tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11765827270664832522024-03-05T13:17:50.529+00:00A Lens with a ViewMy journey of photographyLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-26721802605091711102016-04-21T18:06:00.000+01:002016-04-21T18:06:18.682+01:00Mrs Fox<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Just recently a vixen started appearing in the garden during the day and sitting away from the back door, obviously looking for food. On a couple of occasions this week Mr and Mrs Fox have been sitting by the back door. She is slowing getting used to me but is certainly very camera shy.<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-63049537566696575532016-02-01T16:48:00.000+00:002016-02-01T16:48:15.509+00:00Mr Fox<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Living in the suburbs we get all sorts of wildlife in the garden. Some are encouraged others you just have to accept. Mr Fox has been a regular for some years now. He lays patiently by the back door knowing I'll be looking out for him. It's surprising how attached you get to an animal even though its wild and still keeps its distant. When I'm pottering in the greenhouse or around the garden if I hear him behind the shrubs and call his name he does come out. I do believe there is some connection between us and not just an easy meal!<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-28736444385320246962016-01-22T16:28:00.001+00:002016-01-22T16:28:38.516+00:00Tomato Seedlings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's surprising just how quickly tomato seeds germinate. These seedlings are looking pretty good.<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-49356943814694489472016-01-17T11:53:00.002+00:002016-01-17T11:53:50.241+00:00Pigeon Steps<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My thoughts last night as I went to bed and saw the snow falling against the street lights was one of excitement for what the following morning held. Alas I was to be disappointed. The light dusting of snow was already beginning to melt and the sky was a flat grey colour. No sparkly crystal gems to photograph, no pops of flowers and greenery to capture. Just the remains of the birds searching for food.<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-50968423730834052042016-01-13T13:54:00.001+00:002016-01-13T13:54:47.997+00:00January Sowings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As a keen vegetable grower, this time of year you are itching to get sowing. January is a good time to start off veg that take a long growing season to ripen. Things like peppers, aubergines and chilli's are good to start off now as long as you have a warm sunny windowsill or a heated greenhouse. I've also taken a gamble and sown a few tomato seeds in an attempt to have some early tomato's growing in the greenhouse. We'll just have to wait and see if it pays off!<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-50587331914722497682016-01-04T15:07:00.003+00:002016-01-04T15:07:37.664+00:00Salad Leaves<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I cant believe its 2016! Its been such a mild winter here in Kent and my cut and come again salad leaves are still supplying me with tasty leaves for lunch. January is an exciting month, a time for sorting out seed boxes, deciding what to grow then planning the vegetable beds and greenhouse for the year ahead.</div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-49865468385262246662015-01-09T13:18:00.002+00:002015-01-09T13:18:58.835+00:00A prosperous New Year<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Its great to be back home in the UK. Living abroad has made me appreciate what we have here especially in the back garden. With the sweet scent of Mahonia in the air and these busy honey bees to watch life is good.</div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-75434354078041569972014-06-14T20:05:00.000+01:002014-06-14T20:05:24.036+01:00Our garden visitor<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I haven't been back in the UK long this summer but this fox seems to visit most days. Yesterday it came up to the back door as if asking for its dinner. Of course I obliged and afterwards it just laid down in the garden allowing me to photograph it. Its such an unusually tame and pretty fox.</div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-25571190222332871062014-02-21T18:10:00.001+00:002014-02-21T18:10:24.264+00:00Ice Ice Baby<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Its been a freezing cold week in Iceland. Unfortunately the weather has been against us and we have only seen the slightest of northern lights. On the positive side we have seen lots of ice.<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-71347375488451276592014-02-10T14:12:00.001+00:002014-02-10T14:12:19.331+00:00Weekend wonders<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The weekend bike ride was a bit of an adventure. We ventured down unknown dirt tracks and pot hole roads which ended up in tiny villages scattered with a small numbers of houses and people. They were quite surprised to see these crazy westerners cycling through in the midday sun but were friendly and happy for me to take photos of them.<br />
