#nature photography love where you live garden birds

[sonnet-of-anarchy]

Awh, thanks for the tag @ginevralinton <3

Favourite colour and why? Dark blue or green I’d say. Green because pretty much every shade is beautiful & it reminds me of wood walks, nature, and pretty eyes. Blue has always been my favourite, not really sure why - suppose my middle name sort-of links (Jay, like the bird) but also my Uni is down south so I’m lucky enough to see the sea quite a bit :)

Five comfort movies: Bunny & the Bull, Shaun of the Dead, Bill, The World’s End & Slaughterhouse Rulez

Favourite season and why? Gotta be Autumn. I like crunchy leaves and the colours. It’s the perfect temperature mostly without being freezing or boiling - I can wear my favourite clothes &, honestly, still love Spooky Season :)

Favourite book(s): Dracula by Bram Stoker, Lanny by Max Porter, Carmilla by J.Sheridan LeFanu (to name a few)

favourite aesthetic(s)and why? I believe it’s called ‘fairy grunge’ or the sort of grung-y/ whimsical vibes that cross over whimsigoth and ‘hippie’ - I just like the grounded/nonchalant aesthetic I suppose - suits my lifestyle the most :)

Favourite genre and why? Gotta be horror-comedy, I get a gore fix without the fear of media taking itself too seriously haha. Must admit it’s very hit and miss though - there’s always the fear of ‘shock value’ substituting a good script/ loosening production value with the facade of a ‘it’s supposed to be bad’. THAT BEING SAID there have been a lot of gems that’ve come from this genre.

Favourite clothes style: as above really, any green/brown/grey/black earthy tones. I enjoy cardigans and jumpers, flow-y skirts or baggy jeans - depends where the gender meter is sitting, I suppose. Either way lots of jewellery, crystals, badges, hair product and big boots.

Favourite music genres: suppose it’s ‘indie’ in its vaguest terms, but honestly I switch from the most explicit, rowdy punk to Glen Miller and Frank Sinatra, so

Favourite artists: Gorillaz, Dazey & the Scouts, Madness, The Cure, X-Ray Spex, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Beatles, The Specials, Pavement (etc)

Favourite song(s): Dancing in the Moonlight by Toploader, Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls & Looking Out for You by Joy Again.

Favourite fandoms: BBC Ghosts ofc <3

Hobbies: Writing, what we’ll loosely call drawing, baking, guitar, scrapbooking & photography

Care language you give: honesty it depends, people I’m close with physical touch - but mostly words of affirmation/ acts of service - I spend so long choosing gifts. Like, I might not know the protocol to comfort you but best believe if your sad I’ll write you a fancy letter in the post with trinkets and a wax stamp haha.

Care language you like to receive: Touch. 1000%. Suck at hugs but I’ll gladly walk into you until I’m adequately encapsulated.

Are you an introvert/extrovert/ambivert: introvert, the ‘take up space in the corner because the floor is suddenly the most fascinating thing in the world also I need my headphones now because your voices are punching my brain’ sort. (Potentially also known as neurodiverse).

Morning or night person? My brain’s on a permanent night shift - which isn’t too handy for 9 AM’s, but I can appreciate moonlit walks and herbal tea in bed <3

City, country or suburbs and why? I think suburbs, best of both worlds then.

Favourite time of day and why? Probably 7-8, just enjoy that time of evening :)

Do you have any religious beliefs(don’t have to answer if not comfortable): nah.

What does your ideal family look like to you? It’s me, my boyfriend and whoever else we may meet down the line. Also cats, lots of cats.

Dream future: I’ve finished uni & so has Tommy, I’m recovered and have all the tattoos, piercings, crystals I’ve wanted to get. We live down the south in an Italian-style country house on a hill away from the main village with all our partners & pets. It’s covered in ivy, fairy lights and colours and a huge porch that we can all sit on together with a campfire. We’ve got a garden too full of veg and flowers and herbs.

Dream place to visit: my mate James always fancied Iceland so that’s got me thinking I want to go too!

Favourite type of nature: great orange/brown crunchy woods with little streams & bridges.

Favourite habitat (eg jungle, desert, tundra etc): Forests!

How would you describe yourself in 4 words: Anxious, peaceable, affectionate & imaginative (not to, like, blow my own trumpet haha)

If you could be another thing on earth what would it be: the Trevi Fountain in Rome. I’d have people chucking money at me left, right, and centre!

Favourite type of weather: 15 degrees. Or if we’re being less specific the type of rain I can watch from the window & listen to.

If you could travel anywhere right now where would it be: Brighton. Haven’t been there in a while & I miss it!

Do you have any fears (serious or otherwise): jellyfish, dogs, the sea life centre (specifically the creepy fish in tanks at eye level), failure, abandonment, any form of flying thing be it tennis balls or wasps & colds.

Dream job: if all goes well screenwriting for TV/Film or directing - also teaching, but it would have to be A level or higher so I wouldn’t have to deal with kids who hate the subject. If that fails however I shall take up the position of ‘regional trinket’ anarchic grandpa with a van that looks like something straight out of tank girl.

Would you be a pirate/vampire/cowboy/astronaut/werewolf/wizard/witch/knight/cryptid and why? Guess I’d be a vampire so it’s slightly more socially acceptable to bite things.

(Cheers to anyone who read all of these rambles incidentally)

Tagging @the-boosh-is-loose & anyone else who fancies!! <3

[fireintheflames]

An IRL Update!

Just a general update on things, and some fun life hacky adjacent type things!

It's been a busy summer for sure, been trying to find something fun to do every weekend so I can hibernate guilt free in the winter. Some highlights:

Concerts! Including Styx in the rain, which was very fun! Learned that earplugs at concerts are 100% a must for anything inside, if only for the crowd noise. We used cheap Harbor Freight ones, like $5 for 100, worked pretty good!

Camping! which was delayed due to a combo thunderstorm/flood. We made hobo pies! Recipe: 1 cast iron pie iron (~$20) 2 slices of Hillbilly (TM) Bread, or similar soft wheat/white bread (think wonder bread texture) Fillings (i highly recommend PBJ for sweet, or cheese and pepperoni for savory, melty is ideal) Optional: Non-stick cooking spray (Spray inside of pie iron), put bread in each side, add filling. Clamp pie iron. Place in hot coals for about 5-10 minutes each side, flipping once. The edges should be dark, but not actively on fire. Remove iron from fire and unclamp, turn pie out onto plate and let cool until heat comfort level is reached. Eat!

Gardening! My lobelia, obedient plant, vervain, verbena, harebell, and anise hyssop flowered! I picked blueberries! My petunias have lived! I successfully transplanted lemon balm from cuttings (to a pot, the stuff is very aggressive and I'd like to bring it inside in the winter)/I somehow kept the "finicky" plants alive, but killed a nanny-berry (a notoriously hardy viburnum variety). The squirrels keep digging up my wild bergamot! But a 100% increase in bees and bugs, as was the goal! We have fireflies in our 1/4 acre city lot, which is very nice! (to see more bugs/birds, find out your city's grass cut limit and hang tight to it. Where we live it's a pretty generous 10", so lot's of "weed" plants can come up. We actually need to remove a lot of the beech and maples that are growing in places they really shouldn't (like 6" from the house foundation), but we've let all the clovers/violets/asters hang out. We also use a push reel mower and an electric weed whip instead of a normal two stroke mower, which both do a worse job of mowing grass but a better job of not annihilating the things we want growing!

Art fairs! I bought so many mugs, I'm going to need a second mug hutch! (My first mug hutch was the first piece of furniture I bought because I wanted it, not needed it. It is red, with dark green insides. The doors stick and the glass is cracked, but I adore it!). I collect mugs, but I may need to purge if I keep this up. I also bought a "rice vest". It's like a hot sock, but a vest. It has a bunch of little sections full of rice so the weight is evenly distributed. You can microwave it or freeze it. Great for my tense shoulders! I love it so much, I attached a picture!

Art classes! I took multi-media storytelling, which was basically working with collages! I made some pretty cool pieces, and it inspired me to start cleaning my side of the basement for an art studio. I'm going to sign up for more classes in the fall, see if I can get into the pottery courses (our local art center has all sorts of classes for adults, but the pottery ones are the most popular and actually have an order you need to take them to unlock them in). 100% recommend, it was nice doing something creative with other people.

Birding! Not too seriously, but I got a pocket guide and Miles bought some nice binoculars (the lad loves optics and lenses, it's the fun part of photography for him) and we take 'em on hikes! Highlights so far are some cedar wax wings (not uncommon, but not something we see a ton around where we live), a bald eagle, several great blue herons (the nature center by us is a big river/wetland, so lots of birds stop over), and a black crowned night heron. We also got caught in a surprise thunderstorm while looking at some red-winged blackbirds, which was an experience!

That's really for it, it's just been a busy time and I wanted to share! Have a wonderful day!

[gingerhotelsindia]

Exploring the Beauty of Dal Lake: A Shikara Ride Experience in Srinagar

Nestled in the heart of the beautiful Kashmir Valley, Srinagar is a destination that captures the imagination of every traveler. Known for its breathtaking landscapes, charming gardens, and rich cultural heritage, this city offers visitors an unforgettable experience. However, one of the most iconic attractions in Srinagar is Dal Lake, a shimmering body of water surrounded by the majestic Himalayas. No visit to Srinagar is complete without a relaxing Shikara ride on Dal Lake, which allows you to take in the stunning beauty of the area from a unique perspective. In this blog, we’ll explore everything you need to know about Dal Lake and how a stay at Ginger Srinagar Barzulla enhances your travel experience by offering one of the best hotels in Srinagar for comfort and convenience.

Dal Lake: The Jewel of Srinagar

Dal Lake is not just a lake but a living ecosystem. Spanning around 22 square kilometers, the lake is Srinagar’s most significant natural attraction and is often referred to as the "Jewel in the crown of Kashmir." The beauty of Dal Lake is unmatched, with snow-capped mountains, lush greenery, and an abundance of houseboats and Shikaras dotting its surface.

A Shikara ride on Dal Lake is an unforgettable experience. The traditional wooden boat, with its distinct pointed bow and brightly colored canopies, glides smoothly across the water, offering tourists a peaceful and scenic view of the surrounding landscapes. Whether you're visiting for the first time or returning to rekindle old memories, a ride on this lake promises tranquility, beauty, and serenity.

Why Shikara Ride?

A Shikara ride on Dal Lake is the best way to explore the natural and cultural richness of the area. Here’s why:

Scenic Views: As you sit back in your Shikara, you will be able to soak in panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, Mughal gardens, and houseboats. The calm waters of the lake reflect the snow-clad peaks, making for an awe-inspiring visual treat.

Peaceful Atmosphere: Away from the hustle and bustle of city life, the Shikara ride offers a calming experience where you can float across the waters in peace, accompanied only by the soft splash of oars and the occasional call of a bird.

Local Experience: A Shikara ride gives you an intimate glimpse into the life around Dal Lake. From floating vegetable markets to intricately designed houseboats, the lake is alive with activity, giving you a snapshot of life on the water.

Perfect for Photography: If you're a photography enthusiast, you’ll find that Dal Lake offers plenty of opportunities to capture stunning landscapes. The combination of the colorful boats, tranquil waters, and the grand backdrop of the Himalayas creates the perfect frame for a memorable shot.

What to Expect on a Shikara Ride?

While a Shikara ride is primarily known for its tranquility, it also allows you to explore various attractions on the lake:

1. Floating Markets: One of the most unique features of Dal Lake is its floating market, where vendors on small boats sell fresh produce, flowers, handicrafts, and even Kashmiri shawls. You can buy souvenirs right from your Shikara, making for a fun and interactive shopping experience.

2. Char Chinar: As your Shikara glides through the water, you'll pass the famous Char Chinar islands. These small islands are known for their towering Chinar trees, which stand as a testament to Kashmir's natural beauty.

3. Nehru Park: Located on the lake, Nehru Park is a great place to stop for a break during your Shikara ride. The park is beautifully landscaped and offers lovely views of Dal Lake and the surrounding hills.

4. Houseboats: While on your ride, you’ll notice the beautiful houseboats that line the edges of the lake. These houseboats are often elaborately carved and serve as a unique accommodation option for tourists.

5. Wildlife: Dal Lake is home to various species of birds, including kingfishers, herons, and ducks. Keep your eyes peeled for these beautiful creatures as you float along the water.

Best Time for a Shikara Ride

The best time to enjoy a Shikara ride on Dal Lake is during the early morning or late afternoon. During these times, the weather is pleasant, and the soft golden light from the rising or setting sun enhances the beauty of the surroundings. If you visit in the summer, the warm and sunny weather is ideal for long, leisurely rides. However, visiting in the autumn and spring can offer vibrant colors, as the Chinar trees change hues or the flowers bloom.

Staying in Srinagar: The Best Hotels to Stay in Srinagar

While exploring the wonders of Dal Lake, it's essential to have a comfortable and convenient base from which to enjoy your adventure. Ginger Srinagar Barzulla is one of the best hotels in Srinagar, offering excellent amenities, a strategic location, and top-notch service to ensure you have a memorable stay.

Why Choose Ginger Srinagar Barzulla?

Prime Location: Ginger Srinagar Barzulla is situated close to major attractions like Dal Lake, making it easy for you to access the city's top sights without long travel times. After a day spent on the lake, you can return to the comfort of your hotel within minutes.

Comfortable Accommodation: Whether you are traveling solo, with family, or with a group of friends, Ginger Srinagar Barzulla provides a range of rooms to suit your needs. Each room is equipped with modern amenities such as air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and a flat-screen TV, ensuring a relaxing and comfortable stay.

Dining at Qmin: The hotel’s in-house restaurant, Qmin, serves various delicious dishes to cater to all tastes, including vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. After your Shikara ride, unwind with a sumptuous meal at Qmin, which offers local Kashmiri cuisine as well as popular international dishes.

Affordable Luxury: Despite being one of the best hotels to stay in Srinagar, Ginger Srinagar Barzulla offers excellent value for money, providing high-quality accommodation and services at affordable prices. You get the luxury and comfort you deserve without breaking the bank.

Safe and Secure: Safety is a priority at Ginger Srinagar Barzulla. The hotel is equipped with modern security measures to ensure a safe and secure stay for all guests.

Conclusion

A visit to Srinagar is incomplete without experiencing the beauty of Dal Lake and taking a peaceful Shikara ride on its waters. Whether you're there to admire the breathtaking views, shop at the floating markets, or simply enjoy the serene surroundings, Dal Lake promises a unique and memorable experience.

To make your trip even more enjoyable, staying at Ginger Srinagar Barzulla will provide you with all the comforts you need after a day of exploration. With its prime location, excellent services, and comfortable accommodations, Ginger Srinagar Barzulla stands out as one of the best hotels in Srinagar. So, plan your trip to Srinagar, book your stay at Ginger Srinagar Barzulla, and get ready to explore the wonders of Dal Lake!

[ardn516danamcgill]

Positioning Statement

'Where in the world am I, and what stories can I tell?’

I have lived in Auckland my whole life and one of my favourite things about this city is the nature and greenery. Auckland offers many beautiful parks, like Cornwall Park, which can transport you into a peaceful world away from the busy city. Through this project I delved into the aspects of the parks that make them so special, from the amazing trees, plants and flowers to the birds, farm animals and people who inhabit these spaces. The natural beauty of Auckland is the story I wanted to share through photography.

I initially explored and photographed multiple parks around Auckland but I was drawn to Cornwall Park the most, and I spent many hours there. Cornwall Park has a large amount of trees, gardens and farm land, with many walkways and grass areas. Many different people spend time at Cornwall Park, and everyone uses it in different ways.

The park's rich history also interested me. In 1901 Cornwall Park was gifted to New Zealand by Sir John Logan Campbell, his vision was “to create a park encompassing a working farm, heritage sites, sports grounds, walks and tree-lined avenues, which New Zealand could treasure forever.” Sir John had owned Cornwall Park for around 58 years prior and one of his lasting legacies is the Olive Grove. During the 1870s to 1880s he planted 5,000 olive trees creating the Olive Grove, and some are still there today.  Capturing the beauty and current life of these trees was an important part of the narrative I wanted to include in this project.

At the beginning of this project my focus was entirely on capturing the nature at the park. I experimented with different camera angles, using close ups to highlight the details and wide angles to show more context of the park. I purposefully avoided taking photos of people at the park as this was something I wasn’t familiar with doing and I was uncertain how to approach the challenge. However, feedback from my peers encouraged me to incorporate people into my compositions as a way of developing my ideas further. I found photographing strangers a bit outside my comfort zone, and I didn’t want to disrupt anyones experience at the park. Over time I became more comfortable with the process but I wasn’t loving the photos. I did some research and was inspired by a few of the photos Chris Corson-Scott and Rachel Soh had taken of people in nature, and I liked the idea of people being subtly included in natural landscapes. I experimented with compositions that included people in a more discreet way, by sitting on a bench, walking along a path or simply becoming part of the background. This idea allowed me to keep my focus on the natural beauty of Cornwall Park while also creating a sense of scale and showing ways people spend time at the park.

My hope for this collection of photographs is to share a journey through Cornwall Park, combining the beautiful nature, history and people within these spaces.

[ardn516rachelcame]

Reflective Statement Prompts

Where in the world am I?

