Happiness is.....a big bunch of shiny balloons at the Zoo!
Today P, S and I met up with a group of people from the Photographers Corner at Chester Zoo. The weather was beautiful; warm and sunny without a breath of wind, and in very congenial company we wandered around looking at the animals and the planting in the zoo grounds.I had a really great time chatting to everyone. Some people I have met before, some are old friends and some I only met today but it was wonderful spending time with them all.

I am feeling tired now after my day in the open air; I have had a cold all week and am coughing so badly at night neither P nor I are getting much sleep! Poor man had to reture to the sofa last night :(

The doctors say K is improving a little - thanks to everyone for your good wishes! They mean so much!

Two different shots of the iron men on Crosby Beach, a large scale art installation from Angel of the North creator Antony Gormley called "Another Place"
I really enjoyed my windblown evening here with the Wildcat; although her photos are more impressive than mine! I never get tired of this beach and the wonderful statues. Many of them are developing interesting growths of marine life.
The Corner monthly competition results were announced last night; the subject was HUMOUR and I got second, third and joint fifth places!! I can't say my most successful photo was of any technical merit - just something I happened to see!! click HERE if you want to see my photos and the winner; which IS a good photo!!
This morning I'm off for my training walk - it's less than a month now until my Race for Life. I have RDA this afternoon. My back and right hip are really hurting today despite liberal dosages of painkillers - I think it's the rain. Hope it holds off while I'm out walking.

Welcome to the first part of my "Build your own lion" series...



The top picture got POTD yesterday on the Photographers Corner; I was really pleased with that. This picture turned out just about exactly how I wanted it too and you can't ask for more than that!

Until now, if you'd asked me what my favourite big cat was, I wouldn't have said "lion". Now it is. I got such a huge thrill out of being so close to them and to looking into their eyes.

Another glorious sunny day here; and P's birthday. I'm off for my long walk soon, then finishing off P's birthday cake (victoria sandwich with raspberries and whipped cream filling!) and then in the afternoon it's my RDA session.