Delphinus Dreams

Stunning Norfolk Nature Photography now available

2012-01-13T12:25:00.000-08:00

The Beautiful Broads

We have finally found a print service we are happy with and are delighted to be able to start adding Jaimie's photographs to the new website.
All images are for sale in many different formats from standard prints, large prints, poster prints in various sizes as well as canvas, aluminium and any other medium we can think of.

There are many more stunning photographs to be added, we have almost 2 years work to crop, watermark and upload so please keep popping back.

So peaceful...

All of the images we have uploaded have been greatly reduced in size and watermarked, the actual images are much larger, higher quality than the versions you see as samples.
If you cannot see the image you are looking for on line, please ask us, we are adding them as quickly as we can in between other work and projects in the pipeline.

If you have tried to access Sunsets and Seascapes over the last few day you may have noticed server issues, this is because we are revamping the website, it will be bigger and better than ever, updates to follow soon!

The magical Norfolk Broads

In time we will have a forum for photographers, nature lovers and anyone else that wants to join, we will also be hosting a gallery for photographers to showcase their favourite photographs.

As many of you know, on our travels we have been totally fascinated with the magnificent Seal Colony nearby, over the last two years we have been careful not to say exactly where they were, however tourist industries and journalists locally have covered them in various articles and promotions.
This has led to thousands of people traipsing up there and thoughtlessly disturbing the Seals during their vulnerable breeding season.
If you are on facebook, please see our Protect Norfolk Seals Page and join us in helping educate people about these amazing and beautiful creatures on our doorstep.

Protect Norfolk Seals on Facebook

We appreciate all help and support, and hopefully more people will chat to, and support the Seal wardens that train, and give up their free time to help protect the Seals.

Meanwhile, a few customers have been concerned that we don't have an eBay shop any more, please don't worry, Delphinus Dreams is still going strong, thanks to customers shopping on our Delphinus Dreams website instead.
This has enabled us to reduce some of our prices, passing the savings we are making on to you.
take a look, we have thousands of items now in stock, more than we ever listed on eBay and the stock is growing all the time.

Have a very happy new year, and please join us on facebook to keep up to date with the latest news and photographs from Delphinus Dreams and Sunsets and Seascapes.

Merry Christmas, a very Happy New Year and thank you :o)

2011-12-22T05:56:00.000-08:00

Be Happy!

We would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
Thank you to all of our customers, it's been a pleasure trading with you and we appreciate your custom, support and patience as we switched web servers this year.

We're doing it again in the New Year, Sunsets and Seascapes will be getting a makeover, but Delphinus Dreams will be staying where it is with new stock being added all the time.
Our eBay listings will be slowly reduced, but don't worry, we are not going anywhere!
We want to concentrate on our photography, and our website sales.

I would also like to thank the staff at TAOS Gifts, Three Little Bears, and Rachel's Bears for their support this year, it has been a real pleasure working with you and I look forward to the New Year knowing I have no idea what I'll be writing about next, but knowing it will be fun!

A big thanks to all my friends and family too for all your love and support during another roller coaster year! :o)

I shall leave you with some photographs I was playing with earlier, I hope you enjoy them.

Take time to relax

Spend time with loved ones

Eat well


Have fun


Don't argue

Enjoy life

Celebrate your differences and enjoy those little moments

However, whatever you celebrate, be happy

Can I have the weekend back please? Lots of Seal pics...

2011-11-22T11:04:00.001-08:00

Atlantic Grey Seal Mother and Pup

It's only Tuesday and what a week so far!
Firstly I'd like to apologise to my customers for the short delay in getting their parcels out, it seems Royal Mail have updated their online system and broken it.
After spending too much time trying to get online postage to work I admitted defeat and went back to good, old fashioned stamps.
Another mini crisis is my laptop is giving up the ghost, I'm fiddling with things and willing my reliable old work horse to keep going.
I know I'll have to get another soon, but I like this one, I have it set up just right for me and don't fancy starting all over again with a brand new system.
Oh and my washing machine decided to give up too! Why didn't it do that during summer when washing would dry outside quickly? No, it decides to go on the first damp foggy winters day of the year.

That's my moan out of the way, thanks for listening...
My weekend was wonderful, we went back to see how the Seals were getting on, they are doing very well, we were so lucky to see so many newborn Pups, I've added some of our photos to the Sunsets and Seascapes Facebook Page pop back there for more updates and pictures.

