A brief visit to Marwell Zoo produced a few cats and big cats pictures. And a break from days in with snow before.

I have started a photo graphy group at STH Basingstoke.

On saturday-last day of February I took a bus into Basingstoke to record some bus activity , people and the usual fabulas display of crocus's at Eastrop roundabout.

I bumped into Stuart and managed to grab a portrait shot.

Be seeing you

Colin at citypool

Hi there

And into February...with snow!

We did a late visit to Birdworld in January our first outing in 2009.Pictures on www.flickr.com/photos/colinbp

We remembered our canary Amos who passed-he was a very friendly ,grateful and amiacable bird-we will always miss his song.

Not much else to report...awaiting an updated 2cd "California Blues" album by Randy and Ed with Spirit. Trying new Serif software.

I'm at last using my mp3 player 2gb which is excellent once you can prise out of people how to convert cd to wma.

...now its not big enough !!haha!

i've read that Mb will be rapidly expanding in the photoworld as dslr's are now upto 24Mp

mine is 10Mp which is as big as this computer can handle...and I can afford.

Hi there

Well Christmas over ..and a Happy New Year ...into 2009.

On the last couple of days of December Paula and I used the last of out tesco days out tokens on a trip - not far- to Basingstoke's very own Milestones Museum.

Well worth a visit...we used the restraunt too..and the gift shop...and a good photographic expierence ( www.flickr.com/photois/colinbp ) was had by us both.

The day before we travelled 18 miles to Birdworld and to our suprise and delight it was fully open and so we did a quick look around Underwater World too! (Usually it's on winter hours with not much open).

I got some good pics here too especially 3 different toucans and one of the new arrivals in the ground hornbills-fascinating birds -termed "vunerable" due to poisoning , loss of 70% natural habitate and prey, trapping and being shot for attacking reflectoins by breaking windows. i went via http://www.birdworld.co.uk/ site to a ground hornbill conservation site which was very informative. they are slow breeders and the conservation group are helping as well as zoos breeding programmes round the world.

This week saw my return to the Shaw Trust Horticulture garden project as a volunteer which i enjoyed.

Christmas saw Paula's gifts of a Lindo travelling guitar and semi accoustic guitar -so that should help me find a little light music with John , Richard, Livvie and Natalie.

In the New year i have been scanning a scrapbook my great grandfather put together in 1932 and added to in 1950's with cuttings from local newspapers in the Alperton/Wembley-Middx area.It includes reports of his son/my grandfather football winning suides of Wembley BOB's (Brigade old boys) also later Wembley Institute and Wembley & Harrow Posties cup winnning side. Later in the 50's he added his grandsons' / my dad and Uncles' reports of Alperton Old Boys cup winning sides. There is also a picture of the last throws of Watkins Folly/ the Legs which was on the site where the Wembley Stadiums were later built and was built to the first stage of a "larger" than Effel tower similar structure. All dimolished 100 years ago in 1908 as reported in local newspapers-proberly the Wembley Gazette.

Well see you next time in February maybe?

bfn

Colin

Well as Christmas Day creeps ever closer I find more things i'm not achieving!

Set backs come and go but our canary Amos is not appearing to be well and we lost our lovely Bert after his trials with a bad eye.

Bert was a beatifully graceful bird who seemed to do things in a precise planned way-always first down for veg and very often a late night fly to show us what him and his mates had practiced whilst we were out and not looking. It was with sadness that we had to bury him with the birds we had previously lost-in our garden.RIP Bert -you were much appreciated for the short two years we had the pleasure of your company and friendship.

Managed to visit Marwell Zoo in December -got a white Rhino, a meercat along with tiger and a few leopard portraits.

tried out the new "Grasse cafe there too-excellent!

A big thank you to the Shaw Trust Horticulture project with which I volunteer with. Another year gone by. Paula and I attended the Shaw Trust staff meal at a local Brewers Fayre which was very tasty and simply run. I must admit i was a little shocked at £5.28 for 2 x diet colas-even if they were quite large. i later found that most people opted for small bottles. Still a splendid time was had by all-Paula and I certainly were grateful!

Today I attended the Shaw Trust Horticulture project meal which was held at the same hall as last year and was worked hard on and produced an excellent meal finished off with the traditional Nigel /Carolyne (with Chris's help) Quiz....i actually managed a winners box of chocalate stars. Paula and I do not manage many chocalates but we should manage these-its only a small box!

