Happy New Year everyone. I hope your Yuletide and New Year celebrations have been plentiful and that the year ahead offers you good health, prosperity, happiness and endless photo opportunities.

To kickstart the new edition of the fabulous "Show us your great photos" thread, I offer not a pic but a video. We took this last night and it shows, in all its glory, the incredible firework display we offered our neighbours from the comfort of our balcony. If you watch the video you'll see our neighbours' fantastic fireworks going off in the background - and then there's ours. 

This is what you get when you buy a box of mini fireworks from your local cheapskate supermarket (Albert Heijn) for the princely sum of 10 euros!  Still, it was so crap it was a laugh, which means it actually offered great value for money. I hope the vid of our box of damp balcony squibs also raises a smile with you.

Happy New Year!

 

It's a fungus Chris, your PC probably didn't like it :-)

Here is a few pictures of our Fishing Boat Shirley Betty we had her re launched this week after a quick paint up, me and dad bought this boat in late 2008 she has worked out of Poole from 1983 since moving here from Dartmouth, the boat was built by a firm called Dixon in Exmouth in the mid 1970's, they had a reputation of building the Rolls Royce of wooden craft, all change these days most boats are made of fiberglass!    

Hmmm will I eat it ???

 

 

10 hours ago, Mal C said:

Was on a lovely beach this week in Tenby saw this Wookiee Sea Weed... :-)

Mal. I'm jealous. Love the place, will be there myself 2nd week in October.  Highly recommend a restaurant called the Plantagenet.  Steak to die for.  Great fish dishes.  Expensive but worth it.  

Steve

21 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Mal. I'm jealous. Love the place, will be there myself 2nd week in October.  Highly recommend a restaurant called the Plantagenet.  Steak to die for.  Great fish dishes.  Expensive but worth it.  

Steve

Great place... we used to have a caravan down there, but its sold now :-(  the wookiee was actually taken on Caldey Island, the beach the boat drops you off on.. one of the best beaches in the UK i reckon...

1 hour ago, Mal C said:

Great place... we used to have a caravan down there, but its sold now :-(  the wookiee was actually taken on Caldey Island, the beach the boat drops you off on.. one of the best beaches in the UK i reckon...

The view from Caldey island back to Tenby.  Definitely one of the best beaches not just in the U.K. either Mal

1 hour ago, Winsford Soul said:

The view from Caldey island back to Tenby.  Definitely one of the best beaches not just in the U.K. either Mal

 

Beautiful part of the world Ste.

Went down to Tenby last year and remember watching all the Red Kites on the way down.

Two brave chaps working on the local power lines, I had to stop and take a pic.

 

2 hours ago, Steve Lane said:

Two brave chaps working on the local power lines, I had to stop and take a pic.

 

Great picture Steve. Watched a documentary a few years ago about the guy's that do the same job . They where in  Deeside . North Wales checking out the cables over the river Dee. Apparently they're some of the highest ones in the U.K. What a fantastic job with a view. 

Steve

3 hours ago, Steve Lane said:

Two brave chaps working on the local power lines, I had to stop and take a pic.

 

 

 

Presume this was playing on the Radio then Steve?.... 

 

 

Missus went out in the garden to pick some of our very own goodiz so I put on a few tunes too so she wer dancing around whilst gathering  rj's latest arrival "made up mind" erma franklin "whisper gettin louder" rotations "I cant find her "virgil henry I'll be true" wales wallace "whatever you want" and art gentry this is my chance  great pic and all new arrivals on the table tables Xx baz n shelly .saturday late afternoon 

2 hours ago, baz1 said:

Missus went out in the garden to pick some of our very own goodiz so I put on a few tunes too so she wer dancing around whilst gathering  rj's latest arrival "made up mind" erma franklin "whisper gettin louder" rotations "I cant find her "virgil henry I'll be true" wales wallace "whatever you want" and art gentry this is my chance  great pic and all new arrivals on the table tables Xx baz n shelly .saturday late afternoon 

Add Green Onions and Sliced Tomatoes to the playlist, Baz.

5 hours ago, baz1 said:

Missus went out in the garden to pick some of our very own goodiz so I put on a few tunes too so she wer dancing around whilst gathering  rj's latest arrival "made up mind" erma franklin "whisper gettin louder" rotations "I cant find her "virgil henry I'll be true" wales wallace "whatever you want" and art gentry this is my chance  great pic and all new arrivals on the table tables Xx baz n shelly .saturday late afternoon 

The pineapple mint is good for baking cakes with, I approve of it all, it don't come fresher.

A gorgeous afternoon here in the Netherlands, just perfect for a cycle ride locally...

