Don't look at this until June 1st because I have to work

My Welsh is rusty but I think this toy store's sign reads "We call ourselves toys R us and there's nothing you can do about it because you're not in Llangollen". I could be wrong though so don't quote me.

Like fstopsteve, like allergictoapples

Yes, I know you've seen one like this before but I didn't take that one.

It speaks for itself

This is the Albert Memorial in London. It sits across the street from Albert Hall. Albert was the royal Consort of Queen Victoria. He was apparently well liked by one and all. However......

Roget's New Millennium™ Thesaurus

Main Entry: ostentatious
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: flashy
Synonyms:
boastful, chichi*, classy, conspicuous, crass*, dashing, duded up, egotistic, exhibitionistic, extravagant, flamboyant, flatulent, flaunted, fussy, garish, gaudy, gay, glittery, grandiose, highfalutin', jaunty, loud, obtrusive, peacocky, pompous, pretentious, showy, spectacular, splashy, splurgy, sporty, swank, swanky*, theatrical, tinsel*, tony*, uptown*, vain, vulgar

But then again, maybe it's just me.

These guys are good!

I really wanted to see this exhibit but I couldn't find it.

Serenity Landscape (a portrait view)

A landscape should be in a landscape view (more wide than high) but I have always rebelled against the staus quo so this landscape is in the portrait view.

Greyfriars Bobby

In Edinburgh Scotland is a monument to loyalty. It is the monument/statue of a Skye terrier who, from 1858 until his own death in 1872, lay on the grave of his master, John Grey, every single day for fourteen years, leaving only for food.
It is reported that a daily occurrence of people from all walks of life would stand at the entrance of the Kirkyard (cemetary) waiting for the one o'clock gun and the appearance of Bobby leaving the grave for his midday meal.
There is a quotation on the headstone of the dog, (the only animal allowed to be buried just inside the cemetary gate) - "Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all".
Visiting this little dog's grave is a humbling experience - as it should be.

Somedays it just works out right

Every once in a while it just turns out right.

You are in the right spot, at the right time, with the right camera.

The subject is right, the lighting is right, the exposure is right.

The background is right, the timing is right and the photograph comes out - well, right.

Am I right?

In the eye of the London eye

This is London. This is one of the pods on the "London Eye". The world's tallest, slowest ferris wheel. There are 32 pods and each one holds 25 people (unless you're special - like us). The wheel revolves at .85 feet per second and it takes more than 30 minutes to go around once.

It takes you more than 440 in the air, and when the weather's nice, you can see 25 miles.

Today the weather was nice. I am too so I posted two photos for you.

We are staying in the hotel at the base of the wheel. Around the back - in the basement - off the kitchen - near the laundry room dryer - in a closet - standing up to sleep - and go outside to change our mind.

I'm kidding. We have a nice room on the second floor. We only have to stay here one more night and then it's off to Paris.

Oh I forgot to ask - How's work going?

I know. I'll pay for that one.

Rosslyn Chapel - Not starring Tom Hanks

This photograph is of the ceiling of Rosslyn Chapel (Yes, that Rosslyn Chapel) in Rosslyn, Scotland. Strange things happened here. Money that was safely ensconced in my pocket simply disappeared without a trace. I heard voices ("Don't touch that, Sir"), I saw things (other people) and had a great time. But the weirdest thing was that I shot this in colour and it was orange in the light.
Oh, that and the 3 knights Templar that walked through the wall in the crypt. With the Grail, but that's another story for another time.
Hoot mon. See you.

Window shopper

This photo was taken today in Cambridge, England. I took it just after leaving King's College and the reunion with my fellow graduates. Okay, I'm lying.

I never graduated from King's College. I dropped out.

Okay, I'm still lying.

I took the photograph today in Cambridge, England. And that's the truth.

Do you think he was looking at the clogs?

Barbara Standley 1926 - 2007

My Mother died last week. Mom died quietly and peacefully, without pain and she did not die alone. My brother Tim was with her and we were just minutes behind. We had run home for some food and were heading back to the hospital when Tim called to say "It's over." Just like that - it's over.

My wife Carol was my mother's best friend. They had known each other before we got married and remained best friends until Mom died. Carol did more for my mother that I ever did and certainly more than my brothers. I regret that I didn't do more. I didn't neglect Mom - don't get me wrong - but I could have done more.

I called her several times a week to see how she was feeling and the answer was always the same, "I'm in a Nursing Home - I watch TV and I look out the window."

Mom was 80 when she died. She had a better life after she remarried.

My father was a mean drunk that hit his kids and his wife and Mom always defended us. She raised four boys on her own for several years.

Her second husband was a really nice man and they had 20 great years together until he passed away. I was glad for Mom. I thought she deserved a nice life.

At her funeral the Minister spoke to our Grandchildren about the stages of life. He said that Mom had changed to another stage of existence very much like a caterpillar changes to a butterfly. He asked them if they would like to put a butterfly sticker on the casket, which they did. He then asked if anyone else would like to put one on as well and, to my surprise, a number of people did. I will never look at butterflies the same from now on.

The photo I posted is Mom and my grandchildren. It is one of my favourites. We went through dozens of photographs of my mother recently and we could not find a photograph where Mom wasn't smiling. I think that's kind of neat. Mom was always smiling.

Mom loved to hug people. She said that it takes 4 hugs a day to survive, 6 hugs a day to maintain and 8 hugs a day to grow.

So, in honour of my Mom, please hug some people you love today. 8 times please.

Good bye Mom. I love you.