Colby Woodland Gardens An Autumn View

Colby Gardens is quite near to where I live. I wanted to go out today, but I didn't want to go too far. Work had been very stressful and I felt jaded and weary. Colby seemed like a good place to visit. Its a National Trust Site and an ideal location for all kinds of visitors, families, young, old ..... 

I had a pot of tea and some Lemon Cake which I actually didn't like! The texture was horrid, it was disappointing and I wished I'd had some chocolate cake instead. I get annoyed when you cant smoke outside. I know smoking is frowned upon, people hate it but it still annoys me that I've paid to visit the gardens, I pay for my tea and cake, I've sat outside but I still cant smoke. I even take my own ashtray with me now ... oh well ... its not PC I guess,

The Autumn colours were glorious, reds, browns, oranges, yellows .... there was an abundance of beautiful colours around. 

This sculpture stands near the entrance of the Walled Garden. It is dedicated to a woman who is recorded to have enjoyed visiting the garden. I don't know who she may have been. 

The weather was a little changeable but the sun did win through by early afternoon,  it was a very pleasant time.

   

     A place to sit awhile and wonder

Close to Nature

I had sent a 35mm Black and White film to be developed and forgotten about it until it was returned a month later! I don't have my own Dark Room facility so I have to rely on others to process my films. But the good thing about film is that I could process the negatives again at sometime in the future. I don't have photoshop either; I don't normally edit my images because I prefer the organic results that you get from film leaving them as they are. But these could be improved with some tweeks and changes in contrast perhaps, although the grey does give the sense of loneliness and intrigue that I like.

Some of these images feel full of mystery. The mist gives them that haunted look, and my own input of photographing when it is misty, tells me that I may be in a thick fog at this time, searching for something that evades me.

There is a loneliness in my images and the title "Close to Nature" describes exactly what I spend my time being close too. It is in nature that I find some companionship, in nature I never feel alone. The empty feeling that can accompany me in other areas of life, is filled in nature because I am part of it and I do not look upon it as if it is apart from me.

Pride ... The Film

I was looking forward to watching Pride. My daughter had seen and recommended that I shouldn't miss it. My sister and I decided to go together. We got our popcorn and settled down comfortably at the Vue Cinema. As soon as the film started we were both totally engrossed.

This is a brilliant film. I remember the Miner's strike, the scenes on TV back in 1984 appalled me. I have never been a fan of prime minister of that time, I can not even bring myself to say her name, or write it here. As far as I am concerned what she did to the miners and to others during her time as prime minister, I can never forget or forgive. Watching Pride, brought back the anger, the emotion and the sadness that I had felt back in the 1980's.

The film is a must see, it is entertaining, it is a slice of social history, it is funny and sad without being sentimental. The characters are all engaging, the actors portrayal of those characters are real. It is well worth going to the cinema to see it. I would recommend this film to anyone.


Image courtesy of http://www.dcm.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/pride.jpg

After the Lightning...the Thunder and the Rain

Life of Pi and Lincoln

Life of Pi was a delight to watch. An enchanting spiritual story of a boy caught up in a storm, ship wrecked with a Zebra, hyena, Orang-utan and Tiger. The boy and animals go through traumatic times. They have to survive thirst and hunger and Pi has to learn to become the leader of the pack. Eventually there is just Pi and the Tiger (named Richard Parker). The story makes us think about what is real and what is not and our strength and ability to survive in the most difficult of circumstances.

Lincoln ... I'm not sure what to say about this film apart that Daniel Day Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field were all brilliant in their respective roles, but that it is a very long film that I mostly skipped through or left and went to make a cup of coffee. Lincoln himself was a fascinating man and his assassination was a tragic end to his life. The film was more of an educational drama, incredibly slow and laborious, and I found it hard to understand what they were talking about. It is set in darkness which annoys me because much of the time I couldn't see anything except black. Actually this annoys me in a lot in films. Its not so much film noir, but an obstruction and annoying diversion because instead of concentrating on the story, I'm desperately trying to see the picture and unless I can see the actors lips moving I cant understand what they are saying.

This image courtesy ofhttps://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=DPRYN5BTwnYH5M&tbnid=3yReVqcyLxgIWM:&ved=0CAYQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbobbyromanoblogs.blogspot.com%2F2012%2F11%2Flincoln-speilbergs-best-film-yet.html&ei=bhM1VKKbG4ad7gajloHoBQ&bvm=bv.76943099,d.bGQ&psig=AFQjCNGraCWWt18AYmueyfNV1v6X94Ibjw&ust=1412850892334279 

Anyway, I'm sure many people have enjoyed this film and learned a lot from it but I kinda gave up on it, I watched the beginning, about 20 mins in the middle part and about 20 mins of the end. I was bored.

Creative Craft

I find relaxation in knitting and I am getting better at it, although I don't do anything that's too complicated. I recently completed a jumper. I chose the colour of the wool because it's kinda Retro. I had a ball of wool left after finishing the jumper so I made a Beret to match.

Lady Penelope and Parker

I found this by accident ... wonderful Lady Penelope and Parker ... a blast from the past ... Thunderbirds ...1960's

http://rq87.flyingomelette.com/RQ/C/TB/11/11.html