Below are just a tiny selection of photographs of the Seals on Saturday, it was a beautiful sunny winter morning and we could hear them before we got anywhere near the dunes, just the noise told us there were lots on the beach, as we climbed the dunes we were delighted to see them.

Many of the Pups had been born that night, and one was born just as we got there, truly beautiful, we watched it wobble around after a post birth sleep, then lift it's tiny little head to look around and take in the world before her, truly awesome!

Another little Pup was determined to get into the Sea, we watched as two other females chased him back onto land. See the photo's below of this little rebel, stubborn Seal Pup.

We stayed near one section of the beach to watch the colony, some were breeding, new Mothers were sleeping or feeding their Young and the males were fighting, one fight was exceptionally vicious and there was blood everywhere, neither Male wanted to back down, it went on for some time before the largest took over and chased the smaller, battered Male away
I hope you enjoy the photographs, there are many more I will get them onto the Sunsets website as soon as possible, I'm thinking of creating an Atlantic Grey Seal Calendar for 2012.
If I get a chance to get some printed before 2012 I'll let you know, meanwhile, I hope you enjoy the photographs, they may take some time to load, but I'm sure they're worth the wait,

New Born Grey Seal Pup, Norfolk

Young Grey Seal Pup feeding

Born Saturday Morning! Just hours old

Newborn Grey Seal Pup calling Mum for a feed

About to see the world for the very first time

This little one tried to have an early swim but was sent back to the beach


It's feeding time again

Beautiful Newborn Grey Seal Pup

New Born about to open it's eyes

First glimpse of the world, New born Grey Seal Pup

Just Beautiful!

Water baby, determined to swim

Protective female sends pup back to shore

With a nip on the flipper and a little roar

Still determined!


Life's a beach

Atlantic Grey Seal Pup

A cool dip on a sunny day

Keen Swimmer

But I'm born to swim!

will be treble this size in days!

oh Hi

Mother with Pup

Protective Mother with Pup

Contentment

Mum knows her Pup by scent

Beautiful Seal family

This Pups Mother had lost an eye, but was coping very well

little digger, this Seal Pup enjoyed burying her nose in the sand

New Mother and Pup

Being beautiful is exhausting!

Grey Seal family on Norfolk Beach

It's really not as peaceful as it seems...

well earned rest

Bright sunshine is such a shock to the system for a winter babe

But life is good

with food on tap

and plenty of entertainment

so tempted to go for a paddle....

flexing those awesome swimming muscles

Give a gift of Eternal Sunshine at Christmas

2011-11-10T11:10:00.000-08:00

A virtual canvas framed picture

With Christmas just around the corner and the dark nights now upon us, how about keeping the Sun shining in your life all year round?
Jaimie's Sunset images are currently listed on the website, but it's possible to have any image printed onto any format you would like.

If you'd like digital downloads, poster prints, postcards, printed mugs etc contact us and we will look into it for you and get back to you with a quote within 24 hours (weekdays).

There are many more photographs that we haven't even had time to upload, if you're looking for specific photographs of a place in Norfolk, drop us a line it's possible we may already have some stunning shots.
We spent a week on the Broads this Summer, being on the water meant it was easier to get closer to the wildlife, and Jaimie took some amazing shots of the Marsh Harriers.
I'm still trying to encourage him to upload them but he wants to improve on them, I don't mind I'm always happy to sit quietly contemplating life, the universe and everything while he takes beautiful pictures.

In preparation for Christmas I've added a new section to the updated website,

Luxury decorative Reindeer Cushion

The Santa's Grotto has some Christmas themed candles, luxury decorative cushions, soaps, towel gifts Father Christmas figures and festive window stickers.

If you are looking for an unusual gift, have a look at the Tibetan Singing bowls, there are gift boxes containing sticks and cushions, or you can choose one of our bowls and buy the accessories separately.

Our novelty household items section has some unusual and beautiful gifts for you, your family and the home, the wine boxes are beautiful!

There are some brand new Nemesis Now Dragons just been added to the site, they are awesome, the detail is fantastic and there is a Dragon to suit all tastes and budgets.

I love this picture!

I'm still uploading the rest of the Alchemy Gothic English Pewter Jewellery, there are some beautiful pieces in stock, but be quick they sell fast!

