Shamu!

It's quite amazing to watch these killer Whales diving and swimming in the pool alongside their trainers! The whales are so BIG. As you can see the trainers are standing on the whales noses! The show was really good and although the Whales are so big, they're so gentle with the trainers, knowing each move they make (even the instructions to 'splash' the audience! To the delightful screams of children and adults as they get throughly soaked from the pool. Later on during the holiday we had a 'meal with Shamu'. This was a thrilling experience as we were able to talk to the trainers and get really quite close to the Whales while they performed their various moves for us, behind the scenes before doing their final show for the evening. The trainers get the Whales up each morning at 6a.m. and have them ready for action by the first show at 10.00. Obviously with 3 - 4 shows a day the welfare of these mammals is of upmost importance, making sure they are well fed, rewarded during each show and rested well in between each performance. Truely spectacular! Well worth seeing if ever you pop over to Florida.

Let's Cool Down with a 'Minnie's'

Just the ice needed as a treat during those hot afternoons, or just after lunch of course! These delightful ices are made with chunks of 'real' strawberries! Absolutely mouth watering and refreshing.

A 'U.S.A.' Starling

One of the birds which frequented the guests in the 'parks' was a native Starling. Their colours are quite similar to our Starlings and they are just as greedy! They were flying around the tables, landing on the tables, sitting on the beams of the roofs, and extremely noisy too!

The Ibis - in waiting...

....And here he is, the Ibis waiting for the crumbs to fall.

Ibis

This little cheeky little fella was waiting and waiting for someone to drop a few crumbs. He wasn't fortunate with us, but he nearly had away a sandwich which some unsuspecting family left unattended on a table whilst returning their tray to the collection point!

The Lonely Pigeon

Yes they even have pigeons here too!

Colourful Frogs

Well, we've been here before. Can you spot the little coloured frogs. We last saw some of these on our way back from Bournmouth in the Rain Forest in Reading. You need to look carefully as they are really tiny. Our son and daughter who came with us on this holiday hasn't seen these before!

Sea Dragons

It was interesting to read about the Sea Dragons and so I took the opportunity of getting a shot of the information about these wonderful creatures. Really fascinating, could spend quite some time watching them. A real relaxing time, very soothing! I was interested to learn that it is the males which give birth to their offspring!

Sea Dragons

These creatures look like seaweed, but are in fact Sea Dragons! They float around amongst the tropical fish quite camouflaged. In this particular display there were quite a few and it was only as your eyes grew accustomed to their shape did you start spotting the rest. There were some baby one there too.

Friendly Lizzards

During our holiday we came across many little lizzards, just like this one. you had to be quick in photographing it as any sudden movement sent it running into the foliage to take cover. They were really delightful.

Sea World, Florida

Whilst waiting for one of the rides we stood watching the beautiful flora. These baskets were actually floating, although they were tethered they were able to be blown by the gentle breeze! They were lovely.

The Storms of life!

I saw this post card and thought most folk could identify with it! Our Summer has been like this with more predicted to fall this weekend (probably making it the wettest on record somewhere!) I did chuckle when I saw the caption under the drawing, Hope you do too!

What a delightful Robin

This delightful Robin was just sitting there on the grass, watching the rain fall and the people passing by. It really didn't seem to worry him that we watched him for a while before taking his photo. In fact, he seemed to quite enjoy our attention. I pointed him out to other people, but some of them just grunted and walked on, (it was only a robin after all :( How sad is that

Aysgarth Falls

Another view of Aysgarth Falls. A very lovely walk alongside the river.

After our breakfast we returned to our cars to make the next part of our journed and was amazed to see 'the driver' of this car!

Lake District August 2008

We arrived at Aysgarth Falls in Yorkshire on our way to the Lake District. It was so lovely to feel the warmth of the sun on us. These Falls are really lovely and having visited here last year it was lovely to return again.

THE THURSFORD COLLECTION

These are a few of the Steam Powered Organ Collection which we saw and heard played. They are magnificant. the decor beautiful.












Are they not amazing!













Each design is so different.















Even the smaller ones are so intricate in design.












What more can I say?

A collection of photographs at Animal Ark and Country Park, Norfolk

A peacock walking around taking in a birds-eye view of things.

Just checking mum's still there.

A family of geese about to take a dip.

...And here we go...... all follow me.

Come on, it's fun, why are you waiting?

...And the babies too, not too far from mum.

These wonderful birds make such a noise they need no introduction.

..And the magnificant peacock again.

It was lovely watching these little ones flying around.

What a noise these budgies made!

A Wallaby taking a break in the shade.

Our Quiet Garden

It's always enjoyable to sit listening to the water as it trickles down the feature. The birds often come and bathe here. the Blackbird visits along with the Green finches and Gold finches. The pigeons too enjoy a refreshing drink.

IT'S A FROGS' LIFE

Caught on camera, his little head popping out from the water. It is really amazing, he doesn't move when we come near him.












And again, still quiet! He is often to be seen with his mate sitting on top of the pump. I have placed a plastic sieve over the pump to stop debris getting into the pump and clogging it up. The frogs seem to like sitting on the sieve. I don't object (not that I could) as their weight helps keep the sieve on the bottom of the feature!

Just saying 'Hello'

Our Resident Frog

This little frog in our water feature is one of two. You can see him on the right hand side of the water feature with his head visable! I have had several attempts to picture him. Each time when I've returned with the camera he has retreated to his friend. So this time I came armed with the camera and he was waiting for me.

The Baby Birds and other activities

The little baby sparrow, all alone! Where are his parents?
















The baby starlings on the fence after being fed.









The same little sparrow all alone on the stepping stone, just enjoying a rest!













The Blackbird enjoying some apple, before the starlings reach it.











Take a close look and you'll see a little baby sparrow sitting on the stepping stone.













The Blackbird sits on the fence, whilst the starlings are with their mother waiting to be fed again!

The lovely yellow butterfly

Over the past few weeks (in fact for the whole month of May) we've been out and about with friends and visiting fresh places. It's all to do with our 25th Wedding Anniversary. We've had a wonderful time as you'll see with the added photos! Something to really celebrate, and we did! So that's why it's been rather quiet here.

These horses were just roaming around in Burley amongst the visitors.












Isn't he lovely!












...And then this trap appeared, having taken people around Burley to see the sights!

Isn't it just cute!

Just beside the road, what did we see but this lovely little foal. As you can see, it is really very young. We pulled up, and took a couple of photos. How delightful is that?

Whilst we were in the New Forest we saw some Horses and their young. There they were just roaming amongst the trees enjoying the peace and quiet, not worrying about us!