I am living in Auckland, Tamaki Makaurau, looking at nature in different locations around the city. In places such as Symonds Street Cemetery, Parnell Rose Garden, Kauri Glen Reserve, Auckland Botanical Gardens, and Hobosnville.

What are the particular, peculiar oddities, beautiful, raw, hidden gems of your surroundings?

I am photographing a variety of trees in their natural environments, looking at their trunks, branches, roots, leaves, and surroundings. I have found it particularly interesting looking at the moss on the trees as well as the unique canopies.

Where are your favourite hangouts, haunts, sites of leisure, places of meeting or gathering?

Some of my favourite photos have come from the Symonds Street Cemetery which looked haunted and abandoned. I also loved the Parnell Rose Gardens which I found quite welcoming and peaceful. 

Are they interiors, exteriors, or both?

I have been taking all of my photographs outdoors in order to get up close and immersed in the natural environment of my subject matter.

Where do you connect with people and places?

I found that I was most connected with the places I was shooting where it was very quiet and you could hear all of the birds and insects. This is where I feel most comfortable so I feel that's why I naturally gravitated more to those environments.

What do these places look like?

The places I was shooting were all surrounded by trees and plants. I did most of my shoots around midday or during the afternoon so they were typically very bright or shaded areas. In particular I found that the cemetery looked neglected and dystopian which intrigued me as it was slightly unsettling whereas the gardens were peaceful, calming and had a sense of warmth while walking around.

How might your photographs convey a connection to them?

I wanted the photography to reflect the feelings that I was experiencing whilst actually being in the environment at the time while taking the photo but also be representative of the feelings I have felt since moving and living in Tamaki Makaurau.

What is your visual story to tell?

I wanted to capture photos that convey the different emotions that I have felt such as happiness, curiosity, anxiety, discomfort, stress, peace, and excitement, throughout this portfolio. By using something in the natural environment around me and framing it in different and unusual ways. Specifically relating to the fact that I grew up outdoors on a farm and how I have found comfort and a sense of homelessness when out in these environments.

Find a point of difference in your visual story, while also finding a genre of expression that suitsyou. How do other photographers tell a visual story? Name and describe the approaches tovisual stories that other photographers in your genre use. Include the research of other photographers. At least 6 other relevant photographers that thathave influenced your inquiry + photographic approach should be discussed on your blog.

-Keith Dotson is a nature photographer who works in black and white capturing the fine details with extreme close ups of things found in nature.

-Gavin Hipkins is an environmental photographer from New Zealand who did a project where he captured trees and branches in thick fog. Creating a hidden spooky effect.

-Holy Best is a photographer from Christchurch who did a project where she captured gardens and landscapes in the Red Zone within Christchurch depicting an eerie feeling of what remained in nature following the aftermath of it’s demolished surroundings.

-Alec Soth is an American photographer who did a project near where he grew up as a child and talked about how this project shifted his whole perspective on photography and has allowed him to have a deeper connection with people. 

-Rachel Sussman is an American photographer who did a project based on the oldest living things in the world. Photographing unbelievably old trees including an 80,000 year old tree.

Editing:

‘What kind of narratives start to emerge when certain images are placed next to each other?’

I hope that by sequencing the photos in the way that I have the viewer will follow the journey of me initially moving to Tamaki Makaurau feeling excitement mixed with nervousness and then how I became quite stressed and overwhelmed to now showing the growth where I am beginning to find a sense of home and comfort here. 

‘What types of meanings are accentuated by editing?’

‘What cultural and contextual factors are operating in these images?’

I hope that these images reflect the beauty of our environment in Tamaki Makaurau. 

‘How does editing influence these?’

‘What connotative meanings are operating within your image selection?

I think that these images depict my journey of adjusting to a new environment away from what I know and suggest that this can be challenging but rewarding.

[john-david-weddings]

A Love Letter to Austin: Capturing Local Flavor with Wedding Photographer

Austin, Texas, often referred to as the "Live Music Capital of the World," is a city brimming with unique character, vibrant culture, and a rich tapestry of experiences waiting to be explored. It's no wonder that couples from all around the world choose this eclectic city as the backdrop for their wedding celebrations. And when it comes to capturing the essence of Austin and its local flavor, a skilled wedding photographer plays a pivotal role in creating timeless memories.

Austin's Unique Vibe

Austin's charm lies in its diverse blend of music, art, food, and natural beauty. It's a place where historic landmarks meet modern skyscrapers, where Tex-Mex cuisine mingles with gourmet food trucks, and where the serene waters of Lady Bird Lake provide a tranquil contrast to the city's energetic vibe. An Austin wedding photographer understands how to infuse this local essence into every frame, making your wedding album a love letter to this vibrant city.

Scenic Backdrops

From the iconic Texas Capitol building to the scenic Hill Country landscapes, Austin offers a plethora of picturesque locations for wedding photography. Imagine your wedding photos against the backdrop of the enchanting Barton Springs or the colorful murals of South Congress Avenue. With an Austin wedding photographer, you can weave the city's unique charm into your love story.

Cultural Diversity

Austin's cultural diversity is one of its most celebrated aspects. This city embraces art, music, and creativity in all forms, and your wedding photographer can incorporate these elements into your photographs. Whether it's capturing a live band at a local venue, a spontaneous street performance, or the artistry of a graffiti-covered wall, these details can add depth and personality to your wedding album.

Local Cuisine

Austin is renowned for its culinary scene, and what's a wedding without delicious food? An Austin wedding photographer can showcase your wedding feast in all its glory, from mouthwatering BBQ to gourmet tacos. These culinary shots not only document the local flavor but also give your album a distinct Texan twist.

Embracing Nature

Austin's natural beauty is another highlight that shouldn't be missed. A wedding photographer can capture the intimacy of your love amidst the lush greenery of Zilker Park, the tranquility of the Botanical Gardens, or the romance of a sunset on Lake Travis.

In conclusion, when you choose Austin as your wedding destination, you're not just celebrating your love; you're celebrating the vibrant culture and unique flavors of this remarkable city. You can connect with John David Weddings an experienced Austin wedding photographer who will ensure that every moment, every smile, and every detail is captured in a way that tells a love story deeply intertwined with the local charm of Austin, Texas. Your wedding album will become a cherished love letter to this captivating city and a testament to your unforgettable day.

[inwintersolitude]

- July 17th 2023 -

What's on your to-do list for today? Not much. Just some housework - I need to load/run the dishwasher, vacuum, and get caught up on my expense tracking spreadsheet.

Do you ever watch movies or TV in bed? Do you use a laptop or do you have a TV? Nope.

What's your favourite thing to cook for house guests? Creamy Tuscan chicken, or penne pasta with roasted zucchini and tomato sauce.

What sort of music did you grow up listening to? Did your parents have a big influence on your music taste today? My mom is a classical pianist so I grew up listening to mostly classical, and also some jazz because my parents took a liking to it when we lived in the New Orleans area in the early 90s. And my dad likes classic prog rock so I listened to a bit of that as well. Classical and classic prog/psychedelic rock are still some of my favorite genres.

Do you remember your dreams? Usually.

Are you at home right now? Yep. I'm in the downstairs bedroom that we use as a bird room. I have a mini portable/collapsible desk that I set up when I want to bring my laptop in here from my study and chill with my birds.

When was the last time it rained where you live? About 10 minutes ago. A thunderstorm just passed through.

Do you think you have a diverse vocabulary? Yes, I'd say so.

Have you ever eaten pawpaw? I've had papaya (I've read that some parts of the world call that pawpaw, I'm not sure if that's what you meant), but I've never eaten what people in the U.S./Canada call pawpaw, that's a different type of tree fruit that's really obscure and not usually cultivated/eaten.

What was the last art or crafts project you worked on? Macro nature photography.

Do you know anyone who's been bitten by a snake? Nope, not that I know of.

What's a slang word or term that's specific to your neck of the woods? For me, in Australia, I would say "old mate" or "frothing" :D Ope! It's the most Midwestern word ever lol. It's an exclamation of mild surprise, and in some uses it's also kind of politely apologetic. Sort of like a mashup of ''oops'' and ''woah!'' and ''pardon me.'' Like if I accidentally bumped into someone I'd say ''Ope, sorry, I didn't see you there!'' Or if I had misplaced something and then suddenly found it I'd say ''Ope, there it is!''

Do you know how to ice skate? When was the last time you went, if ever? Barely. I think the last time I went was in 2008-ish? I vaguely remember going to my university's ice area with some friends but I can't remember if I joined them in skating or not. If not, then the last time actually skated was at my 10th birthday party.

Dogs or cats? You must pick one! I honestly can't decide! So much of it depends on the individual animal and its temperament. I like well-behaved and calm dogs more than most cats, but I like most cats more than neurotic/needy/high-strung dogs.

Are there any animals or creatures that scare you? Just spiders and centipedes. And scorpions but I've never seen one in real life.

Do you like watermelon? Yes I love watermelon.

Is your backyard or outdoor year tidy or messy? It's tidy, except for the garden hose in the back yard that's just kind of laying there rather than on a reel.

Have you ever played organised team sports, like in a league? Yep, all throughout my childhood. I played soccer from ages 5-10, and softball from ages 5-13.

What are you insecure about? My teeth, sort of. My tooth enamel didn't develop properly, it was a side effect of antibiotics I had to be on as a baby, because of a birth defect that caused frequent kidney/bladder infections. I want to get veneers but I need to get my TMJ issues and slight overbite fixed first. I had orthodontics when I was growing up but the orthodontist failed to address my malocclusion and made it worse.

Okay, what are you secure about then? Who I am. My personality and sense of self.

What's your favourite kind of puzzle? Sudoku puzzles, or nonogram puzzles.

Do you ever use the bathroom with the door open? Yep. I usually only use the en suite bathroom in my bedroom (so that I can keep the downstairs guest bathroom cleaner for longer), so it's no biggie if I keep the door open.

When was the last time you took an elevator, and where were you? A few months ago, at my doctor's office.

What last made you feel sad? Seeing my Granddad deal with dementia. And seeing how it affects my Granny.

Have you ever received a gift hamper? What did it contain? I have, but it's been so long since I got one of those that I don't remember what was in it.

Are you using a phone, laptop, desktop or tablet right now? Maybe something else entirely? Laptop.

What sort of movies do you tend to watch? I don't watch movies super often, but I like science fiction, psychological thrillers, and historical dramas.

What colours are you wearing today? Navy blue, black, and white.

How often do you use your microwave? What did you last put in it? Not very often, maybe like once a week? I think the last thing I put in there were some of the leftovers that I brought back from dinner at my parent's house last Wednesday.

Who's the last person you messaged and what did you say? My husband. I sent ''You're sweet 🥰"

[sussex-nature-lover]

Wednesday 18th November 2020

Wakey Wakey

I saw this photo on Twitter yesterday. Not sure what time it was taken but it’s entitled ‘Morning Winter Sky over Tunbridge Wells’ - pretty impressive no?

Not quite as impressive colour wise but very bright indeed, here’s this morning’s dazzler when I opened our curtains. It was quite different from Ms NW tE’s early morning view today...

Photo Credit: our London Correspondent Ms Nature Watch The Elder

Thinking of water, I’m just watching Billy Bailey on The One Show (BBC1) and it’s an absolutely charming film shot on The River Thames. He’s paddle boarding, after showing footage of people who’re getting stow away seals climbing up on their paddle boards for a lift.  It was a highlight of our London weekend last year when we saw a seal on the Thames - ours was much further in to the city. For more feel good, does anyone watch Great Canal Journeys on Channel 4 (UK) Initially featuring Timothy West and his wife, Prunella Scales, the latest series is now captained by Sheila Hancock and her friend Gyles Brandreth. I have to say, I’m left stunned by how fit and able Sheila is at 87. She’s a splendid recruit to canal navigation as well.

In my mind I’d absolutely love canal boating. Hmm, not totally sure about the hard work and the narrow bed aspect, let alone the err ‘facilities’ but it’s a bit of a pipe dream. Canals seem so romantic somehow, well, restored ones do. They ‘cut’ (colloquial term) through both cities and rural areas in the most practical manner and often the most industrial areas sit cheek by jowl with nature. There’s peace and quiet but also camaraderie, at least in my mind there is.

In reality I’m much better suited to being an armchair observer. Let’s say no more about my ridiculous delusions.

The Canal River Trust

No water birds here at all, but lots of activity in and over the woods where the Crows (no relation) have been extremely busy this past few mornings. Still not sure what they’re up to. I zoomed in close on one - I watched it for ages and was struck how the few remaining leaves glistened like gold coins in the sunshine.

Carrion Crow:

Behaviour: generally quite solitary. This is the corvid you are most likely to see visiting your garden.

There were plenty of Rooks active as well

Behaviour: a very sociable species so you’re unlikely to see a rook on its own. Rooks build their nests right at the tops of trees, in noisy groups known as rookeries. You are unlikely to miss them!

No noise from lately, not like earlier in the year when they’re constantly squawking ‘Rate My Baby?’  

* ask for details

BIRD WATCH:

Other than the above, the garden’s finally going quiet. The Squirrels and Rabbits seem to be keeping themselves to themselves close to the wood and the visitors to the feeders are the old faithfuls - numerous Blue, Great, Coal and Marsh Tits with the fly by feed from Scout and the Long Tailed Tits. Robin, Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpeckers are pretty constant all through the day. Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon and Blackbirds come, but not so much and the solitary Magpie is very shy and not here that often. The Pheasants and Goldfinch haven’t been here and they’re missed.

Poppy for Remembrance 

(not my photo)

♦ bold type navigates to an outside link not affiliated to this blog

[tarotwithdanise]

Your future spouse hobbies or likes

꒰⠀from left to right ; intuitively choose the pile your mind, heart and soul desire for. if you are having trouble choosing the right pile for you, here’s some tips you can do ; (1) take a deep breath (2) close your eyes (3) ask guidance from your guides (4) finally open your eyes and you can choose the right pile for you by the guidance you ask from your guides. if you are still having trouble by choosing the right pile for you let me know because i am willing to help and guide you.

Pile one

This person loves to hiking a lot, and probably this is the most prefer to do when they have free time. Aftermath, if they reached the top, they probably sit, watch the world, and relax there while sipping a drink like coffee, tea and other drinking contents. Also, their other hobbies are planting and surfing. This person appreciates the beauty of nature; they're truly nurturers. They might also have a bird as a pet and be into gothic styles. This person loves the genre of fantasy, like in books and movies; they like the idea of witch spells. Mostly, this person's favorite color is green; for few number of you, it might be red. This person can be an earth sign (Capricorn, Virgo, and Taurus), or you're the one who's an earth sign. I'm also getting some fire signs (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius). Furthermore, their uranus or mercury was in Virgo and they always felt comfortable being barefooted.

Pile two

This person likes to drink coffee; they may even drink more than two a day. They like the ideas of night, stars, moon, and galaxy, and they also love the idea of being in love—they might daydream about this a lot. They will be the homie type of person; they love to sleep and stay at home when they prefer relaxation. One of their hobbies is playing chess or anything related to problem-solving, examples: crosswords, puzzles, mathematics, coding, computer programming, video games and many more to add. They love to seeing a rainbow after the rain, or they might be a part of the LGBTQ+ community or if they not, they support these people. This person is very talented and creative; they really have a lot of hobbies. They might be into drawing or photography. For few of you, I'm getting that they might have a collection of shoes that mostly color of black, as well I'm getting that they like the pastel colors, pastel ones are their favorites. They might also wear head cups, hats and well, especially berets. They might own a very special or specific wrist watch. They love stargazing.

Pile three

Most of you in pile three have a FS that is more masculine energy. If this is a man, they will have a tattoo on their left arm. This person likes to wear red and this can also indicates that this is maybe their favorite color. This person likes to wear accessories especially with different kinds of rings and necklaces. They can be travellers too they may prefer to travel by water most of the time. They also love the sea or they maybe someone who live near the sea and a beach or if not, there's something nearby huge water element on their living area. This person is really religious; they like attending religious places or houses of worship like churches, temples, mosques, or synagogues. One of their hobbies is writing songs, poems, or letters—they maybe even be writers of some kind. For some reason, I'm getting the idea that this person might be pursuing or working in the medicine or medical field. If they have a partner they like physical intimacy.

Pile four

This person is someone who lives in the countryside or in a place where there is a wide farm. One of their hobbies is cooking; they might be chefs, and they like planting and gardening too. Also, this person may like to go camping in the forest. You might be attracted to the first pile since this person also likes hiking. They usually giving me the energy of a mysterious individual and I don't why, this is maybe because they doesn't want to show off their face to me since all of the cards are facing back. However, this person will be confident and hard-working; if they want to achieve something, they will do everything to achieve it. As i said that they love to cook, they might also love eating. They like to wear big and loose clothing. If they're women, they love to style their hair in a way of pigtails or if not with different styles of buns and then put accessories on it for example headbands and clips. Furthermore, they like to wear simple sandals than shoes. They maybe someone who go out at night to play at casinos.

Pile five

Your future spouse's hobbies are dancing and partying with their friends. This person is always present when there is a party; they might be a social butterfly. For some of you, I get that they love to bond with your own family when you have free time. People see this person as someone who doesn't have problems and always present to have fun, but no, dude, they have secrets that they don't tell to others, even close ones. They also interested in mythology. They might be into travel and investing; they can be businessmen or women; they gain and attract money easily because they have great knowledge when it comes to business transactions. They might also like horseback riding or playing polo, and for some, they might have a tattoo on one of their feet. In addition, they also like to wear black shoes.

