Blakeney Seals

Much better than visiting a Zoo was a boat trip to see the seals at Blakeney.  They were as adorable as ever, and remain - in my eyes anyway - one of the genuine attractions of North Norfolk.

Just like Labradors with flippers...

Amazona Zoo

Let's face it: anything which needs to describe itself as an "attraction" clearly isn't one.  Still, what do you do on a wet Sunday morning in Cromer when everything else is shut?  Go to the Amazona Zoo Attraction of course.

Not a good start as poor old Amber had to stay in the car, although I'm sure we could have found something for her to service.

This is a Rhea, I think - like the one which went walkabout in Hertfordshire recently.

The parrots, although beautiful, were in small cages with very little room to move.

I think this picture of an Ocelot in its five star accommodation just about says it all.

Eventually the sun came out and a Tapir decided to give us a cheesy grin.

The Capybara seemed to have the right attitude - partly because they had a reasonable enclosure in which to move around.

Not quite sure what this is, but it looked a bit bedraggled and miserable.

I'm sure that some Zoos do a wonderful job when it comes to animal welfare and conservation, but I don't think we'll be rushing back to this particular "attraction".

A brief sojourn in Southampton

A few pictures from Southampton then when I visited my daughter, who is at University there, at the end of last year.  A lot of new building, with an obviously nautical theme.

A rather fine German Shepherd which was guarding a hairdresser's shop.

Finally, two pictures from the street market.  It must have been the hot dogs which were happy, as the man selling them looked miserable as sin.  As for Mr Underground Clothing, he spent the whole time sending texts on his phone...

I'm gradually working through a large back-log of pictures, as you can probably tell!

St Pancras and King's Cross

Because of my innate aversion to London, I hadn't been to the capital for quite some time.  The last occasion I went there was no Shard, for example, and the twin stations of St Pancras and King's Cross had yet to be renovated.  Time to do a bit of catching up.

Astonishingly there was a wedding taking place in St Pancras station.  I wonder if Sir John Betjeman was on the guest list, or whether he gate-crashed the party?

The new concourse at King's Cross is truly amazing, and a huge improvement on what was there before.

Maybe it will be another five years before I brave going to London again?  I'm just not a "city person" at heart...

London Salon Opening

On May 24th the London Salon of Photography opened their 2014 exhibition at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon.  I'd never been to Croydon before, and now I know why!  Still, the pictures were (on the whole) well worth seeing, despite the less-than-glamorous location.

This Rain by Alison Rawson.

Trevor Gellard showing his impeccable taste by admiring one of my acceptances, Waiting.

Dandies by Jayne Odell, with Sue McGilveray for scale.

My other acceptance, Got the T-Shirt.  A bit surprised that it got in, as the exhibition was distinctly dog-heavy this year.

The London Salon paparazzi.  Scary...

At least it was warm and dry inside the exhibition space, and the windows only leaked a little bit during the torrential downpour which occurred after the official opening.

Tate Modern and Environs

A few more from my recent trip to London.  This time a brief visit to Tate Modern and the walk to London Bridge railway station afterwards.

I blame Sue McGilveray for starting me on a "waving the camera around" spree...

Londoners

A few pictures from a recent trip to London.  Not my natural habitat, in terms of both geography and subject matter, but an interesting - if slightly scary - exercise.

Does this prove that there's life after Iceland, I wonder?