A New Sunset

It was getting on for 4 yesterday when I sudenly told myself to get up and get out of Southampton. I'd been at home most of the weekend, reasonably productive, but not particulary uplifting nor inspiring. I'd also been gaining ground with God but needed to feel inspired about the life that is in order to feel excited about the life to come.

So I packed my camera bag, got on my bike and headed off to Fair Oak, which is just North of Soton, to the East of the airport, just on the OL map of the area and showing a little wood to have a walk in. I arrived just as sunset begun to glow in the sky and was quite surprised as I'd not expected to see anything much. I was greaful and so fired off a few shots with some interesting effects.

It was really encouraging to be outside and in view of fields and trees and life! It was also important to observe sunset at the new earlier time, to come to terms with it's change (or our change as I'm making myself aware) and so not feel that there is a sudden, unexpected darkness that's decended over the Earth. There are still day times, just a little shorter now.

sunset over a distant forest

streaky traffic on the M27

motorway lights

Sunset with zoom 

Visit with Mum to Portsmouth

Mum was down visiting this afternoon so she took Chris and I to Portsmouth to have a climb up the Spinnaker Tower. On the way we installed James into his Portsmouth placement accommodation.

The Tower rises out of a rather large outlet center which was a great surprise for Mum. I nearly found a pair of shoes I liked. We then went up the tower, sadly by lift as you can't climb - spoil sports - but the view was excellent despite the poor weather conditions. We then had a lovely coffee in the cafe at the bottom, which strangely didn't have a glass roof despite being situated right below the tower. Chris and I then took some shots of the waterfront before heading back to Soton for a lovely evening meal.

I do so love it when Mum visits.

The Spinnaker Tower from below

Chris on the glass floor

The triangular staircase

Chris and Mum playing with Chris' new iPod

Portsmouth Harbour

Child on the waterfront

The waterfront below a lamp

A Walk in the Woods

(What a great book by Bill Bryson that is, but this blog isn't about it)

Yesterday I went for a walk in the New Forrest woods with the Southampton University Hillwalking Club that I recently joined. It was a thoroughly splendid day out meeting lots of really friendly people - I really like people who enjoy walking (they're like the wholemeal of society).

Autumn is inbound but it's full force has not struck yet, so although there was an autumn feel to the day's 8 mile walk around Brockenhurst, the full glory of autumn wasn't quite there yet. I'll give it a few weeks and head out again.


These photos were shot with a 1/3 under exposure and I have done some tweaking in Picasa to make them more ethereal.

An autumnal litter on the floor 

Old forgotten tomb stones 

Graveyard avenu of trees 

A toadstool (no I didn't taste it) 

Autumnal river bank 

The river we had lunch by 

Some silver birches in a gracy glade