Doctor Foster went to Gloucester

...and, as the Nursery Rhyme predicted, there was indeed a shower of rain!  We made the trip to Gloucester to see the Cotswold Monochrome Salon Exhibition, which was being held in a wonderful old priory close to the docks.  Both Frances and I had pictures accepted into the exhibition, which is why we were making the pilgrimage.  Some wonderful images to look at, and a very pleasant way to spend an hour or so before lunch.

In the afternoon, during the aforementioned shower, I spent a very happy time inside Gloucester Cathedral.  The choir were practising for Evensong, which was the cherry on the cake.  Unfortunately there were dozens of people milling around, most of whom seemed oblivious to an idiot with a camera and a tripod.  Still, I managed to get a few pictures which I have processed very quickly.

It's a pity that the rest of Gloucester didn't match up to the quality of the exhibition and the Cathedral.  The place seemed to be relatively down at heel - despite lots of gentrification around the dock area - and was full of Pound Shops (or their discounted equivalents, 99p Shops).

Evening at Thurne Mill

By far the wettest day of the holiday involved a long journey from Beccles in Suffolk, across Breydon Water, through Great Yarmouth, and on to Thurne.  It rained pretty well the entire time, and we were all suffering from Cabin Fever by the time we managed to moor.  The rain stopped after dinner, and I managed an hour or so in the gathering gloom taking pictures of the iconic windmill.

The images have all been processed slightly differently, and I'm not sure which I prefer yet.  Probably the softer, more pastel versions, but the jury is still out.

 

How Hill

As promised, here are a few of the pictures from the holiday.  The first set come from How Hill on the river Ant, not far from Ludham.  There are a couple of old wind pumps there, and a rather attractive house on a hill close by.  There's also the wonderfully named Toad Hole Cottage, which I managed to photograph later in the week.

Cold and Wet

I've just got back from a week's holiday on the Norfolk Broads: usually a firm family favourite.  When we booked the holiday, back in February, the middle of July - just before the main school holidays - seemed like a really good idea.  In reality, we spent a week in wellies, waterproofs and multiple fleeces.  Leaden skies, rain, thunder and a constant cold, blustery wind were the order of the day.  Definitely a case of "batten down the hatches and make another bacon sandwich".  I managed to take a few pictures on the holiday, which I'll post in the next few days, but here are three to give a flavour of the week.

Needless to say, it's been 28 degrees and sunny since we got home.  Typical...

What goes up must come down...

Today, at Sibson airfield near Peterborough, Izzi went Sky Diving to raise money for Magpas.  It's still possible to sponsor her here for what is an enormously worthwhile cause.

The day started with a briefing and words of encouragement from Sue of Toad's Driving School, who had organised the event on behalf of Magpas.  Izzi claimed not to be nervous, but I wasn't convinced based on the body language...

An air of resignation had set in by this point.

What the well-dressed (aerial) photographer is wearing this season.  I was pleased to see that the camera (a Canon EOS 600D) was held on with Gaffer tape and bungees.

Then it was all aboard, shortly followed by take-off and a 15 minute climb to 15,000 feet.  Then the fun started...

The following pictures are Izzi, strapped to her "tandem" instructor, heading towards the earth at alarming speed.

 All over bar the shouting now.  The only issue was to avoid being landed upon by other sky-divers.

I think she enjoyed it!

 It was then time to catch the minibus back to the airfield.  The final picture shows a very proud Izzi (photographed by a very proud father) demonstrating her achievement beside a Magpas poster.

Needless to say she wants to do it again next year, although I sincerely hope that she'll have passed her driving test by then!