Amsterdam Russ

A bit on sunshine today and things are buzzing on the balcony... Never tried to capture busy buzzy bumble bees on camera before. I reckon dragonflies are easier as they at least have a tendency to stand still once in a while, and conveniently for the photographer, hover in flight!

A flying ant eater sounds like fun, although you'd probably have to watch out when it came in to land! Looking skywards this morning the only thing in number among the clouds are the planes coming out of Schiphol. The swifts do seem to have packed their bags - already. Have to say that 33-38C is too hot for me - unless sea/pool/bar/airco with endless iced drinks figure in the equation big time. We're 25-27C here this week and that'll do nicely although it would be even better if we could see a tad more blue sky.

Agreed, but I'm clinging to summer through the belief that there's quite a distance between the first and last weeks of August, even for swifts. Are the factors that trigger their - and other summer birds' - migrations southwards known? A depletion of food supply would be an obvious factor at face value, but aren't there lots of flying bugs still to be had at this time of the year? Certainly we've got the usual mass appearance of spiders now, and that's surely because of an abundance of food suppiles. Possibly the maturity of the swifts that have left the nest must be a big factor, although I'm not sure without checking one of the bird books on the shelf whether swifts have multiple broods in a season or not. Any other factors? Anyone still seeing swifts locally?

Very true, although there are many instances where the relationship between creature and human is quite harmonious, of course. With the storks you almost get the feeling they're on top of the chimney stack just looking down their beaks at the noisy bipeddlars with a sense of winged superiority. Funny you should say that. I was on the back balcony earlier this evening and noted an absence of swifts. We've had a few of days of really mixed weather - windy, rainy, sunny, hot, not so warm, humid, etc, so I half wondered if that was a factor. At the same time, the other evening we had swarms (can we still use that word post-Cameron?) of seagulls all around the local area. I'm guessing they were feeding on flying ants or some such that had just taken to the skies. I also half wondered whether the weather conditions necessary to bring them out sent a signal of sorts to the swifts. Will keep an eye to the sky tomorrow because I agree - knowing they might be leaving already is a very sad thought. Surely they've only just arrived?

A couple of very poor quality pics of storks nesting in Amsterdam's Park Frankendael taken recently on a trip to the open air Sunday food market with the 2mb camera on my ancient (in technological terms) non-smart phone. Storks have been nesting here for years and are completely unfazed by all the human activity directly below. The second pic gives you an idea of just how surrounded they are by people and all the associated noise, smells, etc. There were four birds on the nest at one point, so two young 'uns nearly full grown presuming both parents were in attendance at the time.

Flippin' heck! RIP Joe, and condolences to his family and friends.

Brill - just nabbed one. Still had to pay £12 to ship to the Netherlands, but a bargain is a bargain.

One in sales... <edit> I see you're way ahead of me!

Caught a warming ray of evening sunlight shining through the blinds and partially illuminating one of the sunflowers we've got in a vase on the table... In other news, I've now twice spied a peregrine while on the back balcony. They usually nest on the nearby art deco water tower that's about half a mile from us. Typically it's front page news on the local paper, but don't think I've seen or read anything about them breeding this year. My two sightings in recent days suggests that they did.

Not got many gospel 45s, but thought I'd have a go at putting some of them together in a mix. Sounds range from the proto-R&B gospel revival sound to funkier grooves. Naturally I'm biased, but I have to say I think it makes for great listening. Might not be of much interest to folks on here, but hey, I thought it worth a plug... Track listing: 1. The Story Of Job - The Gospel Pearls 2. Shadrack - Sister Rosetta Tharpe & Marie Knight 3. Where Jesus Is - The Jubilee Hummingbirds 4. Don't You Want To Go - The Meditation Singers 5. Wade In The Water - The Ramada Singers 6. Elijah Rock - Mahalia Jackson 7. You Can Depend On Me - The Salem Travelers 8. Nobody Can Turn Me Around - The Mighty Clouds of Joy 9. Two Little Fishes - The Gospel Pearls 10. It Ain't Necessarily So - Milton Grayson 11. Didn't It Rain - Evelyn Freeman 12. Holy Holy - Daughters of Zion 13. Jericho - Sister Rosetta Tharpe 14. On The Right Road Now - Wanda Talford 15. Same Thing It Took - The Jubilee Hummingbirds 16. Lord, Help Me To Hold Out - Swan Mellarks www.mixcloud.com/LomaRuss/gospel-pearls-to-lift-your-soul/

Yup. Looked very quiet in the clip. I understand that the first nighter there was packed.

