Skip to main content
Category

Nature

Chester Zoo with Jayne

By Friends & Family, Happiness & Joy, Nature2 Comments

On Monday, my good friend Jayne and I visited to Chester Zoo. The weather was glorious, sunshine, temperatures 30+ °C and not a cloud in the sky. It was so warm that Jayne and I were grateful for Chester Zoo’s unlimited refillable drinks cups for sale at around £10 each.

Jayne hadn’t been to Chester Zoo for years. These days Chester Zoo is massive and I’d recommend that you do visit the zoo over two days to see everything.

Here are photos from the day, click on any photo for full size image:

chester-zoo-with-jayne-July-18-0

The elephant family.
chester-zoo-with-jayne-July-18-1

A close up of the baby elephant.
chester-zoo-with-jayne-July-18-2

The smiley bull elephant.
chester-zoo-with-jayne-July-18-3

Exotic squirrels.
chester-zoo-with-jayne-July-18-4

An exotic squirrel eating a grape upside down.
chester-zoo-with-jayne-July-18-5

My new lover! He’s the strong, wooden, silent type.
chester-zoo-with-jayne-July-18-6

Deer.
chester-zoo-with-jayne-July-18-7

Butterfly (1).
chester-zoo-with-jayne-July-18-8

Butterfly (2).
chester-zoo-with-jayne-July-18-9

An Okapi.
chester-zoo-with-jayne-July-18-10

The Giraffes.
chester-zoo-with-jayne-July-18-11

This gorgeous beauty came to say hello and flirted with me (by winking with her big eye and long eyelashes) when I said ‘Hello Gorgeous.’ to her as she passed by.
chester-zoo-with-jayne-July-18-12

My gorgeous giraffe at a distance.
chester-zoo-with-jayne-July-18-13

The pink flamingos.
chester-zoo-with-jayne-July-18-14

The penguins (1).
chester-zoo-with-jayne-July-18-15

The penguins (2).
chester-zoo-with-jayne-July-18-16

A rhino.

Essential Info

  • A massive zoo with a variety of animals.
  • Opening Times: See opening times here.
  • Admission Prices: See admission prices here.
  • Parking: Ample free parking.
  • Facilities: toilets, restaurants, refreshment stalls, gift shops, experience days.

Chester Zoo is a brilliant day out. It was great to see volunteers around the zoo.

However it’s a large zoo with not enough big animals. Jayne and I saw quite a number of empty enclosures for larger animals. They should put better signage up on the Islands Exhibit to direct visitors back to the main part of the zoo.

The zoo is so huge now, that they really should consider transportation methods in the zoo. The monorail is too limited. Perhaps they could look at golf buggies for hire or something similar. This would enable visitors to get around and see the whole zoo in one day.

Write soon,

Antony

mental-health-wisdom-banner



I aim for posts on this blog to be informative, educational and entertaining. If you have found this post useful or enjoyable, please consider making a contribution by Paypal:


Share on Social Media:
Tuesday 3 July 2018

The Hadrian’s Wall Adventure (Part 4) – Warkworth Castle & Tynemouth Priory and Castle

By Adventures, Friends & Family, Happiness & Joy, Life, NatureNo Comments
Walkworth-Castle-Simon-and-I-May-18

Simon (right) and me (left) at a services stop for dinner.

 This is the fourth part in my Hadrian’s Wall Adventure with my good friend Simon. You can read and see the photos from Part 1 here, Part 2 here and Part 3 here.

Yesterday Simon and I set out to do the last leg of our Hadrian’s Wall Adventure. It was my birthday. The day was gorgeous, sunny, around 19°C all day and not a cloud in the beautiful blue sky.

There aren’t many specific Hardrian’s Wall sites near the Newcastle end of where the wall would have been. So we decided to do Castles near Newcastle.

Our first castle was the magnificent impressive Warkworth Castle. Before you see the photos, first let me apologise for any fingerprint marks on them. The lens of my iPhone had fingerprint marks on, but I didn’t realise because of the bright sunshine.