Pile six

This person's hobby is that they love to read books; they might be bibliophiles or bookworms. They love learning and gaining knowledge. They always have space for learning and reading; they also like meditating and sleeping. Someone who likes to watch anime, netflix, and chill. They will be good at playing guitar, especially the electric one. One of their hobbies too is singing; they might do it every night at a small bar or, if not anything connected to performing, something like that. They often curl their hair because they think it suits them well. They typically someone who will own a motorcycle, and they might have the fashion style of a bad girl or boy.

© tarotwithdanise ── all rights reserved. do not copy, translate, alter, or repost my work with or without my explicit permission.

[ladyreapermc]

Drabble: Birthday Surprise (Henry x You)

Summary: it was bad enough that you would have to spend your birthday in quarantine, but for Henry to forget it? That was just awful

Author’s note: I wasn’t supposed to take any requests or post other fics during this month of May since it’s the Birthday Challenge month, but this was a very especial occasion. It’s @mary-ann84​ birthday.  My dear, I wish you all the best in the world. You’re such a bright and kind person and I’m very glad I’ve met you here on tumblr. I do hope you enjoy this little drabble.

Wordcount: 1038

Warnings: so much fluff.

You knew it wasn’t fair to be upset with Henry for being able to entertain himself during this damned quarantine while all you could manage was stare at the walls and walk around aimless through the rental house you two got for the duration of The Witcher season 2 principal photography.

It was the first time you came with him to location, mostly because you had a month off from work and decided you could use the peace and quiet of the countryside to work on a few personal projects. It seemed like the perfect plan. While Henry was out working hard on the series, you had the house to yourself to do what you pleased and when night came and he was back home, you could dedicate all your time to him.

Then the news of the virus broke and for a while, production continued, but as the scenario slowly progressed to something direr, the producers decided to stop everything for safety and start isolation. You and Henry talked and decided that might as well wait where you were instead of going back to London. He had hopes that it would be over quickly.

Now, almost two months later, there was still no clear evidence of the quarantine ending and you were running out of ideas to entertain yourself. You read all the books you brought along with you and sure, there was always kindle, but it wasn’t the same. You liked to feel the actual thing, smell the pages, touch the rough texture of the paper beneath your fingers.

Besides, you missed being able to go out, see friends and family, have small gatherings. You were always a people’s person and as much as technology helped you to remain close to your loved ones, it just wasn’t the same. As matter of fact, sometimes it felt like seeing them through the screen was even worst, because at the end of the call your heart would always feel tighter and the lump in your throat made it so much harder to breathe, making tears spring into the corner of your eyes.

Henry was taking isolation very well. Despite being a very social man, he had also his introspective moments, in which he got lost in his favorite hobbies like reading or gaming or working out. More recently, he had also taken up cooking and painting miniature figurines.

He would spend hours completely absorbed in the task at hand, barely hearing when you spoke to him. It was slightly frustrating, but you knew he didn’t do it on purpose and whenever you had his attention, Henry was completely devoted to you. Watching or doing whatever you want, no questions asked.

So really, there was no reason to complain and it wasn’t fair to ask him to keep you entertained all the time. You were, after all, a damn adult and not a toddler. You could find something to do in this house. There was that Netflix show you were meaning to watch and since Henry was once again in the kitchen doing God knows what, Kal could use a walk. It would give you an excuse to breathe some fresh air and hide your disappointment from Henry.

The truth was, you hoped he would pay a little more attention to you today. It was, after all, your birthday. But he didn’t even seem to remember, and you hated to be the one to remind him. You knew he would feel terrible for forgetting and would try to overcompensate. That wasn’t what you wanted. You just wanted some nice time together, cuddling on the couch, with some popcorn and a cheesy movie on the telly. That wasn’t too much to ask, was it?

“Come on, Kal,” you called, taking one last turn around the block before leading the way back to the house. “We’ve been gone long enough. Your dad is probably worried. If he even noticed we went out that is.”

With a heavy sigh, you made your way back to the house at the end of the street, giggling at Kal chasing butterflies. It was your favorite time of the year. It was so beautiful to see the flowers back in full bloom and the birds and bees flying around.

And since there was barely anyone out, it felt like mother nature was reclaiming her ground, and more often than not you caught sight of wildlife making themselves at home in the gardens or jaunting around proudly, like they owned the street. It was a gorgeous sight and almost enough to soothe your sour mood as you approached the red door of the rental home.

You left your boots on the welcome mat, before wiping Kal’s paws and letting him rush inside in front of you, frowning slightly at the darkness at the foyer and living room. You stepped inside in your socks, shrugging off your coat and flickering the lights.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” Several voices shouted making you scream in surprise.

You looked around, but there was only Henry standing there, with a big, but slightly crooked chocolate cake, a grin on his lips, and a party hat on top of his dark curls. On the television screen, the faces of your loved ones staring back at you in individual little windows of the group conference call. All of them had silly party hats of their own.

On the wall above Henry’s head, a hand-made banner, paper flowers, origami, and colorful paper streamers decorated the room and you felt tears brimming in your eyes as you took it all in.

“You really thought I would forget?” he asked with a cocked eyebrow and you giggled, feeling silly and wanting nothing more than to rush into his arms and hug him tight. “Go clean up. We’ll wait for you.”

“Hen…” you breathed out, your heart overflowing with joy and love for this perfect man. You still couldn’t believe he just walked into your life one day but were so damn glad he did. “Thank you.”

“Always,” he smiled at you, and in his ocean blue eyes, you could see Henry containing himself from going to you, sealing his lips on yours. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

xxx

[overwhelmedbyskeletons]

A Chance to See What’s Out There

1

  I wake up Saturday morning at around 7am. The AM radio DJ told the local news; A dog was arrested for somehow stealing a delivery truck while the driver was dropping off a package. The driver called in to say how he ran down the road after the truck. He ran for a few moments before the truck stopped, he caught up with it and found the dog sitting there, panting, as happy as a dog can be. I could almost imagine myself witnessing it take place in my head in real time. Luckily, no one was hurt and the dog only made it down the road before his attempted GTA was brought to a halt. He was a Boxer named George.

  The sweet, cool scent of a winter’s morning rain was permeating throughout the room. The sound of rain drops on the wide french windows of our bedroom were a never ending symphony. The overwhelming smell of the moist mud and grass fields outside the  second-story windows were a clear sign that we’ve come to know that the rain had not let up all night.

 The bedroom walls were forest green, complimented by photos of my wife and I, and of her photography over the years. Shelves were filled with books and various handcrafted knick-knacks that we found humorous. A large lounge chair sit in the corner where a throw blanket and book would be placed most everyday.

  I yawned and stretched, reaching next to me, but grabbing nothing but bedsheets. My wife was up already, normal routine for her morning was to make coffee as the sun was rising. I sat in bed for a few moments more before I heard the approaching, un-socked footsteps of my wife heading up the stairs.

  “MY DEAR FUCKING LORD” I muttered out in a voice of definite confusion.

My wife, Miranda, bursts through the bedroom door in a panic.

“What the fuck is your deal?” She asks.

“Honey… I’m Blind.” I reply, with absolute certainty, reaching towards her.

“Oh fuck off.” She hands me my coffee.

I take it with a smile on my face with what what most would call a shit eating grin.

“Wipe that shit eating grin off your face, before make you mute as well.” she replies, sitting down next to me in bed as we both enjoy our coffee, listening to the rain.

 0

 The Incident, as we began to call it happened one week prior on an odd, but welcomed sunny winter day. We were both resting after a deep cleaning of our ever-growing backyard garden space. Weather resistant succulents and cactus were scattered all over on varying metal shelves and repurposed chairs. Monstera plants provided the area a zen-like atmosphere of which took us almost a year of collecting and soil-observing care to achieve.

  Our two-story, cabin-like home sat at the end of a one-car mile long road that forked from off an already forgotten highway, winding and curving through trees and bushes. The seclusion was what attracted us the most. Noises of the human nature were something we had lived with before for years prior and the quiet of the two of us existing among the trees and all that reside within them was a necessary change in our lives.

 We had spent many days of the year inside and the sun’s light was  showing just how defined my farmer’s tan was. The idea of tanning was always a joke to me in the city, but in the security of the high-fenced backyard, the idea didn’t seem to half bad.

  I sternly stood upright from my lounging and declared, “I’m gonna sunbathe.”

I began to undress. The removing of my shirt and shorts got the usual oo’ing and ah’ing from my wife.

“Should I go full on naked?” I asked.

“I don’t care.” Miranda replied, barely looking up from her book now.”

In one quick motion of pride, I was back to the way the gods had sculpted me.

“Exquisite.” Miranda said, through a chuckle.

“You know you love it.” I replied.

  A moment of fidgeting in my seat before finding a comfortable position, but in the end, it only took a few minutes before my eyelids grew heavy in the warm sun.

“Wake me if I’m out for more than an hour, will ya darling?” I tried to ask through sleep.

“You got it, babe.” She replied.

“Thanks, mama.”

I was awoken with a sharp pain slicing across my face. I groggily shot up out of the seat, barely standing up right as I tried to open my eyes. Dark crimson began pooling in both eyes, blinding out my view of the world in front of me. I was trembling with fear of what was happening to me. The pain from keeping my eyes open was immense, so I shut them as tightly as I could. I screamed and hollered for help, but I heard nothing  but birds chattering and the hiss of wind flowing through the trees. Once the pain subsided enough to allow movement, I noticed my face cold from liquid, I was bleeding so much even with my eyes shut. I was blind, helpless, and nude.

  I had walked this garden hundreds of times, but for the first time in my life I was truly lost and alone. I wandered and bumped for what felt like hours. Finally, I had found the door handle thanks to the shower door inside the house being shut. I was navigating fully with sound, a trait that one surprisingly catches on quick.

  Inside the kitchen area with the door shut behind me, I watched my every step hoping to not spill any blood from my face onto the tile floor. I already couldn’t see, the last thing I needed was a slip-and-fall concussion.

 I made myself known, hoping my wife would come to my aid. “Miranda, can you help me? Please don’t freak out.”

“Of c- wait, what’s wrong?” She replied. Her footsteps I heard hastily walked towards me from down the hall. She gasped with absolute fear.

“I don’t know what happened.” I said, trying to smile to alleviate any fear she might have. “I think Thomas Shelby finally got to me.”

“Oh my god.” Miranda replied, unimpressed by my comment. “Okay, let’s get a clean cloth, we have to clean you/ you’ll be okay/ let me get the keys, we have to go to ER/ oh fuck, you’re still naked.” I could hear tears starting to form with her words.

I held out my arms to hug her. She embraced me so quickly, I stumbled from loose footing.

“Grab me a wet cloth, and get my shorts from out back and let’s drive to the hospital. My pain is okay. I’m okay.” I said in a calm voice to ease her nerves.

  I was quickly dressed decent, in the passenger seat of our Honda with a wet rag on my face. The drive to the hospital was quick and silent.

 We arrived, parked, and my wife guided me to the entrance.

“We need to be seen right away.” She exclaimed.

A nurse sat at a desk cut her off, handing her a  clipboard and piece of paper to fill out. I removed the rag from my face a moment to show thick strands of blood sticking from my face to the bloodied towel. I was put into a wheelchair immediately and was soon in my own room.

  Not much time went by before several voices entered the room, to help clean my face and understand what they were dealing with. Their voices were that shrill, fake-assuring tone that would deafen you at a theme park. Coupled with the sterile smell of everything and the loss of one of my senses, to say I was nauseated would be an understatement. But, I held through, asked my wife for an advil from her bag and laid on my paper bed. A couple of needle pricks of painkillers and many gauze wipes later, and I was being operated on.

  The first procedure was quick. It involved cauterization of my slice eyelids to seal the wounds shut and to stop bleeding and a quick stick in the bridge of my nose. The second one, not as simple. Both corneas were damaged, sliced by whatever the hell it was that shot through them. I required eye reconstruction and I would be practically blind for a week post-op.  13 hours later on a Saturday and I was back home, with gauze taped to both my eyelids and a joint in my hand, doctor’s orders.

 That night, We both slept like a animalistic hibernation was in order. When we both were awake and ready for the day, I opted to stay in the bedroom and practice walking to the bathroom, a trek of only nineteen steps there and back. Miranda went out back to try and find whatever it was that blinded me. With a retelling of what I felt from the bedroom window down to her, she set up a at-home crime scene. Within an hour she was able to identify the blood tinted smoking gun. A sharp piece of dark grey metal, what Miranda called ‘A Crow’s Prized Trinket’. We laughed it off as a freak occurrence, and put the piece of scrap in a baggie in my bedside drawer.  

  It took a little bit to get used to, but by Monday morning, I found my routes to the bathroom and the dining room table. I still bumped here and there, but I only ever tripped once.

  By Wednesday, my Stevie Wonder impression grew old. Thursday night, My Roy Orbison impression required a google search and a realization that the Oh, Pretty Woman songwriter could indeed, actually see. Who knew.

   2

 Thunder rumbled and lightning crashed outside as if the gods were fighting on how to fix the water leak that is the rain beating down upon my house.

  “Weatherman hopes for it to be through before night.” Miranda said, sipping her coffee and reading her book; a highlander smitten by the beauty and grace of a time-travelling housewife from the 20th century.

  “I like it, gives me something to listen to.” I replied, still sitting in bed, soft jammies and all.

  I went for the last gulp of my creamer with coffee, when Miranda quickly gasped in shock.

“Oh my god, that one was so close.” She said before cut off by the thunder that was at a previous six-Mississipi’s away, crashing at a deafening volume.

 “Fuck me, blind and now deaf as well.” I said, jokingly through a chuckle. At that moment, through my laughing, for the first time in a week, movement of my eyelids. Nothing monumental, but I could see the warmth of the lamp near my wife, across the room. I quickly removed the gauze pads from over my eyes and opened them. Sight. It was all fuzzy, but I could finally see shapes again.

 “Holy crap, babe.” I said with excitement. “I can see, not well, but shit, it’s a start.” I fiddled around at my bedside table, looking for my phone.

  “It’s okay, I’m calling him.” Miranda replied, now at my side, petting my hair as if I was the family dog.

 A quick phone call later, and I had my head in the bathroom sink, rinsing my eyes out with lukewarm water. The doctor had told us that my recovery was more speedy than expected, but nonetheless a good sign. Rinsing of my eyes would remove any crusty buildup over the week and help with the final process of healing.

 I’ve never had the elusive 20/20 vision that only those gifted by the gods of sight allowed such a a trait, and after several minutes of washing, I was still far from where I was before the accident. Our excitement was put away, slightly defeated, but still pleased of my progress.

 I wandered downstairs, testing myself with the readings of the backs of cereal boxes and old magazine covers while my wife remained upstairs, reading. This went on until sundown, when our bed was sending out it’s siren’s song of comfort. I slowly waddled upstairs and around the corner into the bedroom.

 “So, I was able to read the cereal boxes and labels of most of the cans, I think.” I said while removing the decorative pillows placed neatly on our king-sized bed.

  “That is so good to hear.” Miranda replied halfheartedly joyous.

  I could tell she was upset that I wasn’t fully cured, but I remained positive to help her understand that all will be better soon. We laid under our soft blankets, cuddling one another. My arms wrapped around her from behind, I slowly guided my hands to her legs and tickled her to a pure state of relaxation. I could feel her frustration of my inability to see slip away as her eyelids grew heavier. She was asleep within minutes. I continued for twenty.

 The ever-persistent rain had remained beating down upon the roof and trees outside all day. Mud puddles had began forming in the garden, but with how hot the summer was, excess was welcomed. I contemplated reopening the window, to hear the sounds more clearly, but I fell victim to the sandman’s spell before I could make up my mind.

 That night I dreamed of something I had never thought I could imagine. I was in the walls of a dark and long hallway with not much in it. The walls around me smooth and reflective; it was basically a mirror in tube form. At the end of the room, was a door that never opened, but beyond it I could hear the grumblings of two, maybe three voices. In between their incoherent conversation was the stomping akin to that of a unsavory upstairs apartment neighbor. I’d usually think nothing if it, but for some reason I feared those steps. With every new set, my heart began to race at the thought of them opening those doors and showing themselves to me. I couldn’t take it anymore and began shouting, trembling with fear.

  I was quickly awoken by Miranda who had shook me awake. I was halfway crawling out the window, drenched. I looked back and she was horrified, latching onto my shirt, pulling me back in. It took me a moment to realize all of this, when I did, I made my way back inside and shut the window. Miranda ran and grabbed me a towel.

 “I was having a strange dream.” I described my dream to my wife in the best detail that I could at the moment. She was perplexed by how the two incidents were connected. She helped dry me off and get me warm.

 “So I don’t understand, were you crawling out a window in the dream?” She asked.

 Before I could answer, a flash of lightning followed by a rumble of thunder. This time was different than any lightning I had ever seen in my life. The flash was a bright green that illuminated the trees and land out the window instead of the sky. As for the thunder, it remained at a steady rumbling hum for a minute coming from the direction of the green light. We were stunned by what we were seeing. The window was fogging from our breathe so we cracked it enough to see outside.

