…reminded me of a special moment when I was on my holiday in Northumberland earlier this year.
I was privileged to see a red squirrel as I was travelling through the countryside near Chillingham. Initially he was sitting on the pillar at the end of a bridge I was about to cross but he leaped into this tree as I drove past. I thought he was going to run away but instead he turned and sat looking at me for several minutes until I realised I was causing a road block due to the narrow bridge and had to drive off.
Due to the poor lighting the picture came out grainy so I had to be a bit creative with the photograph and here is my final result.
Speaking of holidays, Christmas is nearly upon us and I am not in the slightest bit prepared. I need to go and write some Christmas cards; I will be back later!
Tags: Christmas, Corel Painter Essentials, Red Squirrel, Vacation
I am posting these as a special request for Claudia.
I love this majestic oak tree at the bottom of my garden. I always refer to it as ‘My Oak Tree’ but it is actually in the garden behind. The branches hang over the bottom of my garden and it always deposits plenty of leaves for me to tidy up in autumn.
All the pictures of this tree that I have uploaded to Flickr can be found on this link.
All the pictures of this tree that I have uploaded to Flickr can be found on this link.
Tags: Cherie's Place, Corel Painter Essentials, My Garden, My Oak Tree, Snow, Sunset
Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful,
we must carry it with us, or we find it not.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Tags: Cherie's Place Thought, Ightham Mote, Weekend away
Cheryl Pidgeon, Regional TUC Secretary, recently attended my local Trades Council meeting as guest speaker. She gave a lively talk covering her early life and the work positions she held before being appointed to the post of Regional TUC Secretary. She also explained that she has been involved in many campaigns including helping people into education to enable them to learn to read, trying to put an end to violence against women (but this equally included men who have also been subjected to violence).
She spoke about how important it was to get out campaigning amongst the public and also the importance of getting young people interested in voting. Cheryl said that young people currently feel cut off from the political process due to lack of employment opportunities. She also voiced her concerns on the high interest rates that banks charge small businesses starting up, making it difficult if not impossible for them to survive.
The Women Chainmakers’ Festival was also mentioned and we were reminded of the importance of this event. Next year will mark the 100th anniversary of the women chainmakers successfully winning a decent living wage, so the 2010 festival will have some special events to commemorate the anniversary of this occasion.
Cheryl said that the campaign to save those public sector job losses threatened within the Telford area can be publicised through the TUC blogs and mailing lists.
It was a breath of fresh air listening to Cheryl and last but not least she very kindly brought us biscuits and chocolates to sustain us during the meeting.
Tags: Cheryl Pidgeon, Midlands, PCS, Regional TUC Secretary, Telford & Shropshire Trades Council, Trade Union
Today I have been having a mega sort out and tidy up ready for Christmas, it is one of those habitual things I always seem to do at this time of year. There are usually visitors staying, but this year I am not sure that is going to happen. I probably won’t know until the week before Christmas, that is normal too…
But anyway I have managed to clear out a load of old papers and had great fun with the shredding machine. I know; I need to get a life 
I have also sorted out some of my books and moved all my shoes into one place and in the process ended up with a wall of shoes. If that sounds a little strange it is because I keep all my shoes in their boxes so they are tidy and don’t get damaged. It also makes them easier to find. I think I have been a bit more ruthless than usual and I still haven’t finished!
I shall blame the excessive tidying on work where we have been having a mega sort out and it has turned me a bit OCD. But there again I did find some things in my desk drawers that went back to 1988, including an article on the MoD department that investigated UFO sightings, the closure of which took effect yesterday. This bit in the Telegraph’s article gave me a wry smile:
No decision was announced and the disclosure was instead buried on its website earlier this month.
Which reminds me I am still annoyed but not in the least bit surprised by yesterday’s Cabinet Office announcement that it will be imposing the proposed changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme. Despite what it says on their website, it was done without consultation, but that is enough about that for now.
I think it is time to relax with a small glass of sherry before dinner
Tags: FUTAB, Life, me, Self Portrait, Work
The answer to where is this picture and where is the picture within the picture is:
The frame is situated within Alnwick Castle Grounds looking out over the countryside. Just of to the left is the view of the Lion Bridge which can be seen here. Just out of sight of the picture is the river that Claudia mentioned in the comments section in the previous post.
Tags: Alnwick Castle, Vacation
The road along the pass is very curved and also very scary if you are traveling along it in a car.
For more of this weeks PhotoHunt pictures check out tnchick.
Tags: Lake District, PhotoHunt, Vacation, Wrynose Pass
