Bugs here are the camouflage kind of things I guess - I can't think of any that have any colour more exciting than brown (unless you count the red backs of a certain spider which are hard to see .. just ask Ozzz). We have one insect that looks like a little bunch of sticks. Nothing quite so beautiful as yours!

AThe bridge pic is great, Paul, with that shadow like that.

I posted the magpie yesterday well this one today is what happens when they magpies aren't quick enough ....

In keeping with the bug theme, here's a praying mantis I found last year just after sprinkling the potted succulent it had apparently been lurking in. As I recall, it was about four inches (10 cm) long.

Here's a scene close to my heart. Finchley Road runs from Lords cricket ground in St Johns Wood to Henlys Corner in Finchley, and links half of my life. I worked on it in this shopping centre twice, and in Swiss Cottage further south twice. One of my best friends lived right opposite one of the various tube stations on it, and I took the bus to school which stopped there every day for about 7 years.
This is the 82 bus from Finchley to Victoria stopping in Temple Fortune where I was doing my shopping this afternoon.



Has anyone else had the nice surprise I had recently on photobucket? Although my photos are all there they reduced my used space by over 50%, meaning I can add many more photos before it's filled up. If anyone knows how they managed it and if it happened to them I'd be interested to know.

Cool shot, Paul!

This leafhopper was 1/8" long and appeared grey to the naked eye. It wasn't until I looked at him on the computer that I saw these smart black and white stripes.

Two boats in a lock at the same time. We were at the back.

I've always wanted to go on a canal like that. Seems so idyllic.



Presenting .... The Amazing Flying Goat!
This is Hindu's kid, no real name but we're calling her Kidley.

I have no idea how you manage to capture that moment Jill!

In 1976 they built Britain's first shopping mall on the site of a greyhound track and sewage farm in Hendon, and as a result the buses all extended their routes from terminating in Golders Green. This is where they drop people off and many terminate besides the routes which passed it already in 1976.

Oooo, good timing, Copago! Maybe Kidley has aspirations of becoming one of Santa's reindeer...

Recently I did some painting, and had gone outside to check to see if the paint was dry. Apparently it was, as this colourful insect was walking about quite freely. The bar is one inch wide, to give some perspective.

I must find a bug around here just to show you how dull they can be. LOL

I could box some up and mail them to you.....

Satguru, it's a trip down nostalgia lane for me to see those buses. Reminds me of my school days when I'd take the double decker everyday. We'd always sit up top, of course.

A quiet corner in the garden of the Muslim Library in Rhodes old town, Greece.

Looking down on Wanchai Market from the bus up on the flyover today

That's probably just what I'd expect HK to look like, Ren

here's a colourful little fella sitting on the dog water bowl. I'd just call him a grass parrot but I'm sure he's got a more precise name. (maybe Peter? )



(edit to ad: Our insects might be dull but our birds make up for it, Mags! )

Love Jill, you certainly do have colourful birds.

Mr Pheasant doing his rounds before dusk, muttering "colourful Aussie birds my aunt!"

LOL LOL

Copago, you sure do have colourful birds! This fellah is gorgeous. I remember your galahs too, so pretty.

Aww Mr. Pheasant, you are very colourful too.

Ren, I enjoyed your candid shot of the fruit vendors.

Sherry, glad to see you back - lovely serene shot.

Our pheasants are not that colour, how odd.

Did a Google and yours isn't the normal one we see everywhere, they are more like these on this site.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/p/pheasant/

I did find something calling itself an 'ornamental pheasant' which was in bright colours and the golden pheasant too.

I'd never even noticed that he wasn't 'normal pheasant' looking, how odd! I actually took a picture of a flock of sheep with the sun just beginning to set over the hill... it turned out to be a rubbish photo, the sunset had no colour whatsoever and the sheep looked grubby but that pheasant just walked into in the foreground. He was making a lot of noise as cock pheasants do at this time of year but he'd gone by the time I tried to take a picture just of him. Perhaps I've discovered a whole new species!

An interesting assortment of old Greek pans...

Unusual collection, Sherry.

Plenty of pumpkins here! (no doubt more will disappear from the fence posts during the coming week. There must be a hundred or so at present on posts surrounding this field....)

Love that photo Lilly... gawjus!

I didn't realise that you did the pumpkin thing in the UK - great photo.

Close up of Kidley.

December 16, 1963. The old College of Marin gymnasium in Kentfield, California burns. The building, though still in partial use, had already been scheduled for demolition. I was 17 when I shot this Kodachrome. This would have gone well in the Education thread, but, well...

Are you doing anything to the colour of these old pics, Paul? They look so vibrant!

"This would have gone well in the Education thread, but, well..."
LOL .. I'll go and borrow the wet noodles from the chain games forum ...

A colourful toadstool:

Wow, TW, what a find, such fine detail too. I've only ever seen one Amanita Muscaria in the wild. Are you sure you didn't ice those little white tips on before you took the shot?