Making friends

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Two boys overheard

a cyclist and a scooter

“you are really good”

one boy says to the other

“I’m not really, but thank you”

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by Scooj

  • This is how young boys make friends, it was heart-warming to see. I wanted to stay and listen a little longer, but of course, that begins to look a little bit peculiar, so the dog and I went on our way.

Seeing the wood for the trees

Cardinham Woods, Cornwall, August 2023
Cardinham Woods, Cornwall, August 2023

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Natural woodland

hugs the riparian strip

planted pines look on

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by Scooj

Cornwall break

Jigsaw puzzle, Hole Farm, Cornwall, August 2023
Jigsaw puzzle, Hole Farm, Cornwall, August 2023

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Restful holiday

dog walks, puzzles and snoozes

batteries recharged

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by Scooj

Toad


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Toadlet, Sibleyback Lake, Cornwall, August 2023
Toadlet, Sibleyback Lake, Cornwall, August 2023

Toadlet breaks cover

a four foot path lies ahead

huge leap for toadkind

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by Scooj

The Cheesewring

The Cheesewring, Minions, Cornwall, August 2023
The Cheesewring, Minions, Cornwall, August 2023

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A battle royale

Saint Tue versus a giant

stone throwing contest

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by Scooj

  • From Wikipedia – A local legend says that the Cheesewring is the result of a contest between a man and a giant. When Christianity had just been introduced to the British Islands, the giants who lived at the top of the mountains were not happy about it. The saints had invaded their land and were declaring their wells as sacred. One of the larger giants, Uther, was given the task of ridding their land of the saints. He confronted the frail Saint Tue, who proposed a rock throwing contest. If Uther won, the saints would leave Cornwall. If Saint Tue won, then the giants would convert to Christianity. Uther took his turn first and easily threw a small rock to the top of nearby Stowe’s Hill. Tue prayed for assistance, and picking up a huge slab found it was very light. One after the other, they threw their rocks, stacking them up in perfect piles. When the score was twelve stones each, Uther threw a thirteenth stone, but it rolled down the hill. Tue picked up this fallen stone, and as he lifted it, an angel appeared to carry it to the top of the pile of rocks. Seeing this, Uther conceded, and most of the giants decided to follow Christianity after that.

Boat people

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Hateful policy

creating floating ghettos

whipping up racists

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by Scooj

* I am too worn out to describe by feelings about our shameful fascist government, but therein lies a problem. Their relentless far right policies grind people down and through new laws repress protest and opposition.

How can it have come to this? Growing up, I felt huge progress was made towards a fairer and more tolerant society, but it has taken only 13 years to return us to 1970s Britain, which was in my view a hateful, horrible place.

I despair.

Fairy ring


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Fairy ring, Purdown, Bristol, August 2023
Fairy ring, Purdown, Bristol, August 2023

Curiosity

circular radiation

with fruiting bodies

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by Scooj

Autumn years

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Slowing down a bit

a vessel for memories

one day at a time

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by Scooj

Colonists

Yellow Meadow Ants, Redland, Bristol, August 2023
Yellow Meadow Ants, Redland, Bristol, August 2023

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Yellow meadow ant

queens emerge nourished by sun

to mate and find homes

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by Scooj

Curtain raiser

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Charity shield

a game no one wants to lose

Arsenal win it

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by Scooj