The Red Arrows

Photos are copyright of Maggie May

One Saturday in August Harry and I were feeling a bit lost as Sam had taken the children to Japan for a month and our lives had suddenly changed from being ridiculously busy, to being rather empty and aimless. (This is how we felt at the time, but we soon got over it.)

We decided to go for a very long walk across The Downs which is quite a spectacular place in one of the highest points of Bristol, so I don't know why it is called The Downs.

When we got to the Sea Walls and looked down at the Avon Gorge many feet below us, we began to hear other children asking their parents, "When are the Red Arrows coming?"

I am not sure if there is anyone reading this who has never heard of the Red Arrows but if so they are a group of tiny planes, painted red, who do daring stunts at air shows! You can get more information here.

Anyway Harry and I decided to wait as quite a few people had started to mill around who were mentioning 5 o'clock. On asking different people, it was confirmed that yes, the Red Arrows were visiting The Harbour Festival, not far away, so they would probably be seen by us from where we were standing.

Sure enough at the stroke of five, there was a huge roar as they swooped over the horizon. I had my camera with me and I noticed quite a few people had long angled lens that they had fitted to their cameras.

I did not have such equipment and I knew my little digital camera would struggle with these planes. Even though there is a good zoom, it was surely not meant for this kind of display so far away.

The Arrows whizzed across the sky so fast that it was difficult to catch them at all and sometimes all I got was a trail of red, white and blue smoke which the planes had released, the planes being long gone by the time the photo was taken.

Well this is the best I could do with my camera and if you click on the photos, the tiny planes might show up better.

It did lift our spirits as we walked the long trek home. The Red Arrows are always exciting no matter what your age and we were as excited as any child there.

Dry Stone Walling

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I just love dry stone walling. This one is typical of the many walls that inhabit the Lake District and surrounding areas. I am reminded of the many Lakeland holidays that I used to have camping and then caravanning when I was a child. My Grandfather, aunties and uncles lived there for many years, so our holidays were always spent there.

These walls are built solidly from sturdy, light coloured stone. Always finished with the upturned stones on the top. They provide shelter for the animals and of course they keep them where they are supposed to be.

This one is purely ornamental and Harry & I stumbled on it while visiting some gardens. I loved it, so snapped it up.

I should imagine that in any dry stone walling, all sorts of creatures would make their home between the stones.

I think life can be a bit like a dry stone wall, sometimes. You have to have solid rocks at the bottom to support the weight of the next layer. With people, it is our roots that keep us firmly placed. People come in an assortment of sizes, shapes and colour. The stones have to work together, just like people do. If one gets taken out, the rest are in danger of going down. 

However, if they all work together, then they stand the test of time and endure even the worst storm.

These are my photos and this is my story for Photostory Friday, hosted by Cecily and Mamageek