Bills Posts

For a change, here’s a picture of the bird table. Not at it’s busiest today. Visits by the birds are definitely on the up. The Sparrows appear to bee getting a bit more confident about using the feeders. We’ve put a couple more up. So, we’ll see how they go.

We had a bird in the Garden today that I had never seen before. I had to get the wildlife book out. It was a wagtail; it had a long tail and it bobbed in the same way as a pied wagtail, but it was yellow. Turns out it’s a Yellow Wagtail (not surprisingly). Why have I never seen one before? It was very distinctive. It appears that we are also getting blue tits, which all together is absolutely lovely.

It’s not writers block tonight, it’s something else. For most of the last 146 days I’ve sat and done this and the 365 project between 7 & 8 in the evening whilst watching Ghost Whisperer, tonight is the first night that in combination of not being very good of thinking of something to write about, and also feeling a little bit pressured to write. I’ve never felt like that before. Strange. So, One of the strategies that I have for dealing with writers block is to write about it. Now, it may seem to be a bit waffly, but at least there are words on the screen and I can say I have written something. Which is good. Sorry if it isn’t up to my usual standard.

The only link between the picture and the topic is that a lot of birds and squirrels gather here. Once again, I find myself. Impressed by the iPhone 12.

We watched the bird table this morning, on it and around it, there must have been at least a dozen pigeons, not only that the table itself was heaving with starlings. Now, I don’t mind the starlings at all, and I suppose the pigeons have as much right to the food that I put out, but I would much prefer to feed the smaller birds.

The sparrows have found the feeder, but they are very nervous. I suppose it’s because it’s quite close to the back door. The squirrel has found it as well. I don’t mind that either. I am wondering if there are pigeon proof feeders, I think the hanging ones might do the job, so I’ve bought some off Amazon.

Enjoyed the walk again this morning. I arrived home a few minutes later than I usually do, but I’ve worked it out. Next time I go for a walk during the day, I must take some food for the squirrels at the back of Trinity Church.

Usually, in each of the magazines I subscribe to there will be an article that drives me to write a comment here. This month’s issue of Country Walking though, is not bland, as I have enjoyed reading it. There was one article about the Pennine Way that did pique my interest. To me it highlighted that there are many places in the UK that are there to be explored.

The closest I have been to the Peak District is a working visit to Derby, that lasted all of two hours. I certainly wouldn’t be able to do the 260 odd miles of the Pennine Way, but there are parts of it, such as the High Cup Canyon. I was thinking about it today, and the best I can compare it with is when we went on one of the Levada walks in Madeira, I think it was the walk of the 25 fountains. It started at the head of an enormous canyon on the north side of the island. The walk stuck in my mind because it was a superb demonstration of the differences of the north and south sides of the island.

The north side is wet and cold, and very, very green. Towards the end of the walk, we went through tunnel, drilled to convey water from the north to south side. At about 800m long, it was cold and damp. But, when we emerged on to the south side, we were back in to the hot, dry sunshine. A most memorable event.

The picture is one of the first ones I have taken with the iPhone 12 in night mode. There are two things about the picture that I want to comment on; Firstly, I am amazed at the number of stars the phone has caught. I am very eager to try a bit of astrophotography. The second thing is I love it, the phone that is. I am very, very pleased with the camera.

I changed my route this morning. I think I’ve extended my morning walk by about a mile. This morning, it took me an hour and 11 minutes to complete. That’s fine, one issue is I know roughly what time I arrive at the waterfront, in sync with my first main over on the the #Breakfastclub. I need to get my weather report set up in readiness. I wasn’t quite prepared with the tidal app this morning. Also, I can’t linger like I used to. But I still walked out to the end of the Haslar Marina Pier Wall.

