Birds – Page 78

The First Butterflies of the Year

First up some important pointers for you…

LINKS

First and most important, I have been helping with a research project by an American. If you have Asperger’s Syndrome and are a social media user (and would be willing to answer some questions about these things), Rocio Watkins would like to hear from you. She can be contacted by email: rwatkins11@apu.edu

For bird fanciers there is an excellent and informative piece about the Himalayan Griffon courtesy of Phuket Birdwatching.

I provided links to several views on the Tory plans to extend Right to Buy to housing association properties, but I think this one is also worth a look on left futures.

The Guardian has an excellent piece about disability rights, focussing on the work of Lee Ridley.

The latest news on activities by the Tory Department of Dirty Tricks comes from Mike Sivier of Vox Political.

On the same theme, a humorous piece from Glynis Millward.

My final offering is an excoriating piece about a horrow show officially known as The “Gay Conversion Therapy” conference. John P Ointon, whose blog Notes from the North is a regular source of good material and who has reblogged me on a few occasions (so he has good taste alround!) provided this savage (but very amusing) account.

Butterflies

I am not suggesting, let alone stating, that these are the first butterflies I have seen in 2015, but they are the first that have been around long enough for me to catch them on camera. I have used one of them as a basis for the very latest version of my twitter thank you message. Most of them are of brightly coloured butterflies, but did also get a pure white one…

The white butterfly - these are almost as numerous as the brightly coloured ones but move much faster. — The white butterfly – these are almost as numerous as the brightly coloured ones but move much faster.

Here specially for you is that thank you message!

Of course, it was not just butterflies in evidence on this walk. There were lots of other photograph worthy sights, some of which I will conclude this post by showing you…

The only picture not from today - this was at the bus station yesterday morning. — The only picture not from today – this was at the bus station yesterday morning.

A sensible sign, sadly being ignored by far too many.

A last butterfly shot, from the end of the walk.

Spring is Here

Before I get to the main meat of this post I have some links to share.

LINKS

First of all, here is a very interesting and important blog post from Paddy-Joe Moran. Next, courtesy of 38 degrees comes a short video. Cosmos Up produces a variety of interesting stories about a wide range of subjects, and the one I have chosen to share concerns oceans elsewhere than on our own planet. There are actually two outcomes that will be decided by a votes counted up on May 7th, the second being the vote for Britain’s national bird (my choice is pictured below)

My next story comes from the Independent and concerns tougher penalties for dog walkers who do not scoop when the animal poops – excellent so long as the get enforced – see if you agree by reading the article. This section ends with a splendid graphic, which is shown here, but as it is not my own I have also included a link to the original.

SPRING

Today, for the first time in 2015, I am making use of the ‘outside study area’ of my flat…

A close up of the picture on my outside table - still in good condition after a winter outside. — A close up of the picture on my outside table – still in good condition after a winter outside.

The cricket season is under way, although England are in the West Indies for a series starting later this afternoon. A certain K P Pietersen started his season for Surrey by hammering 170 at The Parks yesterday. I suspect that it will take several more innings of similar magnitude before the England selectors display any inclination to take the slightest bit of notice of him.

The comparison between yesterday and today is shown up well by these pictures taken along the same stretch of the Great Ouse…

The next four pictures you will see were taken yesterday.

The next three pictures were taken today.

I have some more splendid pics to share with you to finish this post…

The survey boat the features in the next three pictures was around yesterday.

If you enjoyed this blog post please share it.

Tory HQ in Massive Blunder (Again)

Before I get to my own stuff I have a plethora of wonderful links to share with you.

LINKS

http://www.advicenow.org.uk/

http://www.autismdailynewscast.com/press-release-minister-bergen-addresses-autism-leadership-summit-highlights-harper-government-support-canadians-living-autism-spectrum-disorders/25314/pressrelease/

https://www.change.org/p/rt-hon-david-cameron-mp-please-listen-to-the-attached-recording-of-my-father-93-years-old-blind-and-deaf-who-fought-for-our-country-so-that-his-unbeliveable-gut-wrenching-avoidable-agony-will-not-have-been-in-vain?utm_campaign=fb_dialog&utm_medium=email&utm_source=signature_receipt&post_id=1319562568_10206441204731804#_=_

https://mnosal49.wordpress.com/2014/04/04/autism-awareness-should-be-about-action-not-reaction/

https://saritsa.wordpress.com/ A very interesting Indian site.

