Failed again :(

for the second week on the trot I have failed to complete our photo of the week challenge.  The theme was 'deliberate blur/panning' Louise has completed the challenge brilliantly with her images here I'm hoping she will grant me two more evenings to complete it .... please Louise!
It's not that I haven't taken any photos this week because I have but they have all be slow moving or still items... ie trees, houses, flowers.  Which I shall show you during the week, just to prove I haven't been idle.

This coming week our theme is portraits, both of us should manage that as between us we have five very good looking youngters.  Fingers crossed mine will play game!!

St Anthony Lighthouse

The other weekend Bernadette and I popped over to St Anthony when she finished work so she could do some painting for college. It was a beautiful afternoon/evening which reminded us both just how lucky we are to have such views a few minutes drive away. Here is my favourite from the trip.

It must be spring.....

..... at last the tulips in my garden are starting to show their heads.  I didn't realise I bought so many bulbs last year!!  Though the image below is not one from my garden, it was taken at the Eden Project on Sunday.  I hadn't been for awhile so it was nice to have a fairly quiet wander around before the visitors start arriving as they will do the next few weeks.

Anniversary Rose

Tomorrow Mick and I will celebrate 21 years of marriage.  It sounds such a long time but it doesn't seem that long ago.  Looking back at our wedding photos leaves me with  mixed feelings of happiness and sadness as I realise how many members of our families are no longer with us to remember that special day.  Still I am grateful they were actually there on the day.  So why the yellow rose, because they were in my bouquet.  This one came from the same garden as yesterday's. 

Rose

Found this image of a rose that I took last year when I went round to my friend Kathi's house to photograph her daughter.  Forgotten I had taken it, until recently, so I thought I would share it with you all. It smelt beautiful as well.

Monthly photo - Australian images.

Although you have seen my monthly images the Australian ones have been missing - until today that is and here they are three months in a row, which really shows the changes over there.

January

February

March

Weekly photo

Surprise surprise I failed again with this week's photo challenge. Glad to add that so did Louise, so I don't feel so bad now :).  We were doing 'deliberate blur' and I just never got there.  Admittedly I have taken lots of photos this week, but didn't think about trying to make them blurry.  Well the birthday's are over for another year, both Bernadette and Mick are happy and a year older.  Having managed to get through the week without spilling the beans re Mick's surprise party last night I have decided never to do that again, and don't recommend it, especially if you are use to discussing everything with your other half.  Thankfully due to fantastic daughters, friends and in laws we managed to keep it from him and even when everyone arrived here he still wasn't sure what was happening  'lol'.  Still a good night was had by all.

Went for a lovely walk along the coast path from Hell's Mouth to Godrevy Lighthouse on Sat, here are some of the images I took.

looking towards Hell's Mouth and Portreath in the distance.

 Godrevy Lighthouse - like so many these days not manned any more,

and the last one, this was the sight that greeted us when we peered over the cliff,

more seals, though they look dead they are definitely alive and beautiful.

March's monthly image.

Here is this month image of my "backyard"

It is starting to green up again.  It is lovely to see all the bunnies running around in the morning they look like they are having so much fun.  Prior to me taking this photo on Thurs there were three foxes wandering around as well - I wasn't awake enough to catch them - must try harder.

One down one to go

It is BIG birthday time in the house this week.  Yesterday we celebrated Bernadette's 18th and tomorrow it is Mick's 50th.  So a lovely family meal out last night for the birthday girl and her first official glass of wine

She thoroughly enjoyed being able to go out today and buy her dad a bottle of whisky for tomorrow, sure she will soon go off that idea.  As for tomorrow we have both taken the day off work and are off out, Mick doesn't know where yet as it is a surprise, there are going to be a few of them this week for him!!  If he is really lucky I might even take my camera with me !!

Weekly photo

This week we were having a go at motion blur - even though this week hasn't stopped I didn't capture too much 'motion blur' more like motion fatigue!  Having dipped out last week I was determined to get something this week.  I decided to try and capture the daffs blowing in the wind this morning, but by the time I actually managed to get out there the wind had dropped at the front.  So it was back to the good old house work to save the day - the washing line, not the greatest example but it has been so beautiful and sunny here today any shutter speed other than very fast comes out totally over exposed.

I was also on catch up this week from the previous week which was macro, so here are a couple I took today.

Dianthus

Tulip, by the time I got out there the petal had opened wide exposing the centre.

Busy, busy, busy

Another week flown by but what an enjoyable one.  Monday was a surprise meal out with my cousin who rang to say he was down here on holiday for a week.  It is very rare I get to see my family as most of them are in Yorkshire still, so it was lovely.  What makes it more enjoyable for me is the way Mick and the girls enjoy these meetings as well. Wednesday was a very long day, as I went to the Focus on Imagining Show at the NEC 3am start for me and arrived safely home at 11pm.  It was actually nice to go somewhere so big with so many people there but to be on my own.  Thursday evening we all went to watch Amanda in her GCSE drama performance at school, that was interesting for us all as none of us have ever seen her act before and we were still coming to terms with her doing drama!!  The whole play was amazing, we were so proud of her.  Still can't believe that was my little girl up there acting. Then last night out for an unexpected meal with friends.  Rather glad to be staying in tonight lol.

Couldn't do a post without a photo of some description so here is one of my sister in law's cat, well one of her cats!!

Dipped out this week.

Didn't do very well this week with regard to taking any macro shots, no idea where the week went, one minute it was Monday morning then bang it is Sunday evening already.  Can't ever recollect what happened as it went so quick..... or does that just mean I am getting old!!!  My excuse for not taking any pics this weekend (my free time) was due to hurting my back and having a horrid head - not conducive to creativity.  Though I am pleased to say Louise did manage her's and has done a beautiful job of it here  hopefully Tuesday night I will get a chance, but in the meantime here is one I took awhile back.

Have to be honest and say I am not sure as to this little chap's correct title I think it is a damsel fly but I could be totally wrong, sorry if I am.

On Wednesday I am off to Birmingham to the Focus on Imaging Show, so looking forward to it.  The only downer is having to get up at 4am to be in Plymouth for 5.30am to get the coach - it will be a very long day, but a good one.