Two nights on the trot, I have included the term “Clipper Ships” in the title. Last night I forgot to say what I wanted. That is, I’ve decided which book I am going to read next. Last Christmas, my father-in-law gave me a book about clipper ships. Fantastic sailing ships that were the mainstay of global trade before the advent of Steam. I won’t be commenting on it for a while though,

That’s because on Saturday, the next issue of Country Walking popped through the letterbox. I’m about halfway through reading that. Nothing yet has made me go “I need to comment upon that” yet, but I’m sure it will.

Once I finish CW, I’ll be picking up Black & White photography, which landed on the mat today. Looking forward to that. I’ll let you know when I get back to the clipper ships, I only managed to finish the intro before the magazines arrived.

The fort in the picture is one of four built between 1850 & 1880 to defend against a threat of invasion from France. The ‘blob’ centre right is a ship at anchor, probably waiting to come in to port, probably to be unloaded. The two columns extreme right are navigation aids .

It wasn’t particularly early that I went out for a walk. On any walk, especially if you know the route, you encounter decision points, do I go this way or that? Apart from the decision of which way to go from the front door, I encountered two main decision points;

On the route, I reach what I call “The Iron Bridge”. At that point, I could have retraced partially to head down a route around a large park area, or I could head on to Clayhall lane. At which it was mainly a left or right decision. Right would take me towards Alverstoke, left down toward Haslar Hospital. I headed to ward Haslar, As usual, when I that area, I feel a need to visit the Sea Wall, from where I took this evenings picture.

At around four miles, not a particularly long walk, but it really was very nice to get out.

I’ve finished the book now. It didn’t take that long, considering how slowly I read a book. The consisted of example of renowned street photographers from around the world. I think that it is reasonable to say that there were as many different reasons for the subjects of the book as there were subjects.

It naturally raises the questions of why am I interested in the genre? Given that with people I didn’t know I tend to be a bit shy, I’m surprised that I find this topic sufficiently interesting that I want to have a go at it. The off-putting part of it is the potential for confrontation. It was interesting to read that whilst street photography in Japan isn’t illegal if a picture of a person is published and they feel their privacy is violated, they can sue, and they will win. The photographer who featured in the book only took pictures that didn’t show their faces.

My thought is that for me, the purpose of street photography is to document today’s life. For that to happen I need to have the opportunity to photograph people, especially doing things in the normal way of life. not much chance of that at the moment. But, there will be future opportunities.

The picture is of Foster Gardens. Just one of those rather nice green spots that abounds in Gosport.

And this is one of those days, I haven’t been for a walk, I confess I didn’t bother to make the effort to get out. I guess I could have done. I just didn’t bother. Total Steps so far today 2884. Not good is it?

We’ve taken down the Christmas Decs, it’s looking almost barren.

Of course, we aren’t over the “Big Problem” although indications are that the end is in sight, even if possibly several months away.

Back to work on Monday then. It’s almost a normal weekend.

Beyond that, I wish all of you a happy and prosperous New Year.

I know I don’t have a lot of readers, but those of you who do take the time to read May musings, thank you. It’s not been much of a year has it?

We can only hope that what is promised for 2021 is delivered.

I wish you all a Happy & Prosperous New Year, and all the very best.

Out for a walk today, nowhere particularly interesting. I had in my mind to take pictures of that which is “Typically Gosport”. Because I am staying away from the high street, I’m not saying my choice of subjects is limited, it’s just that nothing in particular jumped out at me. Until I reached the George & Dragon.

There are few things more typically Gosport than a pub. There are still quite a few about, and there were a whole lot more in the past when we were a thriving Navy town. To the extent that I went to a Gosport Society presentation last year, that was about the pubs of gosport.

I can’t remember the name of the presenter – I could probably look it up, and I do him an injustice when I say that the presentation appeared to consist of an older gentleman who clearly enjoyed a pint or two reading out a list of pub names for forty five minutes. Giving the impression that each name recited represented a good night, a lost opportunity. A lament for a loved drinking den.

That brings back a memory of good times in the past, and a lament for a well liked drinking den – now closed.