https://tompride.wordpress.com/2012/08/23/londons-fire-engines-are-now-owned-by-one-man-an-old-etonian/

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/31/8322545/visit-indy-lgbt-rfra

https://www.change.org/p/parliament-prime-minister-chancellor-mps-introduce-a-windfall-tax-on-banks? recruiter=102059100&utm_campaign=signature_receipt_twitter_dialog&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share_petition

http://paper.li/AspieTravel/1307413001?edition_id=bdf2dfd0-d858-11e4-ae26-0cc47a0d1605

https://fullfact.org/

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2015/04/01/heres-a-multi-signature-letter-that-deserves-much-more-exposure/

http://www.brockpress.com/2015/03/undermining-and-over-mining-the-antarctic-food-pyramid-333/

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/04/01/nick-clegg-will-lose-sheffield-hallam-suggests-poll_n_6983612.html?1427887814&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067

http://www.votebooster.org/

http://act.nhscampaign.org/lobby/6

http://www.londonlive.co.uk/news/2015-04-01/last-ditch-effort-to-save-waltham-forest-disability-centre Two of the people who run this centre talk about it in a must-watch clip.

http://scvincent.com/2015/03/31/more-than-best-friends/

https://sdbast.wordpress.com/2015/04/01/the-tories-are-the-party-of-benefit-scroungers/

https://theyhavewidescreentvs.wordpress.com/2015/04/01/the-tories-are-the-party-of-benefit-scroungers/

http://politicalscrapbook.net/2015/04/telegraph-business-leaders-letter-samantha-cameron-friends/ A minor contribution to the discussion of that letter.

http://faradayscandle.com/2015/03/31/thriving-in-extremes/ A very interesting piece about micro-organisms that flourish in sometimes very extreme conditions. A shining example of the gems that can be discovered via twitter

http://pro.psychcentral.com/mentally-ill-and-locked-up-prisons-versus-inpatient-wards-for-psychiatric-patients/007210.html

http://leftfootforward.org/2015/04/quentin-lettss-class-war-on-hampstead-left-hides-the-mails-real-hypocrisy/

THE LETTER

This morning a letter was printed on the front of the Daily Telegraph. Appended to a few lines of body text about why they would be voting conservative were the names of 100 business leaders. Even if this had been entirely genuine, it would have been no more convincing than a letter to the Daily Mirror signed by 100 prominent trade unionists explaining why they were voting labour. However, it was not very long before it was discovered that the letter had been drafted in Tory HQ, and that a sizeable portion of the signatories were already known Tories, in some cases even Tory peers. As the day progressed, this was compounded by somebody noting the presence in that list of a 100 of a number of Mrs Cameron’s cronies (yes, they really are that stupid/ arrogant).

Various people made suggestions through the day about other selections of 100 people with a linked trait who could sign a letter about why they were voting labour (disabled people, and food bank users were two suggestions).

This letter was intended to boost the Tories and harm Labour, but I suspect that like the now legendary “Road to Recovery” poster that started the year its effect will be the reverse. The letter (unsurprisingly since it came from Tory HQ) was riddled with factual inaccuracies, as well as the problems already documented with the so-called signatories. It started out as a non-story given ridiculous air-time (“100 rich b**t**ds are going to vote Tory”) and un-ravelled from there.

Frankly, the use of this kind of tactic suggests desperation. To end this little section I have a couple more links to analyses of this story…

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2015/04/01/why-we-should-all-ignore-that-letter-in-the-telegraph/

http://leftfootforward.org/2015/04/revealed-the-fat-cat-pay-packets-of-the-100-tory-supporting-bosses/

Now for some pictures…

The first three pictures were taken through the window of a moving bus.

four birds in the picture, each of a different species.

A close-up of some brickwork, Red Mount Chapel

The Vancouver Garden viewed from near the Red Mount Chapel

These tiny ducklings may have been out on their first ever swim.

The most famous facade in King's Lynn. — The most famous facade in King’s Lynn.

I hope that you have enjoyed this and I encourage you to share it widely.

Kings Lynn Asperger Support Society.

