The first full week back at work was, the usual thing, playing catch up, with the nice weather we have been having my factory is very warm, when you have machines and ovens running in my main building it get close to being unworkable in at times. We had the usual coming and goings, another long term workers, finished this week, both over 15yrs and had enough, easy to understand.

Now that is out the way.. the good stuff.

I never thought, I would enjoy the sun, as much as I do now, the heat on the skin is so very nice, ok, like I have said before, we never get it as warm as most other places, but it is what you are use too at the end of the day.

Cycling home is such a joy, looking around me, as I go and seeing the changes, but you still witness, things, that have passed you by before. But mornings, are the best, then I get to see, the wildlife.
From next weekend, I really need to try an early morning jaunt, to sit and watch the day dawning, one a weekend might not kill me, Friday's are going to be, the day for the coast, I worked out, I can take the light option, with the camera stuff and cycle to the coast, just need to do it now..

I felt the cold sea water on my feet on Friday, walked the beach and sat and had my breakfast there, different but it cleanses the soul and the feeling of happiness is there.

Friday night, I got to lie in the grass and take pictures of the damsels, sometimes, I just zoom in and watch them, forgetting about the pictures, I smile all the time, wish everyone, had that thing, that makes them smile like that.

I was walking back and stopped in my tracks, 5 Swifts, just stood there, till I remembered I was in the middle of the road, I get lost in these moments, most people would not give it a second thought, but for me, it is all about spirit lifters, my music is the sounds of nature.

Today, well just see, what the day brings..


Thursday night's walk back home and the long shadows of summer.

Nice to just sit in the garden and take a few pictures of some bees, nice contrasting colour with the flower, such an easy way for me, to smile Weather has been lovely, nice to feel a bit of sun on the skin.

Back to work tomorrow, it has never been something that has bothered me, to be honest. I love my holidays, next year, I am going to do them a little bit different, I had the same routine of them for too long now, time to change.

Back, to the daily 4am rise , but only working 4 days a week, do have there benefits, it is a nice balance for me.

I have no more holidays booked till end of August, use to be middle, but first part of change.

I think in life we have to change it up a little, I know it is something I am trying to do more and more, trying new things, ok , mines really just involve a camera and my garden, interesting new projects.

I saw Jill the collie yesterday first time in ages. K her owner started working for herself and has just been so busy, she got bored being retired, I thought it would be like that for her, but she is in a good place, as she said,, she must be, for I have not had to cry on your shoulder for a while, can be years in between us talking but , our friendship has always been like that.

Scrabble Lady she is the opposite, there is no way she will ever work again, from someone, that never took holidays, without being xxxxxxxxxx too, to a lady of leisure, I gave her a hand to put a little pond in, her garden yesterday, she also, has a new hammock, she noticed my smile, when I saw this and asked me about it, told her the story of a hammock and the true feeling of relaxation, that I had.

She is thinking of getting a Dog, even got the breed chosen.

Scrabble returns this week, the night has not been fixed, Old school Scrabble on a board, the tiles, to place, simple pleasure.


The hint of the beauty that is too come.

Last one, I had a really nice day yesterday, it was a nice heat, usually my second week of my holiday, would have been the week coming, but having had the hospital, finished a week earlier than normal. what have learned the last week , quite a lot actually, learned about myself, learned that eventually, your thoughts on someone are correct, can just take time for them too slip sometimes. learned that I do have to take a break from the camera after taking pictures everyday, I just have to refresh.

I learned that all rear deraillieurs are not the same, when fitting a new one too my bike, also, will be getting a new one, In the next month or so, it will not be electric either, I still can climb the steep gradients, that I like so much, plus it is not about how quick for me.

I have rested this holiday more than ever, I have in my life, will I repeat this, I am not sure, one day I know it, will be xxxxxxxxxx on me to take things, a whole lot easier, but moderation in doing what I do, when I do it, will be more my way.

I think for the first time in my life, I can actually say, I am more than happy with who I am and happy with my lot. I have had quite a few lives in this life time, but this one is the best one, it is like, I have went full circle, learned in each one and now, I really like what I have.

So only little question, to ponder, will G win the Giro.

You ever get one off, those days, yesterday was mine, if it could go wrong it did,, should have just stayed in bed and hid from it all.


