Picnic!

Yesterday, we were to have a picnic with friends but before we headed off to the proposed spot we stopped off at Akamba.  It's a garden centre that specialises in African plants.  It's actually much more than that.

As you walk around, through the palms, you come across little thatched platforms with tables and chairs.  Here, you can sit and have a bite to eat or a drink.  Dotted around is the odd bar.  They serve tea and coffee but also African beer.  I assume they stock local drinks as well but I opted for a Tusker.  A beer made in Kenya and named after the elephant that killed one of the brewery's founders.  It was very enjoyable. 

Whilst sitting, drinking my beer it started to rain quite heavily. There was something quite cosy about sitting in the hut amongst the trees whilst the rain came down. It showed no sign of stopping so once we had finished our drinks we headed off to have our picnic. 

Having driven around we came across a picnic area and sat in the car as the food was passed round.  An English picnic in all it's glory.

Not long after arriving home the sun came out. Oh well, still a good day.

If you want to know more about Akamba visit their website http://akamba.co.uk/

Another Suny Day

Another sunny day and another walk along the towpath.  This was the best walk yet as we got to see kingfishers!!  2 of them.

We came across them toward the end of our walk.  I had been trying to take photos of a heron who we found sitting on the path underneath a motorway bridge. Each time I got closer it would fly a bit further down water.  Having followed  for a bit, we decided to turn round and head back. 

As I turned I saw a flash of blue, low over the water. We watched it swoop twice before turning and heading away with a fish.  As we watched another appeared.  I tried to take a photograph but they were too quick.  We waited and within a few minutes they were back. Again, I tried to take a photo but again no joy.  After about 15 minutes they disappeared.  We waited for a few minutes and when they never returned we decided it was time to head home. 

Here are a couple pictures of something that wasn't as quick as a kingfisher.  In fact it just stood there.

In the Garden

As I said yesterday, I have spent a good deal of time in the garden, what with the nice weather and all.  It's been lovely. I've sat in the sunshine and just watched the wildlife going about it's business.  Although I live in a residential street, my garden is quite enclosed and I deliberately leave it slightly overgrown. I prefer it that way. Just let nature do what it does. Over the last few days I have become quite fond of a couple of Goldfinches that flit back and forth all day long.  I've tried to take a photo but they are either too well camouflaged in the foliage or fly off by the time I have my camera ready.  Other visitors to my garden (or the airspace above it) have included Blue Tits, Great Tits, a Robin, Magpies and a Kestrel. In the late afternoon Swifts appear over head.  Butterflies including Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Peacock and a Small White have also visited. Again I have tried to photograph these with limited success.  Below is a picture of a Peacock Butterfly.  I stood for what seemed like hours waiting for it to open it's wings but when it did I was too slow and it had gone by the time I was ready.

To a lot of people this won't sound very "Rock n Roll"  but I find it very relaxing.  I am a city person through and through and don't think I could ever live in the countryside but as soon as the sunshine arrives I want to be out and surrounded by trees and greenery.  I am lucky enough to have a small garden to escape to at the very least.  I am in no way green fingered but can understand why people love gardening. Perhaps it's something I might take up in a few years. In the meantime I will just sit and watch the birds and butterflies as they come and go.

Summer Days

I love the summer and the last few days have been fantastic.  Things seem so much better in the sunshine.  The weekend was spent in the garden watching the birds, butterflies, bees and other insects going about their business. On Saturday, Clare (my girlfriend) and I went for a picnic.  We are quite lucky to have the countryside pretty much on our doorstep.  We spent a sunny afternoon sitting in the shade of an old oak tree, drinking slightly warm gins and tonic and  watching buzzards circle in a blue, cloudless sky.  The picnic basket had sandwiches, dips and crisps and having eaten, we walked through a wooded area and enjoyed it's coolness.  We arrived home early evening just in time for the Champions League Final and spent a warm evening watching the football.  I don't think it gets better than that!