GotPassion?

And When The Sun Shines

The best thing about rain is that it makes the sun so much more exciting. I always enjoy the sun much more after a time of bad weather. When you have had weeks of a dull white blanket over your days, the day the sun comes out is so special - you can crank up Mr Blue Sky on the ipod and feel the words.

The rain has so many uses, but here in England, I don't think it is appreciated enough, we complain so much about 'all our rain'. However it is in times like these, during a drought that we learn to appreciate it, what it does for us.

My favourite moments are when you see the sun first peep out from the clouds.

 

And when I look at these photos I think of this great quote by Sam in my beloved Lord of the Rings.

"I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come.

And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something."

Parkland Walk

Parkland Walk is a lovely green oasis in North London of which I am really growing to really love. It runs along a disused railway and is a little surreal/ghostly especially at the abandoned platforms, where you can just imagine the trains that used to go along the path. The whole thing reminds me a little of the film Fried Green Tomatoes which features ghost towns and ghost railways (if you haven't seen it, you should!)

There are two sections on Parkland Walk, one that goes from Finsbury Park to Highgate and then another at Muswell Hill. I can't remember the exact location for getting on and off there, but I know my Dad knows, so Dad, please tell me in the comments section!

So after little DanDan's birthday party, I met up with my folks who were in Muswell Hill. After the obligatory confusing conversation about what to do and the best way to do it we decided on Parkland Walk (the Finsbury Park section). Which got even more confusing as then we got in a 'discussion' with Dad about the best way to reach it. Turns out he knew the way to the second section (so we were both right!)

So armed with a packet of Polo's, on we walked...

Polos.

I'd like to mention here that my parents never go anywhere without polos. They bulk buy them. Such is my Dad's love of Polos, that one birthday he received about 50 packets of them from his various children. So if you are ever walking along and in need of refreshment, and you see one of them, ask for a polo. According to them, a polo is an appropriate alternative to water or food.

I am starting to believe the same thing.

Hadrian's Wall

 
    

Some of my favourites from Cumbria. 

It is hard to miss, but note the green green grass. One of the advantages of living in the land of rain. Down here in the South, whilst we have somewhat less rain, our grass is all yellow. 

One of the things I love about London, is the history. Whilst there are less buildings in the Lakes, you can find the history if you look. 

You can feel the history deep beneath your toes. 

Such as Hadrian's Wall, which is 1800 years old. Housesteads Roman Fort is so well preserved you can almost see the paths the solider's walked.

With all the hills, the views are majestic and I doubt they have changed much since the romans looked upon them which is quite amazing.

Note also the viaduct, for some odd reason I do love viaducts. They are too bridges what chocolate is to strawberries, or a necklace to a nice dress - they just make them so much more exciting!

The flowers are from my godmother's lovely garden, which is entirely on a steep slope and a little bit unnerving to walk around, trying to be careful you don't fall down it. 

 

Lavander Bees, France, July 2009

Stanmore Country Park: The Bluebell Hunt...

Since I stated my desire to see Bluebells, people such as Elwira and more recently my Mum have been making that possible.

Cos I am not just looking for one or two bluebells, but fields of them...

So when we found ourselves with a free day on Monday, Mum whisked me off to Stanmore Country Park in Stanmore (funnily enough!) in the Lovely borough of Harrow. It is 35 hectares of grass, trees, bushes, ponds, trees and streams and oh yes, trees!

On the short walk from Stanmore Station to the woods there are the most amazing art deco houses, all square and angles apart from a curved bay window - like something out of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot.

We didn't stay for too long in the Park, just a couple hours (or less?) to get some photos and have a picnic. But from what we didn't say would definitely make me recommend it to any of you London city dwellers. It is particularly attractive with the short walk from the station to the park itself (makes it a very accessible). Stanmore Station is easy to get to by the Jubilee Line (which we accessed with the London overground to West Hampsted).

Stanmore is an excellent place to catch your Bluebell fix, for a walk, to see the wildlife, and for something different...

 

 

 

Spring in the Woods

The children hunted eggs, I hunted photos!

Cusco, Peru

When you enter Lima airport the air is so thick with humidity you want to check you have your umbrella with you, because it feels like a storm is about to break out. However it rains so little they don't even have rain drains there.

To visit Macchu Picchu, you have to first fly to Lima (in our case via Texas - equally humid) and then catch a connecting flight to Cuzco, which is slightly south east of Lima.

In 2002 I had the opportunity to walk on the Inca Trail from Cuzco to Macchu Picchu. For more info on the Inca Trail read this article on wikipedia... The Inca Trail

It is a great walk for anyone interested in hiking, history and culture. Although the effect of so many hikers on the trail are I have heard having a negative impact and erroding it which makes me feel a little guilty for contributing. 

These photos are all scans and as the visit was in 2002 you can see that my photography has improved somewhat. I would love to go back there and take more photos, preferably of Macchu Picchu with blue skies behind it which is of course completely up to the elements. However there are plenty of other places in the world I would also love to see so I am just going to leave it at that!