 I did my best to watch, but any amount of vision couldn’t deny that this was a strange occurrence. We watched for several minutes, observing the strange oddity deep into the forest. The light was persistent in it’s glow, but the sound would alternate in it’s pitch from time to time. Miranda and I remained silent, barely breathing the entire time we watched.

 All of a sudden in an instant, the humming stopped, and the light shifted it’s focus towards us, our home. We shielded our eyes, but peeked through our fingers. That was when we saw it. Running faster than any athlete could, weaving through the forest floor, sometimes jumping off of a trunk for speed, and it was coming straight towards us. I quickly shut the window and bolted the lock. Whatever was headed towards us was  fast and it didn’t take it long to reach the garden fence. I shut the blinds in hopes that that would somehow protect me from the whatever it was outside.

 We heard a bang followed by a crash downstairs. It was in the house. The security alarm system began yelping, ringing in our ears. I ran up to shut the bedroom door, bumping the foot of the bed on my way  and grab a bat beside it. Just before I slammed it shut, I heard the creature downstairs screeching along to the alarm, as if it was speaking to alarm. I slammed the door and backed into the chair where my wife usually reads. She was crying under the blanket. I wanted to join her, so I did.

 It began it’s ascent up the stairs. The sound. It’s feet. It was exactly what I heard in my dream. The alarm finally shut itself off and I could hear it talking to itself. It was the same sound I heard in my dream. I was sobbing, shaking with fear when I bumped into my wife’s foot uncovered by her blanket. I shook her, stood her up and told her to hide in our closet. She resisted, but I finally got her in behind the door and I stood, ready to fight and slightly blind.

 The creature scratched on the wooden bedroom door. It could hear me or smell me or whatever it was doing, it knew exactly where I was. It didn’t kick down the door, or blast a hole through it, but it instead turned the doorknob. I had forgotten to push in the button to lock it.

 I readied my swing when it pushed open the door. I wiped away tears from both eyes, which cleared my vision a little more. I saw it standing there, hunched over with scales all over. It’s face covered in holes, in the center two large, clear eyes that blinked alternately. A large mouth, filled with teeth stayed agape, dripping fluids all over the floor. Tentacle like limbs had no significant placement on its body. It slapped on the floor with it’s constantly moving ‘feet’ tentacles. Standing seven feet tall, the creature purred at me, unmoving from the beyond the doorframe. We had a stand off for a moment before I made my move.

 “What the fuck do you want?” I yelled.

  It did nothing, it remained a statue. I repeated myself. It screeched back. I let out a scream and rushed it. I made two steps before it shot out one of its slimy tentacles around my neck, holding me in place. The smell was a horrible, rotting carcass smell. I gagged, but couldn’t restrain and vomited on its arm and myself. It pulled itself in closer to my face. It was observing me, looking for something. It starred for a while before it chirped with delight, raised a small tentacle and quickly slid it behind my left eye. I felt no pain somehow, not even when it yanked my whole eye out. It observed my plucked eye, dropped me to the floor, and then headed back down the stairs. Miranda rushed out the closet, and saw me bleeding from my eyes for the second time in a week.

 I was calm and without pain, which somehow transferred to Miranda and we were both fine with what had happened. We heard a crashing coming from outside the window again, and we walked over to look. The one was making its way through the broken doors while another was  sliding all along the floor and walls of our backyard. They soon both began speaking that incoherent mush again before quickly scurrying off towards the green light.

 Not too much time passed of us starring out into the darkness. The green light began to flash, the thunder grew louder and stronger, knocking books off the shelves. The power shut off. We were in total darkness as we watched the dark object rise from the ground, hundreds of feet away, blowing branches and rain in every direction. It was high in the sky, hovering for a moment when I closed my eyes, well eye. I was back in that dark, mirror place, but this time It wasn’t as clear. I heard the creatures talking again, and a whirring sound. Before, in my dream, this place sounded distressed, incorrect. Now it was complete, whole somehow. A few more glimpses and it was gone.

 Miranda and I cleaned up the bedroom in silence. We mopped up the water and blood and drool of the creature, fixed our bedroom to the best of our abilities. We would clean the downstairs in the morning. For now, we would sleep.

 Every night since that night, I will take one meaningful look out our wide, french windows, making sure that flash of green hadn’t returned. I lay in bed and listen closely for that rumble that shook the walls remained gone. When I would finally shut my eyes and fall to rest however, I would hope I’d see that place one final time. That last chance to see something that no one could define. An otherworldy place.

[livefuntravelposts]

7 Must-See Places to Explore in South Africa

Having lived in South Africa, I had the chance to explore the country.  Having a great infrastructure, coupled with staggering landscapes, diverse, rich cultures, and unbelievable beauty, South Africa is one of Africa's most sought-after  destinations. Renowned for its breathtaking sceneries, spectacular wildlife, beautiful beaches, and vibrant multicultural cities; South Africa has so many unique sites to discover that you could spend a lifetime exploring. Nestled at the southern-most part of the African continent and roughly spanning an area two times the size of California, South Africa is Africa's most iconic wildlife-touring destination. More often, when you think of the Big Five,  Kruger National park  comes to mind. Not only do you get a chance to see the king of the jungle, but you also get to see the magnificent view of Cape Town while relaxing atop the iconic Table Mountain. It is relatively easy to move around South Africa with the country's elaborate transport network. You can explore different places with ease either by car hire, rail or air transportation or you can drive yourself. Packed with so many places to visit, it is pretty hard to pinpoint which areas to explore and which one to leave for your next visit. Luckily we have compiled the best places you shouldn't miss while touring this incredible country.  

Best Place to Visit in South Africa

  1. Experience the Big Five at Kruger National Park Your vacation to South Africa won't be complete without a full-day game drive to Kruger National Park. Covering roughly 7,000 square miles of mountain ranges, exotic tropical rainforest, and grassy landscapes, Kruger National Park is an exciting place for an unforgettable Safari experience. Home to the most diverse wildlife and providing exciting game watching experiences worldwide, Kruger national park is full of award-winning vast landscapes, wild luxury, and exclusive accommodation. It has a reliable and excellent road network and some of Africa's best trackers ready to take you on the most memorable game drive experience. This historic conservation is home to a thriving wild animal population; lions, cats, giraffes and wild dogs. Plus, it's an excellent spot for bird watching. Kruger is also an exciting place for trekking safaris. If you are up for the challenge, you can replace your game drive experience by venturing out accompanied by an experienced guide, to explore the Park’s intriguing ecosystem. Where to stay - Camp and Lodging Options Kruger National Park is the ultimate rough diamond of South African expeditions. The private reserves make up the landscape commonly referred to as "The Greater Kruger," they are an entirely diverse entity than the National Park.  The private reserves are where you find some of the finest game lodges, offering luxurious African accommodations in the bushes.  The Kruger is a vast area, so vast; you cannot visit the entire landscape in a single visit. The massive park stretches over 20,000 square kilometers of thick forests and open plateaus. There is always more flora and fauna to discover.  For those who prefer private safaris, the National Park is not your cup of tea. It is crowded with visitors and self-drivers at animal sightings during peak season. The lodges in Kruger include simple bucolic rondavels, safari tents, to lavish bungalows. You can choose between the self-catering facilities or check-in at any of the exquisite bush rest camps' restaurants.  It is an excellent place that accommodates simple to extravagant budgets. Places to stay in include: The Greater Kruger the private reserves of the Sabi Sands  The private Timbavati lodges and camps (Ngala Tent Camps) These private reserves offer exclusive accommodations and game drives/walks in the vast park with private guides that will drive you around the heart of the reserve, offering you an exclusively relaxed, intimate African Safari experience. Ulusaba Safari Hotels Sir Richard Branson's Ulusaba safari hotels offer various accommodations with medium to extreme budgets of great value. It's a friendly high-end service and a preference to many return guests to the region. Singita Lebombo A contemporary South African choicest lodge with unique safari lodge designs. Singita Lebombo has exceptional services and perfect game viewing landscapes. Tintswalo Safari Lodge Perfectly squeezed between the Timbavati Game Reserves and the Sabi Sands, Tintswalo Safari Lodge sits on the Manyeleti Game Reserve - as part of the Greater Kruger Expanse. The lodges offer six deluxe rooms, a presidential suite, and a secluded private Manor House.   

2. Cape City

Consistently ranked as one of the best holiday spots in the world for honeymooners, families, groups, and lone travelers, Cape Town is one of the best tourist destinations in South Africa. Sitting on the mountainous peninsula between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, with the symbolic Table Mountain as its backdrop, this Mountainous City sits on some of the world's most remarkable tourism attractions. Breathtaking sceneries, intriguing museums, and many bars and restaurants, many of which can be found on the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, make Cape Town a must-see attraction. Enjoy more scenic landscapes if you take a short drive outside the city. You will be mesmerized by the sandy beaches, rugged mountain ranges, and the small traditional fishing villages. Cape Town is appealing to practically anyone looking to have fun: honeymooners will appreciate the luxurious accommodations and picturesque views. Families with kids will love sharing the beach with curious penguins. The city's renowned food and wine experience are as enticing as its legendary and historic landmark: -The Table Mountain, a natural wonders of the world. Adventurers will have fun uncovering the secrets of Table Mountain.

Cape Town is a wonderful location to start your exploration of South Africa.    

3. The Garden Route

This one tops the list, especially when it comes to South Africa holiday ideas for families, nature lovers, and outdoor fanatics. The Garden Route is a beautiful coastline stretching 200km in the East and West Cape Provinces of South Africa. This world-renowned length of coastline stretches for a couple of hours from Cape Town to the Plettenberg. Renting a car and driving yourself is the perfect way to enjoy a wonderful mix of picturesque indigenous forests, colorful towns, and rough sandy beaches along the way. The official Garden Route is a fantastic self-drive route from Mossel Bay in the west and stretches to Storms River in the east. Knysna is a strategic stopover town on the Garden Route with reasonable accommodations, all the attractions within easy reach.  Visit the beautiful beaches within these vast landscapes, scenic lagoons, indigenous forest, and coves. Offshore see the friendly African penguins, dolphins, whales, and great white sharks.   Mossel Bay has superb beaches, a museum showcasing the Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Diaz's life, who discovered the Famous Garden Route.  Explore the bordering mountains; a trip to Oudtshoorn, the South African Ostrich industry with farms producing Ostrich feathers for extravagant hats and gigantic eggs is not to be missed. While outdoor activities are the main attractions on Garden Route (home to South Africa's best golf courses), delicious South Africa cuisine is never far away. Enjoy fresh oysters, and sunset boat rides at the famous Knysna Waterfront or a fast food place with a beach view in the neighboring Plettenberg Bay.   4. Cape Winelands Flanked by sub-splashing vineyards and rocky mountain peaks, the breathtaking valleys of Cape Winelands is best known for the great historic estates, beautiful little villages, five-star resorts, and  the wine. The beauty of these Wineland's valleys surrounded by scenic mountain views is a real treat for to experience. Though the Winelands is an ideal option for romantic getaways and honeymooners, children enjoy the Winelands as well. There are roughly about 20 vineyards in Cape Winelands. However, the term refers to the three main vineyards in the region: - Stellen Bosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek, all located in mountainous countryside with stunning Alpine-style views. You can start our day testing different wineries while feasting on a home-style farm-to-table delicacy or stroll through the oak-lined sidewalks to local art galleries while taking in the breathtaking scenery. Despite being only one hour's drive from Cape Town, a few nights in this quaint mishmash of vineyards and mountains will wash away any lingering city stress. It is truly one of the fascinating places to visit in South Africa.

From Cape Town, rent a car and head to the Winelands. It is a beautiful area with great accommodations for all budgets.     5. Pilanesberg National Park Sitting at the heart of an ancient volcano and positioned next to a vast hippo-filled lake, the Pilanesberg National park is one of the top tourist attractions in South Africa, i.e. if you don't want to wander far from Johannesburg. Just a few hours from Johannesburg and right in front of the world-famous Sun City resort, this readily accessible park gives tourists an authentic safari experience. Home to some of the most fantastic wildlife, a game drive to Pilanesberg National park is frequently marked by incredible sightings of elephants, lions, brown hyenas, and a beautiful collection of birds. You can spend your day game – viewing, and if you are lucky enough, you will get to watch up-close as lions hunt. If you have seen enough animals, take to the sky riding in a hot air balloon for some picture-perfect views. The spectacular landscape and the lush greenery make for excellent photography, and since the park is outside the malarial belt, you won't need anti-malarial medication.   6. Sun City To be honest, Sun City is not one of my favorite places in South Africa, but travelers seem to love it.  It is like Las Vegas and I would much rather be in nature.  Sun City began as a "sin city," where gambling was allowed during the apartheid era, but ironically it was illegal elsewhere.  The Sun City complex is located in Rustenburg, less than three hours’ drive from Johannesburg. It sits on Pilanesberg National Park's brink in an extinct volcano crater, which erupted millions of years ago. Sun City was constructed in the heart of this quiescent volcano crater. If you are looking for pure hedonism and endless entertainment, Sun City, also known as "the Kingdom of Pleasure," is the place to be. It is no exaggeration to say that Sun City offers the most vibrant range of South African holiday activities. Start your day playing golf in one of the famous golf courses. Then spend the afternoon relaxing at the slide-filled water theme park (Valley of the Waves) or go searching for the big five in the great Pilanesberg National Park, which is right next door. But don't assume the fun stops there; at night Sun City turns into a flashy hub of eateries, wine bars, casinos, and dazzling live shows. You will never want to leave Sun City. The world within a city resort complex includes four deluxe hotels, The Palace of the Lost City, two expansive golf courses, the Waterpark Valley of the Waves, a Grand casino, South Africa's finest concert and sports venues, and so much more. Most of the resort's activities are family oriented.    7. KwaZulu Natal It’s often stated that the locals know the best places to explore. When most South Africans go for a holiday, they often choose KwaZulu Natal as their vacation spot. KwaZulu Natal is home to brimming extensive five wildlife reserves, historical battlegrounds, soaring mountain peaks, and pristine waters of the Indian Ocean. If you are an independent – mind traveler, then KwaZulu Natal has some of the finest South Africa holiday spots for a bush and beach safari. Unlike the more sedate Garden Route, a KwaZulu Natal tour has other activities like scuba diving, battlefield excursions, and horseback riding in the scenic Drakenberg Mountain. For an authentic African experience, explore the northern part of KwaZulu Natal coupled with stunning beaches, excellent game reserves, and typical Zulu villages nestled together on sloppy hillsides near the historical battlefields. As you head further south, the terrain softens as the tropical winds pass through the countryside grasslands of the Natal highlands and down to Durban's colorful city.   Our Final Word Nothing compares to the breathtaking and spellbinding sights that South Africa has to offer. This incredible country will impact you like on others. From the flourishing urban cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg to the vibrant indigenous Ba Kaap villages and the sun-kissed coasts, South Africa has it all in fashionable culture and history. As you explore South Africa, you will experience countless magical moments in every city mentioned in this article.  I loved living there and having a chance to explore such a wonderful country.  

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My 10 blogs to celebrate highlights of my wildlife/photography 2020: Post 7-The early autumnal signs in the summer and the rest of my autumn

This post of mine each year always seems to begin with me noticing some signs of autumn over the summer. This year just like the butterflies this seemed to happen earlier than ever, or perhaps it was I noticed it more due to having so many wildlife and photography walks whilst working from home. My walks at Lakeside at lunch and that were especially the place I noticed most early autumnal leaves, I first noticed one tree with what appeared to be autumn leaves on 1st June! And by mid-July when I wrote this first paragraph I was seeing a fair bit of autumnal colour in the views of Lakeside, on some greyer days and wetter ones really brightening things up, after I’d also seen things like blackberries, other types of berries, apples and the odd mushroom so this was an interesting feeling enjoying my summer and all it brings as my other highlights blogs show but having reminders of autumn to come around a bit and the hope it would bring once the year more naturally started to take a wind down and move away from the height of the year temperature and sunshine wise. The curtain raiser to autumn continued as we went to Millyford Bridge on a Monday I had off work in the New Forest in July and saw loads of mushrooms I photographed some too a key sight and sign of autumns for me which I saw increasingly those few weeks when out a bit like the autumn leaves more so in the very immediate places at home but also elsewhere it all happening that little bit early. I continued to notice berries and autumnal leaves on my Lakeside lunch time walks that following week continuing the autumnal feelings.

