:: My Favourite Pictures and Moments of 2008 ::
This is a mix of my best pictures and favourite memories of 2008, in reverse chronological order.
Other Pbasers' galleries are
#here#
28-DEC-2008
Landing On The Serpentine
28-DEC-2008
Where Am I?
Back home after a day out in London with Gail, Nicky, Ray and Mark - great company and we just about kept warm!
Thanks for a lovely day, guys!
27-DEC-2008
Bridge of Sighs (Oxford)
The Oxford bridge of sighs is rather disappointing compared to the
Cambridge version.
It links two buildings within Hertford College but it is apparently of little practical use.
I was fortunate to spend a couple of hours with Neil 'Nordic' Hanson (see pic below) in Oxford.
It's good to have a mate when taking night shots. Thanks to Neil for the off camera fill in flash on this one.
26-DEC-2008
Z is for 'Zee' ...
... which I believe is the Dutch word for sea, and Holland is just over the horizon in this shot!!
Many thanks to Maire for starting this month's challenge!
More Pbasers in Alphabet Soup
#here#
25-DEC-2008
Y is for ..... Yuletide Warmth
I hope you are all enjoying your Christmas Day. Stay warm. Peace & Love!
Me? I'm keeping warm thanks to a friend!
More Pbasers in Alphabet Soup
#here#
Christmas Card
Happy Christmas and thank you to everyone for their kind comments and support during a difficult year.
24-DEC-2008
The X Factor ?
(I'm having severe web connectivity problems, so apologies for not commenting. I'm off to buy a new router now ....)
Happy Christmas to everyone on Pbase!! Thank you so much for all your comments and words of support - it means so much.
18-DEC-2008
Lamp Light
This morning, I had a business appointment in one of England's smallest cities - Ely.
Despite a 'small town' population of just 15,000, Ely has city status because of it's huge cathedral.
It's a gorgeous little town (er, city) and I intend to return regularly. An ideal place for a Pbase meetup one day perhaps?
Red X's were driving us all mad this time last year!:
16-DEC-2008
P is for 'Pebbles the Pampered Pooch'
Pebbles only has one eye, so this is her best side.
Today was 'trim' day!
This is my dip into the bowl of alphabet soup - more
#here#
06-DEC-2008
A Winter's Day in an English Churchyard
06-DEC-2008
Blue Sky and Sun......flower
Not one for the traditionalists! This is my new technique - w/a lens, on-board flash and polarising
filter!! I was pleasantly surprised .... er, then the Vicar came along and enquired if I was
comfortable lying in his flower bed!! LOL!
Fathers At The Merry Go Round
28-NOV-2008
Street Life
Another Song for November - Anyone remember this one by Roxy Music?
Wish everybody would leave me alone -yeah
They´re always calling on my telephone
When I pick it up there´s no one there
So I walk outside just to take the air
Come on with me cruising down the street
Who knows what you´ll see, who you might meet
This brave new world´s not like yesterday -
It can take you higher than the milky way
Now i´m blinded I can't really see - yeah
No more bright lights confusing me - no
Don´t ask me why i´m feeling blue
'cause loving you is all I can do
Hey good-looking boys - gather around
The sidewalk papers gutter-press you down
All those lies can be so unkind,
They can make you feel like you´re losing your mind
Street life
Street life
Street life
What a life
Back to nature boys - vasser girls too
Watch what you say, or think, or do
Continental-style strasse girls might
But you know exactly if it´s wrong or right
Education is an important key - yes
But the good life´s never won by degrees - no
Pointless passing through harvard or yale
Only window shopping - it's strictly no sale
Week end starts friday soon after eight
Your jet black magic helps you celebrate
You may be stranded if you stick around
- and that´s really something...
26-NOV-2008
The Train Now Arriving
My entry for this week's T.I.T.C theme 'stripes' - more
#here# .
It was so special to finally meet Linda. What an engaging person to spend time with.
We had a super night of laughs but I did feel like a male guest on
'Loose Women' at times! LOL!
Thanks, girls - look forward to next time!
