Falconry day

I had a lovely time at Falconry Days in Northumberland (http://falconrydays.com/index.php).  We got to meet a large selection of the birds, have some of them fly to our gloves, see some fly to the lure and generally had a lovely day.  Something I learned that I hadn't known was that when a bird sheds a feather either by moulting or if it pulls it out deliberately (I'm looking at you Kevin-the-Kestrel!), they are kept so that if a feather gets broken, it can be replaced!  This is called this "imping" (from implanting).

Marmo the Tawny Owl

Kevin the Kestrel (naughty lad, pulling a feather out!)

Prince the Peregrine Falcon

Spock the European Eagle Owl doing one of his tricks; flying to sit between us!

Teal the Gyr/Lanner in flight

Frazer the Harrier Hawk, taking in the view from above

London

The third day with my German friend & her school group, we went to London for a whistle-stop tour.

We started at Greenwich (which really doesn't look like I've spelled it right, although that might just be too much caffeine, still!) and visited the Meridian.  Last time I was there, many years ago, I think one could actually see the 'proper' line, with all the markings, without having to pay.  This time, we only saw the 'free bit' and therefore just a small portion of the line :(  However, I did get a nice photo of the 24-hour clock :)

24-hour clock and units of measurement

On our way to the Thames for a river-boat cruise, I snapped a pic of the Cutty Sark.  I hadn't seen her before, and she is magnificent!

The Cutty Sark

From Greenwich, we travelled to Westminster, passing all the lovely sights from a distinctly different angle.  I took oodles of photos, but I think this one of the Eye is my favourite.

The London Eye

Ducks in the fountain at Buckingham Palace

We walked to Buckingham Palace and through St James's Park - the squirrels were practically tame!

A very friendly squirrel

This squirrel took a peanut from my fingers - the closest I've been to a 'wild' squizzle!

"You lookin' at me?!"

One of the boys in the school party hurt his foot, so Karin & I took him to St Thomas's Hospital to get it checked out.  Luckily, nothing was broken, but it did mean that we had a couple of hours to spend before meeting the rest of the school group.  We went up to Covent Garden; this shop is new since I was there last & I just loved the sign!

"Agents of Cool"

Too much caffeine....

I had far too much coffee yesterday, and for all that I did ALL THE THINGS! it does mean that it is now nearly 5am & I haven't slept yet!  Since I have to be awake at 8am, it doesn't look likely that I will sleep, either.  So!  What better way to spend a couple of dawn-time hours than catching up on my blog?!  ;)

I've done a few things from my Challenge list since I last blogged.  While I was in Brighton visiting Mum, I went out for three days with my German friend Karin who was visiting with her school group.  During those days, we seemed to visit most of the South of England (not actually, but it did feel like it!)  The Royal Pavilion I've been to before, but seeing it again was lovely, and I had lots of nice comments about my outfit!  We had a nice walk along the Palace Pier (I can't (won't!) get used to calling it the Brighton Pier!) :

Karin & Me on the Pier!

On Tuesday, we saw most of Wiltshire!  (That's certainly what it felt like!)  Salisbury Cathedral, Stonehenge, Woodhenge, Winchester Cathedral & the Great Hall and King Arthur's Round Table.  Oh boy!  But that's certainly plenty of things I hadn't done before... I think after this round of blogging I'll post an updated version of my list.

The Medieval Clock in Salisbury Cathedral

Description of Clock

Stonehenge

The cairn at Woodhenge

The tunnel near the Great Hall

King Arthur's Round Table

One day....

This isn't really part of my Challenge, just some random thoughts.

I often say 'I'll do that one day' with regard to various projects I have.  I've realised that 'one day' really means 'never' unless I make a specific point of doing it; so I've decided to designate certain days here & there as 'One Days'.  On those days, I'll do some of the things I've put aside.  For instance, today might be some sewing that I've been meaning to do 'One Day'.  Another One Day will be for finishing off some of the jewellery and things I've made at my silversmithing class. 

The point of designating One Days is so that I can look around and decide which of the minor projects I feel like doing.  In the past,  if I had decided that I was going to do sewing on a certain day, but when that day comes, I don't feel like it, previously, I've done nothing.  With this system, I can use the time to do whatever I feel like doing instead - that way, I'm still doing something, but I have the freedom to chose what.  Limiting the number of things on my One Day pile means that I'm not over-faced with too many things to chose between.

The One Days are not for major projects, as those tend to happen when the time is right for them, nor are they specifically for Challenge projects, although that might be the case at some point.  They are for all the little things that get put off, and pile up, and cause me to look at the pile and despair!

So here's to One Day, being clear of many of the little piles of 'stuff' that I mean to do!

Wish me luck ;)

One finished, some rearranged

I've finished my 5 new foods!  The last one was Kiwi Berries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actinidia_arguta ), which Himself called an abomination unto Nuggan, but I thought were delicious!

Other things which are changing on my list:  I very much doubt I'll get to Germany at all this year, as the most likely time I would be able to now clashes with at least one course I've enrolled on (possibly two courses, if I get accepted onto the second one as well!)  So this one returns to my bucket list from my 40by40 one.

However, I am visiting my Mum in a few weeks and I'll be spending some time with a friend of mine who is bringing her school group over from Germany for a few days, and during this time I'll get to visit Stonehenge and go on a Thames river cruise, neither of which have I done before, so for all I am removing one from my list, I'll be adding two!

Right, now it's time to go & update my original list!

Film I wouldn't have seen....

On Thursday, I was invited by a friend to go & see a film.  I thought about it; the film was only on for the one showing: I'd have to miss my German Class.  However, it was a German film (subtitled in English), so I would still be getting my dose of German for the evening.  Or so I thought.

The film was called Verhängnis (Fate) by Fred Keleman showing at the Tyneside Cinema as part of the AV Festival's "Slow Cinema" season. 

Initially the dialogue was in Spanish according to my friend who is fluent in Spanish (I couldn't hear any of it!)  The next dialogue was in Russian.  I could hear that, as most of it was shouted.  There were about five lines of German, inaudible.  I know it was intended to be a slow film, but this one was 80 minutes (that felt like 5 hours) of sheer boredom.

I'm not usually averse to art films, or foreign films, however all in all, I should have gone to my German class!!

Bifrost

 On Friday, I went out to the Coast to see the Global Rainbow (http://www.tynetown.co.uk/news/global_rainbow ).

The only photo I took that came even close to a true representation of the Violet colour.

My best photo of the experience.

It was truly beautiful, with the full spectrum of colours, including a Violet which was more sensed than seen.

I am using this one for the "See the Northern Lights" entry to my Challenge...

I was there with my friend Jo, and she called it Bifrost (the Norse Rainbow Bridge to Asgard).  It is thought that the Norse folk might have considered the Aurora Borealis to be Bifrost.  Since this Northern Light-show was a veritable Rainbow Bridge, I am reckoning that this counts for my challenge, and if I do manage to see the real Aurora, then that will be a bonus!

(My reasoning for this one is that most of the things on my list are things that I can cause to happen, but the Aurora isn't one of them, since it depends rather on the state of Sol!)