On 11th August I took the first picture in this photoset of trees looking autumnal leave wise on a day more autumn leaves I photographed were looking quite stunning against a bright blue sky. In the overall all-encompassing heat and bright sun during the heatwave that day some trees I saw around the estate didn’t just look slightly autumnal as I had noted in proceeding weeks a lot but looked very autumnal with lots of coloured leaves yellow especially. So this was an interesting fusion of two seasons summer and autumn in a notable way. And I loved looking at it. I had noticed a lot during that time and did that day at Lakeside how the Black-headed Gulls were really loosing their notable summer plumage - those chocolate coloured heads. When seeing a House Martin that day at Lakeside I reflected how all the Swifts had seemed to have left our shores now or in this area anyway their time in the UK was brilliant but went in a blink of an eye this year. A sure sign at that stage like the leaves that the year was for turning whilst that patch of weather was unforgettable very evident through everyone outside at Lakeside enjoying the sunshine and heat in and by the lakes which I noticed a lot on those days. The next day I photographed very bright red berries and leaves in yet more scorching weather at Lakeside, a day I ate blackberries too with autumnal early signs all around and I felt very at one with nature. I also took my first DSLR camera picture of some painted stones in honour of the NHS and key workers under a tree I loved seeing this year around the estate day so a memorable day. Alongside berries and leaves of the red varieties yet again that week and more white-headed Black-headed Gulls on my Lakeside walk the next day I enjoyed some fidgety Mallards on the lake there having a good splash in the water and I noticed the males had started to go through their eclipse with their green heads gradually going. Working from home this year meant I was observing some different things to the usual showing me the season was changing or about to change which I enjoyed. I took the second picture in this photoset of these Mallards with the young Great Crested Grebes at the park this year in it too. The next day at Lakeside I remarked how with it cloudier and grey the landscape didn’t look so tired as it normally might in late summer with colour perhaps disappearing but the autumnal colour of berries and leaves especially on trees brightened it up a bit. I felt very much like I was in autumn then. The next day at Matley in the New Forest I saw and for some photographed autumn leaves, chestnuts and mushrooms (a beefsteak fungus we felt shown in the third picture in this photoset on a tree) a bit further from home. The late summer characteristic of the very purple heather looked glorious in the rain that day too. The heather at its purple I expect of late summer but the autumn really was seeming to have come early in this strange year that day.

The next day at Hayling Island’s Earnley Triangle and oyterbeds I saw more nice berries and autumnal leaves scenes, noticing all the various berries out at the start of autumn was something I’d never appreciated and noticed so much as I did last this year so it was a nice real unique theme of my year which I enjoyed. The next day autumn was so apparent all around outside and my photos reflected that that I felt it was time start my Facebook autumn album early a collection of my autumnal subjects I enjoy doing each year for months such as autumn leaves, mushrooms, berries especially this year and more which was telling.

When we got back from our Devon and Cornwall weekend away in August which I talk about in my next of these posts on my first Lakeside walk at lunch time when back a decidedly more muddy scene than the glorious summer conditions I had before we left for the trip away on the walk after some storms signalled for me that the dizzy days of summer were numbered. The next day I was delighted to see some lovely sloes and take pictures of them at Lakeside alongside other berries, the red berries on the trees in a particular spot beside the bowl area had overcome the landscape to create a scarlet glow amongst the sea of green something so delicious to see which I took the fourth picture in this photoset of. The next day I had an amazing moment watching and photographing the Starling’s descend on our garden on mass what a sight to behold they are so noisy and lively I enjoyed this so much through the summer. But of autumnal relevance was that as I did for those few weeks a few times when they flew off I noticed they flew off in a large group just like they were doing a murmuration an iconic sight of British autumn and winter with the local population bolstered by the young ones at this time of year I often see the mini murmurations at home ahead of the bigger ones usually at different and more wild locations so this was nice. That night though summer clung on a bit in a sunny patch after a day that had thunder and lightning I took a wonderful walk at Lakeside and enjoyed once again this year seeing the group of House Martins I got very familiar with this year gliding over with a Swallow too against a lovely sky which was a great moment.

On that Friday I got a great autumnal migrating bird moment when I enjoyed one adult and two juvenile Common Terns at Lakeside, as I said in my favourite birds highlight blog as an add on this is not always a common sight here when I saw one pass through this spring my first of this year this urban, modestly sized and well used lake dominated country park so its brilliant to observe them here I was so excited again. Two of the three of them fished and dived to the backdrop of a sun glowing through a thickly clouded quite dark sky with it raining a fair bit, which was just spectacular and magical to see with music starting to play from the nearby Concorde club a restaurant and concert venue nearby which I had heard when here in the dark looking at bats two weeks earlier as darkness seemed to hint upon its arrival that Friday night. It was a day where at times it felt so autumnal in the summer months still, a subtle autumnal chill in the air and just feelings of the season and I could not believe how far the year was coming on. The slight autumnal chill was present a little as I had another key moment in the late summer/early autumn outbound bird migration in Hampshire the next day at Workman’s Lane, Hook-with-Warsash seeing a group of my first Yellow Wagtails of the year seeing these charming and key for this time of year birds for me scuttling around by ponies and cattle’s feet and faces it was a very thrilling and satisfying experience for me. We moved onto Farlington Marshes that day when the small bird migration fest continued with Wheatear, my first Whinchats of the year and memorably a second group of Yellow Wagtails in a day during a big influx of them in Hampshire. Farlington Marshes was looking redder and redder with those same berries as Lakeside growing and growing too. A packed and generally amazing Saturday that day as I referenced in other highlights blogs too. The migration fest continued on Bank Holiday Monday at the gorgeous Old Winchester Hill in the South Downs seeing Spotted Flycatchers and with them my first ever Pied Flycatcher a female and an amazing moment which I mentioned in my first of these posts about my birdwatching year. The next week the Tuesday after bank holiday back at Lakeside on one of a few social distant catch-up walks with my Dad I did once restrictions allowed I live with my Mum and her husband who share the photography and birdwatching etc. interest in case you didn’t know I usually stay with my Dad two nights a week though which was suspended in its usual form when I started working from home in March. On this walk I saw two of the Common Terns again from the Friday before with one fishing and spectacularly diving and one sitting down on a buoy on the lake. Amazing to see and lovely that their stop over was longer than the first of my year I’d seen in spring. That day I took in some nice autumnal colour sights and I also noted that dragonflies I wrote about one I saw in my last blog about my butterflies/other insects part 2 in my year for them were rather replacing butterflies as the key insect to see in my walks at Lakeside which is a sign of autumn I perhaps overlooked in years gone by as the dragonflies start later than the quintessential spring and summer butterflies and even damselflies and their season goes on longer into autumn months with a good few around so this was interesting.

The next day alongside autumnal sights I loved seeing two Common Terns again an adult hunting and a juvenile on a buoy which I got really close to and photographed. So nice to see them here again as their stopover continued. That walk, an overcast lunch time at the beginning of autumn, was eerily quiet. No constant warbles of Whitethroat, Blackcap and most commonly Chiffchaff that uplifted me at the beginning of lockdown here. Or the same unceasing buzz of insects mostly butterflies and bees in the meadow areas or chirps of the full circus of young birds on lakes that came to define the months that followed. I have remarked many times how my walks at lunch times whilst working from home, my hour of freedom locally to do what I love watching wildlife and more than when commuting in working in the office of the photography I love, have meant so much to me. I still remember the sadness as it became apparent lockdown was what we needed due to this virus coming here for everyone’s safety and the strong restrictions on our lives but everywhere spring was in abundance my favourite time of year from butterflies flying to migratory birds. But in the moment that day I realised that the most horrific thing I have seen the human race face in my lifetime came at actually the best time of year. It at that stage had pretty much always been spring or summer when we’ve faced these strange times and more often than not been very nice weather. It was in this moment that day I’ve really thought about how much being outside has meant to me in these times. And there is a sense of sadness again that the spring and summer was coming to an end. And I think this was adding to an underlying feeling I’d had at that time that this feels like the end of the year or the end of the summer holidays when I was a kid a bit as the season changes and all the feelings it brings. But it’s the way of the seasons, how they immerse you to be able to give you these familiar feelings of what one month should look, feel, taste and smell like to the next, which makes nature a powerful force which it has been amazing to be so close to every day.

That Thursday alongside seeing the Common Terns pretty close and making the most of the House Martins yet again, on the theme of bird migration I loved this year’s late summer/early autumn one I got one of my birding moments of the year and working from home when I was astounded to within a flock including a Chiffchaff and tit species Blue and Long-tailed see two Spotted Flycatchers and get pictures including the fifth in this photoset. It’s a bird I still see as a little scarce when I see them in the New Forest or wherever and I certainly did not expect to see them at the urban country park right next to where we live. This like a few other bird, butterfly, dragon/damselfly and flower moments I’ve had on my working from home Lakeside walks really opened my eyes to just what my local patch can host when you just look and listen and hope I guess and it made me so happy I was over the moon. Coming the week I saw the Pied Flycatcher with Spotted Flycatchers at Old Winchester Hill my first ever and the latest in a longer list than ever of Spotted Flycatcher sightings for me in a year it allowed me to really celebrate my connection to and relationship with this bird, they are a bird that always seem to turn up at sites often unexpected local ones generally in a year in Hampshire in numbers at the end of summer/beginning of autumn I have very delicious feelings towards that time for year for them and for that to come to my doorstep was amazing! They did get added to my B list of favourite birds in September too. What a moment.

The next day I liked seeing mushrooms on the green out the front that Friday evening, something I love photographing and taking in every autumn and always excites me for this naturally rich season. I saw yet more Yellow Wagtails by cow’s feet as it showed its always worth looking at this time of year at Pennington in the Lymington-Keyhaven nature reserve a week after the first this year getting cracking views of three birds. It was the first time I had ever actually seen them at three locations in a year/a late summer/autumn. Everyone was seeing these birds at that stage too it was amazing to be a part of it. I enjoyed seeing bright red berries and fungi on that walk by the sea too. I did a spot of mushroom hunting at Ashley Walk in the New Forest the next day finding some nice ones including some big white ones wrapped in bright purple heather which made for a good photo opportunity I took the sixth in this photoset of it and was great to see. At Lakeside the Monday that followed as I walked behind the steam railway station and visitor centre on a path at Lakeside I remarked at how the bright green leaves synonymous with seeing a White-letter Hairstreak butterfly I find that I looked for there most of the summer had turned to yellow as I’d photographed. But autumn did a vanishing act in that part of the country park as I couldn’t see the yellow leaves on trees that day. Most likely as August’s storms had displaced them leaving the yet-to-turn green leaves to give the impression they were never there but I did see some further down the path. And further on in my walk I spotted some delightful bright red mushrooms on the woodland floor. That Wednesday I photographed two more lovely red autumnal signs at Lakeside a fallen bright and nice red leaf on the grass and an apple too which I loved photographing. Red berries were something I enjoyed so much that day too and as I sat on a bench for once and took in the world that lunch time I was immersed in noisy Starlings gathering in the nearby allotments a highlight of this time of year. The next day at Lakeside as I noted an interesting transition period in hot and sunny weather with lots of summer scenes out in the landscape as well as autumnal ones I saw a cracking purply/brown mushroom a big one too as well as leaves visible from the house turning yellow on a tree as bright green as a lot of the rest of the landscape.

I had a fungi fest on the green out the front on a Friday the next day as I was so happy to see a usual one here which I love and one of the few I know shaggy ink cap pop up on the green at the front of the house. I photographed that morning and evening on walks as well as some stunning and big brown ones on the evening walk which looked lovely in the sun. The pictures made them look like plastic. I remarked on how I was loving the fungi season ramping up and pleased once more with my new macro lens for quality and detail it can produce just like with butterflies, flowers and other insects and really excited for the fuller season ahead. Of autumnal note the next day at Farlington Marshes were lots of nice red berry scenes, a great view of some blackberries which I photographed alongside much more, Starlings beginning to murmurate in a hot and sunny patch against a bright blue sky which was great, for a third Saturday running yet more Yellow Wagtails and another bird I got my best ever views of that day quite a big bird for Farlington in late summer/early autumn and one its known you can see very well in autumn the spectacularly looking wader the Curlew Sandpiper with two seen by us that day with a Dunlin. Martin Down the next day where we so often go in spring and summer felt different for us to see with a pinch of autumnal colour mostly from berries but some leaves too than when we normally go. I enjoyed yet more mushrooms on the green out the front the next day and enjoyed some berries at Lakeside. The next day alongside colourful slight autumnal sights at Lakeside in a heatwave on my walk I was sad to see all the mushrooms mowed over when the green out the front was mowed. I said it in this highlights blog last year when I noticed some shaggy inkcaps deliberately knocked over on the green one of the pitfalls of an urban area I suppose whilst I have loved exploring the world immediately around me this year. The next day at Lakeside I noticed among mushrooms and other autumnal coloured leaves on my walk a very small amount of red leaves on the usual prominent and tall trees I have noticed go really nice and red for years. Looking at Facebook memories the next morning though I saw the first picture I took of one of these trees in full bright red colour was taken five years to that day and the very small bit of red was nothing compared to the full tree of that day in 2015 I started to realise maybe in terms of coloured leaves this autumn wasn’t so early after all or somehow managed to slow down but this is only one type of tree I suppose. The landscape took a much greener look during that September heatwave though so it was like going backwards at home a bit. That next day I did spot more red autumnal leaves and berries in different parts of Lakeside, as well as apple trees and a nice few michaelmas daisies a key part of autumn I always think not something I’d seen at Lakeside before so this was great. I enjoyed lots of autumnal sights when we went to Norfolk in September as my ninth highlights blog this year mentions, and when we returned home from that on the Saturday there was a sprinkling of autumnal colour including at Lakeside and out the front on a little walk more so than when we went away in places which I enjoyed.

The next day that Sunday at Fleet Pond we had a very autumnal walk around. Notable that day compared to before we went on holiday was the autumnal chill in the air that you always seem to suddenly notice at this time of year warranting my jacket on for the whole walk, as well as lots of chestnuts and acorns around in the woods the first time this year I had seen so many. This was added to by signs of autumn I had already taken in a lot this year, red berries, multi-coloured leaves like I had noticed some more of in the woods visible from my bedroom window that morning in the sun it was a nice sunny day mostly that one and mushrooms. Indeed among a few others I noticed my all-important first red fly agaric of the year my favourite and an iconic mushroom in woods up and down the country in autumn. But unfortunately they’d been knocked over, seeing some was nice just a shame they weren’t in tact. I saw so many Black-headed Gulls sharply in winter plumage that day at Fleet Pond too. The next day I enjoyed more autumnal sights at Lakeside like berries and some flowering together which I took a picture of, and in truth the whole place took on an ever so slight crimson glow thanks to some leaves that had turned red, not least the tall trees I look at every year in autumn that go the best scarlet shade that just had some leaves red now which made for some great landscape opportunities on a memorable walk that day for me due to wildlife sightings and photos taken with so many as I posted about in other highlights posts this year the autumnal features made for good landscape and other opportunities. The next day I was very happy to see another shaggy ink cap mushroom on the green out the front of the house that had grown up which I photographed, alongside more autumnal colour in a leaf in the front garden and Lakeside I photographed on a sunny lunch time walk. That week I noticed a lot of little flowering on trees almost like blossom but obviously not in autumn and on the Wednesday I took a picture of the red with white behind flowers in a flower pot at the front of the house which was great. Bramble flowers was something I enjoyed seeing a lot in autumn this year.

The next day on lunch as I walked out also I took a landscape a nice angle looking over trees in autumnal colour I noticed the view from this angle walking down the street during that week but I didn’t have time to take a photo on the day so I wanted to have a go at it again and that day after a sunny start and then clouding over the sun just started to come out so it was quite nicely lit and I was pleased with the photo. What I noticed when looking at this photo on my laptop was that in someone’s window visible in the background you can see a drawn rainbow on paper stuck in the inside of the window. Something many of us did to show our appreciation to our National Health Service for the incredible work they’ve done during the pandemic and always, become a strong symbol in these past few months and one of the defining images of lockdown and the coronavirus pandemic in the UK and 2020. So it was great to photograph this or have it in my photo anyway. And it was fitting to take the picture on a Thursday as Thursdays for 10 weeks during the strictest parts of the first lockdown we all came to our balconies, windows etc. to clap for our care workers and key workers one of the most heartening things about 2020. So it was nice to take this picture this Thursday. It rained a little bit as I walked to Lakeside via the path running to the north of it outside of the park in the estate but the sun was never far away. These conditions giving me great opportunity for raindrop and reflection photos on the lakes something I loved doing in early autumn. Going along it became fittingly to open the autumnal month of October a very autumnal walk with some nice colours in the trees. It was interesting this really told me seeing these we were getting towards peak colour festival for how the leaves on trees look now. It wasn’t just one tree here or there or leaves starting to show colour as it had been for a good few months with an early start to autumn this year now but everything was starting to really go into sweet colour. And I must say I don’t think locally over Lakeside or around the estate I have celebrated autumn leaves here as much as I should have over the years. So seeing it that day made me think of the New Forest and Richmond and Bushy Parks places I have seen glorious autumnal colour over the years and it gave me the same sense of ripeness which excites me as at those places showing the amazing things I can see very locally once again a big theme for me of this year.

The next day I noticed just how red the trees were starting to look my favourite colour, photographing this at home, Lakeside and on a nostalgic visit to a childhood haunt I am proud of and other bits of Eastleigh which I hadn’t seen for a while and found charming to again Grantham Green. That day was a very wet day showing the weather was looking more autumnal then with quite a few minor floods and big puddles at Lakeside and home and wet weather wanderers snail and slug on our door when I left for my lunch time walk. This autumn I noticed a lot when it rained and Lakeside looked wetter and fuller being able to notice differences in water levels as I walked there most days. Specifically posted in other highlights blogs this year it was a marvellous Friday of birdwatching with lots of species I don’t normally see so locally so the rain possibly put things in different places. I also saw decent amounts of House Martin and particularly Swallow after not seeing many there for a while at Lakeside as they were close to migrating. The next day that Saturday at Farlington Marshes I had the all-important autumn moment seeing my first Brent Geese of the season far off in a day I saw waders and other birds in great numbers including Ringed Plover and Little Egrets. We had a really nice walk around, as the sun came out but stormy weather that we were right in the middle of Storm Alex at that time never stayed far away with dark skies in places which were really quite dramatic to see. In fact of the 28 pictures I produced that day 24 were landscapes and I don’t think there’s one of them which doesn’t have a dramatic sky scene within it. So this made this one of my best ever days for taking pictures with nice and dramatic skies in I think and seeing skies generally typical scenes for the start of autumn really which made me feel really good. It was interesting then to have a bit a theme running through my photos that day which helps define the day in my head a bit. Having done so many Saturday visits here over those few months from June onwards there is overlap between the landscapes I take in each one but so many of this set of photos were unique. Such a memorable afternoon because of that. There was also more nice autumnal colour in the landscape a strong theme on our walks at that stage.

