Hummingbird Hawk Moth...

It was a real thrill to see, for a few short seconds... one of these in my garden today.

Darting around so quickly i had trouble keeping it in view.

I saw one about two years ago and now again... was cool.

Photo of the day... Al Wakrah Mosque.

An old traditional mosque in Qatar. If i remember right it was located in Al Wakrah, which is a small fishing town south east of the capital Doha.

For some fantastic information about the history and development of architecture in Qatar please see this wonderful website...

catnaps.org/islamic/islaurb3.html#1980 .

Bee Hotel Bee Hotel Bee Hotel Bee Hotel...

I have had this Bee Hotel in my garden for about two years i think but never taken any photos.

The photographs below are all taken on my new mobile phone a Nokia X6 which has a very handy 5 MEGAPIXEL capacity.

This first shot has captured quite nicely a Leaf Cutter Bee coming in to the nest at mid right carrying a small piece of leaf...

It always has something going on during this time and well if you look at it you can see that it is ' popular '.

Note the leaf carrying bee in the image below...

Its great to just stand in front of this wonderfully simple little feature and observe nature up close!!!

Photo of the day... Haxted Mill.

Haxted Mill near Edenbridge UK.

This shot was taken back in 1995 i think and its one of the better images i have in my portfolio.

I had it hand enlarged to 18" x 12" , mounted and framed and as it hangs in my dining room next to an equally sized and framed photo of a window at Winchester Cathedral i have to say they both look very striking!!!

Here's the view from across the road in front of the mill...

I spotted this by chance...

Every evening after work i water my garden for about half an hour. Walking around, thumb over the end of the hose... ' traditional style ' !!! It wa such a surprise to catch this Comma butterfly at rest. This is the first time i can remember ever seeing this butterfly. Usually i have Peacock, White's, Painted Lady and Tortoise Shell so it was great to see it.

Speaking of the Painted Lady butterfly, last year whilst cutting my fron lawn in the afternoon/early evening i was amazed at how many of this type flew past me at head height... all in the same direction. It was like my garden was slap bang under a ' Butterfly Airway '!!!

My garden...

Here's a nice angle on my little piece of tranquility...

I think the photo has a slightly deceiving edge... its actually a very small plot.

Photo of the day... Lago Di Varano racehorse.

The Racehorse Lago Di Varano at Sandown Park 29th April 1995

The mount of Frankie Dettori that day.

An interesting personal notebook/website...

For some fantastic information about the history and development of architecture in Qatar please see this wonderful personal website...

http://catnaps.org/islamic/islaurb3.html#1980 .

I think you will agree that some considerable work has gone into putting this together and indeed much work is still ongoing.

Fascinating read... WELL DONE & KEEP GOING!!!

Tour de France 1994

Tour de France

Yes, the great race is with us again. In 1994 the race had some stages in this country and i actually got to see it twice in one day... at South Harting and Bishops Waltham.

A few more images

The famous RED car.


Here ( in the red shirt as in the first photo ) we see one of the most famous cyclists of all time... Miguel Indurain.

Photo of the day... Hambledon Mill

Hambledon Mill



A very very nice composition here i think of Hambledon Mill.

I have another photo which is identical bar the man walking his dog. The addition of the latter detail makes all the differance.

Located south of Hambleden lies the River Thames and 14th century Hambleden Mill which featured in Jerome K Jerome’s wry novel ‘Three Men in a Boat’.

Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) published in 1889, is a humorous account by Jerome K. Jerome of a boating holiday on the Thames between Kingston and Oxford.

Taken 30th April 1994

Cable Car for London...

I can see the James Bond movie people thinking up a ' scene ' right now.

Who will be the first to get stuck in it?

.......

Secret Millionaire...

What an absolutely brilliant tv programme!!!!!

I take it no British MP's who went ' CRAZY ' with their expenses have ever watched this show.

Today at Wimbledon...

I was just thinking how todays final had little interest for me.

I sat down to catch the last two games and watch Nadal take in the moment when he won ' Championship Point ' ... by dropping onto his back.

I remember the final two years ago of 2008.... Federer and Nadal.

AMAZING!!!

Photo of the day... Young British soldiers of World War One

Young British soldiers of World War One


This is the 21st Battalion, London Regiment ( 1st Surrey Rifles )

One of the most fascinating World War One group photographs i have ever seen.

LBC Radio... 3rd July 23.21PM

Presenter Nick Abbot on LBC Radio 97.3 FM keeps going on and on about the pronounciation of the letter ' h '.... i can't see the fuss but the show is entertaining just the same.

Wimbledon Ladies singles final...

Serena Williams WINS 4th Wimbledon singles title!!!!

Serena won the Championship beating Vera Zvonareva 6-3 6-2

The after match speeches from both finalists were a pleasure to listen to and both were very gracious.


Serana now has 13 Grand Slam titles to her name and is the 6th most successful female tennis player of all time.

.

Photo of the day... The Long Walk at Windsor

The Long Walk at Windsor

This is the stunning view at the south end of the walk, taken next to the statue of King George III - looking back towards Windsor Castle.

The Long Walk is a very popular place for people to go. Situated in the 5000 acre Windsor Great Park, it is open to the public. This next photo is taken mid way along the walk, again with the castle behind.

URUGUAY v GHANA

Football rule change...

The last few seconds of extra time and a free kick is given to Ghana.

Its BIG DRAMA in the Uruguay goal area and panic sets in as the shots from Ghana are repelled... the last one a HAND BALL off the line.

The ball was going in 200% but the offender is given a red card and a penalty awarded.

Instead of awarding a penalty, thus allowing the opposing team an opportunity to profit from a blatant goal line hand ball the referee should be allowed to IMMEDIATELY award a GOAL!!!!!

The penalty is taken and... its OVER the bar.

Poor Ghana.

Penalty shoot out follows... poor Ghana!!!!


SECONDLY....

ENGLAND v GERMANY

When the referee and officials are in doubt about a ball crossing the goal line it MUST be allowed to use video playback. The whole point of football is scoring goals. It is rediculous that a ball can hit the bar , travell straight down over the line... pop back out again without touching the net and because the officials were badly positioned the goal is not allowed.

Photo of the day... Royal Tank Corps

Royal Tank Corps - North West Frontier - 1930's



A Christmas Day scene with the Royal Tank Corps on the North West Frontier



British soldiers enjoying a break circa 1930's.

Photo of the day...

Traditional architecture in the Midle Eastern city of Doha, Qatar.



Having seen a recent photo of this area ( near the Abu Bakr Al Siddiq mosque ) i would say that this building is still standing, despite all the new construction in Doha.


Which is more than can be said for the buildings in this next photo. On the same aerial photo i could see that this are is now home to a large apartment block. Shame!!!


This last photo is taken in the same area as the two above and illustrates very well the design layout of traditional Arab dwellings. It too i think has been demolished.