Wildlife

Wednesday 30th August 2017

 

Purple loosestrife on the Rectory glebe where I found a beautiful big green frog with dark markings who looked just like the orchid leaves.  But it hopped under the foliage  before I could photograph it.

Then the honey bees flew off, leaving just one bumble bee in the centre of the picture:

 



Elsdon Fair

Monday 28th August 2017

Ice cream cones as a reward for a hard afternoon's barbecuing..

...and Zebedee comes home with second prize in the "Golden Oldies" class of the Dog Show

The Bellingham Show

Saturday 26th August 2017

They don't look real but they are!

Setting out entries in the "industrial tent" before the Show opens

The Church tent ready to welcome anyone looking for free rest and refreshment

 

    


Watching stick dressing   



                                                           

serving homemade lemonade and elderflower cordial

 

A father entertains his twins with toys

 

 

Stunt horses in the main ring, demonstrating action...

 

 

...and resting between film takes!

 

Packing up our tent after serving 140 glasses of homemade elderflower or lemon drinks, and providing toys and straw bale seating for countless others

 

The church stand goes up

Friday 25th August 2017

Loading toys for bored children, straw bales for tired adults and drinking water for allcomers

Unpacking the Church tent

Up goes the structure...

...but it looks like a dull day ahead of the man holding up the tent.

Bellingham Show preparations

Thursday 24th August 2017

Eventually some jam to put into the Show was all potted at about 11.15 at night.  It had to be fitted in between other activities like conducting a Communion service and preparing a powerpoint presentation.  There might be time to tidy up the jars' appearance!

Falstone Show

Saturday 19th August 2017

The weather offered a welcome contrast to
last year:

 

The climbing wall was patronised by some very young climbers:



and everyone patronised the family firm for organic burgers:

 

Planning again

Thursday 17th August 2017

A fine view of the Cheviots on the horizon behind the heather as I drive over to Otterburn for a meeting.  Later, on my way up the North Tyne valley to Falstone for another meeting, it's less open country, still lovely.

Time for a rest

Wednesday 16th August 2017

I'm having a day off  --  and it looks as if the bull is too!

Rehearsed and impromptu!

Friday 10th August 2017

The font at St Aidan's Thorneyburn

     The rehearsal was more of a preparation for two children who had asked to be baptised.  So we went to the church to talk about what would happen on Sunday.
     When they left with their parents, four older people looked in as they were passing during a country drive.  We got into conversation and ended up singing hymns in the wonderful acoustic, finishing with a very nice tenor solo!

Sorting sheep

Wednesday 9th August 2017

Why the concentration of sheep who could have spread themselves over a large area?
They are the ones who have just been released, leaving the selected ones in the pen: