Slimbridge in a hurry

At the end of September, while en route for Bristol, I managed to grab a short time at the Slimbridge Wetland Centre in Gloucestershire.  I had intended to spend the entire afternoon there; but, owing to the combination of inefficiency on my part and horrendous traffic around Birmingham, I didn't manage to arrive until 3:30.  Since the place closed at 5:00, my visit was inevitably rather rushed.  Here is a selection of pictures I took while attempting to see every corner of the reserve at break-neck speed!

Having missed the breeding eiders when we were in Iceland this year, it was good to see them displaying (even if the females weren't especially impressed).

At "last knockings" I managed to grab a couple of pictures of the swans, just outside the visitors' centre.

Next time I really need to get my act together and visit Slimbridge properly!

St Peter Port and Home

The series of workshops now being over, I had a few hours to wander around St Peter Port before catching the ferry after lunch.  I've always liked the town, and it's sufficiently small that walking is the most sensible way of getting around.  What follows is a miscellany of shots from the morning.

It was then time to board the ferry and head back to Poole.  I'm always sad to leave Guernsey, and this had been a particularly enjoyable visit.  Huge thanks are due to Carl and Gill for running the "best hotel on the island", and to all the Guernsey photographers who made me feel so welcome.  I'll be back, whether you like it or not!

The last couple of pictures were taken from the ferry just before we docked in Poole.

It was then a three hour drive to Cambridge, followed by the dawning realisation that I needed to go to work the following morning.  Roll on retirement...

Sunset at Vazon Bay

After the final day of workshops on Guernsey, Carl, Gill and I went for a walk along Vazon Beach as the sun was setting.  It was a warm, balmy evening, and the place was virtually deserted.  All it needed was a dumb blonde labrador to complete the idyll...

There was a slightly serious note to beginning of the walk as all the flags on the island were flying at half mast.  This was due to the premature demise of Guernsey's Lieutenant Governor, Peter Walker, who had died suddenly the previous day.

The evening light was beautiful, and the sea wall was distinctly warm to the touch.

The shadows of two photographers, both attempting to make pictures out of the railings above.

Carl, photographing everything which moved (or didn't, in the case of the sand castle and crab sculpture which we found on the beach).

The final picture shows the strange and ancient Guernsey sport of "rock lifting".  No, I don't understand it either...

The Little Chapel

Guernsey's Little Chapel is a real gem, tucked away in the grounds of Blanchelande Girls College and run by a charitable trust.  It dates from 1914, and was built by Brother Déodat as a replica of the church at Lourdes - but in miniature, and decorated with bits of broken pottery and sea shells!  It is possible to stand up inside the chapel - certainly for someone who is vertically challenged like me - but it starts to get very cosy when there are more than two people inside.  On this occasion there were several French visitors who were clearly making a pilgrimage to the chapel.

Quite a challenge photographically, as there certainly wasn't room in the chapel for a photographer and a tripod!