5 posts tagged “birthday”

Click on the picture to see it large – it really is worth it!

A great day out at the Wildlife Heritage Foundation care of Chris Weston Wildlife Photography. And of course of my lovely wife who bought the day for me as a birthday present!

The WHF isn’t open to the general public; they do, however, open up to small groups of photographers. This makes funds for their conservation work; there’s no merit in us aggravating the animals because they’d just hide away from the camera; so it’s win all round.

As a result, you can get far closer than you would ever get to big cats in a zoo – they let you inside the barrier so you’re right up against the fence – being careful to watch out for a paw reaching through to snag you or your camera…  We saw (and shot) lions, tigers, Amur leopards, snow leopards, cheetahs, pallas cats, pumas and a lynx!  The day started with a few of the cats, then lunch, more cats, and tea. Then, in the wonderful early evening light, we had time to wander round on our own to catch whatever we wanted rather than being in a group of fifteen photographers – great light, not tripping over each other, but with the background to know what you’re doing let us get some great shooting opportunities.

Our instructor (in this case Chris’s colleague Pete Watmough) was there to give advice when needed, but didn’t poke his nose in when it wasn’t; in my case, a few helpful suggestions about catching a cat in motion and some great observations about the cat’s characters, which is vital to spot their behaviour and hence catch them well.

More to come just as soon as I can get the rest of the pictures processed to a suitable standard…

Wednesday was my birthday, but online time has been limited since then owing to a trip to Brussels and busy busy busy at work.

The day started rather early with the alarm at 0550 (the normal time!) but we did catch a train about 15 minutes later than our normal one – because that meant time to open… presents!

I have been spoilt rotten!   Mum and Dad have got me some vouchers and a chopping board that folds (which I really really wanted!) and a mystery present. Phoebe got me a T-shirt and a Wii game.  And Sarah spoilt me with a photography day (which I knew about – watch out for the pictures in March) and a pasta maker (which I didn’t!)

After a day at work, it was off to for a quick pre-theatre pub supper, then…

A-scene-from-Oliver!-001.jpg

Oliver!

What a show!   The stage at Drury Lane is larger than many; they’ve used it very well to fill it with wonderful scenery, a company of eighty actors and superb choreography.  Such good tunes as well, and a story that has clearly stood the test of time.  Oh, and of course Rowan Atkinson.  Who steals the show.  And is a truly sinister Fagin, ably supported by Burn ‘Torchwood’ Gorman, Tasmin ‘I wasn’t the BBC competition winner but that’s cos I’m already a professional who’s done it before’ Carroll, a great Oliver and an Artful Dodger with perfect comic timing.  Go and see it.  Several times if you can.   You’ll come out feeling so much better with the world!

Found here.

Thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday for Sunday - much appreciated!

I had a remarkably pleasant weekend in the end.  Sunday not being great for huge amounts of late night drinking, we went out on Saturday night with some of my friends for a very nice curry.  I had a jolly tasty chicken tikka dopiaza - this curry house seems unusual in that whenever you order anything with chicken they offer you the chance of having it made with tandoori style chicken.  Very nice, anyway.  And then we retired to The Boot for several pints of Black Sheep.

Sunday morning Sarah and I went for a long walk first thing, largely to work off some of that curry and gird our stomachs for sunday lunch at Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans (it's just down below the Abbey and one of like 20 pubs that claims to be the oldest in Britain - it was badged as such in the 1997 Guiness Book of World Records:

We were a party of 10 including two babies and one four year old - who was incredibly well behaved even though she had to wait two and a half hours for her chocolate ice cream which was what she *really* wanted.

Finally everyone came back to mine for cake - the rather lovely Cadbury hedgehog above - he has chocolate fingers instead of spines!

And my birthday isn't quite done yet.  After all, if nicola314159 can make Nicolmas last a full month, I can at least justify a few days. Our little lion (Phoebe) has got me tickets to go and see some big lions on Tuesday. I suspect Sarah just might have helped her with the credit card though to book...