Sometimes it is just not appropriate or convenient
to carry a camera,
so lately not caught:
a lunch with old friends at the National Gallery
and a very targeted approach to the art -
The delivery of fencing
and five pleached Chanticleer pear trees
to replace the hedge and trees cut down by new neighbours.
A trip to Covent Garden to see
A glorious country wedding in full sunshine
despite the dire weather forecast.
A huge grass snake coiled beside us
while we ate lunch in the garden.
Eek. I've never seen a snake in the wild.
It slithered away as silently as it arrived.
A badger (also huge) galloping down the path
and leaping over a wall in front of me.
Another first. I only see dead ones on the roadside.
Coming soon, but this time with a camera in hand,
a short trip to Stockholm
inspired in part by this,
Lucille, I was enjoying typing you a longish comment about Stockholm, and how much I enjoyed your links, although the Opera link was asleep. Penheath & so on's post about the Stockholm stay made me want to book a trip there immediately. And then, some random finger tapped an unknown keyboard part and the comment vanished.
ReplyDeleteI was also commiserating with you about not always having a camera handy when the Moment Calls. Back in my Virginia summertime at Camp Pocahontas, I encountered my only close encounter with a snake as I returned to my tent via a narrow path through tall grasses. I think the snake was black. I am not sure the snake saw me. I froze in fright. The snake slithered on to wherever it was bound. I counted to some high number frozen in place, then carried on back to my tent with a wildlife tale to tell.
Other than in zoos, I have never seen another snake close up.
Have a grand time in Sweden. You've got me considering taking some sort of Swedish language lessons.
xo
What el
Thank you for persevering Frances. Your black snake sounds scarier than the grass snake. Did you ever identify it? Ours is not venomous.Swedish is not a language I have the faintest grasp of. I believe they will speak perfect English to us though!
DeleteThanks Sue. It's a first to a Scandinavian country other than passing through Helsinki on our way to Japan.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very thrilling post, Lucille! A grass snake and a badger! And Stockholm to come; camera absolutely essential!
ReplyDeleteThe camera is out in between showers. I must get a proper case for it.
DeleteCamera or not, you have certainly been making the most of summer up to now and sometimes words do the job beautifully too. Enjoy Stockholm! I am looking forward to my first visit, hopefully later this month, as soon as I have recovered.
ReplyDeleteWhat an ordeal you are having. I hope all heals well in time for your trip.
DeleteThings that slither are rather alarming at close quarters ... and I'm not sure whether I'd have been quite so sanguine !
ReplyDeleteStockholm should wonderfuld* at this time of year .
* Inadvertent Swedish-ism , perhaps ?
I didn't have time to be too alarmed. Wish I'd had my camera for that though. No one will believe how big it was!
DeleteLucky you, you made it to the Larsson exhibition? It hadn't opened when I was in Paris a few months ago. Was it the same exhibition that was on at the V&A all those years ago ... also sponsored by IKEA, so I wondered if it was on a never-ending tour?
ReplyDeleteYou will love Stockholm, what a wonderful time of year to be there. Don't miss Millesgarden.
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DeleteYou are psychic Mary. We have just returned from there. It was not only original list. So glad we found it.
DeleteOh! How wonderful! (Even the snake, I suppose, since it left --)
ReplyDeleteI grew up in an area where we would occasionally encounter rattlesnakes. The startle effect never ceased. Looking forward to your account of Sweden. It is my origin of ancestry.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I choose to leave my camera at home and I nearly always regret it.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your post(s) about Sweden!