Tag: Arctic Terns

Taking Part in a Research Project

Yesterday I travelled to Norwich to take part in a research project relating to Asperger’s Syndrome/ Autistic Spectrum Conditions. The project, being run by Graham Bradley of UEA, involved three stages: an abbreviated version of the diagnostic test that confirms whether or not one is on the spectrum, then a two part intelligence/ reasoning test, first attempting to define words and then a pattern recognition exercise (I was got by one word, pavid, but as you might expect handled the pattern recognition exercise with considerable ease), the final part of the session being a computer based exercise, again themed on pattern recognition. This last involved identifying the letter H or L according to what came up on the screen. The two fundamental variants: sometimes the key letter was a large letter made up of a collection of smaller (irrelevant) letters organised in appropriate array, and sometimes it was the smaller letters that were key and the large letter they formed that was irrelevant.

Anyone who is able to get to Norwich and interested in taking part in this project can contact Graham Beales. His email address is G.Beales@uea.ac.uk and he can also be contacted on 07851 319347.

I do also have some pictures for you…

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This is a sample of my aunt's knitting skill - these pieces will form a blanket.
This is a sample of my aunt’s knitting skill – these pieces will form a blanket.
Swaffham church on a sunny but cold day
Swaffham church on a sunny but cold day
This is from just beyond Swaffham
This is from just beyond Swaffham
This shot was taken in Hockering.
This shot was taken in Hockering.
The first of the Norwich shots
The first of the Norwich shots

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Full circle - this set of pictures started in King's Lynn and we are back there now with the Christmas lights.
Full circle – this set of pictures started in King’s Lynn and we are back there now with the Christmas lights.

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King’s Lynn Bird Life and Twitter

I did not allow the fact that is a bleak, rainy November day to prevent me from getting out and about, and I have some good pictures, particularly of birds to share with you. My twitter following continues to grow, 450 having being reached today.

Now for some pics…

There is a small bird on this branch.
There is a small bird on this branch.

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An adventure playground for arctic terns!
An adventure playground for arctic terns!

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The Nar/Ouse area and VJB Day

To start with the second part of my title: VJB Day stands for Victory over Julien Blanc Day – it has been confirmed today that this vile specimen of Homo sapiens will not be admitted to Britain.

Today has been ridiculously sunny for November, so I have been out and about taking photographs, many of which my twitter followers have already seen. I now share some of the finest with my blog readers…

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Monday in King’s Lynn

Having been confined to barracks all morning as I was waiting for two deliveries (both materialised – my new tenancy agreement, and a Christmas present for a cousin that I then had to send on to Australia) I was glad to get out and about immediately after lunch, especially as the weather was pleasant for an English November.

Therefore, having taken the package for Australia down to the post office, forked over a noticeable amount of cash and obtained proof of posting I set off on a walk in the course of which I obtained some decent photos even while restricted to the old Samsung (a phone call to the shop in Dereham revealed that the components were delivered at the end of last week, so I really should not have much longer to wait).

My twitter following continues to grow at a satisfying rate, with 400 rapidly approaching.

Now for some pictures…

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Out and About in King’s Lynn

King’s Lynn is benefiting from some pleasant weather today,and it is not just the human residents who have been enjoying it – a huge range of birds, some of which I captured in spite of still being restricted to my old Samsung. My twitter account continues to gain new followers.

Anyway now for some pictures…

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My Latest King’s Lynn Pictures

Just a quick post to share my latest local pictures, including some examples of how to make boarded up windows look nice. Enjoy…

Boarded up windows CAN be made to look good (pity about the positioning of the estate agent's sign)
Boarded up windows CAN be made to look good (pity about the positioning of the estate agent’s sign)

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Fishing boats at rest, the Great Ouse
Fishing boats at rest, the Great Ouse
A swimming cormorant
A swimming cormorant

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King’s Lynn Under Leaden Skies

The wind was sufficiently high for there to be waves on the Great Ouse, the sky at its best was leaden, and still I managed two walks around King’s Lynn today, one either side of lunch which was at the new Mediterrenean restaurant on King’s Lynn High Street. I have some good photos  for you (albeit still with my second best camera)…

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I call this structure Cormorant Platform, and you can see why from this shot!
I call this structure Cormorant Platform, and you can see why from this shot!

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Ceiling decor from the restaurant.
Ceiling decor from the restaurant.

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Farewell to Learning Works and King’s Lynn in the sun (still!)

My involvement with Learning Works came to a close today, two years and seven months after it started as a ten week work placement. The King’s Lynn centre is closing down, and it is purely for this reason that I shall no longer be attending. I have benefited hugely from my time at Learning Works, and without wishing to sound like the Hideous Hog, plenty of people who have passed through the King’s Lynn branch of Learning Works while I was there also benefited from my presence.