9yrs ago, another local beach, around sunset, was a nice day, sunny for most of it, last minute decide to hit the coast.

This was my happiest place in life, this coastline is where I wandered so much, spent hours upon hours, now It is like how, I can not go into a football stadium. it is all in the mind, I know and once again, I will try and conquer my fears, like I have tried a hundred times before. the closest I got was when in lockdown, when one morning early I cycled there, got too the little gate in and froze, I have walked the very far end and shot back from the road once, but could not get over the fence too, the coastal path and walk back.

That photo was from 9yrs ago and I can remember it so well, how, I got off the bus walked over and the light beams came out and I took 4 photos. I got the bus back to town into the Wellington for dressed fish supper and had 45minutes or so, to wait for my bus home.

I sat below a tree, just started writing and not long later 14pages filled. might have blotch or two with a tear drop.

I need to get out with the camera tomorrow , getting those withdrawal feelings, might go and chase some little things.

One last, little job to do, before my holiday is done, will start tomorrow and finish Friday.


Some rather nice little Forget me nots, with the bonus of a fly on them..

I kinda lost track of what day it was today, I think the first day< i have not taken a picture, this holiday, close to not blogging as well, I am getting all my pots filled with flowers, been 40 plus years of doing this, to think once upon a time, I hated the thought of a garden, but I was maybe around 7 at the time lol, helped my uncle out, then one day it was just like a natural thing to do. Got into competitive growing, but bedding displays, is all I really do now, this year, has been a struggle adapting , but now know, what I can do in the future and working on new plans. A flower bed filled with wildlife attractors , but the first 4 plants today, all Lupins, I have a triangle bed for a Buddlia, too attract the butterflies, might add a pond like thing, will see. , my mind is never stopped from thinking. To stop is to give in,

I put one thing to the test today as well, I kind of know the results, but will see and know more in the morning.

I got passed on a steep climb, by a man on an electric bike today, he gave me one of those looks and then just smiled, funny thing, when I overtook him, I never even changed my focus from the road ahead and the Kestrel, I was watching as well.


My joint favourite thing, just now to take pictures off, damselflies, this was the one, that got me all the looks on Saturday, when I just had to lie in the bog and take its picture, well worth it to me..

Little bit different this one, took some snapshots, I will call them, as I walked , to the little garden centre close to me, maybe a 1.5 miles or so, nice little walk,
First picture, when I took it, thought walked in every field in this picture, some use to be a fairly weekly one, so many tales, it could tell.

This little strip of wood, might not even be 20ft across, it runs along side the cemetery and road on other side.


That one tree stands out, the colour, never noticed it before and it is a large tree, it just shows, always a school day.


Join me, to see what adventures lie over the brow of the hill, my life is a journey, one that has told many stories and I am sure more to follow.


It's farm land all around me. undulating countryside.


Final image for this one, another , not used much now, when the mines were working it mostly carried coal, you could here the train come rattling along from miles away, feel the vibration on the lines, we walked here a lot.

I remembered, I use to do blogs with a few images in them, back in the Whokens days, memories, all about the memories.

I am more, rested than, I have been in a while it has not easy to change a mindset, but I kind of know, I have too. I still work away, but I never make a list of things, that I want to do , each day, for when I did, they had to be done.

Teaching myself better habits, some are so simple, things, that I have always done, but do them better now.

When taking a picture today, I had thoughts of her, getting to that time of year again, the old routine, a card sent to her, address My angel in heaven, the thought each and every day never change, the wonder of what kind of person, she would have been, whether she would have been a mother by now, what she would have done with her life, but not one day did she get.

Reality came back, with a question, what is that smell, my Scrabble buddy was walking by, I said it's me, but it was the Lilac bush in my front garden, was trying to get a picture, she had to come in and smell it for herself, it really is such a wonderful fragrance. We stood for a while, she was saying she is thinking of getting a dog, now she has the time, plus, I know some one, that will walk it , whenever they want it ..

Please this one really does warrant a click to see, it full size, not often I will say that for, not often, I actually post one that I really really like.

With the rain we had this morning, it left so many little droplets on the flower, seeing it come alive, as I focused on it, .