Celestial Chook moments

Up and out early again this morning. We went to the local BBOWT nature reserve to make the most of the sunshine, without getting cooked.

The warden showed us the best options for finding the Early Purple and Fly orchids currently in flower. As a bonus we found White Helleborines just coming into flower (not pictured -  they were in the shade and difficult to photograph without a tripod) and a mega bonus, two beautiful Greater Butterfly orchids. I love both Lesser and Greater Butterfly orchids - they are ethereal and have a touch of Faery about them.

[Tree hugger alert] I’ve included a picture of my ‘Happy Tree’. This is a magnificent Beech tree that I photograph at different times of the year. Meeting up with this tree and seeing it progress through the seasons always makes me happy.

Went to Malta at Easter. Just a quick break (four days), but that was fine – the island is small enough to make it easy to get around by bus. The Maltese people are really friendly and helpful, which makes it quick to settle in.

We visited the capital Valletta, wandered along the front at Sliema and generally enjoyed the sun and Mediterranean light.

Really loved the waterfront café/restaurant Raffael and will go back just for their spaghetti with olive oil, chilli and garlic – how can something with so few ingredients be so tasty?!

Also had great food at MedAsia in Sliema – yum.

Got up early and went to West Dean Gardens in West Sussex. I love West Dean at any time of the year, but today the beautiful sunshine really made the experience. It wiped away all worries and frustrations of a week at work. The views across the parkland enabled me to find peace and create space in my mind.

As well as parkland, West Dean also has a fantastic walled garden with magnificent, working glass houses. I like the peach and nectarine house best. If we visit later in the year when the fruit is ripe, it will be as much as I can do to stop myself going on a vampiresque frenzy in there. The scent of the juicy peaches and nectarines is always amazing.

Made with Paper

Playing with Fractile Plus app on iPad.

prostheticknowledge:

Sloth photobombs holiday picture

[via The Telegraph UK]

(via npr)

Eastleach is a pretty village in the Cotswolds. At this time of year, the river is edged with glorious daffodils.

Zen day in the garden with Buddha and Harry.

We enjoyed afternoon sun at Cliveden in Buckinghamshire. (Coffee and the raspberry and peach muffin were good too!)

Yesterday, I was looking around a website aimed at students - so demographic 18-20 years (I run a site for same user group). Was very surprised to see an advert for ‘Mature dating’. “Hey ho,” I thought. “Your ad targeting is a bit off.”

And then the shocking realisation hit. Through browsing history and browser cookie jiggery pokery, the ad was targeted at me!

It’s not the dating element I found hard to bear (definite wrong targeting); it’s that my browsing habits declare that I am officially ‘mature’ in age. This was exactly not what I wanted reminding of as I head towards my next prime number age beyond 40.

Anyway, a better and more accurate web recommendation was offered later in the day by Amazon: “Get out while you can” !