Back Home Tomorrow

Hi folks,

sorry for the blip in the blog but should be back in full strength tomorrow as I had trouble with the internet whilst away and ran out of my phone allocation. Luck as it happens I was able to "borrow" some wifi from our friendly campsite owner, I moved the van close to his house and with his permission I am able to sent a small blog. Three cheers for Russ at the Everdean camp site. nr Chichester, what a wonderful chap.

Anyway just a couple of images from this weeks continuation of our holiday.

View of the Spinnaker Towers from the Gosport side of the Solent.

and a rather Grand house on the Portsmouth side taken with my long lens, about 600 mm across the Solent. The grey rocks at the lower part of the image are the sea defences.

Thanks for looking.

Best regards, Mike

Bit of a Fishy Tale

Hi folks,

Last day at Southsea so a trip around the Aquarium in the town was called for, cant name many so chip in with the answers (pun there).

I think small Rays jumping out of the water much to the amazement of the public

Tunnel under the tank.

Jelly Fish

Coral being grown in the nursery

Puffer Fish

Well getting short of bandwidth so must end now.

Thanks again for looking.

Best regards, Mike

Last night on Southsea and a little KAP

Hi folks,

just a quick blog tonight as we are moving off in the morning.

A club member Matt and I decided to try our hand a KAP that's Kite Ariel photography today but with only marginal success, the wind was fickle as reported in the previous  blog. The camera which is suspended below the kite was swinging about a lot due to the erratic wind.

Anyway  this is one that we managed to get.

No great but it's a start.

Thanks again to Matt a club member for his help.

As I am using a different camera and a bit of fine tuning is required once back home.

Sorry it's short but have to end now as we have an early start in the morning.

Thanks for looking.

Best regards, Mike

Portsmouth Kite Festival 2, the end of day one.

Hi folks,

Continuing on with the festival.

Wind machine on display making great sounds.

Whale, in all it's splendor about 10 Meters long.

Static display using blocks of wood, wire and coloured straws, simple but effective 

Sunset over the Solent.

Spinnaker and the Memorial in the twilight hours with the Funfair.

Spinnaker,camera in long shutter speed to show the motion and pick out the rides in the Funfair

Thanks for looking.

Best regards, Mike

Portsmouth Kite Festival

Hi again folks,

1st day of the Festival proper and woke up to a cloudy sky expecting the rain to come from the east but fortunately the wind was from the west so we escaped it and only had high cloud.

Waking up to a different view from the van from yesterday, you can just see the memorial in the distance, just.
Thanks to Heather who tried to get on the blog yesterday the Memorial were erected after the first world war at the three main "mannng ports" there men signed up for service they commemorate those who lost their lives and are at Chatham, Plymouth and Portsmouth, all have the same design..

A few of the festival today and I took over 200.

"Kite lifter at the top of the group to hold the inflatables up.

Some of today's kites and there were many.

My favourite the Sea Anemone.

With Clown Fish peeping out, how clever?

well that's it from today, many more to see.

Thanks for looking.

Best regards, Mike

Kite Weekend

Hi folks, sorry for the gap in the blogs but back again and on to Portsmouth  Kite Festival.

First off we stopped at Scotts Haven nr. Wickham close to the South Downs.

Our Sue having a cup of tea.

The sky was a lovely colour over the tree tops and when we went for a walk the moon was big and round but just for once I didn't take the camera.  By the time we walked back to the site a huge streak of cloud had descended, maybe next time.

I took this deliberately from the van of our view of Southsea Common where we are parked for the Festival, the Memorial is I think identical of one back near home in Gillingham.

Here we are parked up for four day, wheel chocks down to level and off we go kite flying.

Just a few kites from today while everyone sets up, the Festival is Saturday and Sunday so watch this space and I will see what I can show you.

Another Edo for Gareth.

Seen this one before and it is quite large.

Well thanks for looking all we need is good weather and will be all set for a great weekend.

Best regards, Mike

Sunday Walk, Chilam to Shottenden

Hi folks,

Sunday a gang of us went to Chilam to give our cameras a workout, lots of different results, here are a few of mine.

Oak carving by Steven Andrews called "Pilgrim Milestone" in Chilam Village centre.

Cabbage White

Unique weather vane.

Five bar gate.

Autumn is on it's way.

Thanks for looking.

Best regards, Mike

Exhibition Part 2

Hi folks.
as promised a few more of these sculptures before the display goes to Chichester.

Continuation of the bike theme

The display was cleverly set out to meander down the Cathedral.

House building, with so much invested in our property.

The burden of house ownership.

Not sure on this one whether it is separation and divorce or just holding your property in pride? Perhaps Randy will comment

Holding  dog, depicting family life.

This one is already sold and depicts the weather and the sunshine.

Final one which is large is a poem in a man.

The exhibition finishes on Monday the 26th August and I think is well worth a visit.

Thanks for looking, best regards, Mike