Birds – Page 82

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…

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.

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.

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…

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…

Greece 2: Greek Fauna and Flora

Greece is home to some interesting plants and animals, although one rarely sees any animals large enough to be worth a bullet. This post features pictures of stuff I have thus far captured…

There seems to be no limit as to what part of the plant the fruit can grow from!

DSCN4890

This is an extract from... — This is an extract from…

Group Meeting on Monday

Just a very short post to mention that the King’s Lynn Asperger Support Society of which I am group leader will be having its monthly meeting on Monday, starting at 6PM. The venue is Marriott’s and all are welcome to attend. Just a few extra photo’s with this post (will do a full post tomorrow)…

Marriott's — This is Marriott’s, where KLASS will be having its group meeting on Monday.

A Minor Database Triumph and some October Imaging

I have finally cracked the production of an overall vendors report for each sale. That done I made a start on imaging lots in the October sale (given that I shall be on holiday for lot of the run up I badly needed to do some of this work early). I also have some King’s Lynn images to use, so lots of fine photos for you to enjoy…

Yes - a genuine gold nugget (9 ct) -the main image, not featured here includes the certificate. — Yes – a genuine gold nugget (9 ct) -the main image, not featured here includes the certificate.

Watch — I have never seen a watch like this before.

Silver hook — If you look closely you can see the hallmarks…

...and in this close up shot, the hallmarking is in plain sight. — …and in this close up shot, the hallmarking is in plain sight.

Fortunately plans are afoot to knock this down and build something decent in its place.

King’s Lynn in two moods

Yesterday saw the weather change quite dramatically from a warm, humid morning to a rainy afternoon, and having been out twice for different purposes I have pictures showing both aspects. I also took some pictures of my new purchases (see post about the James and Sons auction on Saturday).

My social media role for the Great Centenary Charity Auction continues, with a landmark approaching in the near future on twitter since we are closing in on 200 followers there. We do also have a facebook page.

Enjoy some cracking photos…

Nar meets Ouse and sea birds meet freshwater birds

The Cormorant's eye view across the Great Ouse — The Cormorant’s eye view across the Great Ouse

Nine coins laid out in ten rows of three (yes, you read that right - see if you can identify each row) — Nine coins laid out in ten rows of three (yes, you read that right – see if you can identify each row)

On Heritage

Arriving at my aunt’s for Sunday lunch (it was, as usual, an excellent meal), I saw on the table planning documents for various new developments. After talking about them with my aunt, and enjoying the aforementioned lunch, we set off on a walk to visit the site of the most significant proposal (because it is on the doorstep of St Nicholas’ Chapel) and see the area for ourselves, having already formed opinions about the proposed development by Freebridge Community Housing.

My own view as someone who always considers plans on their own merit and has no time for knee-jerk negativity over change (and will cite both the new jetty on the Great Ouse and the alterations to the Tuesday Market Place as unequivocal successes) was that although I would have preferred larger windows and lighter brickwork (the latter not possible because it as conservation area and the dark brickwork is already there), and could not fail to notice that the proposed living quarters were going to be a trifle “compact” I was prepared to forgive these failings. There were two huge positives, first and most important that the plans included secure places for bicycles (and there is a cycle route almost on their doorstep), and second that although the new view would not be of picture postcard quality, at least the hideous modern monstrosity in the background of the feature image would be obscured.

I have some excellent pictures to share with you as usual…

This square manhole cover sits inside a circle of cobbles - maybe an well? — This square manhole cover sits inside a circle of cobbles – maybe an well?

This fine property is one of too many in central King's Lynn that stands empty because the owners cannot be bothered to let them out. — This fine property is one of too many in central King’s Lynn that stands empty because the owners cannot be bothered to let them out.

This property is reached via a cunningly disguised public right of way (and the company responsible wondered why there was concern over their plans for Devils Alley?!)

A mixed bag

Once a very absorbing days play had ended between Lancashire and Middlesex I decided to go out for a walk and enhanced my photo collection. The two sides are scrapping to avoid relegation to the second division of the county championship, and with two days to go Middlesex are heavy favourites to do so. This is because owing to the bonus point system (5 batting and 3 bowling points available in the first 110 overs of each first innings) and their standings prior to the match starting, mere victory is not good enough for Lancashire, they also need to outscore Middlesex on bonus points. With six wickets currently down and some 40 runs needed to reach the next batting bonus point mark, Lancashires sole hope is to reach 300 for the loss of no more than two further wickets (a third, being the ninth in total would give Middlesex full bowling points and thereby condemn Lancashire) and then declare and bowl Middlesex out cheaply enough to have a manageable fourth innings run chase. I resume this having had to break off for a days work, and a check of www.cricinfo.com tells me that Lancashire did reach the magic 300 only 8 down and declared, so the relegation battle is still live. The final day tomorrow could see some fireworks as Lancashire have to go all out for whatever target they are left when they bowl Middlesex out, since a draw for them would be just as bad as a loss.

Some big news from work: the BBC have picked up on the Olympic medal story. The full story can be viewed at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-29360899 and I have of course already mentioned it on our own facebook and twitter accounts.

As usual I have plenty of photos for you to enjoy…

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

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

Vancouver Garden Plaque

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

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!

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!

Navigator circle 1

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!

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