212/365 Sidalcea Rosanna

A hover fly settled on it while I waited for the breeze to stop. I had some time in the garden with camera this afternoon and with the wet weather keeping me from it, I spotted lots of things in bloom that weren't out last time I ventured down there.

211/365 Feline invisibility cloak?

"If I keep my head under here... they can't see me, can they ...?"

210/365 Vintage egg-cup

This little egg-cup is about 70 years old! It came with a chocolate Easter Egg and belongs to my MIL, Rita. Jodie likes to have a dippy egg in this egg-cup when we visit Grandma, which is what we did today. We also played with marbles...

209/365 Home-made Scones

I felt like I had stepped into the pages of Country Living today when I visited my friend Kate. Our young children played nicely in the garden with each other and with the dog, we met the 2 guinea pigs and fed the 10 hens; we scoffed delicious home-made scones with strawberry jam, and came away with 2 freshly laid eggs into which Jodie dipped toast soldiers for her tea. Thank you for a lovely morning Kate, and for letting me photograph your beautiful children and lovely home.

208/365 The Chamberlain's Clock

A well known landmark in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, The Chamberlain's Clock stands at the top of Vyse Street in the centre of a traffic island. I was very surprised at how busy and bustling the Jewellery Quarter is. While we were there, the sun shone, and then the heavens opened! I got so wet that I had to drive home sitting on a carrier bag and was still soaked to the skin after the hour's drive home!

207/365 Late spring cleaning

Henry is a faithful friend. Henry often goes above and beyond the call of duty. Today he helped clean Oliver's room but after the summer hols we've got The Builders in, so I'll need to be extra nice to Henry then.

206/365 Oliver's New Bike

Oliver has a new bike. He has had a bike from around 3 or 4 years old, but never properly learnt to ride - we passed it on still with the stabilisers on. Now though, with all his friends calling for him on their bikes, he said he needed a bike - and we're pleased he finally wants to learn - you can buy a kid a bike but you can't make him ride it! Well done Oliver, day 3 of coaching and he's doing brilliantly! Now, will Mark & I have to get bikes??

205/365 Aero

Meet Aero, a friend's dog, but not just any dog - he's going to be a working dog, a Guide Dog. He goes on to the next stage of training after the weekend, so RK asked me if I'd take some photos of him before he goes. And in September there'll be a new "Andrex" puppy making puddles in RK's kitchen!

204/365 Freesia

I love freesias, they're one of my favourite flowers.

203/365 The Pink Minx

With Pride Park Stadium (home of the Rams) as a backdrop, a huge stretch (Lincoln Navigator) limo pulls in to Frankie & Benny's car park this afternoon with Oliver and 11 mates on board. They broke up from Junior School for the 4th and final time. Two stretch Hummers took most of the rest of Y6 the long way round from school to the restaurant. Oliver was thrilled, it was a big surprise to him, and he didn't even mind about the "pink" !!

Right before school finished the heavens opened and Jodie and I got soaked. It eased off and just about stopped as they came out of school, then the sun shone on the gleaming paintwork! Fantastic!

202/365 Young Bond

The name's Bond, James Bond.

Oliver won joint second prize at his Y6 Leavers' Party this evening dressed as James Bond. The other joint second was similarly dressed but with a black tie and was one of the Men in Black. Oliver and I have both read the Young Bond books written by Charlie Higson (which are brilliant!) and sometimes watch the grown-up Bond films depending if they are suitable viewing for Oliver. (My favourite is Sean Connery, no other actor has come close so far!)

201/365 Through the Hedgerow

This hole in the hedge is right opposite the end of the road on which I live and I have watched the crop grow through this hole over the last few weeks. Taking this was a little scary with traffic passing very close behind me at 40 miles per hour: there is no grass verge to speak of so I'm crouching amongst nettles and long grass to get this shot.

200/365 Purple Rain

We had downpours today but at least it stayed dry for yesterday's Photo Walk and the Carribean Carnival. These are raindrops on the conservatory window and the original image was all but b/w, and lacking something for that. Almost made it blue, but I wasn't having a blue day. So, purple rain. I'm not a great fan of squiggle formally known as, but it was apt for today.

199/365 World Wide Photo Walk

Today was the day! I saw parts of the city where I live that I have never seen before, about 24 of us traced the route on the map, we took a lot of pictures, and we had a great time! From over 200 images I narrowed the blog possibles down to about 20, and it was a very hard choice. Here is The Bell Hotel reflected in the curved glass window of a shop across the way. Collage required...

198/365 Made in Thailand

Today I came across a hidden treasure trove of Eastern and Oriental arts and crafts in a shop in Belper. I rarely venture so far along Bridge Street, but I am so glad I did. I asked permission to be able to take some images for the blog entry and hope to go back another day and take some more. Wow...

197/365 ...and the winners are...

...with 134 points, the Yellow Team! Oliver was on the winning team today, he's thrilled. Two years running (no pun intended) Sports Day has been rained off, but today was fine and sunny, and not too hot. Here we have Mrs C holding the vital piece of paper sent by runner from Mr B further up the field! Well done everybody, especially Oliver ;0)

196/365 The Lemonade Kid

Oliver (far right) looks on as 2 of his friends have a slow-mo 'fight' in the Y6 production of "The Lemonade Kid". Everyone dressed as cowboys (and girls of course), and a Mexican with sombrero and poncho. AC was brilliant throughout as one of the main characters with a brilliant American accent! They all did really well.

195/365 Caution! Press photographer at work!

So this is how the pros do it...? Here is Matt, a photographer for the DET (Derby Evening Telegraph) shooting us shooting him. "Us" was TB, BT, SM, JI and a few other club members, Jodie and me. He arranged us around the Bonnie Prince Charlie statue at Cathedral Green and asked us to adopt the "lunge" stance with cameras trained on him. Jodie joined in and took a few as well! After a couple other shots with maps and cams the rain came so we made for shelter. He crouched down to Jodie's level to ask her name and age and very patiently waited while she spelt out our surname a letter at a time - there are 11 of 'em!! So look out for us in the DET before Saturday's World Wide Photo Walk!

194/365 Alien invasion II

Let my people go...

193/365 Look at those eyes...

Couldn't you just dive in to those beautiful eyes? While I have the pop-up backdrop out of its bag Jodie wanted to have some pictures taken in front of it. I have a big piece of red satin draped over it whichi I had been meaning to try out anyway. Not to mention a new lens that came a few days ago - and heck, I don't need asking twice!?

192/365 Rainbow windmill

I waited ages for the breeze to come. Its been an unusually still day today. I shall be out late tonight, so wanted to blog early.

191/365 Jodie

Jodie likes to play at the kitchen sink sometimes. Yesterday she washed a load of ponies, or rather a herd of ponies, toy ones of course, kept her happy for ages. Today she's helping me by doing some 'cleaning' in the kitchen. She's so busy! (Trying out a new lens here... )