There are regular updates on Jaimie's photography on our facebook page Sunsets and Seascapes, and we've had other photographers from all over the world share their photographs too, please take a look and "like" it to see updates in your newsfeed. If you have photographs you'd like to share we'd love to see them there so please post on our wall. If you have a photography page let us know so we can follow you too.

Grey Seals at Norfolk, smile for the camera...

2011-11-07T02:42:00.000-08:00

Atlantic Grey Seals 31/10/2011

It's that time of year again, the Seals we've been watching all year round are back on the beach for breeding season.
We were lucky enough to spot the very first pup of the year, born on Halloween!
It felt more like spring as we walked along the dunes with the sun on our backs.
As soon as we spotted the Seals we found a nice quiet sandy step amongst the dunes to sit on, with the sun shining brightly it was a good day to take photographs.

It is always awesome to see the Seals, a magnificent sight, and it always feels like an honour to be able to sit and watch them.

Halloween Pup with playful youngster

They face daily struggles for survival, and the pups are so vulnerable. Phocine distemper virus (PDV) killed thousands of Seals just a few years ago, they also die from being caught in fisherman's nets.
I was delighted to see so many Seal Wardens last year keeping an eye on the Seals, counting the pups and generally protecting them and educating the visitors. The beach is voluntarily closed and barriers are put up asking people to please stay off the beach.
The barriers are up again this weekend, I hope people respect the polite notices and keep a safe distance from the Seals. If you see a young pup alone on the beach, don't worry, the Mother will only leave it for short periods of time, and she is quite likely to be watching from a distance.
If you do have any concerns speak to one of the wardens or contact your local rescue centre, do not approach the Seal!

Even Gulls are eyed with suspicion

The unique scent is the only way in which a mother seal identifies its pup. If they sense strange scents in their young ones, they just abandon them and leave. Healthy seals must be left alone without any disturbance.
Watching the Seals so much this year I have noticed how very aware they are, they know where you are at all times.
You don't need to get close to the Seals to enjoy watching them, even sat right at the top of the dunes you can hear them and see them clearly. If you want to get close up views, take binoculars or a quality camera.
Jaimie has taken many fantastic pictures over the last few years (unlike me with my ancient 8mp Nikon)

A safe distance

To give you some idea of how far away you should be to get a good picture while giving the Seals some privacy and safety I took this picture
We sat there all afternoon taking pictures and just generally watching them breed, sleep and feed.
Even though we were sat in the long grass, they knew we were there the whole time, but if you're quiet and keep still, they relax and get on with doing Seal things, as you can see from these pictures Jaimie took.

Knowing how risky it is to get too close to the Seal it infuriates me to see so many people casually wander over. Yes, it's wonderful to see, but if you don't leave them alone you risk killing the Pups and eventually forcing them to move on.
Treasure the wildlife on your doorstep.
Throughout the year, you'll often see them swimming close to shore, and as we're there every week we've been lucky enough to have a few come onto the beach while we're sat there, almost as if they enjoy studying us as we do them.

Far too close!

On Monday Afternoon as the Seals were just beginning to come in to give birth and breed we watched a few people stroll over for a closer look. Some kept their distance, one Man sat quietly on his own on the top corner of the beach for hours mesmerised by these beautiful beasts.
Another couple sat with their dog, on the Groynes right by the Colony, they hadn't spotted us until they frightened half the seals back into the Sea, leaving the newborn with just a few youngsters.

What NOT to do!

If you look at the very first picture in this post, you can see the Seals watching them, they were obviously too close, I've cut out their faces to protect their identity because they seemed extremely camera shy once they saw us!

Is a good photo worth risking a Pups life? Think!

Thoughtless photographer

They walked right across the beach, with the dog, to get even closer, as he knelt down to get the perfect shot of the breeding seals (pictured above) The seals rushed back to the sea. I'm not sure if it was a flash of common sense that hit him, or his partner telling him we were taking photos, but shortly after that he left.
If you intend to visit the Seals at Norfolk please keep your distance, do not get as close as the people in these photos, chat to the wardens, wrap up warm, have a wonderful day and stay behind the barrier.
Thank you.

Seals are still being killed here in the UK, I only recently discovered thanks to their facebook page that in Scotland permission has been granted to shoot over 1000 Seals this year, apparently they are a risk to fish stocks,from what I've read, simply double netting the fisheries could prevent the problem, if any. You can read more on the Seal Scotland website.
As for Seals eating too many fish, well I find that laughable if you count residents of the UK against the Seal population!
Humans and their crazy fishing rules are more of a massive problem for fisherman!
read more about discards at sea on Hughs fish fight page.
Please sign the petition to save the Seals.

