Size matters

It’s true. Nearly 4 months after ordering it, my birthday present has just arrived, and it’s a whopper! Thanks to all those kind donations, this is the new telephoto lens I’ve been waiting for (a Tamron 150-600mm).

Currently, the ducks in the pond are wondering why I’m constantly pointing this big boy at them. I need to get in as much practice as possible before a visit to the Serengetti in a couple of months.

This is one of those photos. Although I don’t think it’s my best, it has had more views on Flickr than any other picture I’ve ever taken (currently about 4,000). (Editors note: despite these figures being meaningless, it seems to be having a disturbing affect on the size of Phil’s ego)

Personally I prefer this one:

My attempt at photographing the local birds has proved less successful:

Anyway, thanks again all who helped towards my new toy.

Phil

Oxford Blue

Porterhouse Blue was a ridiculously funny book written by Tom Sharpe about a mythical Cambridge college and how it’s masters ate and drank themselves into cardiac arrest (thus the ‘blue’ ).

Geoff, a schoolmate of mine going back a little while (ahem) attempted a similar thing with me in his hometown of Oxford. A day walking around Oxford, climbing its towers, photographing its sights, was, I believe, an attempt to push this half crippled body of mine to its limit.

And so, with Geoffs help, after walking many hours, climbing untold steps, suffering vertigo, upsetting pigeons, clicking multiple pictures and spending several hours on photoshop stitching them all together, I ended up with this masterpiece soon to be hung in the Tate & Lyle

Thanks Geoff, although next time I might just take a picture of your nearly identical photo hanging on your wall….

We also visited Hogwarts;

Christchurch College;

and even saw the Manhatten skyline…

After avoiding cardiac arrest and photographing most of Southern England, we met with Jon & Luke to go to see 'Yes’ in concert. I last saw them about 40 years ago so was expecting Zimmerman frames and memory loss. Instead they gave a magnificent performance with Steve Howe’s guitar even keeping Jon awake. I couldn’t take my camera, so here is the word 'yes’….



Altogether, a pretty bloody good day.

Continuing with the blue theme, the previous few days spent in the Wye Valley were not wasted as the bluebells are incredible this year. (Hmmm, that sounds a little gay….) I guess the verdant moss may indicate a surfeit of water but 'who cares?’ with scenery like this.

So, onwards and upwards, I am now sitting in Bristol Airport, heading for a week in the Pyrenees, searching for elusive mountains and the occasional tree to photograph. A couple of bears would be nice…

Phil

Update

Hi all.

Last year I set myself a goal: to run the Montauban 10k in April of this year, and then possibly try for greater distances.

Fail.

Thanks to ‘f**ked-up feet’ syndrome, the goalposts haven’t just moved, they’ve buggered off completely.

No worries, I always have my photography to fall back on…

Until recently, every scene I have looked at has resembled the above. That kinda 'misty out-of-focus’ look has been the norm for a long time.

Romantic but not too practical.

And so, French surgeons, after finishing with hoovering out the back of my eyes last year, are now working on the middle bit of 'em. One lens out, and one to go, and I can already tell that my vision will be better than it has been in over ten years, maybe more.

However, currently my life consists of changing multiple glasses every 5 minutes (remember professor Branestawm anyone?)…

…walking the dogs around the local countryside…

…taking in the local sights…

…the occasional hike to the top of the odd mountain…

…strolling around the garden watching the weeds grow…

…watching enviously as others use the pool…

…and relaxing with friends and family.

Although the latter appears to be winning out at the moment, this years goal is to travel.

Lots.

And to that end, I’m starting next week with… Wales. Doh…

Talking of which, please take a look at a website I’m making to help rent out my cottage there (I’m heading back to Wales to finalise this)

www.wye-valley-cottage.co.uk

Cheers, wish me luck

Phil

Ski Club '14

Hi all

Instead of boring you with seperate ski-trips and visitors, I thought it better to bore you a single long episode of all our exciting and varied adventures on the snow this year.

After a short visit from Goeff, we had two weeks of visiting family. Replacing last years comedy act of Ruth, Joe and Jenny, we had a pair of snowboard nutters in the form of Christian (with Lisa) and Marta (with Luke).

Whilst Christian was attempting to break his neck…

…Lisa was trying to break Sophies’s….

Luke and Marta took over in the entertainment stakes…

entertaining us with modern dancing in the restaurants…

and break dancing on the slopes…

This is my kind of skiing - watching others make idiots of themselves.

Book early to make an idiot of yourself next year….

Meanwhile, it’s a dogs life…

Here’s all the pics….

Not just the weather

The weather is a hot topic of conversation at the moment. The deluge from the heavens is helping Wales fulfill it’s wish of seperating from England.

This may be a good reason for migrating south; but there are others.

On the day pictured below, we visited two local towns with Domitille & Vincent. Heading north, the first town spotted …

…was Cahors.

Pretty stunning when viewed from the local hilltop.

The next stop was but a short stroll away.

Actually, a half hour drive…

Arriving in Saint Cirq Lapoppie just in time to check out the restaurants…

before checking out the local architecture…

Great place.

For all the photos, click only any of these…

Entering the Twilight Zone

“How does it feel to be 60 years old?”

Well, so far, bloody good! Long may it last. Definitely better than 59 in my humble opinion…

60 years has seen countless parties, but this just has to be the best. The warm-up started on Thursday, building to the crescendo that was Saturday night, finally ending on Monday. So many friends, so many family (most of whom I count as friends too). Eighty-five came from far and near, in both time and space.

Friends from Wales

from school

from college

from all over France

All there to humble me and inflate my ego.

Momo closed his restaurant for the night and laid on a spread to die for.

Thank you so much to those who managed to get there, it was truly a weekend full of laughter and tears in full measure. Thank you to all those who sent their wishes instead. And all those presents! And all that money! You guys are incredible.

Without Annick none of this would have happened and none of it would have been possible.

Thank you

If you have any photos from the weekend, please let me know.

Cheers!!!

See you all at my 70th!

Here’s all 100 of the photos…