Here is Essential Info and are some photos:

Essential Info:

  • A castle including remains and a keep with Duke room’s.
  • Highly recommended.
  • Admission Fee: Adult £7.50 with gift aid (£6.80 without). Free admission to English Heritage Members.
  • Opening times: View here.
  • Parking: Plenty in front of the Castle. However even English Heritage Members are required to pay (rather than the usual free parking with sticker in car). The shop does refund the cost of parking, but this was disappointing and we could seen no reason for this.
  • Toilets: Available in the carpark.
  • Has a very small gift shop. Free audible guides available.

Walkworth-Castle-May-18-0

Entrance to Walkworth Castle.
Walkworth-Castle-May-18-1

Outside of Walkworth Castle.
Walkworth-Castle-May-18-3

The most well preserved keep.
Walkworth-Castle-May-18-4

Remains of Walkworth Castle (1).
Walkworth-Castle-May-18-5

Remains of Walkworth Castle (2).
Walkworth-Castle-May-18-6

A selfie of Simon (right) and me (left).
Walkworth-Castle-May-18-7

An iron fireplace in the Duke’s rooms inside the keep.
Walkworth-Castle-May-18-9

The view from inside the Duke’s rooms.
Walkworth-Castle-May-18-10

A view from an archway (1).
Walkworth-Castle-May-18-11

A view from an archway (2).
Walkworth-Castle-May-18-12

One of the many tunnels to rooms in the remains.

mental-health-wisdom-banner

Our next stop was Tynemouth Priory and Castle. Here is Essential Info and are some photos:

Essential Info:

  • A priory, castle and World War 2 defence station.
  • Highly recommended.
  • Admission Fee: Adult £6.50 with gift aid (£5.90 without). Free admission to English Heritage Members.
  • Opening times: View here.
  • Parking: Follow signs for free parking.
  • Has a small gift shop.

Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-0

The view from the top of the hill near the entrance to Tynemouth (1).
Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-1

The view from the top of the hill near the entrance to Tynemouth (2).
Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-2

Tynemouth Priory and Castle remains (1).
Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-3

Tynemouth Priory and Castle remains (2).
Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-4

Tynemouth Priory and Castle remains (3).
Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-5

Stone coffins.
Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-6

Simon (right) and me (left) in the stone coffins. I couldn’t believe that we both fitted perfectly.
Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-7

Tynemouth Priory and Castle remains (4).
Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-8

A carving that looked similar to The Green Man on the entrance to the priory.
Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-9

Tynemouth Priory.
Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-10

Tynemouth Priory stained glass window (1).
Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-11

Tynemouth Priory stained glass window (2).
Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-12

Tynemouth Priory stained glass window (3).
Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-13

Tynemouth Priory stained glass window (4).
Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-13

Inside the Priory, photo of Priory door. Reminded me of the door to heaven.
Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-15

Tynemouth graveyard and World War 2 defence tower.
Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-16

Tynemouth World War 2 defence gun.
Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-17

Shells for the gun in bunker.
Tynemouth-Castle-May-18-18

Tynemouth Lighthouse.

We had a great time. Next year we are going to visit the fine city of Newcastle including Newcastle’s castle.

Blog soon,

Antony

Edit: 16/05/18 18:30 – Used GIMP to remove some of the finger prints in some of the above photos. If you click on the photos for full size, you will see the updated photos.

mental-health-wisdom-banner



I aim for posts on this blog to be informative, educational and entertaining. If you have found this post useful or enjoyable, please consider making a contribution by Paypal:


Share on Social Media:
Tuesday 15 May 2018

The first day of Spring – What the pagan festival Ostara is all about

By Nature, PaganismNo Comments

Today marks the first day of Spring and is also the pagan festival of Ostara (pronounced O-star-ah). So what’s Ostara all about?

ostara

It’s about new beginnings, rebirth and fertility. Ostara is an equinox (equinox is latin for equal days), the day and night are in balance. After today, the days will get longer and the nights will get shorter. The days will not only get longer, but warmer as well.

