Join me on my trips

Catastrophic collapse of Labour in the elections yesterday. David Attenborough's 100th birthday. Today is sunny and warm and the bowling machine is up and running. And a picture from Uzbekistan. A hard place to live and work. I wanted the woman to sort of merge into the desert. I spotted her from the bus returning home I guess to the bright-walled house which was all alone in the Kyzylkum Desert. And some people on a cruise ship got hantavirus somewhere. Apparently not spread like Covid. We shall see in due course. And here is a pic of the grey wagtail chicks. Cant see much but their little red gapes awaiting food from their mum. There are five so lots of flies needed. And still on the bird theme here is the great white egret. Very shy so pic taken from inside. Back with the nest. Effie with Heidi and a friend, Evie. This looks like the old days though upgraded with a bowling machine. ...

I always say it will be a good day and it was. No rain though chilly for some so we brought tables in and gathered chairs for eating indoors. Otis though unfortunately trapped his thumb when a table collapsed on it. Alex took these memorable pics. Girls in laundry. Jane, Julie, Doug and Helen in hall. Boys in kitchen. The rest nearby. All worked fine. No posing for pics which some may regret. The sheep are back looking clean shorn. Heath found a moorhen nest with 1 egg in the chestnut tree on the island. There are now 4 eggs on 7th and the grey wagtail has hatched two chicks and there is at least one fox cub and I saw a mother and young muntjac in the garden this am. Our village shop has won.  

I came here with David in 1969 all the way from New Barnet to see the clapper bridge. Yesterday I saw it again.

This moth evaded death at the automatic doors of the hotel. My body is greatly relieved never to have to climb aboard a coach again. Home again and it is lovely to see especially all the tulips and the cherry tree and the yellow bed and a night in my own bed! How I found my garden, quite dry too. And our guide's contact.

We flew back on Uzbec air. Visited the lovely textile and cultural museum. These amazing carpets. Tiles. And delightful miniatures. Perhaps this how I feel.

The city and environment are catastrophically affected by the death of the Aral Sea. Pollution in all its forms, scarcity of water, dust storms are all frequent. Not sure it will be fun. Those are some of the many green houses. There is plenty of water on the way along from Kiva. Gate to a cemetery  You can just see the tombs. No burials in groud as water table is too high. These little sunken gardens separate the road from buildings and a path. Some shots along the wsy through the autonomous Karakalpakstan. All very agricutural. Take a look at the clay pot on the right. It is for burning your rubbish. We did not stay here. C hilpak. I didn't climb up but drew some flowers. ...