Almost normal

20th May10, Embleton Bay, 8am

A slow amble along the beach but it's nice to have Trooper with me.

The Coble is back with his nets stretched out to catch the fish migrating up the coast. I haven't checked but I'm sure it will be the same time of year that I last photographed this coble at sea. (I also photographed it pulled out of the water in Seahouses harbour not so long ago.)

Still a bit unsteady and with various bare patches where the vets shaved him but he's out and about.

Trooper update

Thanks to all who have asked after Trooper's wellbeing.

He is home, groggy and bearing the scars of numerous shaved patches but still with us.

No photos today for obvious reasons...

Andy

No Dogs Allowed

Trooper is under sedation in hospital so we went to Howick where dogs are not permitted. It was good to walk around where we can't picture his face at every corner.

Decision time tomorrow morning.

18th May10, Howick Gardens, 3pm

Back Home

17th may10, Embleton Bay, 8am

Back from a wonderful week on Orkney and back to our own beach.

Poor old Trooper is well out of sorts after hurting himself falling into a burn on Orkney. As I write he's finally out cold on strong pain killers after a few days of pacing endlessly and uncomfortably around the house. No running for him for a while but he's happy to walk up and down the beach.

Back home after the walk and the poppies were catching the sun.

busman's holiday

A last trip to Embleton bay as I'm off on holiday for a week.

6th May10, Embleton Bay, 4pm

I'm exchanging the wide, empty, coastal landscapes of Northumberland for the wide, empty, coastal landscapes of Orkney.

A turn of the head as we walk up the path away from the beach. See you in a week.

leaves and light

4th May10, Christon Bank, 8am

At this time of year there is a different flower appearing every week. Forget-me-Not is the latest and one of my favourites.

4th May10, Broad Wood, Ellingham, 4pm

A new walk today following up a cycle around here earlier today. Being broad-leaved woods, Broad Wood's flowers are different and more numerous than those of the conifer plantation at home. Bluebells are starting to appear along with wild garlic, wood anemones, primroses, cowslips, lady's bedstraw etc etc. The leaves are coming quickly now on all the trees and the native and newly arrived migrant birds are in full song. The young foliage filters the sunlight and, along with the melifluous music of the birds, the woodland is filled with a very special atmosphere. None of this would matter if not for a well laid out footpath that meanders through the woods and grants access to the arboreal depths.

Not For Me?

Back home after a weekend city break in Bristol - a fine city, a great concert and good friends.

3rd May10, Newton Links, 8am

Heavy showers moving down from the North today. One had just passed to move on South giving views of excellent cloud formations.

Meanwhile, a gap in the showers left blue sky coming our way to the North.

It's always a great contrast to come back here after a city break...

Not for me the streets of grey
The endless noise
Bright lights all day

Not for me the coffee bar
Where chatter fills
Your every hour

Give me the noise of a restless sea
Wind in the grass
Just the dog and me

Give me the chatter of calling birds
Wide empty landscape
Hearing no-one's words

But what of friends? Where are they
Without the noise
And the streets of grey?

Sometimes it's right to go with the tide
Bright lights are good
When it's dark outside