Welcome to the May thread. I loved all the variety that April brought. Thanks all.

My son went screaming off on his ripstick, got to the back gate and flew out leaving poor Jinx behind. She sat there next to the ripstick til he came back. awwww.

Awww why do dog stories always make me cry. People stories rarely do.What a cutie!

Cherry blossom against a blue sky.

A train going through the South Downs between Rowland's Castle and Petersfield

Jinx does look pitiful waiting for her boy to come back.

Our Cherry Blossoms are still about a month away. I'm waiting for the leaves to return to the trees.

Trillium are blossoming all over our woods. In some places as thick as blankets.

Just a view through the coach window in Ireland, so many ruined castles all over the country, I loved them, my cousin wasn't so keen, she thought there were just too many, seen one, seen them all!

Most of my Irish photos have been point and shoot through the moving coach windows so really potluck.

They all look so peaceful and still. Lovely.

Beautiful Sue. I could look at castles all day - imagine how hard it would have been in those days to do something like that - and right next to water like that. Amazing.
I suppose at least they would have been able to save time by not having to do an environmental impact study ...

Here's an sign that won't mean much to many but it's an old beer brand .. I remember it as the one my Dad used to drink oh so many years ago.
Gave me memories seeing it hanging up on the fence around an outback pub.

had to be careful I didn't get run over here! I loved the architecture in Santa Fe when I visited there a couple of years ago for a conference.

This is the Cathedral Basilica of St Francis of Assisi.

That looks like Adare Castle, Sue! Very pretty!

Love the basilica, MM, and your beer sign, copago!

We certainly went to Adare, we had lunch there, so quite possible.

A field east of Ongar

satguru, is that canola in the background?

First butterfly of the year in the garden today

An ornamental pond at a convention centre in Ongar

Pansies peeping out from among the poppy foliage

May blossoms on my neighbour's tree

Glorious.

I found a little shell I thought was pretty and took it home to try a still life.

I have to keep the pic small though.....................................................................................cos it's out of focus.

Lovely. A stroke of genious to put it on the beautiful tree bark.
Still life would be another good subject for a 2 week theme.

The centre of Epping, I hadn't been here for ages

This is the view across the bridleway where I walk Susie. The white on the field is a flock of seagulls that seem to be there pretty much all the time.

A field of rapeseed near Stratfield Saye in Berkshire

All the pictures are lovely. I especially love the still life chavs. The flowers and the pond make me think nice weather must be on its way here. The leaves are finally coming out on the trees.

While looking through pictures tonight I came across this one. A young Moose that came here to the farm a few years ago and kept breaking down fencing. He made the cows so nervous. But isn't he beautiful!

I've been inspired to try my luck taking flower photos by all the wonderful pics here. I'm definitely an amateur (but keen to learn) so if anyone wants to pass on any tips, please do so, either here, or by PM. (I also hope I've got the sizing right now that photobucket has changed)

This is a Pink Lace Azalea - as winter is fast approaching, the number of flowers still about is rapidly declining.....

The moose is magnificent, Tori! What do you farm?

Here is a pretty pink sunrise this morning.

Love that sunset, and Tori the moose is great. How lovely to have that on your farm, even if he did damage the fences.

Mike, lovely flower photo, doesn't look like you need any advice. By the way, I love the Basilica photo as well.

Love that moose!!!

Yesterday I had the opportunity of taking a guided visit of the MCS Divina, a 333 metre long, brand spanking new cruise liner, due to go into service in two weeks. We trekked all over that ship, from the opulent atrium, to the unfinished lower decks, to the top floor panoramic discotheque, we peeped behind the doors of the morgue, and had a squint at the captain's cockpit, admired the automatic laundry machinery which can iron and fold thousands of sets of sheets a day (a major consideration for the cleaning staff). It was like Disneyworld for grownups, luxury to the last detail, and was totally amazing.

No photos allowed on board the liner, but here's a shot taken on the quays. Difficult to get the whole length of her in, and there are people in the foreground which will give you an idea of the scale of the beast, though you really need to "see it to believe it".

My, that is big. How many people will she carry, must be thousands.