I had one of my best moments of the autumn with two more key moments of any autumn on a fairly wet day walking from Blackwater in the New Forest the next day. I saw my first two un-knocked over red fly agaric mushrooms which I loved studying and taking in their fantastic and bright colours a flat and a round one I took pictures to. I enjoyed so many mushrooms that day with some nice brown ones seen too and so many white ones, lots together at many points with some amongst some heather again as well. Then on a packed walk for wildlife sightings we also came across a herd of Red Deers during their rut which was fantastic to see. We spent some amazing minutes watching a stag with big antlers and some females I really was so happy to see them. On a generally great day of deers with a Muntjac seen too as I mentioned in my New Forest highlights post the fourth one I was just so thrilled to see a group of Red Deers in the brilliant New Forest I had not seen them here nearly enough whilst I’ve seen them so well in other locations over the last decade. They are one of the star piece of wildlife in the New Forest so it was just smashing to see them. Some great moments with one of my favourite mammals. I took the seventh picture in this photoset of one of the females.

On the day after I liked seeing some very little mushrooms on the green out the front which I photographed that day and enjoyed all of that week, some autumnal leaves with flowers in the garden and yet more nice autumn leaves and red berries scenes at Lakeside, mostly notably I liked observing that with the red autumn leaves I see every year and enjoy here I was noticing them gradually turn red with one special patch of this which I took a photo of going bright red so I rather enjoyed that. The next day in one of the floods that had formed on the Friday at Lakeside I loved seeing Mallard wallowing in it on a field a lovely natural moment with dragonflies flying over this nice little bit of water too as I mentioned in my second butterflies and other insects highlights post this lived long in the memory. I enjoyed lots more great autumnal colours on that walk and that evening seeing the regular Greylag Geese that I hadn’t as much as over the spring and summer over Lakeside flying past the house to the backdrop of a lowering sun felt like a nice autumnal moment geese flying and flocking a strong autumnal motifs of nature bringing back memories of the Pink-footed Geese I loved seeing flying in at Norfolk as I mention in the ninth of these posts. I enjoyed more autumnal colour scenes the next day at Lakeside as I did all of that week and it was nice to see Pied Wagtails over the house as I did the next day too a winter visitor to the garden alongside a few of those like Robins that had been coming in over that time a key part of autumn seeing signs of natural parts of winter or winters of ours of the past to come. Yet more autumnal colour and some more shaggy ink caps and other mushrooms on the green out the front awaited me on an amazing Friday I had for wildlife and photos that Friday as I took pictures of all of this and reflected on how I liked how much time working from home gave me to really observe mushrooms out the front this year. The shaggy ink caps on the green is something I watched around working in Winchester On a mostly very sunny day I saw some nice sky scenes I did so much that week with night drawing in taking so many memorable sky pictures from the house. I also saw a moon out in the day time something I enjoyed a lot this year that day and got a picture.

The next day before going to Bushy Park on the Saturday I had a dental hygienist appointment in Winchester, I switched dentists after my Eastleigh one stopped doing evening appointments to one in Winchester as I work there before I began working from home in response to the pandemic hence why I went on a Saturday morning. Before getting picked up by my Mum to come home I had a little walk around from the dentist opposite St. Thomas Church to near my office in glorious sunshine taking in some wonderful autumnal coloured leaves especially more red that week scenes which I always say Winchester is so good for I took some phone pictures of this. The next day whilst Swallows still hung on by the coast at Pennington I got some memorable autumn moments when alongside some coloured leaves in the landscape I loved seeing lots of waterfowl notably many Wigeons and Shoveler and some Pintail my first of the season come in a key bit of autumn. As I mentioned in my general birdwatching and New Forest highlights posts we also got the amazing moment of seeing the blown in by autumn storms Grey Phalarope and mega bird the Wilson’s Phalarope a new one for us that day one of the best moments of autumn birdwatching we had this year and ever for sure getting beyond cracking close views of both. I took the eighth picture in this photoset of the Wilson’s. The next day was a key Monday of my autumn as I enjoyed some nice autumnal sky scenes that morning, shaggy ink caps on the green, yellow autumn leaves on our plants and more autumnal colour at Lakeside I did a closeup photo of some of the red leaves I like looking at every year that day which was interesting. Also alongside masses of the usual suspects and a Blue Tit I don’t always see I noticed my first Pied Wagtail in the garden of the season that day after a few days of seeing them in the area. In winters 2018-19 and 2019-20 they had become a winter visitor to our garden and that alongside the sheer numbers of everything else made me feel the days of winter ahead and the natural world getting ready for it in a sense which is what autumn is all about. It fascinates me each year now how the Pied Wagtails and other birds just seem to know it’s time to visit the garden and nearby when they need bird feeders with natural food harder to find and that through winter months, they are such fascinating creatures and it’s nice to rely on birds to tell you the time of year out of habit. I loved seeing the Greylag Geese flying over the house and at Lakeside that day even if they’re not a migrating population species there is something so autumnal about geese flying in flocks.

The next day when I walked at lunch time I loved seeing the shaggy ink cap mushroom colony on the green at the front of the house again. They looked brilliant and had grown up so much since the day before when I first noticed them, some were still white, others had morphed nicely into the familiar bell or lampshade like figure they become which I liked photographing. But then I noticed a few of something I had never seen for these mushrooms before, in between the white column of the mushroom and the final shape they were flat, I found this great to see and really interesting, you can certainly see how they get their name with that sticky ink like substance on them almost dripping from them I did really enjoy seeing this and getting photos. On the walk at Lakeside that day I took in some stunning colourful autumnal leaves scenes once more getting to see some real ripe and vibrant colour. It was probably one of my best days of the autumn for views of autumn leaves and mushrooms and photos I took of them that day which was great I was pleased with what I took of the scenes. The next day I enjoyed more great views of a silvery looking a great colour shaggy ink cap mushroom out the front, as on a sunny day I enjoyed a plethora of autumnal colour particularly red but some yellow in the landscape visible from and right around me at Lakeside I even photographed a red fallen leaf which was fascinating to see. A comforting day of autumnal colour, as that day I also walked around the roads for additional exercise and photographed a line of trees down a road which I had photographed in nice purple blossom from the other end admittedly in late March days before the first strict lockdown which felt so recent still at that stage as discussion of the need for another strict lockdown dominated the nation’s minds there was interesting parallels in sandwiching those dizzy summer days of rich green the two staging posts in the year of these trees and the year of us all. I saw a Pied Wagtail again on this walk around getting a memorable picture of one on a roof.

On 15th October in glorious sunshine and in that crisp and useful for photos sunlight of the time of year, with some nice raw autumnal light too just before getting to Lakeside I liked photographing more shaggy ink cap mushrooms I saw more mushrooms on the green out the front when back too as well as take in yet more red and yellow gorgeous autumnal leaves in the sunshine at home and at Lakeside, where a view of a Jay among others reminded me what an autumn bird they are with their association with acorns. Another peaceful, relaxing and mushroom and red and yellow autumn leaf particularly certain trees some of the tallest at Lakeside gone yellow dominated sunny day awaited at Lakeside the next day. With the night’s drawing in an early evening Friday walk became a walk at sunset as I took in stunning views of the sun coming down and felt nice walking back along the streets to be in the sunset scene I usually see from my room to a degree a great day that one. The next Friday I had a work online social after work the weekend before the clocks went back so this walk became a fitting last second Friday walk of the year something I really enjoyed especially in the summer.

As mentioned in my New Forest highlight post on 17th October we went to Ashley Walk/Leaden Hall in the New Forest getting exciting view of wonderful Ring Ouzels on autumn migration and other birds as well as it being a memorable day for mushrooms. On the walk I heard a Fallow Deer stag barking a lot and we saw it with its quite large hareem of females looking very dark and with big antlers. A great moment during the fallow rut, it was nice to see fallows during those few weeks where I saw so many deer species and loads so well in various parts of the country a real celebration of deers for me and fallows really began my love for deers being the first I really saw up close when really interested in wildlife and my first favourite I now have three deers on my list of favourite mammals. Sticking with mammals and the grazing animals of the New Forest on the way home by Bramshaw I was delighted to see my first pigs out for pannage this autumn so when commoners exercise their right of pannage to turn out pigs and allow them to roam the forest to eat the acorns of which there was a very large crop of this year very notably which meant the time period pannage lasted was extended which are harmful to the ponies. I enjoy seeing pigs freely roaming around the New Forest every year it is a popular sight in the forest and so important for the management of the New Forest with helping out the ponies. We saw a handful of pigs together and I loved taking pictures of them in a very nice looking typical New Forest village and countryside area near to Bramshaw. We got some great views of them as well as sheep and donkeys behind a fence as they walked down the lane. Whilst watching them I was delighted hear the noise they made as they munched through the acorns on the floor which were clearly visible and I was reminded what all this was for. A special and classic autumnal or you could say “only in the New Forest” moment. Ending a fantastic and joyful afternoon out where we saw iconic New Forest wildlife and sights. The next day at Gilkicker Point and Stokes Bay, after seeing another Pied Wagtail on the garages at home, as well as some autumnal colour and views of Michaelmas daisies a large group of them brightening up a grey afternoon alongside a good few other nice flowers seen there as Sunday rather became my flower day this year I was thrilled to see another Grey Phalarope this autumn getting more cracking and close up views of this stunning bird as one was blown into Gilkicker Pond. I very often go onto see more of them in a year once I see one. Such a nice autumn moment to follow it for a fantastic few minutes getting those stunning views and observing it from above and at eye level. One of my best nature moments of the year. It was nice how lots of non-birdwatchers noticed and were impressed and intrigued by this distinctive little bird close by that day really nice how a Grey Phalarope united people and got people talking about nature. Other highlights at Gilkicker as well as Jays seen flying from the car in a field and on the ground on the way you see so many Jays in autumn as I was reminded of nicely this year with them stashing acorns were; Greenfinch, Carrion Crows in some interesting positions like on a car roof and picking seaweed and with other interesting things in their mouths and gathering in a large group with Herring Gulls I got a picture of mine of the group in the Hampshire Chronicle via the camera club a nice bit of urban seaside bird action and Kestrel with prey in its talons. I was also fascinated by Gilkicker Point’s position sticking out into the solent allowing me to see the Spinnakar Tower and other bits of Portsmouth one side, Fawley power station the other and Ryde and the rest of the Isle of Wight ahead over the water. I detected a light brown colour different to green when looking at the island in the landscape and picked out the beautiful former royal residence Osborne House imposing itself on the landscape which was nice. This brought back strong childhood memories of Isle of Wight holidays. That Sunday we came home via Hill Head further down the coast where I loved seeing loads of Brent Geese more than my first autumn sighting of them at Farlington on the sea close in by the shore further down and a beautiful flock of mostly male Eiders out to sea seen very well a cracking view really. Also here and further up the coast a sort of early sunset occurred over the water in a gap between the Isle of Wight and the mainland a red glow in the afternoon, something I had seen elsewhere last winter which made me feel a little wintery as did a bit of gloom that afternoon I must say which again is what autumn is very much about.

The next day and the one after and that whole week I enjoyed taking in many more red and yellow autumnal leaves scenes including the canopy visible from my room and tree visible from it in lovely sunshine I enjoyed taking a unique photo of the former fittingly in a week where “#Autumnwatch” was the photo theme in a Facebook group I am in ahead of the BBC’s series of that this year one of my favourite TV programmes the Springwatch edition particularly inspiring and uplifting for me this year as they took the spirit of optimism and re-connection to nature and touched on Black Lives Matter very well during strict lockdown key themes of this year here. This year I put lots of my pictures into different groups on Facebook as well and that’s been something massive to come out of my time working from home, taking pictures during it and how I post them and use my time that I’m now posting my pictures onto different themed Facebook groups as a ritual. This group, the Hampshire Chronicle camera club which has allowed me among online associations and many moments sharing and seeing other’s pictures has allowed me to get some of my pictures into the Hampshire Chronicle newspaper which I am so thankful for, general wildlife and birding groups, the Self Isolating Bird Club launched by Chris Packham, Megan McCubbin and co. quite on theme, a cloud and sky picture group I’ve been in for ages all big groups so I just like posting the pictures somewhere and interacting with strangers because of them it’s really been a great way for me to stay connected in these times. I love my Twitter friends and I love tweeting my pictures that page and this one for me are everything I have ever wanted as somewhere to post my photos and experiences with lots of lovely people and a fantastic broad community and I always get so much out of sharing with you but it’s just quite nice for the Facebook groups each day thinking right what photo did I take for this theme etc and get me thinking and a nice way to further share my photos on my platforms in more specific themed groups. On both of those days I took pictures of the tree out the back with some red/yellow autumn colour what I first ever noticed this tree for in autumn taking pictures of the coloured leaves and the second day it looked that little bit redder interesting symmetry to spring as I said in my first butterflies highlights post when this tree blossomed and seemed to have more blossom on it every time I looked out the window to it so this was nice. Photographing it that day 20th October my Dad’s birthday meant I photographed it exactly two years on my first or one of my first photos of it on my Dad’s birthday in 2018, but in 2018 the leaves were all really yellow there was a lot of green on them on 20th October this year so maybe the fast autumn wasn’t quite keeping pace with other years. On the Wednesday I saw another nice shaggy inkcap mushroom on the green out the front, it was also nice to notice a Magpie picking amongst fallen leaves on the green the fallen leaves a common sight and theme of that October week on a fairly rainy lunch time walk as well as a Pied Wagtail including it chirping nicely around the garden again. On the very sunny Thursday of that key autumnal week for me as well as mushrooms out the front and shaggy inkcap actually in Lakeside and the usual bright yellow and red colours that week looking so nice in the sun I noticed a tree I’d photographed nice and green the Friday night before with autumnal colour now and that tree out the back was redder and yellower as it seemed to come into autumn leaf quite fast too. On a day I produced loads of pictures on a sunny day with how many were autumnal subjects it did feel a bit like a pinnacle of my autumn. I loved taking some different types of pictures of just some autumn leaves on the ground red and yellow like the ones in the ninth picture in this photoset that Friday at Lakeside a day at lunch time I saw some interesting looking mushrooms which seemed to resemble nipples which was quite funny.

There was more entertainment and much more fungi the next day as we went to Pig Bush in the New Forest for our usual October visit as that’s when we first went to this place we love so much one of my favourite New Forest spots as it looks as it did that first visit that month and this October marked a decade since we first went there, and for the first time in that decade we saw some pigs there at Pig Bush! Or on the walk from Pig Bush. As we walked down towards woods by a railway bridge we saw three and then a massive group of about 20 of them, young and adult, completely pink, black spotty or half black and half pink so a true variety and we loved watching them for a good few minutes our second pigs out for pannage seen this year. The most pigs I have ever seen together before, one of my best days ever for pigs. That wet New Forest walk was also perhaps my best ever day for fungi as in the autumn wonderland of the woods beyond the ford nearer to the car park there were many fallen leaves so perfect for the nutrient loving fruiting bodies of the fungi, the mushrooms of which we saw a huge variety of for shapes, size and colour. There really was a mushroom everywhere we looked on that forest floor it was a real feast for the eyes, I took so many pictures of them that day one of my best ever autumn moments. This really captivated me which is what its all about. This completed perhaps my best ever week of autumn photos. The next day was another New Forest classic in which I produced over 40 pictures in my first visit to Rockford Common since 2018 a very nostalgic visit for me coming here in autumn when we so often came here between 2014 and 2017 I would say so many memories, another very beautiful spot. It was that usual first post-clocks going back walk, with a jacket needed on for the whole walk and a certain feel to it when the sun shone but a gloomy shadow across the landscape when it did not. That day became another brilliant day for autumn leaves and mushrooms as I saw so many more of the latter of a great variety and especially it was brilliant to see lots of red fly agarics my favourite mushrooms I’d maybe never seen so many at once before in a great autumn for me for them I took so many pictures with my macro lens of them that day the first of those with my macro this year as I had taken some at Blackwater before with my big lens. One of those Blackwater ones actually I made my Twitter display picture for a monthly rotation that day the first mushroom picture ever to be this for me. It was a fantastic fix of fly agaric that day at Rockford Common I was honoured to see so many taking one of my best ever pictures of one too and I have photographed so many over the years. That photo also appeared in the Hampshire Chronicle as part of a lucky and amazing run where I was so fortunate to have one of my photos published in it for six consecutive weeks. That day I was also thrilled to see my all-important first Fieldfare and first Redwings of the autumn with Starlings in good numbers on the heath too. Before that I took pictures of the tree visible in someone’s garden from my room really looking bright and yellow hitting its peak for colour and some colour in the landscape visible from my room. The next day more autumn leaves at home and Lakeside where I enjoyed so many more lovely colourful scenes again that week, nice brown mushrooms out the front and at Lakeside and a Pied Wagtail by the garden again all greeted me, a day that a rainbow shone in the mostly sunny day in the morning it was surreal the sun setting before I finished work in my room.

