Our Three, Four Legged Friends

Hi folks,

Well at last a nice sunny day for a change so off we went to Grain with Winnie (the camper van) to take some much needed photographs as the weather here had kept us in all week.
We arrived and went for a brisk walk along the seafront.

The clouds were still about as I took this shot across the Estuary with the beach in the foreground.

The tide was out but the groyne looked colourful.

Then our four legged friends turned up with their Master Ken, throwing the ball.  This shot is unique as Ken is normally taking the photographs. 

Here we have Daisy, the one on the left who gave me the hairy eyeball treatment.  Holly is on the right, we then had a walk together along the shore.

Daisy is the one who writes a blog, ain't she clever, if you don't believe me go to the link.

http://daisyg.blogspot.co.uk/

We went back to their house for some lunch and I got this one of Holly.

If you look on Daisy's blog you will learn all about the talk of the town, Snowflake who was rescued from behind the shed and is now living in the shower, I kid you not.

After lunch we went out again to walk the dogs and after taking a few more snaps, we thought we would take the same scenes and go home to interpret what we saw. This is my shot taken into the sun.. Ken, my friend did the same, I will wait for his outcome.

Well that's it for tonight, New Years Eve Tomorrow so lots to do.

nite nite, luv Mike XX

St Augustine Florida, Part 1

Hi Folks,

In October Sue and I went for a month to the South Eastern United States and finished up at our favorite city which we have been to many times. Please share with me my memories of this wonderful place.

We start with a tour of the mission which is situated on the marshes at the Matanaz River.

This magnificent cross towers over the mission and was erected in 1966 to commemorate 400 years since Christianity began in Florida.

Little Egret in the grounds. 

The cross weighs 70 tons and is reinforced against high winds and stands by the river.

We call it a bottle brush plant but I'm sure that it has a real name.

One of the many shrines in the grounds.

Had to have a reflection.

Final image as the sun sank in the evening light

Thanks for looking.

nit nite, luv Mike XX

This is getting like the UK!

Hi folks.

We are now nearing our final week in America and as you see it's getting more like the UK every minute. Here we are in Fort Lauderdale down by the pier getting the cobwebs blown out of our hair.

There was actually some crazy sole on a surf board during this squall.

The pier certainly got a battering.

This poor chap didn't know what to make of the weather.

After all these miles I thought it was proper to mention the Taurus which purred along through Rain, Sand, Mud, I didn't wash it and at this stage it had done nearly 4,000miles

This is unique, see the filler neck with no cap, look out for this is a fuel station near you shortly.

Finally the star of the show the wife who stuck with me as the car sank in the cotton fields, held her breath for the 4 seconds we could not see the road at 70 mph at one stage on the Interstate. Did the washing by pouring quarters into the machine and was the life and soul of the journey, never complaining. (anyone want a knobbly Pumpkin). Bless her.

Just a rider to the blog which was our holiday in October just before Sandy struck.

Well back out in the English rain, thanks for looking.

nie nite, luv MikeXX

Naples, Florida.

Hi folks,
what has happened to the weather here in the UK?
Christmas is past and the temperature is hovering around the 7 degree mark and still the rain is relentless. In the night the clouds broke and the skies cleared at about 8.30am this morning just as it was getting light the rain was back until just after 3pm today when it cleared and started to get dark.

All I could do is to go back to the States for a fix,

We did not have much time here in Naples as the weather, just like in the UK had started to deteriorate,

By the beach there was this Grand house with flowers in the garden.

The house had this unique postbox on the front lawn, love the dog at the bottom trying to get to the boy reading his book.

We had to get going on our journey around Florida to get to our final destination, St Augustine before our flight home. Time was getting short and we still had loads more places still to visit.
I leave you with this couple walking along the beach in the sunshine to cheer all you folks in the UK up.

Thanks for looking,

nite nite, love Mike XXX

Christmas Night and MORE Lights!!

Hi folks,
hope you all enjoyed your Christmas celebrations,  we did and late this evening I went out to get some shots of the outside decorations around the streets.

They where a bit more difficult to find this year due I think the recession but I hope they help to make your Christmas.

Happy Boxing Day, thanks for looking.

nite nite, Luv Mike XX

Merry Christmas Everyone.

Hi folks,

well it's that time of the year again.

Another year with lots of happy and also sad memories but we cant change what has passed. Lets hope next year will be more exciting, happy  and more fun than before.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Sleep tight, lots of love Mike and Sue XXXXXX

The Lees, Folkestone in Winter

Hi Folks,

Today I had to go down the coast so I thought I would pop in and have a look at the country park by the sea. The weather was overcast but at least it was not raining and it was also quite mild for this time of year, I just wandered about and this is what I captured.

Bit sad really, I thought the cliff lift was just closed for the winter but reading the sign it is closed permanently whilst waiting for a buyer.

Lastly looking out over the sea and just getting a glimpse of the sun before it dived behind the clouds again.

Thanks for looking.

nite nite, Luv Mike XX

Muscle Car Part 2

Hi folks,

Just a few more of this wonderful place, I could have stayed there all week.

Would you buy a car off this chap.

Take a seat sir, don't mind if I do.

First attempt at "air conditioning"

Close up, would be a bit difficult to park.

Note the wind deflectors above,

Close up of the engraving on the glass.

Just to show how many there where.

Right time to rev up and carry on with our journey.

Thanks for looking.

nite nite, Luv Mike XXX