Spring is in the air (and I have plenty of photos to bear this out). Therefore, the King’s Lynn Asperger Support Society, of which I am Group Leader, is moving venues from our winter perch at the Lattice House to our summer venue on South Quay near Marriott’s Warehouse, with the option of ducking inside should the weather not co-operate. Our April meeting will be on the 13th, starting at 6PM, after which we will be reverting to our usual first Monday of the month.

KLASS

Although it is not that long since my last post and I have been outside for much of that time, I have a handful of good links to share before displaying a few more pics…

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2015/03/30/will-north-east-somerset-consign-jacob-rees-mogg-to-the-history-he-clearly-represents/ Jacob Rees-Mogg gets the Mike Sivier treatment in full.

https://tompride.wordpress.com/2015/03/30/chilling-photograph-captured-in-door-of-nr-10-as-cameron-announces-election-campaign/ An impish piece by Tom Pride

https://tompride.wordpress.com/2015/03/30/labour-announce-tough-clampdown-on-unemployed-lib-dem-mps-after-election/ Vicious satire from Tom Pride

General Election and Other Stuff

As is now usual with my posts I will be starting with some links for you to follow before moving on to the main meat.

LINKS

http://blog.autism-mom.com/2015/03/the-one-thing/

https://twitter.com/LabourEoin/status/581869391802982401/photo/1

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ending-foodbank-britain-labours-5-point-5394101

https://homoeconomicusnet.wordpress.com/2015/03/22/university-a-free-not-a-safe-space/

https://dankeeling1.wordpress.com/2015/03/28/our-unfair-society-and-cavemen/

https://a6er.wordpress.com/2015/03/29/tories-may-not-reveal-details-of-12bn-welfare-cuts-until-after-election-politics-the-guardian/

https://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/2015/03/29/current-benefit-sanctions-policy-is-bonkers-says-workfare-industrys-top-spokesperson/ A devastating indictment of the current benefit sanctions policy.

https://thepoorsideoflife.wordpress.com/2015/03/25/single-parent-attend-the-jobcentre-and-get-referred-to-social-services-as-a-troubled-family-new-trial-at-ashton-jobcentre/ Britain;s worst jobcentre strikes again.

http://edgeofhumanity.com/2015/01/28/faces-africa/

http://politicalscrapbook.net/2015/03/leaflet-claims-former-tory-minister-is-a-socialist-chloe-smith/ Tory desperation in the fine city of Norwich.

https://notesfromthenorth75.wordpress.com/2015/03/29/uk-general-election-2015-from-dissolution-onwards/

http://charlottehoatherblog.com/2015/03/29/interview-with-george-todica-pianist A singer interviews a pianist…

http://blog.autism-mom.com/2015/03/there-if-he-needs-it/

http://autisticeyes.com/?p=1085

http://autisticeyes.com/?p=1078

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ukips-energy-spokesman-an-idiot-after-urging-people-to-turn-all-their-lights-on-for-earth-hour-10142008.html Just another example of UKIP at their hilarious worst.

http://autism.ehoow.net/?p=115

http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Good-Friend-to-Some-One-Who-Has-Asperger%27s-Syndrome

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/katie-hopkins-reported-to-the-police-for-race-hatred-by-labour-mp-simon-danczuk-after-tweet-about-pakistani-men-10142833.html?dkdk A legendary troll getting her come-uppance.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/29/lgbt-wellness-march-27_n_6959078.html

http://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/inspire/Norfolk-great-sights.aspx Some quality images of Norfolk here.

http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/ A campaign website.

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-southwark-woods The petition to save Southwark Woods.

http://www.scoop.it/t/autism-by-autism-daily-newscast

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/cameron-and-miliband-should-have-faith-in-their-bolder-policies-10142312.html The Independent on the election.

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2015/03/30/election-choice-isnt-as-stark-as-david-cameron-wants-you-to-think/ Vox Political on the election.

http://wfdrc.tumblr.com/ The online hub of a campaign to save a vital resource for disabled people in the Waltham Forest area.

The first set of pics from today…

Mike Rosen's name on the cover of a book is generally good sign, and this book is even better than that suggests. — Mike Rosen’s name on the cover of a book is generally good sign, and this book is even better than that suggests.

