Author Archives

Debbie Smyth

Trompe l’Oeil in Bedarieux

I particularly like the muted colours of this painting and the care that has been taken to produce it; it is convincingly realistic. The girl IS real, but the dog […]

-Botswana

A Dazzle of Zebra

Groups of animals are fascinating to watch, especially those with strong social structures. I could happily watch the interaction of a group of baboons (as long as they are’t bouncing […]

Photos

A Thistle Epistle

Dear Eeyore I know how fond you are of thistles, so I thought of you when I came across these beauties in a garden in Wiltshire recently. My taste in […]

-London

Art Deco London

Following on from my Egyptian Revival post a couple of weeks ago, I thought I’d expand on the art deco theme. These windows belong to Shropshire House, an office building […]

-Africa

Getting around in Southern Africa

Getting around in Southern Africa can be slow and uncomfortable: roads are often little more than tracks, and on more major roads the traffic can be bad. My first trip […]

Sunday Stills

Rock ‘n Roll Motorbikes

Carnaby Street, just off Regent Street, in London is a great place for a wander, a spot of shopping and a bite to eat. These motorbikes were all dressed up […]

-Barcelona

Look Up, Look Down – a new challenge

One of the things about blogging that has surprised and delighted me, is just how many fantastic blogs there are out there. Whether you want to laugh, be inspired or […]

-Botswana

Twin Reflections

These two Hamerkops (Scopus umbretta) stand reflected in the waters of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. These dull-brown birds have a number of other common names, mostly relating to the […]

Books to inspire

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

“The dying actress … wavered a moment in the boat’s stern, then extended a slender hand to grip the mahogany railing … All around her, shards of sunlight broke on […]

-Balearics