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This man owned the small field of marigolds below.</div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-26912118264515792572014-02-01T10:30:00.000+00:002014-02-01T10:30:37.209+00:00Biking in Bangalore<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Occasionally my husband can persuade me to ride out on our mountain bikes into the countryside and today was one of them. You certainly have to have your wits about you to avoid motor bikes, cars, cows, pot holes and the barking dogs along the single unfinished tracks. But you do see a different side of Bangalore. Young children shout bye or hi as you ride through the run down villages or try to race you. The air feels cleaner and you are surrounded by greenery. You come back hot and covered in red dust but you do feel very lucky to be able to get on your bike and see the sites we do. I love this tree is next to a temple we ride to and have a short break. It's on a river banks and you can quite happily sit and watch the wildlife and the locals coming to the river to wash their cows.<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-63509099466022607522014-01-23T15:33:00.000+00:002014-01-23T15:33:30.389+00:00Washermans Village<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A friend and I visited a dhobi ghat in Malleswaram, Bangalore. There are many of these manual laundry sites around Bangalore, generally washing the laundry of local hotels and businesses. They employ hundreds of local families offering multiply jobs like washing, rinsing, hanging the washing and then ironing. It's hard work and the exposure of harsh soap powder to their hands and feet over time result in a lot of skin problems. The local government have installed some automatic machines but the manual work provides many needed jobs.<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-27653221544347713352013-11-19T12:23:00.000+00:002013-11-19T12:25:11.185+00:00Starting the day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It took us over 25 hours to travel from from India to NY for a crazy 48 hour stay. So what better way to start this fresh clear day than a coffee and muffin in Starbucks! </div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-60549681480707674412013-06-10T22:39:00.002+01:002013-06-10T22:39:22.214+01:00Well hello ....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was busy reading emails and putting some rubbish in the bin when this squirrel made an appearance with a large chunk if sandwich in its mouth, which it dropped as we frightened each other. Is there anywhere these guys can't get to?<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-39319061491979095832013-06-09T17:11:00.001+01:002013-06-09T17:11:09.133+01:00The time has arrived<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After months of saving I purchased my D4 today! I remember when I was a young girl spotting a Victorian dressed doll in my local toy shop. In order to have the doll my mother took me to the toy shop each week with my pocket money and they would enter the amount in my little orange payment book. It took me 12 weeks before the doll was finally mine and I could take her home. I remember it so clearly and it made that doll more precious to me. I still have the doll, she is immaculate and in her original clothes. Having to save up for something really does make it feel much more rewarding.<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-64595377764169588882013-05-13T09:46:00.001+01:002013-05-13T09:46:13.319+01:00Gardens by the Bay<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We visited these amazing gardens in Singapore by night and day just to get the full impact. Such a magnificient piece of architectual design.<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-32401637342799141752013-04-26T08:20:00.001+01:002013-04-26T08:20:40.326+01:00Pencil and paper<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's felt strange with all this time on my hands. I had this idea after my course I would do all these different things to keep me occupied but it proving a little difficult finding the motivation. Then a few days ago I came across an ipad app called Artstudio. What fun I had doing silly little drawings. It certainly started my drawing craving and whilst reading through a paper yesterday I came across a photo which I instantly wanted to draw. Paper, pencils and a day later this the result. It's probably about 24 odd years since I last sketched and I'm certainly a little rusty but I really enjoyed enjoyed myself. It made me realise that it's so easy to get bogged down with our crazy lives and we end up forgetting the things that we enjoy doing. I wouldn't replace taking photos but I do plan to do more sketching of things I see.<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-10939269131768364112013-04-14T08:01:00.001+01:002013-04-14T08:01:52.533+01:00Frangipani<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Just outside our front door the Frangipani has just come into bloom the scent first thing in the morning or early evening as you open the door is devine.<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-78349290475706590472013-04-07T14:59:00.001+01:002013-04-07T14:59:19.228+01:00Sun, sea and sand!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