That Wednesday at Lakeside I noticed whilst some autumn leaves were still on trees, after wet and windy weather a lot were on the floor and it was as though someone had flicked the switch from autumn to winter with swathes of bare patches on trees in the landscape. That day I also loved noticing a large charm of finches over Lakeside, containing Goldfinch or Siskin or likely both big flocks of these do come here in the winter which threw me forward to those days. I also saw that day maybe my biggest mushrooms of the season as helped by the inspiring BBC Autumnwatch I realised what an amazing autumn for mushrooms as well as so much else in a rich one it was. The next day it was nice to speak to some fellow admirers of the lonely tree that goes bright red by the visitor centre at Lakeside at a safe social distance to comment on how lovely it looked as I photographed it looking very rich in colour which was lovely. I also saw my first winter thrush at Lakeside of the season seeing a noteworthy Fieldfare on a tree north of the steam railway station. A Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tit flock of decent numbers and a great variety of garden birds again at home before the walk were pleasing moments that day too. The amount of birds seen especially little ones seems so synonymous with this time of year. That continued the next day a gloomy and blustery affair for sure with the tits again, Starlings and Black-headed Gulls on my walk around the green out the front and Lakeside. That week with it being the kid’s half term the steam railway train at Lakeside was running and seeing it shoot along the track out of trees emerging quite a lot in rainy and misty conditions was so atmospheric and beautiful. A variety of coastal birds including lots of lovely Brent Geese flying over, Spotted Redshank, other waders and lots and lots of Wigeons, as well as nice interesting and atmospheric light for the time of year amongst it the novelty still of being out when the sun set when out on weeks was waiting for me the next day. I took the tenth and final picture in this photoset of autumn leaves on a bush in our garden in a bit of sun before we went out that day. I wrote about the end of my autumn in my 11th bonus highlights blog the last one about my November and December.

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #328

okay i’m going the fuck to bed now. @_@

Have you ever worn fake eyelashes? No; the only time I ever will will possibly be my wedding, if even then. Could you possibly write a successful novel? I think I'm capable, but I don't believe it will happen. Who’s the last person you video-chatted with? My therapy group via Zoom. Do ski lifts make you nervous or do you like them? Never been in one, but they seem cool. Have you ever had dandruff? I have dandruff AND a dry scalp. Nice combo. Do you think sleeve tattoos look trashy? Please explain to me how ANY tattoo inherently equates to being "trashy." I actually love sleeve tats. Have you ever gone through a phase of crushing on EVERYONE? No. I experienced a few crushes my freshman year of high school, but they weren't just anybody. If you had to get a portrait tattoo, who would it be of? I may or may not get a tattoo of Darkiplier doing his i c o n i c debut smile somewhere, but idk. I already have one tattoo related to Mark and would kill for another with his handwriting, so having three would be a bit... wild, haha. Do you have any stickers on any of your electronic devices? No. Do you like the smell of men’s colognes better than woman’s perfumes? Usually. Can you remember what you last clapped for? Yes; everyone in group clapped for one of the women taking a big step against her agoraphobia. Is your hair damaged? No, it's actually super healthy. Are you in charge of cleaning anything in your household? The litterbox and my room in general. Ever carved/written anything on a park bench? No. Most interesting place you’ve ever visited? Chicago was a big shock to me. I am FAR from used to cities that incredible and stocked. Do you keep your eyebrows more thick or thin? I don't groom them, so they're on the thicker end. Do you always wear a bra? Not at home and if there's no company. Do your shoulder blades protrude? No. Have you ever won on one of those grabber machine things? Yeah, a few times. Are you gonna French kiss your hubby at your wedding? Who says I'm marrying a man? But whatever, no. Keep that behind closed doors. How many bananas have you ever eaten in a row? No more than two. I usually don't even have two. Have you ever had sex outside? No. Have you ever been outside naked? No. Have you ever been in a shrubbery maze? No. You ever like someone who liked you back, but didn’t want a relationship?: That's pretty much where I'm at now. Have you ever fallen for someone who didn’t feel the same? No. Are you financially stable? No. Mom can barely afford rent right now; I had to pay it last month with gifted money. Are you emotionally stable? hunny Do you think kids these days are growing up too quickly? I kinda think so, yeah. It's funny how different kids are now compared to when I was whatever age they are. I try to be open-minded about it, though; times change, and I don't expect my generation to be the only "right" way to have grown up. I just think kids are chasing the power of "maturity" with much more vigor. Are you a rebel? Not really. Do you like when people use proper grammar on the Internet? Yeah. I like conversing with people who type just how they talk, like me. Have you ever driven or been a passenger on a motorcycle? Neither. I don't want to ride one. Do you use standard time, or 24 hour time? Standard time. Do you enjoy NASCAR? "HE'S MAKIN ANOTHER LEFT TURRRRRRN!" Lol no, I really don't. Who is the most fascinating person you’ve met? Probably Sara, honestly. What amazing adventures have you been on? What's this "adventure" you speak of? What would you do if had enough money to not need a job? Lots of traveling with my camera, still selling art anyway. What TV series do you keep coming back to and re-watching? None. What would your perfect vacation look like? Y'know, one of those glass dome ceiling cabin... things in the mountains with Sara would be so, SO cool. So much nature for us to explore. What are some obscure things that you are or were really into? Most of my interests honestly, haha. The strangest is probably "vulture culture," in which the remains (typically the bones) of a naturally deceased wild animal are basically recycled for some sort of artistic purpose. You could consider my roadkill photography an example. What are some things everyone should try at least once? I dunno, man. Depends on what you're into. What would your perfect morning be like? Cuddles with an s/o watching some funny videos or something like that to get in some morning laughter. What are you always game for? Video games, haha. What do you do to unwind? Watch YouTube. What’s your favorite piece of furniture you’ve ever owned? I don't have a fave. What would be the best city to live in? I don't want to live in a city. What would you like to know more about, but haven’t had the time to look into it? Time isn't an issue; I just haven't. There's lots of stuff. I'm a very curious person. How have you changed from when you were in high school? I'm less depressed, but more confused, scared, and much less motivated. Imagine a chicken wandering around with its head chopped off. Where is the most fun place around where you live? Nothing, really... Where would your friends or family be most surprised to find you? Like, a strip club or something. What’s expensive but totally worth it? This depends on what's important to you. For me, a quality DSLR camera. When do you feel most out of place? Whenever I'm some place fancy. What’s the most recent thing you’ve done for the first time? No idea. What small seemingly insignificant decision had a massive impact on your life? Accepting Jason's friend request on Facebook because I thought it was a different Jason I actually knew. What did you do last summer? Nothing, just stayed indoors trying not to melt into a sizzling puddle. What are you most grateful for? My mom. What’s the most essential part of a friendship? Trust, maybe. When was the last time you walked for more than an hour? Many, many years ago when I used to walk outside for hours with my iPod. All modesty aside, what are you better at than 90% of people? It doesn’t have to be useful or serious, it can be something ridiculous. 90% is a lot, man. Maybe bonding with animals? What’s the strangest phone conversation you’ve ever had? I don’t know. What do you like but are kind of embarrassed to admit? If I'm embarrassed by it, I have no interest in sharing it. What skill or ability have you always wanted to learn? Even just a smidge of social skills. What’s the best meal you’ve ever had? Probably the spicy shrimp fritas at Olive Garden. I adore those sooooooooo so much. Where was your favorite place to go when you were a kid? The zoo. We didn't go often at all, but I would frequently nag Mom about going. What’s something that most people haven’t done, but you have? Fed a freshly severed rat to a vulture. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I wanna go back to that bird rescue... What says the most about a person? How they treat others. What machine or appliance in your house aggravates you the most? The dryer. It can take a few rounds to fully dry something. What places have you visited that exceeded your expectations? Chicago, that I actually remember. Disney World probably did, but I was just a little kid and only have faint memories of the trip. What’s the worst advice someone has given you? I don't know. Besides your home and your work, where do you spend most of your time? People leave their houses? What are your top 3 favorite things to talk about? Mark, meerkats, and video games. When you were a kid, what seemed like the best thing about being a grown up? No one could tell me no for "stupid" reasons. What’s the strangest way you’ve become friends with someone? Strange way? I haven't got a clue. What’s your favorite band NAME (not necessarily your favorite band)? Maybe Cradle of Filth. Badass metal name. There are a lot of good ones, though. What’s your favorite thing to do outdoors? Take pictures of flowers or animals. How often do you dance? Silly/ironic dancing counts. Essentially never. Who besides your parents taught you the most about life? Jason, I guess. What’s been the most significant plot twist in your own life? The breakup that I thought was physically impossible, entirely unfathomable. Where did you take family vacations to when you were younger? We didn't really go on vacations. If you could instantly receive a Ph.D. in any discipline including all the knowledge and experience that goes along with it, what would your Ph.D. be in? Biology. What are the top three social situations you try to avoid most? Anywhere where I have to speak publicly; parties/get-togethers involving people I don't know; anywhere that is extremely crowded. Just social situations in general, really... What friendship you’ve had has impacted you the most? My friendship with Sara. What’s something you’re interested in that most people wouldn’t expect? Uhhh I don't know, really. What’s the hardest you’ve worked for something? My recovery from the breakup. What took you way too long to figure out? The only person who had any right to control my happiness and will to live was myself. What nicknames have you had throughout your life? If you include online ones as well, there's Britt, Britt-Britt, Twinkie, Bee, Flower, Ruby, Mozart2, Ozz(y), Alessa, and uhhh... I wanna say that's it? What do you do differently than most people? I deconstruct my breakfast biscuits to eat one part at a time... haha. Where’s the last place you’d ever go? Prison. What fact floored you when you heard it? That my dad did some hard drugs before us kids were born. I was entirely speechless. Have you ever watched a needle go into your own skin? Yeah, it doesn't bother me. Have you ever spent more than two weeks in a wheelchair? No. Does weed smell good? Or no? Ugh, no. It smells awful. Do you blow dry your hair or do you let it air out? Air dry. Do you catch lizards? No; I don't like the idea of catching wild animals just to pick up and check out. That poor critter is terrified. I'd rather just take pictures of it and let it go about its day. Would you rather get a big tattoo or small tattoo? I want my next tattoo to be a big'n. How many pills do you take every morning? I absolutely do not want to count. A whole lot. What was the last parade you went to? /shrug What theme would you choose for a baby’s nursery? If I was hypothetically having kids, let's see. A son, absolutely dinosaurs. A daughter, maybe meadowy with baby animals. My baby blanket was full of baby animals, so it'd be kinda cute, that connection. What color would you paint a baby girl’s nursery? Not because of gender norms, but by personal choice, pastel pink. Does your first crush know that he/she was your first crush? No. What is the last thing you missed out on that you wanted to go to? Hm. Who do you wish were your best friend? I am perfectly happy with who already is my best friend. Who do you wish you could go on another date with? She knows. Who was the last friend of yours to have a baby, and what’s the baby’s name? I'm not sure, but my high school friend Megan is due to have her daughter Persephone soon! She won the naming game. Like damn, how badass would it feel for your name to be Persephone. Do you have a favorite M&M? Just the classic ones. Is it easy to make you cry? OHHHHH YES IT IS. Have you ever snuck out? Nah. Who was the last person to comment you? On Facebook? My friend Lyndsey commented on a photo I shared. What song reminds you of being in middle school? "All Signs Point to Lauderdale" by A Day To Remember is the anthem for going through puberty in school and trying to figure yourself out. What was the first thing you learned how to cook? Scrambled eggs. What’s something really basic that you’re terrible at? Cooking. Are you pale or tan? I'm very pale. When’s the last time you were kissed? On the lips, like two or so years ago. Do you like the movie Grease? Never seen it, actually. What’s your favorite Jim Carrey movie? The Mask, probably. What was the last baby animal you saw in the wild? I think a fawn. Have you been binge-watching any shows lately? If so, what? No. What’s the best physical feeling in the entire universe? I meeeaaan... Do you have bad anxiety? If so, do you take any kind of medication for it? Yes and yes. If you could, would you work from home? Do you think that would make you more or less productive? Well, it's complicated. I don't, but I also want to be a freelance photographer, so I kinda would. I like the idea of having an office in my house purely for productive activities to prevent becoming lazy because I'd be at home. Would you ever be an organ donor? I am one.

[notesonfilm1]

  Burt Lancaster got his contract with Hal B. Wallis at Paramount on the basis of a test directed by Byron Haskin with Wendell Corey and Lizabeth Scott for Desert Fury. Lucky for him, the film was not ready to shoot for another six months and he was able to fit in Robert Siodmak’s The Killers(1946)  for producer Mark Hallinger at Universal beforehand. Desert Fury started shooting two weeks before the release of The Killers but there were already whisperings of Lancaster as a big new star, and the whisperings were so loud that Hallinger gave him first billing and a big publicity build-up rather than the little ‘and introducing….’ title at the end of the credits that was then typical, and is indeed the billing offered Wendell Corey in Desert Fury as you can see in the poster above. Before Desert Fury started shooting, Hal Wallis knew he had a big fat star on his hands and that his part had to be beefed up so as to capitalise on it.

By the time the film was released on September 24th, 1947,, Burt Lancaster was the biggest star in the film. The Killers hit screens on the 29th of August 1946. As Kate Buford writes, Ít was an extraordinary debut for a complete unknown. Overnight he was a star with a meteoric rise ¨faster than Gable´s, Garbo´s or Lana Turner,¨as Cosmopolitan said years later (Buford, loc 1260). In New York the movie, ‘played twenty-four hours a day at the Winter Garden theatre, ‘where over 120,000 picture-goers filled the 1,300 seat theatre in the first two weeks, figures Variety called “unbelievably sensational.”‘ Brute Force was the fourth film Lancaster made, after I Walk Alone, but it was the second to be released, on June 30th 1947. According to Kate Buford, it too ‘set set first-week records at movie houses across the country’ (loc 1412).

  Lancaster’s status as a star is reflected in the lobby card and poster above, where in spite of being billed third, what´s being sold is what Burt Lancaster already represented, the publicity materials giving a false impression that he is much more central to the narrative than is in fact the case. His image dominates in both, and even the tag lines are attributed to him: ‘I got a memory for faces…killer´s faces…Get away from my girl…and get going’, is the tagline in the lobby card. The text on the poster reads, ´Two men wanted her love…the third wanted her life.

  In the ad below, he´s billed second, as ´the sensation of The Killers, Dynamite with the fuse lit’

When trying to recapture a past moment in relation to cinema, it´s often useful to look at trailers and other paratextual publicity materials. Trailers hold and try to disseminate the film´s promise to viewers. Of course, its purpose is to sell, to dramatise its attractions so that viewers will go see it. And of course, they often lie, dramatising not what is but what they hope will sell. That said, those promises, lies and hopes are often very revealing.

  As you can see above, the trailer is selling melodrama — violent passions — in a magnificent natural setting filmed in Technicolor. Burt Lancaster’s name is only mentioned 39 second into the 1.41 trailer, after Lizabeth Scott with her strangeness and her defiance of convention and after John Hodiak with his secrets and coiled snakeyness. And Lancaster’s introduced as ‘hammer fisted’ Tom Hanson, erroneously giving the impression that this will be an action film. But note too that by the end of the trailer, Lancaster is given top billing.

According to Kate Buford, in Burt Lancaster: An American Life, Lancaster thought ‘Desert Fury would not have lunched anybody’, later ‘dismissing it as having ‘starred a station wagon’ (loc 1157). The film is really a series of triangles: Eddie (John Hodiak) and Tom (Burt Lancaster) are both in love with Paula (Lizabeth Scott), Fritzy (Mary Astor) has already had an affair with Tom who is currently pursuing an affair with her daughter Paula, Paula and Johnny (Wendell Corey) are both in love with Eddie etc. I have made a not-quite-video essay that nonetheless well illustrates the Johnny-Eddie-Paula triangle, surely one of the queerest of the classic period, which can be seen here:

Tom is really a fifth wheel in the narrative. But by the time the film started shooting, Burt Lancaster was already the biggest star in it.  His part was beefed up to take his new status into account, scenes were added, According to Gary Fishgall, the film was based on a 1945 novel, Desert Town by Ramona Stewart, and ‘ Lancaster’s role was an amalgam of two of the novel’s characters: the embittered, sadistic deputy sheriff, Tom Hansen, and a likeable highway patrolman named Luke Sheridan. Neither character was romantically linked to Paula (p.55). But in the film, he ends up with Lizabeth Scott at the end. All these additions probably contributed to the film seeming so structurally disjointed.

In Desert Fury Tom, a former rodeo rider, just hangs around waiting for Paula to get wise to Eddie, leaving her enough rope to act freely, as he does with colts when taming them, but not enough so that she hangs herself, or so he thinks. Really, he’s extraneous. He gets to walk into the sunset with Paula at the end of the film but the film really ends once Paula and Fritzy kiss, on the lips. He certainly doesn’t get much to do during it, except for a couple of great scenes where Fritzy tries to buy him into marrying her daughter (above) and another bit of banter when she thinks he’s come to accept her offer (below). Mary Astor steals both scenes. In fact she steals everything. Every time she appears, her wit, weariness, intelligence, the intensity of her love for her daughter — she lifts the film to a level it probably doesn’t deserve to be in. But Lancaster is good. These are the only scenes in the film where he looks like he’s enjoying himself.

