Three Cunard Queens 2014.

A big day in Southampton a couple of weeks ago with the arrival of the three Queens to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Queen Mary 2, the Cunard flagship. The three ships arrived in port early morning on Friday 9th May, having sailed in convoy from Lisbon, Portugal. Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth were the first in, at around 4:30am, followed by QM2 an hour later, complete with tugboat escort, water cannon salute, and newsreel helicopter.  I didn't see the first two Queens arrive, but I was up and about on my top balcony in time to see QM2 sail in with the sunrise.  A wonderful sight and a splendid start to the morning.

It was a glorious day all round, the sun shone, the ships were magnificent and the evening fireworks were spectacular.  After the three ships had exchanged an astonishing volley of whistle salutes, QM2 finally pulled away at 10:30pm and led the convoy down Southampton Water, into the Solent and away into the night; QM2 bound for New York, Queen Victoria to Stockholm, Sweden, and Queen Elizabeth to Hamburg, Germany.

The picture at the top shows RMS Queen Mary 2 arriving at the Port of Southampton, Hampshire, for her 10th Anniversary celebrations, at 05:36 on Friday 9th May 2014.

The picture at the bottom shows RMS Queen Mary 2 and her 10th Anniversary celebration fireworks, at the Port of Southampton, Hampshire, at 22:12 on Friday 9th May 2014.

Click on the link below to see more of my pictures of the Three Cunard Queens 2014 and the fireworks:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/86315511457/my-photos-of-the-three-cunard-queens-at-the-port

To read more about the Cunard event and to see the Cunard photos, click on the links below:-

http://www.cunard.co.uk/cruise-types/cruises-from-southampton/royal-rendezvous/
http://www.cunard3queens.com

My April 2014 In Pictures.

A late posting for my monthly picture post and, for good measure, there are two sets of photos, one of flowers, one of trees.  I love them equally and couldn't decide between them.

To see My April 2014 In Flower Pictures, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/85804435272/my-april-2014-in-flower-pictures-click-on-a

To see My April 2014 In Tree Pictures, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/85897730762/my-april-2014-in-tree-pictures-click-on-a

The picture at the top shows spring blossom in Uplands Park, Oadby, Leicestershire, at 18:03 on Monday 28th April 2014.

The picture at the bottom shows a stand of trees in Norley Wood Inclosure, New Forest National Park, Lymington, Hampshire at 14:38 on Wednesday 24th April 2014.

The Meaning of Life.

A year to the day since my father died and I miss him, I feel the loss and I feel his presence within me.  In later years my Dad picked up a paintbrush and painted landscapes; water, trees and skies, in oils, pastels, watercolours, and he loved it.  I've recently picked up a camera, I photograph water, trees and skies, and I love it.  There's a saying along the lines of "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree".  I think I'm beginning to understand exactly what that means....

The picture shows a painting by Tony Vale, from 2012, and if you look very carefully you'll see his name and the date, bottom left, which probably means that he thought it was ok and good enough to be exhibited at his local art society.

Arthur Anthony Vale (Tony Vale) 22.07.22 to 24.04.13 RIP.  Love you Dad.

A Rookery.

On the way to Lymington a couple of weeks ago, I spotted a rookery, high in a stand of trees, opposite Walhampton School, so I stopped to take a look and grab a photo.

The sky was blue, the air was still and I listened to the cawing cries and watched big black birds fly to and from the nests. I still don't know if they were rooks or crows, impossible to tell from a distance, it was just good to be there watching and listening on such a perfect spring day.

The picture shows the rookery on the outskirts of Lymington, Hampshire, at 10:07 on Wednesday 9th April 2014.

Click on the link to read about the crow family:-
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/families/crows.aspx

My March 2014 In Pictures.

My monthly picture post.

To see My March 2014 In Pictures, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/81292382112/my-march-2014-in-pictures-click-on-a-picture-for

The picture at the top shows catkins against a bright blue spring sky on Sunday 16th March 2014 at 11:27 West Street, Hythe, Hampshire.

Blackbird.

For the last few mornings I have woken to the sound of birdsong. A blackbird has taken up residence in a tree adjacent to my house and sits there for hours singing his heart out. It's magical.  Blackbirds are well-known for leading the dawn chorus and my singing blackbird would not be remarkable, were it not for the fact that he's the only bird around here ballsy enough to do it.  I live at the edge of Southampton Water and the dawn chorus is usually made up of the cries of squabbling seagulls, loud enough to drown out the delicate trill of any native songbird and certainly a warning for them to steer clear.  But this brave fellow boldly stakes his claim early (4:48 am yesterday!) and the seagulls are staying away - at least for a few hours in the morning.  It may not last for long, so until the mating season gets properly underway and the gulls muscle their way back in, I'll give thanks and enjoy every minute.

The picture shows the blackbird sitting in the tree near to my house in Hythe, Hampshire, at 11:17 on Friday 7th March 2014.

Click on the link to read more about Blackbirds.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/b/blackbird/index.aspx

My February 2014 In Pictures.

My monthly picture post.

Click on the link below to see My February 2014 In Pictures.

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/78109249206/my-february-2014-in-pictures-click-on-a-picture

The picture shows starlings in the oak trees at sunset, The Grove Garden, Hythe, Hampshire, at 16:57 on Monday 10th February 2014.

My Best Pictures.

I've been trawling through my photo archive in recent weeks - sifting and sorting, thinning and binning - and thought I'd share a few favourites.  I like them for all sorts of reasons, but mostly I like them because they make me happy.  I hope you feel the same way too.

The picture shows the sunset in Hythe, Hampshire, at 20:15 on Sunday 18th August 2013.

Click on the link below to look at a few more of my favourite pictures.

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/77054300121/my-best-pictures-a-few-of-my-favourites-click

Tree Story.

Battered by the recent storms, the massive cypress in The Grove Garden lost a few branches, but stood its ground.  Then it was struck by lightning.  A fatal blow. So sad to see such a magnificent tree being cut down, but interesting to watch, and fascinating to consider its great age. The landscape has changed for ever.

Monterey Cypress grow to a height of 30m and live for 150 years; sobering to think that from its position overlooking Southampton Water, this wonderful tree witnessed the passage of the Titanic as she left on her fateful voyage.

The picture shows the fatally damaged Monterey Cypress in The Grove Garden, Hythe, Hampshire, at 07:48 on Wednesday 22nd January 2014.

To see my pictures of the Monterey Cypress before, during and after the cutting down, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/76116721673/monterey-cypress-the-grove-garden-hythe

To read about Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa), click on the link:-

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

1st February 2014.

High tides, sunshine, squalls of wind and rain, a rainbow and a nip in the air; a beautiful start to the month, and of course there's a new moon.

A Cormorant has been fishing in the bay at high tide and perching on an old concrete post in the water to the front of my house.  It was there for a good hour today and I had a fine time watching and taking snapshots.

The picture shows the Cormorant at 12:34 on Saturday 1st February 2014, Southampton Water, Hythe, Hampshire.

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

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/75260983508/a-cormorant-southampton-water-hythe-hampshire

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

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/cormorant/index.aspx