Thank you!

So an evening and two days to Christmas Day...i looked at the tv listings guide on the webb on Christmas afternoon to evening...well i look forward to HM Queen'Elizabeth II speach - last year I enjoyed it very much! Not sure I 'll watch much else -just talk and play cds with maybe a bit of computer. Definately no turkey has died for us here - i appreciate birds of a feather much more than a plate of their bodies. Maybe looking after 30 odd creates such an appreciation and a view of caring nature at its best.

Well if there are any readers of this blogg even if you havent followed Paula and I with our ups and downs with life and the animals we encounter .....

...we wish you a Happy Christmas for 2008 Festive Season- solstace and all!!!

Hi there

A big gap ; we visited the Central Studios "open Mic" once again in November again seeing Raz and Nadeen White (ill at the time ) perform superbly.

I've a new "Sunshine superman" DVD -the extensive study of the artist/writer/musician Donovan -it was a birthday present from Paula (but my DvD plays fails to see anything loaded at present).

Last night we went to our second (& the third in the series) of Basingstoke Unplgd! check out www.myspace.com/basingstokeunplgd .

Artists included Ron Peploe with Deborah Smith, a very nervous but talanted Chris Hall , Giancarlo Catelli, Josh Antonini Project and topping the Bill was "That Nadeen White Experience" -who performed a new song, plus a stunning set that was enjoyed by us, the audience and the band who responded in splendid fashion. Highlights included (apart from initially breaking a string) the "Pale pirate from Stoke Barehills -which was very popular.

The band performed tight vocals with Raz on percussion and Johnny Marvel on double bass. Nadeen White , of course, was in terrific form and worked the audience very well.

pictures i took on my Canon Eos40d are on www.flickr.com/photos/colinbp

www.myspace.com/nadeenwhite to hear some tracks and find out where you can catch the band.

Christmas is comming ...Quorn is instead-thankfully!

Enjoy!

colin

Hi there

An up and down time that picked up when Paula and I went to the Haymarket Theatre in Basingstoke to see an "Open Mic" unplugged gig for free. Next one is November 5th 2008.

We saw 5 out of the 6 acts all were very professional ,the sound was excellent and we got there extra early and got good seats.

Then on Friday we took time out to go to Queen Marys' College/ Central Studios "Open Mic Night" where we saw and I took a whole load of photos using for a change my Canon A80 Powershot.

This week has been exceptionally sunny and i tried for some Autumn leaves shot at Kempsott and East Oakley.

On the Wednesday i had also spent an hour taking a bus ride to Norn Hill in Basingstoke to take trains coming out of Basingstoke Station and some passing local buses.

And to finish the week i managed a few pet shots including the 3 "blue" budgies Jimi , Mooney and Rupi.

So a busy photogenic week which started in the dolldrooms.

Hi there!
And into October as everyone prepares for Halloween....
September went doubly quick we visited Birdworld again with it's great new flying display -featuring Boris, Mozart and Charlie -check out the pictures www.flickr.com/photos/colinbp

And Marwell Zoo where the tiger was especially...well irritated by my camera then gave a big yawn!!! it's that ..Puddephatt fellow again!!!!

We are still working on Bert's eye ..had to take him to the vet and now we are bathing it with cotton wool and water. He's in the small original cage temporarily with best mate Debbie. A bit of a holiday really!!

I've now got a facebook.com account and i trying to get a myspace.com to confirm my 2nd email address but i'll wait on virgin to sort it out ..eventually.

listened to the new or part of it Oasis album -free to listen to in full until a release date of 6th October 2008. Excellent-what i heard!!

We did a stall for Cats Protection (League) -good ol' Dave Reece was there with a smile selling Schael Guitars -hand painted by Jeanette and built with Fender parts by Dave.
Paula and I enjoyed the sale even if it was on a Sunday!!

I interviewed Latter-Day Saint Sister Maureen Nelson who went out to Africa serving in the galley on a Mission Ship. Helping very poor people medically...see www.flickr.com/photos/colinbp for the pics and historical Church story.

My Manchester City gave Harry Redknapps ' Portsmouth a hammering then lost to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carling Cup and Wigan in the Premiership. They are playing the 2nd leg of Uefa cup vs a Cypriot team tonight.(2-nil up 4-1 on agg up) You still cannot write it any better!!!!-eh!

There's some dehlias from Birdworld too!

colin