GENERAL ELECTION 2015

While I thoroughly understand and respect those who wish to vote for a left-wing alternative to labour, I urge care. By voting for a small left-wing organisation you may just end up helping the tories. In my own constituency I am faced with only two remotely palatable choices, labour or green. The fact that labour have selected an excellent candidate in Jo Rust, and the fact the only time this seat has been occupied by anyone other than Henry Bellingham since 1983 was between 1997 and 2001 when labour held it have been sufficient to sway me. I will vote labour and I will do so with a song in my heart, and I want to see a huge turnout at the ballot-boxes in King’s Lynn because that is how we will do our part to ensure that we are not saddled with another five years of Cameron and his cronies.

Here in plain text is my personal voting history in general elections…

MY GENERAL ELECTION VOTING HISTORY

1997: Labour and celebrated long and hard as the government that had been in power all my conscious life was finally booted out.
2001: Socialist Alliance – I was in a rock-solid labour seat at the time and could afford to vote to the left by way of protest.
2005: Respect – see above
2010: Liberal Democrats – my worst ever mistake in a general election, but at the time it seemed sensible. The labour candidate who had been parachuted in from Leicester then torpedoed his own credibility with a speed to rival that of a Ukipper and the only other possibility to unseat the sitting Tory was the one I voted for. Five years of betrayals later I can say with certainty that I will NEVER make that mistake again.
2015: Labour – with a smile on my face and a song in my heart. We have an excellent candidate in Jo Rust, labour took this seat in 1997 (the only period since 1983 when the MP has been other than Henry Bellingham) and can therefore do so again.

Having reached this stage you deserve some more pictures…

Another vote that will be settled on May 7th - that for Britain's national bird. Here is my candidate. — Another vote that will be settled on May 7th – that for Britain’s national bird. Here is my candidate.

Links and Pics

Some cool links and some cool pics…

I have some pics to share from the last couple of days, and some quality links as well, including to various accounts of the first TV debate.

LINKS

https://tompride.wordpress.com/2015/03/26/last-day-of-parliament-grubby-squalid-nauseous-mean-spirited-underhand-spiteful/

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/26/tory-backbench-rebellion-defeats-hagues-attempt-to-unseat-speaker-john-bercow

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2015/03/26/why-are-idiots-still-going-around-saying-labour-and-the-tories-are-the-same/

http://labourlist.org/2015/03/its-time-to-end-the-lie-that-labour-and-tories-are-the-same-on-austerity/

http://www.labour.org.uk/w/tory-libdem-voting-record? How to access MPs voting records

http://storage.googleapis.com/voting-record/tory-against-01vat-02tuit-03nhs-04bed-11nmw-12jobs-13ener-15gps-16man.png An actual voting record for you to see.

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/03/punchy-miliband-was-big-winner-against-flat-cameron

https://storify.com/UKLabourParty/battlefornumber10

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2015/03/27/overwhelming-opposition-to-private-involvement-in-the-nhs/

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2015/03/27/celebrations-for-labour-after-first-televised-election-interviews/

http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/news/a-grave-situation-the-news-looks-at-southwarks-burial-space-crisis

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/chris-wheeler/young-voters_b_6492332.html?1427471097&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067

http://leftfootforward.org/2015/03/tory-and-ukip-meps-vote-against-proposals-to-crack-down-on-tax-dodging/

https://humanism.org.uk/2015/03/27/blasphemy-law-by-the-back-door/

http://nhap.org/privatisation-happening-matters/

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/this-woman-confronting-nigel-farage-about-racism-will-make-your-day-10138116.html

http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/11884561.No_apology_for_Esther_McVey__lynching__quote/?ref=twtrec

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2015/03/27/tories-plan-benefit-system-massacre/

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/thomas-hughes/freedom-of-speech_b_6924140.html

http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/nick-cohen/2015/03/jeremy-clarkson-and-the-political-correctness-of-the-right/

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CBLBvwvWcAAO4-T.jpg

http://leftfootforward.org/2015/03/extension-of-right-to-buy-to-housing-associations-will-deepen-the-housing-crisis/

http://www.cosmosup.com/colliding-galaxy-clusters-may-shed-new-light-on-dark-matter/

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CBMuvItW8AA11Oc.jpg

PICTURES

I have shared some of these with my many twitter followers, but here are the pick of my most recent photos…

I have included this because my aunt, whose plants these are will not be able to see them in the flesh while they are in their prime.