I have gained a new follower who by serendipity happens to live near Vancouver, British Columbia, so I have two sets of photos today, one my usual stuff, and the other a special “Vancouver Gallery” which I shall show first…

Vancouver plaque

A close up of the plaque at the base of the Vancouver statue
A close up of the plaque at the base of the Vancouver statue

Vancouver's Birthplace Plaque

The feature image - the statue of Captain Vancouver that stands alongside the lower Purfleet.
The feature image – the statue of Captain Vancouver that stands alongside the lower Purfleet.
Monkey Puzzzle
This araucaria is a prominent feature of the Vancouver Garden
The other bridge that connects the Vancouver Garden to the rest of King's Lynn
The other bridge that connects the Vancouver Garden to the rest of King’s Lynn

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The rest of the images are my more usual fare for a non working day, although one other noted navigator features prominently, Nicholas of Lynn, who died in 1369, definitely sailed to Iceland and may have found his way to the Americas. Note: all claims of discovery of the Americas made on behalf of Europeans are bogus by definition – in human terms the Americas were discovered by the hardy folk who crossed to frozen Bering Strait from Asia into the Americas some 20,000 years ago – hence why I do not personally used discovered in the context of Friar Nicholas and has possible trip across the Atlantic.

Anyway, now for the rest of those photos…

Stoptober Post Office War Memorial Moorhen Swimming Moorhen ?????????? ??????????

LBJs
Little brown jobbies – normally very difficult to photograph

Little Brown Bird Mile Post Moorhen and drakes Swan on the Nar

I was attempting to capture something else, failed, but got this picture by way of compensation - the sort of thing that might happen more often if the Rueful Rabbit took up photography!
I was attempting to capture something else, failed, but got this picture by way of compensation – the sort of thing that might happen more often if the Rueful Rabbit took up photography!
Swan
But for the extra significance of Vancouver for this blog at this moment this would have been the feature image.

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Given how much wind we get in King's Lynn it makes sense to use it!
Given how much wind we get in King’s Lynn it makes sense to use it!

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Nicholas of Lynn - her certainly DID NOT discover the Americas (see body text) - but he may just have been there over 120 years before Columbus.
Nicholas of Lynn – her certainly DID NOT discover the Americas (see body text) – but he may just have been there over 120 years before Columbus.

Navigation circle 2

Of course I'm master of all I survey - I'm a CAT!
Of course I’m master of all I survey – I’m a CAT!

Everything from Arctic Terns to Woodworm

Where do the Woodworm come in (other that is than getting me as close to an A-Z of photographs as is likely in the absence of my nephew!)? Answer: I was needed to photograph the evidence so that the good folk at Hampton Court (Hampton Court, King’s Lynn, not the one in Surrey!) could get someone in to deal with it!

No further words of wisdom come immediately to mind, so on with the photographs…

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Not great, but a MASSIVE improvement on what it is replacing.
Not great, but a MASSIVE improvement on what it is replacing.

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The most publicised woodworm since the one that stowed away on the ark at the beginning of "A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters"!
The most publicised woodworm since the one that stowed away on the ark at the beginning of “A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters”!

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With the co-operation of the wind I was able to photograph these tea towels while they were drying
With the co-operation of the wind I was able to photograph these tea towels while they were drying

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Pictures of this boat have already been featured on facebook and twitter
Pictures of this boat have already been featured on facebook and twitter
This is the view even on a less than clear day from the top of the "Dogotel Drop"
This is the view even on a less than clear day from the top of the “Dogotel Drop”

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King’s Lynn, Apple Picking and Brownies

The Jetty on the Great Ouse was in use yesterday morning, by research vessels relating to fishing. With the river at high tide there were plenty of opportunities for good photographs. In the afternoon I went apple picking in the orchards at Sandringham. The apples were comfortably up to their usual amazing standard – and they were Cox’s. A hand-picked Cox is the finest of all apples.

Before heading home to King’s Lynn I enjoyed a fine supper at my parents house in East Rudham. After some excellent lamb chops there were raspberry brownies for pudding. My mother had reduced the amount of sugar from the 225g stated in the recipe to 150g so that the pudding while rich was not particularly sweet – and was all the better for this.

Today is Heritage Open Day, so stand by for some good posts about historic buildings and meanwhile enjoy a selection of cracking photos…

Fisheries Research
Fisheries Research Boat moored at the jetty

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Sycamore seed pod
Sycamore seed pod that resembles a propeller

\Moorhens 1 Moorhens 2 ?????????? Moorhens 3 ?????????? Station Flag ?????????? Apple Tree Apple

Apple
This apple looked particularly fine – and tasted even finer!

Flitcham War Memorial

Fresh peas - just podded by yours truly
Fresh peas – just podded by yours truly
Raspberry brownies
Raspberry brownies!

Old Chapel