It seems that normal service has resumed at least for a while with my internet connection. So now I can share with you the impressive views that can be seen from Edinburgh Castle:
A larger version of the last picture can be viewed here.
18 Comments CherryPie on Oct 18th 2009
I saw this very interesting photograph in the museum of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards which is inside Edinburgh Castle. I couldn’t resist trying to get a photo of it and you can probably see that I have managed to get my own reflection in the glass too.
All I can say about the photo is rather him than me!!!
For more of this weeks PhotoHunt pictures check out tnchick.
26 Comments CherryPie on Oct 16th 2009
It had been a long time since I last visited Edinburgh Castle so during my stay in Northumberland I ventured across the border to see how it had changed since my last visit. I mostly managed to miss the rain. It only rained for 20 minutes in Edinburgh, but back across the border in England it rained all morning.
I enjoyed seeing the castle again, although I was not so keen on queuing for 40 minutes to get tickets! But then I did get in free due to my English Heritage membership, so I can’t complain too much.
6 Comments CherryPie on Oct 15th 2009
Filed under Anecdotes, Books, Holidays, Kent Autumn 2009, Science & Nature
Spending Time at the Royal Institution
Back to my weekend away. This started with a leisurely drive to Orpington where we parked the car and took a brief train ride into London, much easier than struggling to drive through the city. The leisurely drive included a stop for a pub lunch.
On the way to the Royal Institution, I found myself in a military book shop and ended up buying a military history book, which is most unlike me. A visit to the museum in the Ri was a must and, amongst other things, I learned that 10 elements were discovered in the institute and also that 14 Nobel prize winners conducted research there. Just inside the museum there was a visual display of the periodic table showing the 10 elements that were discovered and which lit up in time to the Tom Lehrer song Elements. I still can’t get the tune out of my head.
The real reason for the Ri visit, the launch of Christopher Lloyd’s new book “What on Earth Evolved“, was great fun. The theatre was small and intimate and the people attending were diverse; from the adorable school girls all dressed neatly in their uniforms complete with hats to the obvious older and wiser Ri regulars. The atmosphere was vibrant and Chris gave a fascinating talk summarising the themes and ideas behind his new book.
Chris explained that 100 species feature in the book. The first 50 evolved naturally in the wild before the age of man but the second 50 had evolved because of man’s intervention. The talk was complete with props, audience participation and overhead visuals. The 100 species are all ranked in order of their impact and survival on the planet. So where does man feature in the list? He comes in at number 6, the number one slot is taken by the humble earthworm. I am able to confirm personally that earthworms are very resilient but we won’t go into that further!
One fascinating fact I learned is that when individual bits of green slime were put into a maze with food placed at each entrance, the pieces joined up, found the shortest route between the entrances of the maze and shared the food.
Following the talk there were questions from the audience such as ‘Is reason enough to stop global warming?’ and ‘How does God fit into all of this?’
David Haines of Singtastic had been asked by Chris to write a song especially for the book launch. He wrote two because he didn’t want to go along the patter patter route of the elements song. I noticed as I went to the Singtastic site to get their link that I appear in one of the photos!!!
Chris has a great depth of knowledge, understanding and insight. It was a privilege to hear him speak and also lovely to be able to have a quick chat with him during the book signing after the event.
Now I need to finish reading Chris’s book so I can tell you what I think about it 
I will leave you to enjoy the songs from the evening, along with the artwork from the book…
7 Comments CherryPie on Oct 14th 2009
How very remiss of me, I nearly left the Cragside Estate before showing you Nelly’s Moss Lake:
6 Comments CherryPie on Oct 13th 2009
My Most observant readers will probably notice that my header images have changed. The previous ones were part of the Wordpress template and I have been meaning for some time to change them for my own photographs. I finally took the plunge and did a bit of Photoshop work to convert the images to pictures of my holiday in Northumberland. I hope you like them
Now I have figured out how easy it is I am sure I will be changing them quite regularly.
10 Comments CherryPie on Oct 13th 2009
As you can see I am now back from my long weekend. I hadn’t planned on another holiday quite so soon after my last one, but after I reviewed Christopher Lloyd’s previous book he commented on my blog and sent me tickets to the launch of his new book. I thought it was too good an opportunity to miss. I shall give you a properly detailed account of the event later this week when I have time to write it up properly.
Then I thought it would be an ideal opportunity to catch up with relatives who have moved down south and make a long weekend of it. We made full use of the time (and good weather) and visited several interesting places; Ightham Mote, Knole, Chartwell (home of Churchill) and Down House (home of Darwin). I am sure you have guessed I took loads of photographs, which I have spent this morning sorting out. I didn’t forget to have a bit of a lie in first though 
17 Comments CherryPie on Oct 12th 2009
