A Tour of a Trip..and on to the End

Have you joined the Scavenger Hunt? That would be Rinda's annual Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt, to be grand, and simply "the hunt" to everyone who has been preoccupied, over the last month, with crossing things off the list. My list ticking was done on holiday and I've already told the story of around half my finds here

When you left me I was sitting on a bench, looking over a body of water. But that photo wasn't mine. So I hauled myself to my feet, packed away my book in my rucksack, and set out to explore. The water was all around, of course: so green, so inviting, so deep: jump into a fjord, though, and you might never come back (no 20: a natural body of water)

It was beautiful, but it was chilly and more than a little damp. Maybe that explains why we didn't see too many campers: we found just the one.

though one was enough (no 9: a tent)

It's probably a bit like home, we decided, with everyone huddling inside until the clouds clear, and then dashing outside to air their children and walk their dogs (no 3: person walking a dog)

On the last day, then, we took the weight off our anoraks with a bus tour, which had the good sense to stop at all the right places (no 12: a public restroom)

and to slow down when required (no 14: a traffic signal)

We were heading for the home of the composer Edvard Grieg, for a concert and tour of his house. In the concert hall we sat up high and took in the view, which was the very same one Grieg himself would have seen. That's his little red hut right there (no 16: a panoramic view from somewhere high)

where he wrote. It's not hard to imagine falling into The Hall of the Mountain King, just round the next corner.

And that was the end. It was time to go home. We made our way back to the ship and set sail for Southampton.

Aah, but wait. We had planned a few days road tripping before we gave in and came back to work; which was useful because I hadn't quite finished ticking things off my list. I found some rather nice flowers at a favourite stop (no 1: a bouquet of flowers)

and as we got closer to where we had in mind to stop for the night we went by the Forth Bridge (no 6: a metal bridge)

It was wet, it was dark but after a good night's sleep we were ready for a new quest.

The university of St Andrews: it must be here somewhere? We checked out a few universities - all Scottish - and made a few notes. There are application forms to fill in soon.

We couldn't put it off any longer, then. We had to search out home. Which is where you'll find me today, catching up on some blog reading. Well, would you look at that! It would appear to be (no 7: a turtle)

That leaves me only one more to find: a flag pole with at least three flags on it? No: not even on the ship. I have flags

but no pole. I am poleaxed, felled at the finishing line. For the moment, at least. Let the fun last a little longer!

A Tour of a Trip in Twenty Photographs

(though maybe not all of them will appear today..)

Well, scrapbook me sideways but it's good to be back. We've had a lovely time; and we're home at just about the right point: you know? that moment when you start thinking a cup of coffee in your own kitchen would be nice? and internet, working, reliable internet..

The Monday before we left I posted the first of my pictures for Rinda's Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt ( no 21: me with a sign) because I couldn't wait any longer to begin. The rest? Let's see if they can tell the story of our trip..

We started out bright and early one Thursday morning (no 18: overloaded vehicle) 

with only minor grumbles from the one who had been left with the pink flowery suitcase. But dads generally do Dad Packing, which doesn't take up a lot of space, so really, what else can he expect? 

It didn't take long (approximately three minutes into our ferry trip) for me to spot no 8: someone plugged into social media. "But Mum: if you post that everyone will think I'm on my phone all the time." You think?

We headed onto the motorway and drove until blood sugar levels got low. Two bags of winegums later and it definitely was time to stop for the night. Just us and a brace or four of travelling policemen. Now there are their bikes, so where are their owners? (no 17 at least two people wearing matching uniforms).

The next day we reached the ship. Our first day at sea had its ups and downs and I mean that in the fullest sense of the phrase. But we're good sailors and we can always find something to do (no 4: people playing a card game. Also note no 5: architectural columns in the background); and the next morning saw us refreshed and ready for a little land action. 

We wandered the streets of the beautiful Norwegian port of Stavanger and along the way I spotted an ornate door knocker (no 2), a satellite dish (no 11 - don't you just wonder if the person who built that house could ever have imagined such a thing?) and, during a gentle spot of shopping, a carousel (no 13)

Back on board and onwards as the scavenger hunt gathered pace...

...but maybe that's enough for one day? I have unpacking to do and many, many pairs of socks to wash. So to end today, here's an out-take:

I thought it was a beautiful body of water (no 20)  or even a panoramic view taken from somewhere high (no 16) but then I realised it's of me but not by me. I got the photographer to send it to me from his phone. His autocorrect changed the title from body of water to body of waster. I'm saying nothing.

With warmest thanks for the have a nice time! messages. We did. Thank you. And now I'm looking forward to finding out what's new round here, and to getting back to waving on a Monday. See you soon. 

Rinda's Round Up (The End of the Hunt)

I love Autumn. It's my favourite time of the year. But for Autumn to begin, summer must end: and with that Rinda's Summer Scavenger Hunt draws to a close. It's tempting to say that it's more fun every year; but that wouldn't be quite right..because it was a brilliant idea right from the start and summer just wouldn't be summer now, without a bit of scavenging.

Here are my round up photos. I didn't get quite finished, but I don't mind in the slightest. I've enjoyed every minute of the hunt and I loved seeing what a worldwide team of scavengers has discovered.

I have:
- a Fisherman: through a shop window in the Belgian seaside town of Blankenberg

- an outside market on a bright Sunday morning in Helsinki

- a police car, through the tour bus window, in Helsinki again

- a fence, again through a bus window, at the docks in St. Petersburg. A reminder of the city's recent past.

- and a theatre for the performing arts in Tallinn: for their Song Festival. I cropped this one so that I could keep the view of our cruise ship in the left.

Roll on next year, Rinda, and thank you!

Dinosaur. Roar.