At this time Nature renews its self and new life begins: new buds appear on trees, plants like daffodils rise out of the soil, hibernating animals with come out of hibernation and many animals will give birth to offspring.

For pagans it is about new beginnings, such as starting new projects. It’s an opportunity to appreciate the renewal and new life in nature.

Symbols for Ostara include eggs (as practically all life comes from some sort of egg), rabbits (a fertility symbol), lambs and honey.

Colours associated with Ostara include yellow, orange, red and light green.

I intend of celebrating Ostara by planning some new creative projects.

Blog soon,

Antony



I aim for posts on this blog to be informative, educational and entertaining. If you have found this post useful or enjoyable, please consider making a contribution by Paypal:


Share on Social Media:
Tuesday 20 March 2018

Photos from Sheffield Botanical Gardens Yesterday

By Friends & Family, Happiness & Joy, Life, NatureNo Comments

Yesterday Simon and I went to the brilliantly beautiful and glorious Sheffield Botanical Gardens. The gardens have species of plants, flowers and trees from around the world. The weather was warm and dry and we even had considerable spells of sunshine.

Here are some photos from Sheffield Botanical Gardens:

Sheffield-Botanical-Garden-August-17-0

Sheffield Botanical Gardens Sign
Sheffield-Botanical-Garden-August-17-1

Sheffield Botanical Gardens – A place of Beauty.
Sheffield-Botanical-Garden-August-17-2

Most plants had a black and white signs identifying the species, like this one.
Sheffield-Botanical-Garden-August-17-3

A mulberry tree.
Sheffield-Botanical-Garden-August-17-4

One of the many different species of plant.
Sheffield-Botanical-Garden-August-17-5

There were many collections (like the above) that were filled with colour.
Sheffield-Botanical-Garden-August-17-6

A wooden structure. Close by was also a mental ant. Both works of art added to the Gardens, but my favourite has to be this one.
Sheffield-Botanical-Garden-August-17-7

A bright and beautiful yellow flowered plant, in the background are more of the same.
Sheffield-Botanical-Garden-August-17-8

A tree with the most interesting red bark.

Sheffield-Botanical-Garden-August-17-9

An inspiring and detailed statue at the centre of a rose garden.
Sheffield-Botanical-Garden-August-17-10

More plants and flowers, with the indoor botanical gardens in the background.
Sheffield-Botanical-Garden-August-17-11

Several of these flower beds (with plants of various colours) lined the entrance to the indoor botanical gardens.
Sheffield-Botanical-Garden-August-17-12

An entrance to the indoor botanical gardens.
Sheffield-Botanical-Garden-August-17-13

Indoors – Cacti (1).
Sheffield-Botanical-Garden-August-17-14

Indoors – Cacti (2).
Sheffield-Botanical-Garden-August-17-15

Photo of the glass roof, taken indoors.
Sheffield-Botanical-Garden-August-17-16

Indoors – Many plants.
Sheffield-Botanical-Garden-August-17-17

Indoors – One plant had leafs that were so ginormous, that they made my hand look tiny (see photo above).

Essential Info:

  • A beautiful botanical gardens, which include .
  • Highly recommended.
  • Admission Price: FREE.
  • Opening Times: Vary, see Opening Times here.
  • Parking: Limited. The gardens have no carpark and the streets close by are either Permit Holders Only or Pay and Display.
  • Toilets available.
  • Cafe and Toy Shop also on site.
  • Map:
    Sheffield-Botanical-Gardens-Map-August-17

    Map of Sheffield Botanical Gardens.
    Image from & Copyright © Sheffield Botanical Gardens.

Blog soon,

Antony

mental-health-wisdom-banner



I aim for posts on this blog to be informative, educational and entertaining. If you have found this post useful or enjoyable, please consider making a contribution by Paypal:


Share on Social Media:
Sunday 27 August 2017
×