 

 

Edited August 26, 20177 yr by Russell Gilbert

our new beach house

 

 

 

Edited August 27, 20177 yr by jules

view from balcony

Olon beach

Taken with my mobile. Sparrowhawk resting on our tortoise run. 

On 26/08/2017 at 15:56, TattooDave said:

The pineapple mint is good for baking cakes with, I approve of it all, it don't come fresher.

Its great in the riata dave with a squeeze of lemon shelly made a superb tommy soul with chilli ,rest of toms went into a curry ya right about fresh went over our fence yesterday and I knew there were blackberries over there so thought I'd have a look bucketloads !!!!wer stood in one space and got a large saucepan full in ten mins, a stroll to the shop to get plain flour and BlackBerry and jazz apple crumble was born piping hot with ice cream !!!!!just devine dave 

Edited August 28, 20177 yr by baz1

On 03/08/2017 at 23:36, NCFC said:

Swifts are on the move. Large numbers heading south over Norfolk. 

Seen a  single Swift Saturday morning over Pennington flash.  Wasn't there long so probably more about. 

Steve 

3 hours ago, baz1 said:

Its great in the riata dave with a squeeze of lemon shelly made a superb tommy soul with chilli ,rest of toms went into a curry ya right about fresh went over our fence yesterday and I knew there were blackberries over there so thought I'd have a look bucketloads !!!!wer stood in one space and got a large saucepan full in ten mins, a stroll to the shop to get plain flour and BlackBerry and jazz apple crumble was born piping hot with ice cream !!!!!just devine dave 

I don't do ice cream, lactose intolerance as well as not wanting animal products in my diet, but they do an amazing rice cream in Spain, as well as soya ice cream, so I'd approve of the blackberry and apple crumble, though it's a little too warm at the moment.  I've spotted a couple of bunches of bananas that are growing close by, so I think I might take a hook to them and bring them home before someone else does, they're not supposed to have much of a flavour grown here, but a free meal is a free meal

Wednesday last, about 10am, heading into Gibraltar

On 25/08/2017 at 21:35, Zed1 said:

Presume this was playing on the Radio then Steve?.... 

 

 

 Think Steve would have had this version playing on his 8 Track Stereo.....

 

 

A few pictures from my walk up snowden.

The Virgin Balloon after making a safe landing earlier this morning.  It can't have travelled far because It's about a quarter of a mile from the usual launch site.....

Few pics here of the Red Arrows that were part of the display for the annual weekend Bournemouth Air Show, plus a couple of shots of the Steam Ship Shieldhall that was berthed here for the week to take punters out to see the show, and Naval Vessel HMS Argus that was anchored up in Poole Bay.   

19 minutes ago, Bruv said:

Few pics here of the Red Arrows that were part of the display for the annual weekend Bournemouth Air Show, plus a couple of shots of the Steam Ship Shieldhall that was berthed here for the week to take punters out to see the show, and Naval Vessel HMS Argus that was anchored up in Poole Bay.   

 

RFA Argus, it's a Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

12 hours ago, Steve S 60 said:

RFA Argus, it's a Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Thanks Steve, there's usually more than one Naval vessel that comes along, but still nice to see the Argus in our bay.

Found a few picture of my hols in Tenerife, forgot I had them p.s no it was not THAT soul in the sun rubbish.

1 hour ago, Bruv said:

Thanks Steve, there's usually more than one Naval vessel that comes along, but still nice to see the Argus in our bay.

The last time I was down that way on a ship I ran the Swanage half marathon.  Probably 84/85.

Foxy --- who's looking at you kid... 

Edited September 4, 20177 yr by Mal C

2 hours ago, Addio said:

Common Garden Orb spider. They're everywhere at the moment in my garden, will try and get some photographs.

Steve

A few from today at Pennington Flash. 

Moorhen building a nest. 6th Sept bit late if you ask me 

Steve

Coal Tit

Steve

Also saw five Swifts . I have never seen Swifts before in September, cant believe it. Apparently there where 12 counted over Pennington Flash yesterday which obviously means there where many more .

Steve

Collared Dove . 

Playing peek a Boo

Steve

On 9/2/2017 at 06:50, Steve S 60 said:

The Virgin Balloon after making a safe landing earlier this morning.  It can't have travelled far because It's about a quarter of a mile from the usual launch site.....

A couple of pics of it over me Mum's house in Wiltshire in July, it was so low she thought it was coming down in her garden!!

Edited September 6, 20177 yr by MikeHinNewJersey

Picture of me and my mum, Trafalgar Square 1960. I just had it blown up and framed as sadly she died 2 weeks ago. 

Look after your mums, they don`t last forever. 

