Towers and music tents

Day 86

15 August 2009

These steps are at the bottom of the tower of the church at Kingston. There are lots of them to climb, and it's a bit of a squeeze getting up there, but once on top of the tower, there is a magnificent view. Apparently.
I've absolutely no idea which direction he is looking at. It was somewhere towards Corfe castle. Ish.

It was too foggy to tell!

But there was still enough to see to make me feel slightly wobbly around the knees at times. On a clear day it would be an amazing view.

Inside the church there was a group called ring of eight doing some dancing, medieval style.

Later on we went out to support the RNLI Swnage lifeboat week. There was a BBQ and a couple of bands, waiting for the sun to set, which had made a late appearance in the day, but at least we felt its rays for a while before dark set in. Then we watched the fireworks before going home to bed.

A lovely day!

Need, Not Greed

Day 85

14 August 2009

We went to Holme farm to go fruit-picking, again. The raspberries weren't any good today - all the good ones had gone, but there were lots of unripe fruit left, so a trip back in a week or so will be on the cards. We did pick redcurrents, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries, though.

The various flies (I don't think that is a wasp, but one of those hover-fly thingies, correct me if I'm wrong) sharing this blackberry caught my eye. They were all sharing the same fruit, despite being different species. There was no fighting or pushing eachother out of the way. There was plenty of the berry for each of them, and they each enjoyed their fill before heading off somewhere else.

None of them were greedy. They didn't overeat, they didn't outstay their welcome. There was no territorial issue, no fighting. A peaceful, harmonious time was had by all.

This scene made me consider the news this week about the "perfect storm" - the issue surrounding global warming, world increase in population, and food shortages. It made me think about how we all need to change our eating habits and accept that in the future, the food that we take for granted now, may not be so freely and cheaply available. Are we all going to continue our greed until it's too late? Are we all going to carry on eating as a past-time as much as a necessity; or are we going to start eating the amounts of food we really need, rather than the foods we want to eat, 24 hours a day, on demand, there at our fingertips? In nature, we see that no animal is so greedy by design. Does that include humans, too?

Some squash growing next to the strawberry field.

The sunflowers are past their best, but they still look gorgeous to me!

What's the time, Mr Wolf?

Angels trumpet

Don't be so lazy!!!

Magician

Day 84

13 August 2009

Another gorgeous day. This afternoon we went for a walk along the sea-front, and a treat to "tokenworld", where my daughter could choose two rides to go on. On the way we saw this street performer, who was demonstrating some magic tricks.
A packed Swanage beach!

Oil on Water

Day 83

12 August 2009

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. I'm going to self-deprecate by pointing out that this is possibly worse than the door handle photo I took. The difference being that I thought this looked interesting when I took the photo.

Err...noooooh.
It has been far more busy today than is really required, but that's how it is some days, I suppose! Better luck tomorrow, me hopes!

A walk Around Stanpit Marsh

Day 82

11 August 2009

The Dads set off on their epic pub-staggered ride from Muddeford back to Swanage. Sophie and I shepherded two girls and a wet dog around Stanpit Marsh on what has been the hottest day of the year. The photo above was taken with my zoom lens. We were a fair way off from those horses, and the huts at Hengitsbury head were even further away, so I'm quite pleased with how this turned out.
When I'm old I'm going to sit on benches with my husband and watch the world go by, drinking whisky tea from our thermos. But I'll make sure that he doesn't hog over half of the bench! The poor woman!

A wet and very happy Elvis.

Run to the bridge. Throw ball. Tricky stuff.

Bikes and 'Stashi-o's

Day 81

10 August 2009

Today we headed over to Muddeford to stay with our friends. Tomorrow, the daddies will be demonstrating their physical stamina by cycling back to Swanage via the coast paths from Hengitsbury head. Tonight we ate pistachios, drank wine, ate lovely food, and told the girls to go to sleep. Eventually they did!
This is a bicycle wheel.

RNLI Week

Day 80

09 August 2009

The RNLI in Swanage are having their annual fundraising week this week. Today there was a fayre and some music from the Swanage town band. We sat on our rug and stared out to sea whilst eating our picnic lunch, then had a wander around in the stalls, played hook-a-duck, and then went home. Very nice!

This is the Dorset flag. I don't like the colour!

The pier, viewed from a step in Prince Albert Gardens

There were so many butterflies around, today, chasing eachother and basking in the hot summer sun. What a beautiful day!