My cruise along the coast of Norway from Bergen to the North Cape.

Well here we are, my friend Lynne and myself, setting off from Gatwick Airport on our adventure cruise up the eastern coast and fjords of Norway. We arrived in Bergen around 10.30 in the evening. It was raining and to our dismay there was no one at the airport to meet us. The local bus which would take us to the hotel had stopped running at 7.30pm, so we had to get a taxi which cost us 60 pounds sterling. Not a good start!!

The hotel was very nice, you know the usual for a mid price range hotel anywhere. We did have a lovely view out of the window mind you and I did manage to get a hand held night shot of the harbour from the open window in our bedroom by leaning against the window frame and keeping out of the rain. As you can see the lights in the harbour gave lovely reflections on the water and you can also see the lights of the cable car going up to the observation point high above the city.
It seemed to be a lovely city with an busy harbour

and lots of interesting shops and sights to see, however the rain became heavier which really curtailed what we could see and photograph. I did manage one or two photo`s as you can see before we decided to stop for lunch in a lovely and bustling local cafe.

The next morning, after a fabulous breakfast of a variety of meats and locally caught seafood, we decided to explore the city before catching our bus to our cruise ship MS Midnatsol in the afternoon.

We then returned to our hotel and eventually caught the bus to the cruise ship. We signed in and settled in our cabin, had a really nice buffet before retiring for a well earned good nights sleep.

We set off in the late evening and as you can see a lone photographer was recording our departure as set       off on our adventure. The second picture shows us leaving the harbour.

This is the beginning of the journey we took over the 8 days of the cruise. Over the period of the next 2 weeks I will continue to describe our journey and adventures with words and pictures. I will attempt to give you some idea of the Norwegian experience from the southern coastal city of Bergen to the hostile climate of the North Cape.

So, there we are, off on our way the next morning after another a great breakfast. Now you have to remember that the cruise ship is also a working ferry taking on passengers and cargo making a number of stops at lots of small ports. These stops of course are the lifeline of these small islands on the way up the coast.

So we made short stop in the harbour of Torvic. This tiny scattered village is part of the Haeroy municipality with cow pastures stretching right up into the little quay.

After a short stop we set on our way towards Alesund, passing the bird island of Runde and some lovely views of the islands which are showing more snow as we work our way north.

We are now approaching Alesund and after such a bleak first look we enter the lovely harbour and its picturesque town centre.





















Watch : THIS SPACE for more.

Grandchildrens visit to my home town of Grimsby

Had a lovely time with my grandchildren as they loved the north east coast. Pictures and comments to follow.

A trip to the lovely countryside of Mid Wales

Been away a bit so I have some more pictures to show. So watch this space.

Well I was told how lovely it is in the mountains of Mid wales starting not far from Lampeter. being on the mid to west side of Wales , the countryside is very green and lush.

As we began to ascend up to the hills I noticed a small herd of cow and I thought it would make a nice picture. Well, if I did, they looked at me and must have thought, ah ah, there`s some food gang, lets go over and see whats on offer. So, slowly and gradually the meandered over to have a look  at me. A couple at first then all of them.

So I thought I had better get on to my destination which of course was those lovely hills. I travelled on through the country lanes.got completely lost as my sat nav decided to have a blip and kept taking me round in circles, maybe it couldn`t understand the Welsh names in the area. I then did something quite different and followed the road signs which got me to my destination, which was probably the most remote

 telephone and post box in the UK.

So off now to the top of hills and see what is waiting for me. Well, I wasn`t disappointed it was absolutely magnificent.

It had been a long day so I decided to depart and go home. I will return another time and spend a few days there as there is so much more to see. On the way I did stop cos I saw some birds that I thought might make a good photograph. It was taken in the evening and I have made it into a nice black and white.

Famly visit

Well I haven`t been on my blog since I came back from the USA. Not a lot happened really apart from a visit by my son and grandchildren from Eynsham near Oxford. I love it when James and Maddy come down, you know having silly fun with your grandchildren, its what makes the world go round.
Well Maddy wanted to go to the beach and stay overnight in a tent. Good idea but Garry my son thought, seeing as they hadn`t stayed in a tent before it might be better to put it up in the garden and sleep overnight there just in case they didn`t like it.

