Tag: damselfly

James and Sons April Auction

A brief account of James and Sons’ April Auction and a photo gallery.

On Tuesday James and Sons had a small auction featuring militaria, ephemera, books and postcards.

THE AUCTION

I arrived at James and Sons at about 8:30AM and started to get the IT set up for the auction. All went comparatively smoothly, and we began exactly on schedule at 10AM. Some of the Militaria sold well, and there were occasional highlights from elsewhere in the sale as well. Even some of the books sold. The last lot went under the hammer at about 12:30, and I then spent the rest of the day flitting between helping with picking out sold items from the auction and working on the next sale, a big stamp and postal history auction that will happen at the end of June, and for which I intend uploading a full catalogue to both our online platforms in the last week of May, immediately before I go on holiday for my birthday. I won a couple of postcards, one of The Rookery, Streatham Common, and one of the fort at Margate. I worked yesterday as well, since I had an annual health check booked for today (it went very well indeed, starting with a blood pressure reading of 120/78, very healthy for a 50 year old), hence the fact that I am blogging today.

PHOTOGRAPHS

My usual sign off…

This damselfly was a most unexpected find given that I was walking along Gayton Road having got off the bus at the hospital, and was about 50 yards from crossing Queensway when I spotted it (five pics)

Northern Diamonds Finish On a High

A little look back at Northern Diamonds v Thunder and a huge photo gallery.

The last group games in this year’s Charlotte Edwards Cup, the domestic T20 competition for women in England were played today. There was live commentary on the radio of the game between Northern Diamonds and Thunder, which had no bearing on the competition as a whole as both teams were already eliminated.

THE THUNDER INNINGS

Rachel Slater and Lizzie Scott opened the bowling for Diamonds, and they were outstanding. Slater bowled her four overs straight through, taking 3-12, while Scott at the other end bowled three overs before a change was deemed necessary, claiming 2-12. With Ellie Threlkeld being run out along the way Thunder found themselves 24-6 after 6.3 overs. Thunder’s numbers 7,8 and 9, Liberty Heap, Kate Cross and Tara Norris all reached double figures, but Norris’ 13 was the top score of the innings, Thunder being all out for 61.

THE DIAMONDS CHASE

The Thunder bowlers did their best but they simply did not have enough to defend. Hollie Armitage, surely destined to be an England cricketer sooner rather than later, made 15 opening the batting (not quite like her previous innings in this competition, a thunderous 97 off 64), bringing her aggregate for this year’s edition to 323 in 10 innings. Sterre Kalis reached double figures, and Rebecca Duckworth saw her side to a five wicket victory with 6.2 overs to spare, finishing on 21 not out. Kate Cross, England’s current seam/ swing bowling spearhead, produced an impeccable spell, taking 2-14 from here four overs. Full scorecard here.

PHOTOGRAPHS

I have a substantial photo gallery to share…

A cranefly looking resplendent.
I am not sure of the species that this giant belongs to, but it was an impressive sight.
A damselfy on a nettle leaf (see also next image, a close up).