Author Archives: JDO

For years I was quite sniffy about chrysanthemums – but I really don’t know why. They work jolly hard, and flower through the autumn when most other things are giving up. I hereby apologise to them for thinking that they … Continued

Our previous house came with a scrubby field, described in the estate agent’s blurb as a pony paddock though it wasn’t actually large enough to sustain a pony. In any case we didn’t own one, so we planted a number … Continued

Harvington Hall is a moated Elizabethan manor house close to the village of Chaddesley Corbett in North Worcestershire. It was built by the Pakington family, who were recusant Catholics at a time when failing to be seen to follow the … Continued

I took over 100 photos at Stratford Butterfly Farm this morning, and as soon as I saw this one in Lightroom I knew it was going to be hard not to blip it: there’s something about its little mohawk that completely … Continued

This isn’t the first time I’ve blipped this clock, nor even the first time I’ve blipped it for Mono Monday: but when I saw that Nickimags888 had set Origins as her theme for this week, the two ideas that came immediately … Continued

I had been planning to enter the revived challenge Derelict Sunday today – but I was still feeling a little down after yesterday, and dereliction didn’t speak to me somehow. I’m sure there will be other Sundays when it’s right … Continued

R and I went to Stratford this morning to run exciting errands – principally going to the tip recycling centre, and buying dog food – and on the way home we took a route that allowed me to photograph some … Continued

R has been disappointed in the roses he bought me the other day because – as often, and unpredictably, happens – they have started to go over very quickly. But I’m still charmed that he bought me a gift, for … Continued

Today R and I went down to London, to see the exhibition “The Amazing World of M. C. Escher” at Dulwich Picture Gallery. This trip was proposed by R, a competent draughtsman himself, who has been a huge fan of … Continued

I was engaged in a fight to the death with the Mac Photos app this morning, when there was a knock on the front door. Check reflection in Retina screen: still wearing dressing gown; hair like bird’s nest; teeth not … Continued