23-NOV-2008
Get A Grip!
JCB machines awaiting despatch - assuming they have customers in these difficult times.
19-NOV-2008
Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty
An entry for the November Song, Poem, Proverb challenge - more
#here#
Winding your way down on baker street
Light in your head and dead on your feet
Well another crazy day, you'll drink the night away
And forget about everything
This city desert makes you feel so cold
It's got so many people but it's got no soul
And it's taken you so long to find out you were wrong
When you thought it held everything
You used to think that it was so easy
You used to say that it was so easy
But you're tryin', you're tryin' now
Another year and then you'd be happy
Just one more year and then you'd be happy
But you're cryin', you're cryin' now
Way down the street there's a light in his place
He opens the door, he's got that look on his face
And he asks you where you've been, you tell him who you've seen
And you talk about anything
He's got this dream about buyin' some land
He's gonna give up the booze and the one night stands
And then he'll settle down, in some quiet little town
And forget about everything
But you know he'll always keep movin'
You know he's never gonna stop movin'
Cause he's rollin', he's the rollin' stone
And when you wake up it's a new morning
The sun is shining, it's a new morning
But you're going, you're going home
17-NOV-2008
Brief Light
This pinky blue colour was only visible for 10 minutes or so!
The frosty walk yesterday was exhilerating though!
17-NOV-2008
Frosty Morning Oaks
that I have to carry a tripod to get some shots that would otherwise not work or be second rate.
And the flexibility it gives you on ISO and shutter speed is a joy!
16-NOV-2008
Feeding Frenzy (with 'Hamblur')
It's early on a Sunday morning. It's grey and drizzly. What could I take pictures of?
The biggest event in the Suffolk countryside at that time of day is feeding times for the pigs.
The feed truck is approaching from the right, but one sow still preferred to pose for me - pity she wasn't more still though!
The Fallen
I visited the American Cemetery to spend a few peaceful moments.
The carpet of fallen leaves seemed symbolic of the young lives lost in defence of our freedom.
The stone inscription is taken from the huge wall of remembrance listing out so neatly
thousands of names of American servicemen who lost their lives in Europe during WWII.
I guess I might not be here if it wasn't for their sacrifice. So this is my very small tribute.
08-NOV-2008
Durham Cathedral at Night
Another fun meet with Pbase friends from 'all over'. Lots of chat, coffee, cake, wine and photos!
Other people's galleries of the day are
# here #.
More of my pictures of this meet
# here # .
08-NOV-2008
The Weir on The Wear
Finally home after another fun weekend with the 'Northern' Pbasers in Durham.
A special 'Thank You' to Stuart Mitchell for the use of his tripod for this twilight shot.
I'll be quite busy work-wise this week.
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's pictures, but apologies if I don't comment for a few days.
04-NOV-2008
Being my own .....
.... boss .... means working late tonight but then I can take Friday off without asking!
31-OCT-2008
The Joker
Positively my last shot for Halloween (which I really object to - bah humbug!)
21-OCT-2008
Hate them or love them?
These wind turbines seem to divide people between those in favour on 'green' grounds
and those opposed due to their visual appearance and/or their effect on birdlife.
Me? - I'm very much in favour but I fear they don't produce very much power really.
19-OCT-2008
The Last Sunday Afternoon of Summer
Thank you to Gail, Nicky, Rose, Cathryn, Mark, Lee, Margaret and Nick for
their company on a lovely day out at Kew Gardens today.
And the sun came out - eventually!
18-OCT-2008
Wish You Were Here?
Setting out from Suffolk to Kew, London, my SatNav has taken me via Cornwall! ;0)
Oh well, it could be worse!
There were brief spells of clear light this morning between the showers. Padstow is lovely!
Looking forward to seeing some of you tomorrow - SatNav permitting!
16-OCT-2008
Sweet, and Hot!
More steam from the sugar factory! The instant cloud fascinates me - and it is only STEAM!
Sorry, but I didn't see anything pink today worth shooting, but please support the weekly
challenge theme of 'Pink'
#here#.