Saw a news item & short vid pop up on the BBC News website a little while ago about a Northern Soul club that's just opened in Birmingham. I'm guessing that this is the club mentioned in the "Call out for dancers/original Northern soul fans" thread that attracted so much vitriol recently. Anyway, here's the link to the BBC News story, such as it is. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-33676835

Personally speaking, I think it's a fantastic tune and it's one I've played out in Amsterdam, although not for a good while.

Wonderful Greek blue landscape as seen on hols recently.

That's how events unfolded. Arthur said that Kell was planning to visit the UK at some point in the future to perform. Some time later he told me that this had been cancelled as Kell was unwell. Relative to that CD, which was produced and arranged by Arthur, there's one standout track on it - for me at any rate - called Mr Songwriter. Always had it in mind to get a carver done and play it out somewhere. Might still do that.

You've got a point. Reckon they'd be perfect for doing 'the duck'. Now what's all this about you falling over. Drunk was it???

Flamenco - very fitting. I like the sound of that!

Many say I'm a great wit, Steve. Mind you, my hearing's not as good as it was, so it could be twit. All that Trappist beer?

Much appreciated, Dave. Trumpet vine - think I can even remember that. They add such a great splash of colour wherever they grow. Really nice to see.

Perhaps it's a listed building…

I remember buying the Kell Osborne cd on Arthur Wright's Nonstop Records label about 10 years ago in what was a very early online transaction for me. No idea how it happened, but I ordered one CD and somehow paid for it twice, although I didn't immediately realise that I'd done this. After buying the CD I got a couple of emails from Arthur telling me that there were plans afoot for Kell to perform in the UK. I think this was one of the first times ever that I'd had any sort of interaction with someone actually involved in creating the music that I loved so much, and I was absolutely thrilled at the fact that here I was several 1000 miles away on the other side of the Atlantic exchanging emails with Arthur Wright. Wow! I realised soon after that I'd paid twice for the CD, but just couldn't bring myself to go back and make a fuss about it. Thank you for the music - and for the thrill. RIP.

Thank you!

Likewise, we love Greece and Lesvos in particular. This is our sixth visit to the island. Very difficult being there this year in some respects, although without a doubt we had a great time. We feel for the local people. Not only are they suffering because of the ongoing financial crisis, but tourism is down something like 20% so far this season as a result and the worries people have about the tide of refugees, the latter concerns being unfounded. Unfortunately it seems likely the wonderful locals will be facing a tougher time than they've had already - as if that wasn't bad enough. As for me, don't go thinking that what you see in the pic is my usual attire. It's impossible to dance in flippers!

A few more holiday snaps... By the edge of the sea, a little way from Molyvos, is a freshwater pool where turtles can be found. Although naturally shy, they can be coaxed out with offerings of bread, their hunger for which will bring them right to your feet. As well as turtles there are also frogs. If you sit quietly for long enough they'll venture out of the water and come very close. Make a sudden move and they're back in the water with a single leap. Other forms of aquatic life can also be spotted. This is the rarely spotted Snorkelus Russellum, seen here on what was, unusually, a rainy day. Probably one of the top three sights photographed in Molyvos - moored in the harbour, this former fishing boat is available for private trips courtesy of skipper and friend Stratis. The fresh and totally fabulous local food is a major attraction for us. In this case, calamari... A few glasses of vino and the sound of traditional Greek music played under the watchful stony gaze of Molyvos castle. Simple pleasures greatly enjoyed.

A few snaps from our recent Greek adventure in and around Molyvos on the island of Lesvos... Molyvos harbour. In the mornings I'd occasionally swim from quite a bit out of left of the frame up to the right-hand side of the harbour and back again. Lots of great snorkelling to be had on the way! Setting sun - harbour These flowers (name?) are to be seen everywhere in Molyvos More unspecified flora Glass of wine, anyone? Bus station. Opposite is the coast of Turkey, just six miles away. It's from here that all the refugees set off in unsuitable and dangerously overcrowded dinghies - at a cost of at least 1,000 euros per person. Those supplying the crafts and inferior life jackets are making an absolute fortune.