Tom is the closest the film has to a ´normal character’. Indeed, aside from the character he plays in All My Sons (1948) this is the closest he’d come to such a type during the whole of his period in film noir in the late 40s and which includes all of his films up to The Flame and the Arrow in 1950. Even in Variety Girl, which is an all-star comedy where he and Lizabeth Scott spoof  the hardboiled characters they’re associated with, the surprise is that they’ve already created personas to spoof in such a short time (see below).

    According to Fishgall, ‘Lancaster –billed third before the film’s title — acquitted himself well in the essentially thankless other man’ role. Still, if Desert Fury had marked his screen debut as originally planned, it is unlikely that he would have achieved stardom quite so quickly. Not only did the film lack the stylish impact of The Killers, but so did the actor. Without the smouldering intensity of the Swede and his first pictures’ moody black and white photography, he appeared to be more of a regular fellow, and guy-next-door types rarely become overnight sensations’ (p. 67).

In Desert Fury we’re told that unlike the drugstore cowboys who are now criticising him, Tom used to be the best rodeo rider there was but a while back, whilst wrestling a steer, he got thrown off and is now all busted up inside. Being ‘busted up inside��� is what all the characters Burt Lancaster plays in the late ’40s have in common. He thinks of returning to the rodeo all the time but knows he can never be as good. He used to be a champ, now all he can hope for is to be second best. He knows he ‘ain’t got what it takes anymore’. He’s in love with Paula and she knows it. But she doesn’t know what she wants. He think he does: ‘you’re looking for what I used to get when I rode in the rodeo.  The kick of having people say “that’s a mighty special person” I’d like to get that kick again. Maybe I can get it with just one person saying it’. He will, but he’ll have to wait until the end of the movie.

But even in this,  Lancaster doesn´t play entirely nicey-poo, true-blue, throughout, and his Tom is given moments of wanton bullying and cruelty where he gets to abuse Eddie just because he’s a cop and wants to. And it´s interesting that it´s that moment, which jives so well with the ´brute force´Lancaster was already known for, and which would attach itself to his persona for many a year, that is the one chosen for the trailer.

According to Robyn Karney, in Burt Lancaster: A Singular Man, ‘As the straightforward moral law officer in a small Arizona town who rescues the object of his affections from the dangerous clutches of a murderous professional gambler, Burt had little to do other than look strong, handsome and reliable. Despite Wallis’ much vaunted rewrites, the role of the Sheriff Tom Hanson remained stubbornly secondary and uninteresting, with the limelight focused on John Hodiak as the villain, fellow contract players Elizabeth Scott and Wendell Corey’ (p.31).

  I mainly agree with Robyn Karney except for four points, two textual and stated above: the first is that even in this Lancaster is playing a failure, someone once a somebody that people talked about but now all busted up inside; the second is that that element of being ´busted up inside´leads to a longing that gets displaced onto Paula. If the rodeo is what made feel alive and gave him a reason to live before his accident, now it´s Paula, and the idea that she might also be an unobtainable goal  leads to his outbursts of unprovoked violence towards the rival for his affections, Eddie (John Hodiak).

The other two points of interest are extra textual. Desert Fury is gloriously filmed by Charles Lang. A few years later, in Rope of Fury, Lang would film Lancaster as a beauty queen: eyelashes, shadows and smoke, lips and hair (see below):

  Here, even with his pre-stardom teeth and his bird´s nest of a hairdo, Lancaster sets the prototype for the Malboro Man:

He looks good in technicolour, and Lang brings out the blue of his eyes:

  More importantly, the film visualises him, for the first time, as Wester Hero, a genre that would become a mainstay of his career from Vengeance Valley (1951) right through Ulzana´s Raid (1972) and even onto Cattle Annie and Little Britches (1981):

  Desert Fury was not well reviewed. According to the Daily Herald ‘The acting is first-class. But except for Mr. Lancaster as a speed cop, the characters in the Arizona town with their lavish clothes and luxury roadsters, are contemptible to the point of being more than slightly nauseating’ (cited in Hunter p. 27),

The Monthly Film Bulletin labelled the film a western melodrama, claiming, surprisingly, that ‘The vivid technicolor and grand stretches of burning Arizona desert give a certain air of reality to the film’. Hard for us to see this thrillingly melodramatic film, lurid, in every aspect, evaluated in the light of realism. The MFB continued with, ´This reality is however counteracted by the way in which the sharply defined, but extremely unnatural characters act. Everything is over dramatised, and the title is a mystery in that the desert is comparatively peaceful compared with the way the human beings behaved…Lizabeth Scott is suitably beautiful as Paula and Burt Lancaster suitably tough as Tom. (Jan 1, 1947, p. 139)

Thus, we can see that on the evidence above, the film was badly reviewed, Time magazine going so far as to call it, ‘impossible to take with a straight face’ (Buford, loc1293). But Burt Lancaster´s performance was either exempted from the criticism or its faults where attributed to the film rather than to himself. More importantly still, the film was a hit, Burt Lancaster´s third in a row. Finally, as I´ve discussed elsewhere, the film is now considered by many a kind of camp classic,  a leading example of noir in technicolor as well as arguably the gayest film ever produced in the classic period. 

  José Arroyo

  Burt Lancaster in Desert Fury: Third Film, Fifth Wheel Burt Lancaster got his contract with Hal B. Wallis at Paramount on the basis of a test directed by Byron Haskin with Wendell Corey and Lizabeth Scott for…

[spiffysixxsense]

Hello annoying best friend here to fulfill my duty by asking you to answer all of the cute asks

angel; do you have a nickname?

not really. my name is already short and I don't have a prominent quality to nickname me after. The only person who refers to me as anything other than my name is my boyfriend, but I don't think “babe/baby” really counts as a nickname lol

awe; how old are you?

24

baby; favorite color?

dark teal (blue-green? I've never found a good name for my favorite color)

bloop; spirit animal?

so because I didn't have a good answer for this, I decided to google a quiz to find out, lol. My answer was a deer. here's why;

When you have the deer as spirit animal, you are highly sensitive and have a strong intuition. By affinity with this animal, you have the power to deal with challenges with grace. You master the art of being both determined and gentle in your approach.

The deer totem wisdom imparts those with a special connection with this animal with the ability to be vigilant, move quickly, and trust their instincts to get out the trickiest situations

blossom; favorite book/movie/song?

i don't really have a favorite book, i don't read much outside of school (I wish i did)

movie: A Beautiful Mind

song: oh dear lord i cannot pick just one, but all-time favorite band of mine is Shinedown

blush; what was your stuffed animal as a child?

a little stuffed dog that looked like Kipper from the TV show, I still have him :)

breeze; most precious childhood memory?

lmao what came to mind was when i pledged to never drink, smoke, or say bad words. two out of fucking three ain't bad i guess. 

bright; mermaids or fairies?

(honestly neither but) fairies

bubbles; do you have a best friend?

given the asker, i would say yes :) also i am lame and my boyfriend is also my best friend 

buttercup; showers or baths?

S H O W E R S. hate baths!

butterfly; dream destination?

I've never had a huge desire to travel honestly. like sure i could say Italy or Greece look beautiful, but the actual act of traveling overseas really stresses me out lol. so i would have to say more like upper midwest, like Maine, in the fall time for all the pretty trees.

buttons; are you religious or spiritual?

i am neither

calm; favorite scent?

anything fruity - pineapple, mango, berries, apples. at least in terms of what candles i like lol.

candlelight; what did you dream about last night?

i do not remember anything from last night - the last dream i remember involved my boyfriend, dad and i being lost up north lol

charming; have you ever been in love?

currently 

cozy; eye/hair color?

hazel / brunette 

cuddly; what’s your favorite time period?

the 1970′s for the fashion

cupcake; favorite flower/plant?

love me a good succulent

cute; what did you get on your last birthday?

well this last birthday was amidst quarantine, so I got some candles and granola (my boyfriend knows me well lol)

cutie pie; most precious item you own?

i have no idea? what an odd question? probably some stuffed animal?

cutsie; what makes you happy?

picnics, alone time, my boyfriend, my cat choosing to cuddle with me.

daisies; describe a moment when you felt free.

I really cant think of a time I've ever felt truly free. maybe when i drove myself to school earlier this year & didn't have to wait for someone to pick me up? 

daydream; how do you want to be remembered?

as a light in others lives. happy, bubbly. things i currently am not

daylight; favorite album of all time?

gosh these dang music questions. well, Nickelback - All the Right Reasons was the first album i ever bought myself. then maybe Shinedown - The Sound of Madness (i cant pick one OKAY)

dear; zodiac sign?

Taurus 

delightful; concerts or museums?

concerts

dimples; have you ever written a letter?

yes? this question makes me feel old, lol. 

dobby; dream job?

criminologist. some way to be reducing the mass incarceration rate in the US. 

doll; how do you like to dress?

comfy, v necks and leggings. As i have gotten older i have slowly wanted to be more feminine i think, because i really want some sundresses for summer lol

dovey; any paranormal/magical experiences?

one! when i was 12ish, i swear i saw a reflection of a uniformed man (like old school soldier uniform - blue blazer with gold cufflinks) behind me in the glass of my snakes tank at the time. it was weird because the only reason i even looked that way was because my snake started shaking his tail against the glass, something that corn snakes do when they are scared, but also something that in his entire life had never done unprompted ever. 

dreams; do you want or have any tattoos?

want yes, have no

drizzle; do you believe in aliens?

100%. no way we are alone in this universe

euphoric; talk about someone you love.

he makes my days so much better :)

fairy; do you have a pet?

I have one little old kitty :)

fluffy; ocean or mountain?

to vacation, ocean. to live, mountain

forever; where do you feel time stop?

the secretary of state? lol

froglet; are you a good plant owner?

I've never owned a plant lol

garden; how many languages do you know?

one :(

gem; who are your favorite tumblrs?

@cy-ne-fin 

giggles; what is your aesthetic of choice?

sepia photography/old books that have yellowed into sepia. or fresh greenery on white marble. 

glittery; do you like anons? why/why not?

i don't really get any anymore, but as long as they are nice or just questions/venting, im down. don't be offended if i never answer though, for some reason i never get Tumblr notifications lol

glow; list the top 5 things you like about yourself

im compassionate

im empathetic (which is similar but im struggling to get to 5 lol)

im goal-oriented

im determined (once i have said goal. again, related lol) 

i guess i like my lips/lip shape

heart; silk or lace?

lace

honey; coffee or tea? how do you take it?

tea. iced, black or green really, with sugar. 

hugsy; do you enjoy people watching or bird watching more? why?

bird watching because it means i am probably alone and in nature as opposed to somewhere in a crowd of people. and i wont feel creepy for watching the birds lol

hunnybunch; what sounds help you sleep?

white noise, a fan running. if that's not enough, i enjoy asmr. if i am really struggling/having anxiety, i will look up sleep stories from the headspace app on youtube (life hack to not have to pay for the app lol)

jewel; what’s your favorite kind of weather?

to be outside, i enjoy just warm enough to be comfy in pants and a t-shirt (so like 65F-ish) and sunny.To be inside, i love when it is cooler (like 50F?) and raining. I love the look, sound, and smell of rain but it is usually just inconvenient to be in. 

jiggly; what do you usually like to do on weekends?

well now all days are the same for me, #quarantine, so the same thing i do every day, just about nothing, lol

joy; do you laugh loudly or giggle more?

i guess laugh loudly because i am a loud person in general. i have a deep voice

kinky; do you blush easily?

i don't think so, my embarrassment turns into sweat, not blush, lmao

kisses; what romantic cliché do you wish for most?

i guess being proposed to someday? but i don't have a certain dream way of it happening, just the fact that its happening is enough for me lol. id enjoy if someone (cough Elle or also maybe Michael lol) were secretly filming and/or taking photos of it? I am not sure how you'd manage that though

kitty; what’s your favorite time of the day?

late at night when everything is quiet

ladybug; what’s your favorite artist to listen to when you’re sad?

old school three days grace (one-x album in particular)

love; what is your favorite season and why?

i always gravitate to fall for the leaves and pumpkin patches. but honestly, i think my favorite season is spring. i love the newly budding trees and flowers, the feeling of renewal, the release from the horrible Michigan winter lol, but most importantly, spring time for my whole life as of yet has always meant that school is over for the semester! as opposed to the fall when the semester starts. this is very long winded but spring final answer lol

lovey; what is your favorite flavor of macaron and ice cream?

I've never had a macaron and blue moon ice cream 

magic; what are five flaws you have?

ooooo boy

im short tempered/angry too much 

im unmotivated (which is confusing maybe because i said i am determined earlier. you see, once i HAVE a goal i feel determined to finish it. but i am unmotivated to create said goals, lol) 

im nonconfrontational to a fault where i always put others’ feelings before my own

i let fear of change stop me from ever taking risks/ am anxious

i am stubborn and sometimes have a hard time admitting i am wrong

moonlight; do you prefer soft pastels, warm neutrals, or cool darks?

this depends - screw pastels. warm neutrals for makeup purposes, but cool darks for aesthetic or decor purposes

munchkin; what do you look for in your significant other?

someone who feels like home. I am not entirely sure how else to explain that. you just feel peace and content with them. 

paddywack; how would you describe a perfect date?

something that allows you to only be with your date - so like a picnic or hike or just a walk even. my boyfriend and i liked to walk around in the fall for me to take pictures of leaves while he played pokemon go (man i miss the pokemon go summer and i have never even PLAYED it, it was just so fun to be with him while he played)

pebbles; how do you spend free time by yourself?

on youtube usually

precious; what is something valuable that you learned in your life?

The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb. if your family is toxic for whatever reason, you do not owe them your time strictly because they are family. 

pretty; do you like to cook or bake more?

cook, im not super into sweets & i want to enjoy the final product

prince; how would you describe your handwriting?

normal? like its legible but its not pretty or cute

princess; do you play any instruments? if not, are there any you wish you could play?

no:( wish i could play bass or drums

prinky; how do you relieve stress?

i don't :)

i really don't have an answer other than solving whatever is stressing me out, lol. i wish i had more mechanisms to calm me down but nothing i have tried has ever really worked

pumpkin; what is your favourite kind of fruit/vegetable?

you know these favorites questions are hard for me lol. right now, i am loving watermelon, but i also love most fruits. kiwis! vegetable, i feel like i have to say potato lol

rainbow; what was the last line of the last book you read?

lol the last thing i read had to be some academic text, so that's boring

roses; what is the most significant event in your life so far?

meeting Alex i guess, it changes my whole life path to have someone you want to do life with 

smile; what is one thing that has greatly affected you?

quarantine? lol

shine; art or music?

music is art.

shimmer; do animals tend to like you?

i think so. Elle’s dog griffin loves me for some reason lol

smitten; do you collect anything?

not really

smoochies; how many pillows do you sleep with?

4

snuggle; what is your favourite candy?

jolly ranchers 

snuggly; do you have a camera? if so, what kind?

nope

sparkle; do you wear jewelry?

nope

spooky; sunrise or sunset?

sunset

sprinkles; do you like to listen to music with headphones or no headphones?

headphones

starlight; what was your favourite show as a child?

Spongebob probably. unless we are talking like really tiny, toddler age, then Winnie the pooh

soft; describe your favourite spot in your house.

i live in a 2 bedroom apartment, there arent any spots. lol. my bed i guess

soothe; digital or vinyl?

i mean digital for convenience but vinyl for aesthetic 

squeezed; who do you miss right now?

i mean the only person i really actively miss ever is Alex. @cy-ne-fin sometimes, but i have also grown used to living away from each other

sugary; what traits do you value most in friends?

loyalty, honesty, & humor

sunshine; do you prefer for things to be practical or aesthetically pleasing?

if i must pick, practical. 

sweet; do you find it easy to open up?

absolutely not. i feel like a burden with my feelings even though i shouldn't 

sweetie; do you like kids? if so, do you ever want to have any?

honestly not really. am on the fence still about ever having any 

thimble; is there somebody you look up to? who are they?

not really

toot; what is something you find unique about yourself?

i am as average as they come man, nothing is unique about me lol

tootsie; what kind of friend are you?

like a background friend? like i am not very social, so we do not have to talk every day to be friends. so like im here if you need me, but i enjoy alone time. 

treasure; what was something that made you smile today?

the way my boyfriend looks at me, & as i was working on this my cat came to cuddle, which i gave as an answer earlier before he jumped up here :)

velvet; are you an early bird or a night owl?

night owlllllll

whiffle; if you could have a magical power, what would it be?

the power to heal those who are hurting (including myself)

whimsical; do you prefer doing stuff at home or going out?

home home home home

whiskers; do you usually wear makeup?

not anymore, i did in high school/early college years. not I've stopped caring

wiggly; are you a messy or tidy person?

messy? kinda in the middle really. 

wispy; do you like the place where you grew up? do you think you will live there when you get older?

my state, sure. my city in particular is definitely pretty boring

wobbly; have you ever wished upon a star?

I've never seen one :(