A bit further west of Toronto in the Canadian Rockies, we saw this Ground Squirrel having his lunch by Lake Louise.

We had a glorious day today, with temps up around 29C in the sunshine, so I headed off with the family to visit the Chateau de Josselin, not far from where we live.

The Chateau was first built in 1008, but the original structure was of mud and wood and was razed to the ground by King Henry II of England. The chateau has been rebuilt and remodeled over the years, and is still inhabited by the current Duc Josselin de Rohan and his family, who apparantly dine every evening in the magnificent dining hall. We could only visit the ground floor (including said dining hall) as the family have their private rooms on the first storey.

Panama Pink Bougainvillea that is blooming in my yard.

As technically it is now 'tomorrow' I thought I'd put in another shot of that fabulous castle, especially as I won't have occasion to photograph anything other than my office desk later on today.

Another one of those roadside attractions, the world's biggest. This is the world's biggest Prairie Chicken in Ashern, Manitoba.

My wife Beth and her friend Linda went to a garden party in London. It would have been a good picture if this other lady had not moved in next to Beth.

People are so rude! Imagine just pushing in like that. Love the hats.

I love hats, I do wish I had been adult when women wore them as a matter of course instead of for weddings and other special occasions.

Back on 2nd March I posted a photo of the leaves just shooting on a shrub in my garden, this one is what the same branch looks like today.

More bougainvillea blooming in my yard.

Looking up the River Thames with the London Eye on the left, and the Palace of Westminster (Where Britain's parliament sits) on the right.

Sticking with London, I thought I'd photograph this London landmark on my recent visit. I used to have a distant view of it from the south when I was washing the dishes in my first London bedsit - it's Battersea Power Station.

Canada at it's best. Bead Lake, Riding Mountain National Park.

This freight train rattled noisily through the station whilst we awaited my niece's train yesterday.

This is just round the block from me, probably only during the time they are flowering

The Lea Canal at Ware. The canal towpath is one of my regular cycling routes. Some of the buildings are converted Brewer's maltings - now luxury apartments!

Nine days ago, the village of Herstmonceux on the southern edge of the Sussex Weald recorded the highest-ever UK temperature for the fifteenth of April - 26½°C, which is 80°F as near as damn it. It was still pretty warm today, when I visited the old church and the grounds of the Castle, where the Royal Observatory was based for a few decades. This is the Tercentenary Sundial, installed in 1975 to mark the 300th anniversary of the foundation of the Observatory.

Here's an artsy view of someone I know recently. We weren't allowed to take any during the performance so these were taken during a dress rehearsal. From someone who knew this child's kicks rather well, it shows you she hasn't stopped.


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Hibiscus growing all over our village.

Having taken the photos of all those cape daisies which seem to grow huge despite never being watered in the dry weather I decided to see if they would survive on the other side of my drive. My neighbour has a tall leylandii hedge which puts the narrow piece of garden in shade but he says he is removing it soon so there might be some light. I also have a palm there and that means they are unlike to get much in the way of water when it rains. I have transplanted some self-seeded plants, so they have cost me nothing even if they do not thrive. I will take another photo in a few months to see how they are progressing. I put in two which have some flowers, plus one very small seedling.

Whilst driving around the Ring Of Kerry in Ireland, we came across this house that had a garden full of rocks and stones painted to look like animals. This was the scene painted on a rock by the entrance gate.

It was a beautiful sunny day today, so my sister and brother-in-law went golfing for the first time this year. All of this meant that Maggie got to spend the day with her Auntie Liz. Here's Maggie in one of her favourite spots, under the steps to my deck.

What a cutie,Liz!!
Here is the eternal flame in Melbourne, and I took the liberty of adding a shot of the War Memorial there too, for Anzac Day

The little church of St Leonard, on the edge of Hastings, is traditionally known as "the Church in the Wood." There's been a hell of a lot of building in that area, and I rather expected to find that it had become the Church in Tesco's Car Park; but in fact the sylvan setting has been preserved.

Another reason to visit Hasting TT. Thanks for your lovely photos.

This kept scratching at my front door. Not what I expected to find.