2 hours ago, Steve Lane said:

Picture of me and my mum, Trafalgar Square 1960. I just had it blown up and framed as sadly she died 2 weeks ago. 

Look after your mums, they don`t last forever. 

Thats a lovely picture Steve. Your mum looks lovely. You look like a little Cherub 

I'm sorry you have just lost her - my mum died 15 years ago. Like this picture I'm sure you have lots of happy memories. Takes a while for the rawness of losing your mum to subside a bit - but easier in the knowledge that you loved each other.

All the best mate.

Pete

4 hours ago, Steve Lane said:

Picture of me and my mum, Trafalgar Square 1960. I just had it blown up and framed as sadly she died 2 weeks ago. 

Look after your mums, they don`t last forever. 

God bless her and you Steve . So sad for you. .  20 years ago for Mum  mate and 13 for Dad.  Still miss them 

Steve 

18 hours ago, Steve Lane said:

Picture of me and my mum, Trafalgar Square 1960. I just had it blown up and framed as sadly she died 2 weeks ago. 

Look after your mums, they don`t last forever

Sorry for your loss, it's a hard time but I'm sure your memories will keep you warm, I was just thinking about my own  mum before I logged on as I cleaned the cooker, she loved a clean white cooker top so every time I clean mine I think how she must be smiling down saying "good lad"

Me and my better half just finished route 66.

Got to say it's a 'must do' drive, just to see the variety of American culture.

Most impressive point was the Big Texan hotel in Amarillo....A free 72 ounce Steak was on offer if you could finish it!

 

Ed

Few pictures here from The Great Dorset Steam Fair now in it's 49th year, I am a cider drinker!!!!!!   

On 8/9/2017 at 18:04, Winsford Soul said:

Seen a few yesterday morning on my way to work.  None today . Maybe see the odd stragglers but not expecting any really.  Sad . Hate it when they go, sign of thing's to come. 

Steve 

A lone swift just passed over Caister on Sea :-)

Every Spring bank holiday we go to Menorca ,it is a beautiful island with a protected environment policy, hear are 2 photos of the same field one taken after they had had quite alot of rain in march april(2014) the other (this year) when it has been drier.

The difference is stunning there were wild flowers covering the fields for miles and butterflies moths and thousands of caterpillars making the most of the conditions.

We go walking looking at the wildlife especially the tortoises (which my wife is mad about) ,always find some but this year we had a thunder storm one afternoon so we got in the car and went for a drive whilst it was still raining,we called into a little coastal village and as it was only dizzling went for a walk .Within 1 hour we found 42 torts. which because it had rained came out to get a drink as they have to make the most of any water they find. I didn't take the camera as it was unplanned ,she had her phone so have got some shots ( i will add some later she is out at the moment)

We learnt alot about how they survive and it is quite rocky ground and found a hollow in the rocks that had filled with rain water and saw 3 torts heading and drinking in that spot,there was also a shaded area next to a abandoned barn that had quite a bit a spagnam type moss that had soaked up the water and 5 tortoises in that area appeared to be eating the moss but we realised they were just squeazing it in their mouth to exract the water.

I didn't know that there were tortoises on Menorca. Someone I know has a villa there. I'll chat to her.

thanks for posting.

Pete

Following on from the food thread. I won't be able to get out with the camera for a few weeks. I can't carry anything heavy.  So won't be posting on this thread for a bit unfortunately.  Keep the lovely pictures coming in. 

Steve 

1 hour ago, Peter99 said:

I didn't know that there were tortoises on Menorca. Someone I know has a villa there. I'll chat to her.

thanks for posting.

Pete

Yes loads of tortoises ,this year seen 2 different snakes( non are poisenous) loads of lizards hoopoo's large birds of prey circling may be buzzards not sure.watched a cormorant chasing fish in a little inlet and we could see the fish scattering .

There is a cycle / walk trail all the way around the island 155 km called the Cami De Cavall and this is where we do most of the walking,here is a photo of the bay we stayed at Alcuafar very quiet one hotel on the beach and a taverna other side of village.

Edited September 10, 20177 yr by smudger
spelling Doh!

We live 15 mins away from Alcufar in Menorca...............In fact I had lunch there on Wednesday!

And yes the island is a nature lovers paradise, when I take Clyde for his walk I can almost guarantee finding at least one tortoise. Fish, gecko's, snakes, and the birds are amazing, especially around migration time. Sadly, I'm crap with a camera, with the odd few happy snappys with my phone.....

If you walk the cami's you also need to look out for Mules....

In March, there is a "March in March" where a gang of brave souls walk the cami's 185km for animal charities......

x

(sorry this was in response to the last post, laptop threw a wobble and couldn't quote it)

Edited September 10, 20177 yr by crazylegs