Sunday Spectacular

Some good links, including to a Tory candidate who showed who not to deal with the EDL – and a corresponding link to how to do so. A stack of splendid pictures from yesterday.

Another multi-part post – a links section, a section on King’s Lynn in the morning, a brief East Rudham section (I will be doing another post on the architectural features of a Norfolk village theme) and a section on King’s Lynn in the evening.

LINKS

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2015/03/22/conspiracy-claim-will-drive-voters-away-from-the-tories/ The first of several stories about the Tory candidate in Dudley North dickering with the EDL. For an example of the correct way to deal with the EDL check out https://aspiblog.wordpress.com/2012/11/11/nails-in-the-edl-coffin-and-other-stuff/

https://tompride.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/tory-candidate-suspended-for-plotting-with-far-right-group-the-edl/#respond

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/odin-s-birthday-celebrated-by-social-media-supporters-1.3004041

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/65627

http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/a-nation-of-immigrants-the-10000year-history-of-britain-as-told-by-your-dna–xJ71_M6MRx

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CAsPO3mWQAAMS3r.jpg

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/tory-election-candidate-suspended-over-alleged-plot-to-stage-fake-demonstration-outside-mosque-with-former-edl-leader-10125388.html

http://www.allthatsleft.co.uk/2015/01/the-general-election-100-days-to-go/

https://www.voteforbob.co.uk/ A campaign that I have been involved with since it began. I have contacted my Labour, Green and #FibDem candidates. Both the Green and Labour candidates are on side (the Green virtually had to be, and no one who knows Jo Rust would expect anything less of her) while the #FibDem has not responded as yet.

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2015/03/22/doctors-to-be-briefed-on-life-saving-work-capability-assessment-rules/

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2015/03/22/nick-de-bois-enfields-unrepresentative-representative/

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CAuTMeFU8AAVu_8.jpg

https://www.opendemocracy.net/ournhs/kate-godfrey/faqs-staffordshire-cancer-privatisation

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CAjSxwUVIAAw6vs.jpg

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/22/conservative-hopes-of-claiming-dudley-north-lie-in-tatters

https://thepoorsideoflife.wordpress.com/2015/03/20/national-day-of-demonstrations-against-sanctions-and-attempted-suicide-by-man-who-attends-ashton-jobcentre/

http://www.lettersfromaspergia.com/2015/03/five-reasons-saying-autism-isnt.html

http://charlottehoatherblog.com/2015/03/22/the-laird-ocockpen-2/#like-3349 A blog from a professional musician.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B_uhO52WYAA_ywI.png

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B_ufijcWcAElcCe.png

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/auteachism/auteachism-apps-communication-technology-that-chan One of my more recent followers on @aspitweets

http://paper.li/ambir An honourable mention for yours truly.

http://socialistworker.org/2015/03/23/solidarity-wins-at-rutgers

THE MORNING: KINGS LYNN

A somewhat late start meant that I missed the 9:25 bus so had to get the 11:55. In the interim I took a walk, divided by a stop at my aunt’s to water the plants and check that everything was OK. It was obviously going to be a splendid day for photography but I did not yet realise quite how splendid. Up to leaving my aunt’s house I had a few decent pictures…

The Great Ouse beyond my Aunt’s house provided the first clue as to how good the day would be, when “Cormorant Platform” provided some excellent pics…

Heading back towards the bus station I crossed the Nar, which provided these crackers…

Walking through the parklands to the town centre I collected some more fine pics…

Even the bus stations and the bus journey were not complete blanks…

Decorative brickwork is a regular feature of the houses on the way out to the hospital (yes that was shot through the window of a bus)

Although I am preserving many of my East Rudham pictures for another post, some belong here…

This rabbit was too far away to produce a really excellent picture but as the local landowner goes by the name of Mr McGregor I could not resist including it.

Because it was bright and sunny outside I got off the bus early, in Gaywood, and walked through the parkland to get home. This last little outdoors session provided a shot of Britain’s national bird to be, my best capture of flying aeroplane to date and some splendid shots of local landmarks…

Even after I got home there was one more classic moment – “red sky at night: shepherd’s delight”…

Cricket World Cup, Six Nations Rugby and Other Stuff

Some excellent links at the top os the post. Then some comment on the cricket world cup, then some cool pics, then the Six Nations and finally some more pics.

