira Wall Art 2014, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/108451352007/my-pictures-of-more-madeira-wall-art-2014-more

To read about STS Sedov, click on the links below:-

http://www.sts-sedov.info/eng/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS_Sedov

To see My Pictures of Madeira 2014, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/108446135312/my-pictures-of-madeira-2014-the-port-of-funchal

To see My Pictures of Madeira Wall art 2014, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/108449692147/my-pictures-of-madeira-wall-art-2014-wall-art-at

To read about Madeira, click on the link below:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeira

Madeira Wall Art 2014.

Wall Art at the Port of Funchal Madeira, Portugal - the first stop on my Canary Islands Celebration Christmas Cruise aboard MS Queen Victoria (see my blog dated Sunday 18th January 2015).

The picture shows the Tall Ship NRP Sagres, school ship of the Portuguese Navy, Wall Art at the Port of Funchal Madeira, Portugal, on Sunday 21st December 2014 at 13:46.

To see My Pictures of Madeira Wall Art 2014, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/108449692147/my-pictures-of-madeira-wall-art-2014-wall-art-at

To read about Tall Ship NRP Sagres, click on the link below:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NRP_Sagres_III

To see My Pictures of Madeira 2014, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/108446135312/my-pictures-of-madeira-2014-the-port-of-funchal

To read about Funchal and the Port of Funchal Madeira, click on the links below:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funchal

http://www.whatsinport.com/Funchal-Madeira.htm

Madeira 2014.

Funchal, Madeira, Portugal - the first port of call on my Canary Islands Celebration Christmas Cruise aboard MS Queen Victoria (see my blog dated Sunday 18th January 2015).

The picture shows the Island of Madeira, Portugal, at 13:55 on Sunday 21st December 2014.

To see My Pictures of Madeira 2014, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/108446135312/my-pictures-of-madeira-2014-the-port-of-funchal

To read about Funchal and Madeira, click on the links below:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funchal

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeira

http://www.madeira-web.com/PagesUK/funchal.html

Queen Victoria - Canary Islands Celebration 2014.

I loved it.  My Christmas Cruise - a Canary Islands Celebration aboard Queen Victoria, 12 nights, 17th to 29th December 2014, round trip from Southampton, calling at Madeira, Santa Cruz, La Palma, Lanzarote and La Coruña. (See my blog dated Wednesday 31st December 2014.)

I'm generally reluctant to travel anywhere, especially at Christmas when everyone is trying to get away, there's traffic chaos, weather warnings, crowded trains & airports, but Southampton is on my doorstep, I can see the ships from my house, so taking a cruise couldn't be easier - I just step aboard!

The picture shows MS Queen Victoria alongside at the Port of Southampton, Hampshire, at 16:09 on Monday 29th December 2014.

To see My Pictures Aboard MS Queen Victoria 2014, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/108435795967/my-pictures-aboard-queen-victoria-2014-on-board

To read about MS Queen Victoria, click on the link below:-
http://www.cunard.co.uk/cruise-ships/queen-victoria/