That's pretty much it in the Maldives. Not forgetting all the wonderful food and drink. To make use of all the sand a sculpture artist, Peter Redmond from Australia is creating some iconic sand sculptures this weekend at The W Retreat & Spa. Here is a little taster!<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-42954169805798753202013-04-02T06:35:00.000+01:002013-04-02T06:37:47.243+01:00Watch out... there's a squirrel about!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Easter here in India was a quiet affair. Some of the large hotels has special Sunday brunches and easter egg hunts. It has also marked a mile stone in my time here as I have just submitted my final project of the garden and landscape design course I have been studying over the last 18 months. I have no idea how I will fill my time going forward. Perhaps its a good opportunity to focus on my photography again. My first jobs are a lot of house admin and sorting out of my belongings, something I really didn't get the chance to do when we first moved here. Perhaps I will enjoy my surroundings for a while without feeling guilty that I am not studying. It's good to have lots of options I guess.<br />
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Whilst I was tidying up my study these two Indian palm squirrels caught my eye. They are very cute but can make a lot of noise when they suspect danger. We had an unfortunate incident whilst on holiday, one got into our house and sadly died on my day bed in my study. The smell was terrible and I had to throw the mattress away. They are considered sacred in India and are not to be harmed. Hindu families may also feed them and they can be domesticated. Im not sure I will enticing them into my house again!<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-38506401200964317222013-03-04T04:15:00.001+00:002013-03-04T04:15:44.436+00:00Green Insect<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Just as I had sat down to do some of my course assignment. A green object on the house wall opposite my study caught my eye. I'm so easily distracted, especially when studying. After a careful manoeuvre along a narrow ledge of the pool trying to keep my distance from the mass of spider webs with camera in hand I got close enough to get a shot. I'm actually not a fan of insects I hate the way they scurry around so quickly and always head for me sensing my fear of them. This 10cm insect seemed to be attached to the sac on the right and then after some time moved away from it. Im not sure if it is laying eggs but I would have expected with that camouflage of looking like a leaf they would lay eggs in scrubs or trees. So I am a little baffled as to what the scene is actually about.<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-26171804339484174212013-02-28T11:12:00.001+00:002013-02-28T11:12:13.117+00:00Red Bicycle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Whilst walking around the streets in Kerela last week, we came upon this young boy painting his bike. He was being extremely careful how he applied the paint and was very proud of the great job he had made of it.<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-27045646239905333002013-01-21T15:14:00.001+00:002013-01-21T15:14:26.649+00:00Common Winter Visitor<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I haven't quite decided if I've chosen the right or wrong time to be back in the UK. I should be flying back to India this week but with all the problems at Heathrow it doesn't look good. It's been wonderful waking up to that silence only snow can create. My first job each day is making sure the bird table is full with winter fattening food for my garden birds. We have had quite a collection in the last couple of weeks and today I was rewarded with a visiting Redwing. I grabbed a very old 70-300mm lens and managed to get a couple of shots before it flew off.<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-78963854079877852192012-12-26T05:58:00.001+00:002012-12-31T14:24:12.765+00:00A Time to Gather your Thoughts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas. We have been enjoying the feastive season at Amangalla in Sri Lanka. A wonderful old hotel steeped in hundreds of years of history. They have been celebrating Christmas in true style.<br />
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09:26 this morning a two minute silence was held to remember the 230,000 or more people that lost their lives in the devastating 2004 tsunami that hit the coastlines along the Indian Ocean, effecting over fourteen countries. The guests and staff at the hotel lit candles and placed then along the fort wall taking a moment to say a prayer or a few comforting words in remembrance of all those effected, especially the Sri Lankan people living along the coastline just metres below the fort.<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1176582727066483252.post-53671215490016930402012-12-20T05:49:00.000+00:002012-12-20T05:49:42.697+00:00Balmy Christmas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Its the week before Christmas and just feels so wrong to be sitting here with a temperature of 29 Degrees overlooking my tropical garden and pool. Im a big Christmas fan and really missing the cold weather, the preparations, everyones decorated houses filled with twinkle lights and even the cheesy Christmas songs in the shops thats leading up to Christmas day. To cheer us up we have however, had a delivery from a friend that came over from the UK. M&S mince pies and christmas pudding with a bottle of port to wash it down with. There are some things that you just cant do without!<br />
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Whilst sitting here wishing I was home in the UK this Brahminy Kite settled on a palm tree just across from my study. Even with all the building noise going on around he was totally aware of my camera shutter going off and acknowledging the bursts of clicks.<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17115666013096282485noreply@blogger.com3