yes the Ewhurst sign.... maybe that
was from the 1950s ?

Copago any idea if those caterpillars turn into beautiful butterflies?

Emerald Pool, Dominica

Copago BEWARE of those caterpillars, we have them in Spain and they are known as procecssionary caterpillars- they are a major plague in Southern Spain, they are extremely poisonous and dangerous to animals and quite harmful to say the least to humans. I lost one of my cats a few years ago to them, it is known for small dogs to die as well or loose part of their tongues,as it is the only way to save them. The itch and rash they provoke on humans is quite painful and can also be very dangerous to young children. We have to spray all our pine trees in October each year in order to kill them in their sac, before they hatch and come down. Believe me they are no laughing matter.

Here is a site that explains it a bit clearer
http://www.jesselliotperrodeagua.com/id16.html

Well, there you go. I knew they were itchy (we tend to call them itchy grubs here) as once I got covered with a sack full of them *ugh - not fun* but wasn't aware that they were dangerous to animals. We see lots and lots of the sacks but seldom see the actual caterpillars. After reading your post it's promptd me to look up our ones. They're also called bag-shelter moths and while I haven't come across anything about dogs it appears that they are being blamed for natural abortion in horses. Our sacks look a bit different to yours - not quite so furry. Next time I see one I'll take a pic.

Precious met our neighbour Buddy this afternoon, and wasted no time in letting him know that he was in her yard. All he wanted to do was play!

a painting mural on a wall in old portsmouth

The Ewhurst sign is probably from the 1950s, the reflective coating arrived in about 1957 although could have been made up to 1963 before they were changed.

This is Teddington footbridge over the Thames. Cars have to wait another couple of miles before they can cross so is the only way in and out if you want to get there directly.

Bit of a blurred view of the Houses of Parliament from the London Eye on Friday night. It was raining and my camera tended to focus on the rain drops on the window.

Oh Liz they are sooo cute.

Last night my normal public toilet was broken and found a hotel opposite, which not only saved me 20p but got some nice photos as well.

Copago: that picture of Maxie at the gate is wonderful - looks like a little devil plotting something devious lol

Argus: Bananaquits (the little black/yellow/white birds) are really cute to watch aren't they? I think they're pretty much all over the Caribbean as we saw lots of them when we were in the Dominican Republic a few years ago.

Runningbare and Magicjeanie: GORGEOUS photos from you both! What kind of cameras do you have?

SpanishLiz: no robins out west yet, just the usual assortment of winter birds (sigh). But the geese are gathering, looking for nesting sites, so presumably winter is nearly over (although it's been snowing for the last two days). It's not really spring "for sure" until you hear the cranes coming home.

Schoonie: Loved the "Mordor" pic (mind you, I've been told I have an overactive imagination lol). Here are some more (natural) rock formations that look like people might have lived there some time in the long-ago. This was taken near Ice Box Canyon in Nevada. I zoomed in a LOT on this one (we were quite far away and in a moving vehicle to boot). Shame that the full height of the rocks didn't make it into the picture but I have a difficult time getting my "co-pilot" to SLOW DOWN, never mind stop lol

Another photo from my London visit.

Hasting beach

thank you Jakeroo I have a Nikon d90 SLR
just got it & having fun with it.

Hi jakroo, thanks for your comments , I use a Nikon D300 camera, the bee photo was taken with a Sigma 105 macro lens the seagulls were taken with a nikkor 55-200. I must reset my software to leave the EXIF info on.

In Mahableshwar, a hill station near Mumbai, houses are built around the trees without cutting them down.

Oh Sharon, more memories! We visited Mahableshwar, so interesting, My husband was at school in Panchgani, we had a nice time there too.

reflections

One more in my old sign collection, now Streetview's gone total all the earlier gaps have been filled and are discovering a whole new set. Red circles mean complusory sign to be followed by law, red triangles were warning. As a result the red circles (abolished in 1964) went first before I even remember seeing any, while all the others lasted for decades. So finding only my second altogether on Monday right in the middle of London was like panning a huge gold nugget. It would look like new with a coat of paint but still legible close up. I have to go at night as they charge to drive in during the day but a lot quicker as well.

There's a pub in Chiswick with a tree in the middle as well, I'm pretty sure it goes through the roof but not sure how it would keep the rain out. And London's changed so much in the last ten years (the suburbs are like a different city) I'm struggling to work out which station that is, the first shot would be what used to be Holborn Viaduct but think they closed it, unless it's what replaced it on Thameslink.

A brilliant reflection photo magicjeanie. Are you sure it's not upside down?

thank you tellywellies I tried standing on my head to take it but was useless at it.