How sad to see such a lovely house knowing what happened behind the boards and that rather cheeky-looking skull and crossbones. Is it a warning or a Halloween attraction?

We had a storm* overnight, though it wasn't nearly as bad here as in Scotland and the islands. I ventured out this morning, between downpours, to see what damage there had been and the first thing I saw was this:



*Storm Abigail. It was the first time a storm in the UK has been named in its own right. I'm not sure if giving the wind a name, other than Maria, is supposed to be reassuring - if so, it failed to work on me!

The ferry across the Waimamaku Stream in the Houhora Harbour area of Northland....or it may be the next America's Cup winning boat.

The skull is covering my mailbox which has my address printed on it for all to see. The flower is a lovely result from the storm.

Naming storms aren't supposed to reassure us. It's supposed to make us nervous and take the storm warnings serious. Instead of thing "oh, it's just some rain" we think "yikes! It's important! Must stock up on junk food to eat while watching movies!"

Of course when a blizzard was named Khan over on this side of the pond, taking it seriously backfired a bit.

Nice to see your house Mira Jane, it's pretty much how I imagined it would be. Very sorry what happened to it.

New flats along the Edgware Road

What the inside of a boulder at Moeraki looks like.

Today's Crystal Ball word: stovetop.

Another view of the new Hindu temple I can see from my house

"Gilligans Island!"

A view across Stanmore

One of my local car dealerships

"One of my local car dealerships"

It's amazing how they all look the same, isn't it? At first glance, I thought that was one of our local dealerships!

It's one of our best, most are nowhere near as impressive. The Edgware Road is lined with them. Here's a nice office block a bit further along the road.

Who does his nails? I've been clipping Bill's lately, but he isn't happy.

This Krizikova Fountain blob may be a little more recognisable.....lol

I can just hear the blob on the right "When I grow up I'm gonna be Pavarotti, you see if I'm not!"

Meanwhile, in a more static fashion or at least in the still calm that follows 50 mph winds, the last rose of summer - or the first rose of winter.

I used a trick I learned as a teenager to fix my bike's broken seat and rear axle. The trick? I bought a new one! I have bravely ridden the Chinese monster through the 50 mile infant mortality construction flaw weed out period. Now I hope to outlast this one. The last one made it to 45 yrs (and I have a new axle to repair it with). 45 more yrs with this one gets me to, um, what's 65 +, what was that number? Um. wait a sec. let me put on my bike thinking helmet.

Friern Barnet at nightfall

Wembley Castle (attempted) at night

Is that really a castle? It just looks like a house to me.

Quentin napping, first in a series of photos.

It's a house attempting (not very well) to be a castle. A major case of stone cladding.

This is the nearest thing to a castle up the road from me.

He is adorable!

St Mary's church in Twickenham

Looking across Hokianga Harbour while awaiting the ferry to Rawene.

I was going to post more pictures of Quentin napping.
I was going to post requested pictures of my backyard.

Instead .....
Instead here is a picture of Princess at the vet taken about two hours ago.

I've got Princess back !!!!!!