Liz, your donkey looks cute enough to pick up and stuff in your pocket!

Chavs, "you lookin' at me?" lol


I saw Christinap's photo from last month of Chinese Lanterns growing wild. I didn't know that's what they were called and I found some in Texas the other day. At least I think they're the same. And they're not as pretty as her's.

They certainly look similar. The ones we have go dried like that once they've finished the orange stage and then burst and scatter seeds.

Today we are standing on the Caroline Bay boardwalk and looking towards the snowcapped Southern Alps. Just on the other side of those rocks is the path I walk into town and back each time so as you can see, it is horrible being able to view the mountains and the ocean each time...lol

Oh, I totally agree, Howie! Horrible view!

wow, beautiful, Howie. It actually took me a sec to see the mountains as I thought they were clouds :p

Cute, Chavs!

Couple of insects here making a couple more insects I suspect.

Oh my, sex on FT - whatever next. They look like the lily beetles I get in the garden.

Some more autumn colour

Yes, I was going to say Now now Jill, this is a family site!

Now, now...I think one was tired and just hitching a ride. But seriously, I think it's fascinating that even on the bugs, you can tell the difference between the male and female. Those antennae are awesome.

Yes they are, it's actually a great photo. The antennae look almost like feathers or bracken leaves, really impressive. I wonder if the ones with the biggest antennae get their pick of females, like stags with the most impressive antlers.

Ignoring all of this... Ren, I like donkeys too, they are sweet. This one was inside, and came out to see me. Came right over and sniffed my hand, in fact.

Awwww! If you go to the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, Devon, you can cuddle them. I think there is a website....

When not engaged on distant travels (for me anyway) I keep collecting squares for the map to edge up the leaderboard, so they are not very exciting as only represent the little 1km square required, and nearly all of Chessington looks like this wherever you take them.

Who would like to share some of my birthday cupcake?

Oh, that looks too lovely to eat!

I thought we could stand another donkey photo I must look up that website, Ren.

Awwww! I will pm it Liz.

hehe .. this remined me of a couple years ago when my son came in saying he saw a lizard giving another a piggyback ride ...


Today I discovered that my camera takes panoramic photos! the boy spent the day at White Cliffs school as they had an author visiting for the day so i took my camera on a bit of a tour .. so this is White Cliffs from a distance .. a lot of the people live in these two hills in dugouts.

This is the village bus in Fanling that we took to get to Ren's house!

Wow! That's amazing, Carole. I ride on that one every day to work and back!

Very neat that your camera does panorama, Jill. Mine doesn't but I found an app on my phone that allows it and I've taken a few photos with my smartphone. I'll have to see if I can download a few.

This is one very moss filled pond I found near Waco, Texas.

The canal at Maesbury in the autumn sunshine.

The Hong Kong flagged bulk carrier "Port Kenny" berthed in the Timaru Harbour on a completely calm day.

I wandered around the old cemetery at White Cliffs yesterday. There's an incredible amount of unmarked graves there from the early days and lots of them are only child size - very sad.

It's only the Shell station on the Hook roundabout but the colours and sky made it for me

Copago - there is actually a childs cemetary at White Cliffs - apparently in a very dry time (1800's?) lots of people walked away and left their kids behind. Very sad.

Old Glory.

Oh Dot. That picture is WONderful : )

Yes, that is a great photo, Dot. I somehow totally missed it.

I thought we could probably bear to see one more donkey. By the way, I've been to the sanctuary in Devon, many years ago, and it's a great place to visit.

Thank you both, here is another from the same walk. Not quite as stunning because we were on the other side of the bridge out of the sun.

Looks like a lovely walk Dot. I love your first picture, the light is spectacular in it.