As with my last post I am going to start with a links section before moving to the main meat of the post…

LINKS

http://blog.autism-mom.com/2015/03/what-we-told-the-school-district/ An inspiring account of a meeting between parents of autistic kids and education authorities.

http://autisticeyes.com/?p=1012 A post about aspies and difficulties with handwriting.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/20/muslim-woman-veil-hijab A sensible article about the veil.

http://www.cosmosup.com/meet-james-webb-space-telescope/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Cosmosup+%28CosmosUp%29

http://www.cosmosup.com/over-million-young-stars-are-forming-in-a-mysterious-dusty-gas-cloud-in-nearby-galaxy/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Cosmosup+%28CosmosUp%29

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/school-children-banned-from-watching-the-solar-eclipse-for-cultural-and-religious-reasons-10122964.html An outrageous story of a headteacher who banned children from watching the eclipse for “cultural and religious reasons” Ivor Johnstone, the headteacher concerned failed miserably to justify this decision. He compounded the failure by saying that cloudy weather probably meangt they had not missed anything anywway – wrong, as the desktop background on my work computer testifies.

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2015/03/21/tory-education-secretary-is-right-she-should-be-held-responsible-for-the-mess-in-our-schools/ A rattling good article about Nicky Morgan

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2015/03/21/broxtowe-do-you-really-want-anna-soubry-as-your-mp/ Anna Soubry gets the Mike Sivier treatment.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-minister-esther-mcvey-accused-5375040 More trouble for McVile.

https://dankeeling1.wordpress.com/2015/03/20/political-centre/ This is the post that signposted the survey below.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31973051 No surprise where I came out!

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/21/grant-shapps-dean-archer-legal-action-michael-green?CMP=share_btn_tw – Bad news for the downright dishonourable Mr Shapps/ Green/ Fox is good news for us ordinary folk!

http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/anger-after-reeves-tells-benefit-claimants-labour-is-not-for-you/ – Is Rachel Reeves the Kim Philby of this election campaign? Stories such a this suggest that it is a possibility.

http://politicalscrapbook.net/2015/03/was-grant-shapps-trading-as-a-corporation-which-didnt-actually-exist/ – More bad news for the Tory chairman!

CRICKET

The last of the quarter-finals of the cricket world cup ended earlier today UK time. New Zealand obliterated the West Indies in a match dominated by Martin Guptill’s amazing 237 not out (the last 137 off 51 balls if I remember rightly). The semi-final line up is thus India v Australia (head and heart both say India to win that one) and New Zealand vs South Africa, neither of whom have ever got further than the semis (impossible to predict, heart says NZ). South Africa’s potential bete noire is their lack of an all-rounder, which means either playing only four front-line bowlers as they have so far, or dropping a batsman to make way for a fifth bowler. For more details about the Guptill knock, and the records he rewrote in the process check out www.cricinfo.com. Before moving on to the rugby section, some pics…

This is the edited but not cropped version that now serves as the desktop background on my work computer!

The Fakenham cinema viewed from top deck of an X8

SIX NATIONS

Today has been an amazing day in the Six Nations. First of all Wales thrashed Italy to become favourites for the trophy. Then Ireland won by a sufficient margin at Murrayfield to move into pole position to retain their title. England who had the toughest assignment of the three contenders need to beat France by 26 or more to take the title on points difference. At the moment it is not looking good for England. France have just scored and converted a try to move within five points of England – looking more and more like the trophy is staying in the emerald isle. England nine points to the good (34-25) – another 17 needed to take the trophy. Another try for England – moves them within 12 with possibly two more to come. Conversion successful – England need 10 unanswered points for the trophy. James Haskell in the sin bin – not looking good for England. France have just scored the try that surely ends England’s hopes of the trophy – England 41 France 30 with a French conversion to come. Conversion missed – England need 15 unanswered points. Another try – England 46 France 30. A successful conversion for England and it is 48-30 – eight more points for England and they win. France have just scored again – England now need 13 points – conversion to come. The equation is now that England need to find 13 more points and they have 13 minutes in which to do it. Jack Nowell has scored another try – reducing the ask to eight points. Conversion by George Ford – England 55 France 35 – a converted try will win them the Six Nations. The whistle has gone and an amazing final day at the Six Nations is over – Ireland retain the title and England are runners-up for the fourth time in succession. Wales in spite of scoring 61 points in Rome earlier today finish third. I will now finish this post with a few more pics…

A Tale of Two Rivers

It was the best of days, it was the worst of days: as so often the King’s Lynn weather could not quite decide what it was up to.