Auntie Sian; if you asked me about going to the museum today, but not in the car, only on the bus, I think I would say yes

Oh, I see. Little E, how do you fancy going to the museum, but not in the car, only on the bus?

Auntie Sian. I'm saying....YES!

Auntie Sian: if I said that maybe I might be a little bit scared, but that I wasn't going to run away would you say that's alright?

Little E, I'd say, let's hold hands. I think we'll be just fine.

Little E, if you eat your lunch up like a good boy I would say let's go and have a look for a small something in the gift shop. 

...and then I would say oh, yes, the woolly mammoths are the nicest. Though not the smallest...

Auntie Sian, if you asked my Mum if she thought it was going home time and could we get back on the bus, I'm sure she'd say DEFINITELY.

And that is the story of an unexpected Wednesday trip to the museum and of our first capture for Rinda's Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt (check it out!). Number 20: a dinosaur.

The Photo Scavenger Hunt

Round here, the air is cooling, the nights are starting to draw in and summer is nearly over. That means it's time to gather together my pictures and see what I need to finish collecting  for Rinda's Photo Scavenger Hunt. Today I have:

A Horse: Dobbin, the rocking horse bought for me by my Grandparents for my first birthday. He now sits on the landing outside The (Not So)Small One's room.

A train:  I've seen a couple of Thomas trains being entered for this one, so I've gone with the interestingly named Skarloey instead.

Person dancing: a chance to capture The (Not So) Small One on her way to the first dance class of the new year. When she sees this picture she's going to ask if I photoshopped her head. It certainly looks like I might have. But, no: that's way too technical for me..

Statue of an angel: snapped from the passenger seat as we drove past The Angel of the North on  our way through Gateshead in the summer.

and finally my substitute item. This is a special one. It's a heart shaped stone which Rinda brought when she visited and gave to The (Not So) Small One. She keeps it beside her bed. Well, you would, wouldn't you?

Thank you Rinda! I have a couple of pictures left, but if I don't find them I'll still be happy. It's been a lot of fun hunting and spotting what everyone else has come up with. All those libraries..

Incidentally Rinda has a discussion going on her blog at the minute - you might like to add your views if you haven't dropped in already. Word verification: yes or no? I'm not a fan..I don't think my eyes are up to it..

Rinda's Photo Scavenger Link Up

One of the best bits of fun we had last summer - all summer - was hunting out photos for Rinda's Scavenger Hunt. Everyone here cheered when a new list came out for this year. And our hunt became more exciting when we could scavenge in person with Rinda. We had the pleasure of spending a day with Rinda and her lovely family at the end of June. (You can read more about it here).

Little did any of us know, then, the challenges they were to face in the weeks ahead. Paul, Rinda, Henry, Clara - we're right behind you. Every time we take a picture we're thinking about you and willing Paul back to full health. Get well and get back here..we've got lots more to show you

And so, with our love, here are the latest Scavenger pictures from this household: I have others, but I wanted to keep it local for today. It felt right for Rinda!

Historical Landmark: This lovely red brick building is known as The Drawing Office and it was here that the Titanic was designed. The engineers stood at those windows and looked out over the shipyard and thought about their plans

Library: This is the Linenhall Library. It was founded in 1788 and it's the last subscription library in the country - and it is for that reason that I decided not to crop the modern day "cash sign" in the left of my picture. It stands in town sandwiched between bits of twenty first century life. I did some of my work experience here when I was a library student.

Those are my finds for today. I know there'll be a great turn out for Rinda's link up today so hop on over and see who else has joined in...

..and then I'll see you back here tomorrow for Storytelling Sunday? Suggested theme - Summer Lovin'. Let's show a bit of love this weekend!

The Summer Scavenger Hunt Part Two

I've been out and about looking for more photos, thanks to Rinda and her Summertime Photo Scavenger Hunt

Not quite a "roadside memorial" but certainly the most interesting roadside anything I've seen lately. I'd love to know more about it

A building made from metal or glass.  Airport at 5.30am - with a soft urban action to give it a bit of atmosphere

Cardoness Castle Scotland. Our first holiday stop



Driving down England on the way to our holidays gave us plenty of chances to photograph rain

person sketching

But at least the sun shone when we got there. We found this little graveyard tucked away on a quiet hillside. There were lots of "Dahl's" buried there:relations of Roald's, maybe? I've left a  corner of our ship (to the right) in this picture to remind myself how I wondered about the our intrusion in such a peaceful place

And that's as far as I've got. Still no sign of a unicycle yet, but I haven't given up hope!

Wish You Were Here

So here's the thing: the motto of the company we travelled with is "Escape Completely". And we did, oh we did. And yet as we travelled and looked and admired and wondered, I found myself spotting things you would have liked. And that was nice.

I saw a collection of trolls one of you would have loved. And a shop full of clean Scandi design another one of you would have wanted to bring home. And a decoupaged table which I just know would have had one of you reaching for the mod podge. And then I started looking for things from my list, my list for Rinda's Summertime Scavenger Photo Hunt, and I discovered a few:

Wall art in Stavanger

Decorated mail boxes in Olden

Rooster weather vane in Olden

Wooden bridge in Geiranger

I've been enjoying seeing who else has been joining in, as I sift slowly through the posts I've missed. I'm savouring them in between loads of laundry. Nearly there with that - I needed a fast turn around because on Sunday The Tall One flies to Pittsburgh to take part in the International Schools Language Olympiad. He's been doing a bit of training with Uncle Dave:

Dave: Forget cricket. That was your old life. The hard work starts here. I've marked a few passages..

The Tall One: Yeah. Right. I'm off out to play cricket.

Whatever you are up to this Thursday, I hope it's a good one!