25-SEP-2008
Autumn Oak
The evening light might fade,
The leaves may turn,
But the Oak lives on!
20-SEP-2008
Morning Coffee at The Angel - anyone care to join me?
It's another sunny, Suffolk Saturday (will it EVER rain again? LOL!)
The morning light was particularly striking on this landmark hotel in Bury.
Enjoy your Cappuccino, Mocha or Latte wherever you take yours this saturday!
14-SEP-2008
Ampton Water (This one is for Sheila!)
I discovered this local gem at the weekend. Sleepy rustic villages, picturesque cottages, quiet churchyards,
water with flocks of water fowl, and lots of public access.
Definitely somewhere to be explored again soon!
Cycle
This is for those of you who enjoy order and symmetry!
30-AUG-2008
Lost In This Moment
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender,
I could stay lost in this moment forever,
When every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure.
I Don't Want To Close My Eyes - Aerosmith
23-AUG-2008
JW-on-Sea!
I took this one last weekend. Those pebbles were uncomfortable as I flopped onto them
after setting the timer! LOL!
Have a great weekend everyone!
25-AUG-2008
Bigger Piggies
I heard The Beatles song 'Little Piggies' on the radio the other day and was still
humming it when I saw these pregnant Mums!
21-AUG-2008
A Passion For Bees
I've finally captured a bee, and in focus but they still only show me their bottoms!
10-AUG-2008
Bristol Rain
Thanks to everyone who dodged the rain in Bristol over the weekend - it was great to meet up, eat, drink and chat! Particular thanks to Gail for pulling the plans together!
I'm afraid my photographic inspiration is currently very low, so I have very few pictures worth posting.
02-AUG-2008
Bike Ride To Pakenham Windmill
I gave up coping with only a Mobile Modem to connect to the web, and got on my bike!
I only just got back before a heavy storm. I'm hoping this will upload OK - ADSL Broadband should be back on Wednesday!
Last year:
22-JUL-2008
Les Miserables
It was so much fun to meet up with the 'London Dining Club' (Nicky, Gail and Ray) as we said 'Bon Voyage' to
Jess McCollum.
I took this snap intending to include a red bus, but I didn't plan the poster on the bus!! LOL! (sorry girls)
Hope the flight was bearable, Jess - we'll miss ya' in the UK! Best wishes for your future!
17-JUL-2008
Grand Harbour Hotel
This is my belated entry for the "Shapes" Thursday challenge. It was delayed because I
had to get the 'adult content' bar lifted on my mobile broadband modem!
13-JUL-2008
Bev and Cazi
Thank you to Bev and Cazi for inviting me to join them on a 'Coffee & Cakey' morning.
The weather was wonderful, and photogenic with the storm clouds appearing but never bursting!
Looking forward to the next time!
10-JUL-2008
Boozy Break in Beccles?
My pin in the map landed on Beccles! Golf, Boat Hire, Museum and a nice Hotel sound promising.
I wonder if the locals are friendly? LOL!
My entry for the Thursday challenge (theme: a drink for the holiday). More
#here#
06-JUL-2008
Pbase Girls At Kew
[L to R: Nicky, Cazi, Maire, Bev, Gail, Rose]
I'm just back from a great day out at Kew Gardens with 14 other Pbasers.
The weather was, er, 'inclement' but we made the most of it.
Sorry for the small team picture but the others seem to be too depleted or too unruly for public viewing! LOL!
More pics to come in a special gallery. Best wishes to Steve and Ray who couldn't make it.
02-JUL-2008
Life In The UK (well, for some)
My entry for this week's challenge "My Country" more
#here#
01-JUL-2008
Grand Princess
I'm on day three of my Business Consultancy training course in Southampton right by the docks.
Some visitors are more interesting than others!
:: P.E.S.O. Jan-June 2008 ::
Frosty Morning Oaks
Thanks to Stewart Mitchell, I have seen the light and accept that I have to carry a tripod to get some shots that would otherwise not work or be second rate. And the flexibility it gives you on ISO and shutter speed is a joy!
