The M25 motorway near Cheshunt

Yesterday it was ice, today the snow came. I was surprised at how much Precious seemed to be enjoying the snow, digging in it, stalking around to the back yard (with me in tow), asking to go out twice. She seemed to be having fun, but when she'd had enough she went straight to the door and yowed to go back in!

Oh MotherGoose, NO thanks, never!
Oh Precious, NO thanks, never!

Dona Paula, Goa

Heavenly, Sharon! Is that a Portuguese nunnery or similar?
I always think of Goa as just beaches. So lovely.

A typical country pub right on the north edge of London. I didn't go in, I was just taking photos.

Lovely view of Goa! Satguru, that pub reminds me of one I used to know, but it was south of London.

Here's today's snowy picture, before the sidewalk plough had been along.

The pub looks lovely, David. Sara, it's a family owned private beach resort. I don't know if it was just a family house or something else before it was turned into a hotel.



Just happened to chance upon this big guy cooling off in the river. He was fast asleep.

Ren, if you didn't like the last photo, don't look at this one!

After I completed the canopy walk, Maynooth kindly drew my attention to the fact that many of the knots holding the bridge together were unravelling. They should look like the knot on the right. Unfortunately, far too many of them looked like the knot on the left. Good thing I didn't notice this while on the walk or I would have had a heart attack.

What a wonderful photo of the elephant!

Love the photo of the elephant! Do not want to do what MG and Maynooth did, even if the knots are perfect. No-no-no.

Here's Precious, engaging in a favourite game of "What do you mean, I'm in the way? Me? Never?"

You didn't need to look at that corner of the screen anyway.

Yes and I'd much rather look at Precious.

The North Downs from Bookham



Precious looks more like Lucy every time I see her, even the white socks are the same. It brings back some good memories. The pub was near Crews Hill which is on the edge of Enfield but it's a very common style everywhere.

You forgot to add...and those knots!

Looking down at the jungle floor from the canopy walk.

We have a new one in Kew Gardens, I did get half way up... Maybe next time?

Mother Goose, please STOP IT!I do not want to look at knots, or drops or rope bridges. Thankyou!

I'm with Ren, enough of the dizzying heights!

It wasn't such a bitter cold day today, and Precious enjoyed the snow a bit more. One of the neighbour cats had walked around to our back deck, and Precious followed the trail, stepping daintily in the other cat's paw prints, and sniffing like a dog.

Okay, okay, I can take a hint!

Here we are, safe on the ground! When I was doing Botany at university (back in the 1970s), I learned about the Rafflesia flower and it fascinated me. I've always wanted to see one. The Rafflesia is fairly rare and it is the world's biggest flower, at about 1 metre (39 inches) in diameter. It takes 15 months to grow, then flowers for only about 6 days. It smells like rotting meat (that is the flower's way of attracting insects such as flies for pollination). Because of the smell, it is sometimes called a corpse flower or a meat flower.

When we visited the park, we were advised that there were none around. Luckily, however, we did manage to find one! The round black things are buds. This flower was 85 cm (34 inches)in diameter.

Well I suppose stinky plants is a step in the right direction!
No seriously MG thats super, so huge!What an incredible thing.

Sunset over Golders Green

That's a very lovely sunset over good old Golders Green!

I agree, beautiful sunset!

Today we had warmer temperatures, but also rain and fog...



(This photo was taken just after noon.)

Glad you enjoyed seeing Golders Green again Sara, I was just coming back from Hampstead Heath and it hit me, and pulled over to take photos. The prints looked impressive as well.

Here's an architect designed house near where I used to live in Hampstead Garden Suburb. I think they all are there. Ours was art deco but this is more arts and crafts and would probably cost about £4 million.

Tonight I used one of my Christmas stocking stuffers (pictured) and saw the local junior hockey team lose 3-2 in what was quite an entertaining game. I took a few photos at the game on my little (old) camera, but they are not very good (and have people in them) so the ticket will tell the tale