The two rivers of my title are the Great Ouse and the Nar, both of which I walked along some of yesterday. Rumours the spring is upon us may not be so far wide of the mark – I saw a privately owned boat at the Jetty on the Great Ouse in King’s Lynn…

A brief diversion to check in on my Aunt’s place in her absence, revealed that even the most familiar of surroundings can spring surprises – this cannon ball in the entrance way to Hampton Court that I had not previously noted…

“Cormorant Platform” revealed no cormorants, but some other sea birds…

I continued along the riverbank further than usual, passing the new road bridge (before this was built the river could be crossed either by ferry or by taking a 12 mile detour via Wiggenhall St Germans, and paying a punitive toll to the Barons of Rising – the ruling class were even more open about fleecing us in those days!) finding more stuff to photograph…

I spotted a position from which I could take “townscape” photos of King’s Lynn looking back down the river and bagged a couple…

Townscape 1 - can you ID all the landmarks in there? — Townscape 1 – can you ID all the landmarks in there?

Townscape 2 - with the zoom increased. — Townscape 2 – with the zoom increased.

I walked on past Palm Paper (first photograph of next series) and then just before leaving the Great Ouse (and far further inland than I would expect) I finally spotted a pair of cormorants…

The small section of walking between leaving the Great Ouse and joining the Nar produced only a few photos…

An unusual sight - a British roundabout and no traffic! — An unusual sight – a British roundabout and no traffic!

The South Lynn logo.

The Nar Valley way runs almost interrupted (save for the bit where it intersects with the Nar Valley Park development) from King’s Lynn to Dereham, so once I had hit the Nar I could follow it to the South Gate, and which point I diverged to head home through the parkland…

A distant view of the Nar Valley Park development.

A tributary of a tributary (the Nar ultimately flows into the Ouse at what I call Cormorant Platform)

A moorhen in the urban section of the Nar

Almost the last pic, and the only one of the day of Britain's soon to be national bird! — Almost the last pic, and the only one of the day of Britain’s soon to be national bird!

I had a go as a kind of tribute to this blog’s latest follower, Charlotte Hoather, at creating a ‘playlist’ to fit my themes:

The Birds by Ottorino Respighi, The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams,The First Cuckoo in Spring by Frederick Delius,The Banks of Green Willow by George Butterworth, Symphony no 6, The Pastoral by Ludwig Van Beethoven. As well as these there were naturally a couple of famous ‘river’ pieces the sprang instantly to mind, Vltava (Bedrich Smetana) and the Blue Danube (Johann Strauss II) – The Great Ouse when the sun is shining is bluer than the Danube ever is (and I have seen both).

A West Norfolk Walk and Britain’s National Bird

For those interested in birds, a vote is being taken to decide which will be Britain’s national bird. There is a shortlist of ten, from which I have voted for the Blackbird. For more details and/or to vote visit www.votenationalbird.com. Below is how I introduced this to my twitter followers…

Britiains National Bird

Yesterday afternoon I felt like varying things a bit, so I decided I would follow Bawsey Drain as far as possible, and did so until it hit the Gaywood River, at which point I followed that waterway until I reached Wootton Road, whence I headed back into town, via the Gaywood Clock. I finished up by walking through the parkland to Seven Sisters, past the South Gate and down to the Great Ouse via Hardings Pits, following the river as close as is permitted until reaching Devil’s Alley, which I diverged down as it was necessary to check in on my Aunt’s house and make sure all was OK. Having finished there I returned home by going down St Margaret’s Lane to the river and heading along the bank to the Lower Purfleet, which I followed into the heart of the town before crossing the bridge into Baker Lane car park and arriving back at my flat almosgt exactly three hours after departure.

My candidate for Britain’s national bird was much in evidence, as these pictures show…

There were many other birds in evidence as well, some of which I did justice to…

Of course, I also spotted some interesting architectural features…

For my penultimate set of pictures I am going to focus on the Great Ouse…

To end this post, although it came in the middle of the walk I will feature Gaywood’s principal landmark, a clock that is also a war memorial…

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