We had a BBQ with a rainbow trout as requested by Maddy which she cooked and it tasted delicious.
More to follow as we looked for faces in the rocks at Rest Bay, Porthcawl. You will be amazed at the pictures  taken.

So here they are getting the BBQ ready and then Maddy cooking her Rainbow Trout which was really nice. A great evening was had by all.                                                                                    
Of course the tent had been put up with great difficulty but Gary and I managed in the end. So after the food and a couple of pints for the grown ups it was time for bed.
I was lucky as I was allowed to sleep in my own bed, but Gary had to sleep with the children. We had a double and one single blow up beds and three sleeping bags so it wasn`t that primitive. It did rain all night by the way but the tent held up and remained dry.

The next morning after we had eaten a hearty breakfast the rain finally stopped and we set on our way to the seaside. Woopee.

We went to Rest Bay at Porthcawl and the kids started playing on the beach with their buckets and spades while dad and I had a little rest on some portable chairs we had brought with us.

After a time we all decided to go exploring on the rocks near the beach, generally looking for crabs and any other life forms living in the rocks or the pools of water within the rocks. The kids thought it was great fun and as we were looking among the rocks I suddenly started seeing shapes of faces and animals carved out by the tides. So I drifted off on my own and took some pictures and found the images quite fascinating. See what you think.

This one looked like a small mammal with a tail.







I looked into this one and saw nothing until I took a closer look and I was amazed what I saw in the little pool near the centre of the picture. Check this out and I should point out that all these images are rocks and not what they appear to be

The one on the left looks like a small bird peeping over the rock.



The one on the right I can see so many faces but the main one seems to be a mans head on its side






Well this one on the left has to be a Gorilla or a Hippo in the water.

The one on the right a horse of course.




Look theres even a ghost on the left and sponge bob on the right

I don`t know what this is on the left but I just liked it. I`ll call it the blob.


The one on the right well it`s got to be a tortoise.


So there you are, just remember to look in the rocks next time you are at the beach as you never know who or what you may meet.

Chilling out

Just two days to go before I go home. It`s going to be unbearably hot today as it`s 88 degrees and very humid at 8.30 am. Too hot to sit outside for any length of time, so we are just CHILLING OUT. Thank god for air conditioning and the tele.  




Here`s one I took before I left the UK. It was taken at the Eynsham cricket ground just before or after it rained and then it stopped and rained again and again.
Oh my god am I looking forward to coming home to this. Mmmmm. At the moment with this heat and humidity it does look very inviting. We`re a funny lot us Brits aren`t we.
The good news was that Eynsham WON. The cricket game, remember.

102.2 in the shade at midday, that`s about 110-115 outside in the sun. The door handles are even hot to handle. Not going out today. I mean do you blame me!!!

Last minute shopping

Well only 4 days before I come home, so as usual I start to worry about things. I`ve already started packing would you believe. Did a bit of shopping for some little ones back home as I`ve already been asked if I think I might be bringing some presents back with me. ha ha.

Here`s a couple of pictures I`ve taken at Simons and Leighs.

This one is a bit of a photo lesson. Now that I`m approaching semi pro status I thought I had better have a sophisticated marking system between different locations. Now I really shouldn`t do this as I`m giving away secrets of the trade, but that`s just me generous to the end.
As you can see I have very cleverly and accurately focused on my little finger to denote that one photo sequence has ended and another will start, clever innit. This did of course involve shooting and focusing single handed. I have been thinking of developing this " COOKS ACTUAL PHOTO SEQUENCE INDEXING METHODOLOGY ( CAPSIM)" further by using the left hand for the end and the right hand for the start of a sequence but I haven`t carried out any field trials yet. Any suggestions on simplifying this system would be appreciated.




The next one is of that very famous Ed Davison residing with Simon and Leigh as he tries to hide from the Paparazzi (that`s me actually).

I got him, there`s no hiding from me. Ha ha its really Kelly and Meghans other  Grandfather.







This final one today is a picture of a sculpture of an old camera which can be found in the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton NJ, USA and is a taster for when I finish my blog for these grounds in a short while.

Last minute shopping

Well only 4 days before I come home, so as usual I start to worry about things. I`ve already started packing would you believe. Did a bit of shopping for some little ones back home as I`ve already been asked if I think I might be bringing some presents back with me. ha ha.