There are some very cute ape families at Paignton Zoo. Like all of us primate families, they have their trials and tribulations, so the mums like to get together for a chat, it’s what keeps them sane.
Experienced mums share tips with the first timers, on breastfeeding and how to cope with a lack of sleep .
Dad? well he’s looking out for the toddlers, making sure they play nicely.
But they get a bit boisterous, and he’s out of his depth.
‘I’ll count to ten and when I turn around . . .’
‘Oh for goodness sake, wait until your mum gets home!’
‘She started it dad.’
‘He’s asleep, quick Toby, let’s push her over the wall before they notice.’
‘Good idea, more lunch for us then.’
‘Clive, CLI-IVE, what are those kids up to? I hope you’ve been watching them, I don’t have eyes in the back of my head you know.’
I had my hands full at the zoo yesterday, helping my daughter with Scarlett and Layla, two of my grandmonkies, so I left the photography to their dad, who’s a professional photographer. Thanks for letting me use your photos Steve!
Eusebi Guell entrusted Gaudi to create an estate for wealthy people, in Barcelona on land that he purchased in the Monumental zone, high above the city where the air was clean and healthy. Unfortunately the project was not viable and Guell halted it in in 1914. When Guell died his family offered the property to the city council. They purchased it in 1922 and opened it as a public park four years later.
Since then Gaudi has become an international treasure, and his creation was declared a Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 1984. Here are some the fabulous mosaics in the park.
And here is Eusebi Guell himself, standing in the Hippostyle room.
I walked past a neighbours house on my way home just now and she was tending her front garden. I said ‘Hi how are you?’ and before I had chance to comment on the glorious poppies I’ve been admiring for the last week, she said ‘Would you like some of these seed heads when they’re ready?’ Did I pounce? You bet I did!
So with a bit of luck this time next year I’ll have my own.
Imagine when I saw that the photo challenge this week is vivid, it was made for these flowers don’t you think?
If anyone knows what variety these are, my neighbour and I would both love to know please.
Jude’s Bench Challenge for June is to process and image with an arty effect, hooray, that’s licence to play!
I’ve used Photoshop, Pixlr and Snapseed to create this image, but I can’t remember what steps I took to get to the end result.
The photo was taken on the beach path at Dawlish Warren in February. The perspective makes it appear that its a row of single seats but they are in fact benches for two or three peopel. I do quite like the end result and I expect I’ll try some more this month. Perhaps you’ll join in too?
Last weekend my friend Lindy and I went for a walk up in north Devon. I wanted to go to see Verity at the same time so I found a walk on the coast that was just 2.3 miles, perfect for the Dido and Daisy as well.
We arrived at Mortehoe, a pretty village, just before noon and walked up the road between the pub and church.
Mortehoe village
The lane climbing upwards was trimmed with spring wild flowers.
Wildflowers in the hedgerow
And the walls were full of life.
Navelwort waiting to bloom Jude
We walked past a pretty cemetery.
Cemetery with a view
And the walk began
We climbed to the viewpoint
Lindy looked towards Woolacombe
Back towards Mortehoe
That’s where we were heading
So I zoomed in
Back to the path
Looking westThat’s close enough to a sheer drop
There were sheep everywhere and the lambs were adorable
The lambs were at the toddler stage
The path stretched ahead into bright sun.
The south west coast pathWoolacombe is fading into the distance
We stopped frequently so the dogs could cool down, so I zoomed in again.
Something strange over there
Can you see the stegosaurus back bone?
By now we were warming up, and wishing we’d brought all of our picnic lunch, instead of just a packet of crisps. But the walk was lovely in every direction.
Deceiving but a very steep drop
There were some interesting rock formations.
Slate possibly
How could this have formed?
The crest of the hill in the photo above was soon just above us.
The stegasaurus
Some suicidal sheep!
Sure footed sheep
Not far to the pointOne more bend
The rock was changing colour as we walked east towards Morte Point.
We were really, really hot here
Made it at last
Morte Point
Morte, as I’m sure you know means death and it’s believed that Morte point got its name because the treacherous rocks caused a number of shipwrecks over the centuries. Smuggling was rife, and some of the wrecks may have been helped along the way by wreckers walking the coast with lamps to confuse the sailors in the dark. Having seen this rcraggy coastline, it must have been incredibly dangerous. According to the South West Coast Path website,
The Normans dubbed it the ‘Death Stone’, and claimed that ‘Morte is the place which heaven made last and the devil will take first.’
Time to head on.
Going east again
The walk continued steeply.
Shallow water
My camera captured seals here but just as dark bobbing blobs.
The seals didn’t want to sunbath
We were out of water and fairly certain that we’d missed a turning by the time we reached here.
The turning point
But a slight hint of a path up to the right led us back the way we needed to take.
Familiar ground
The gate leads through to the road by the cemetery.
The village shop supplied cold drinks and ice cream, which we followed with our picnic. The dogs flopped in the shade, tired but happy. The pedometer on my phone said I’d walked 5.5 miles, not the planned 2.3, but we stilled had some energy left to pootle around Ilfracombe.
I don’t know if Jo will be doing her Monday Walk this week but there’s always another day.
Lucid Gypsy 