We went back to the beach yesterday, unlike Monday it was bitterly cold with the wind blowing over the North Sea, we quietly froze as we watched the Seals, and admired the new born pups.
There's one character there that is a little star in her own right, while others were lazing on the beach, she bounced up and down the coastline, bobbed in and out of the sea and chased sea foam that blew along the beach.
One very happy little Seal!

Happy Days!

Publishing problems on Blogger

2011-11-04T04:17:00.000-07:00

Blogger has been a bit glitchy this week, I've had problems publishing and the only way around it I've found is to not put in any labels until the posts are published.
Then log into your dashboard, using bloggers new look select the posts option, click the post you want to add your tags or labels into, then click the little label icon and select your label from the drop down box or click add new.
It should then work.

Worlds Largest Pumpkin Zombie Sculpture

2011-10-26T02:50:00.000-07:00

Awesome Zombie sculpture

I was intending to knuckle down and get straight to work today, but some things just stop you in your tracks...
like Ray Villafanes awesome Zombie sculpture.

I stumbled on it through a facebook link, you can view the story and larger, more detailed photos on a screenshow here.
The worlds largest Pumpkin is transformed into a freaky, frightening work of art.
The Zombies look like they're about to reach out and grab you ready to feast on your brains!
Pumpkin soup anyone?

It inspired me to look up Ray Villafane and wow! Amazing work!
Check out his gallery here.
You have to check out the Predator and Medusa they are beautifully terrifying.
He has done many more Pumpkin sculptures, I'm sure like me you could get lost for hours in his gallery...
Enjoy!

Away with the Fairies at Delphinus Dreams

2011-10-13T13:18:00.000-07:00

Tyson at Delphinus Dreams

I've always been a fan of Nemesis Now! I love the awesome Dragon figurines and have collected them myself for years, it's a pleasure to be involved in selling them now, I enjoy sending these beautiful, collectable pieces to customers who are also fans of these stunning creatures.

I never really consider myself a Fairy kind of person though, and I thought it would be a chore selling them, after all it's much easier to sell something you're passionate about.

I always considered Fairies to be a bit... girly I suppose.

I remember a few years ago, I bought a pretty little fairy online for my Mother, I thanked the seller when she arrived safely and told her my Mother still believed in Fairies.
The seller sent me a lovely message back, and made me laugh when she said "When you grow up, you'll believe in Fairies too"

Maybe I grew up, maybe being surrounded by these beautiful figures at Nemesis Now I have been captivated by their charm, maybe they are magic. (there are at least two people I know reading this smiling, and nodding, like I've finally fallen for the spell they knew I would).

Tangled at Delphinus Dreams

At first it was the artist collections that got me, I love the attitude you can see in Aly Fells Tangled, just look at her, she's not quite what I expected a Fairy to be with her leather mini skirt, rock chic look, tattoos and devilish horns, she really is unique!

Next I find Jasmine Becket Fairies capturing me with their spell, they are comical, in various predicaments and situations and are irresistible with their big eyes, expressive faces, look at this little one in a proper mess, was she bound and tied by someone else? Or did she get herself in a tangle? Whatever happened she doesn't look very happy about it!

Red Ribbon Fairy Delphinus Dreams

Her wings are stunning like a delicate Butterfly, but with the black hair, blue streaks and tied in a knot she doesn't look like you're average fairy.

What is an average Fairy? I really don't know, there are so many different types!

So the Gothic and the Rock Chic Fairy folk really appeal to me, I'm not into all the floral pretty Butterfly delicate fairy creatures, and then I found Serena.

She is so very girly, so pretty, delicate and errr, yes Fairy-like and I love her!
I suppose I've been converted into the girly fairy world I've tried so hard to ignore!

Serena at Delphinus Dreams

She's dressed in nothing but vines, decorated with delicate tattoos and has huge but dainty wings that are resting as she relaxes on a Mushroom while kneeling on a bed of woodland flowers.

So I have to admit, I do like Fairies, I just didn't know it until I'd met a few, much like people you just have to learn to look beyond your initial impressions.

A Fairy blog..... I never thought that would happen!!!

Google, ebay, Amazon, Yahoo, Bing and Delphinus Dreams

2011-10-06T09:40:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it feels too easy to get lost as the internet continues to grow and I do wonder if customers and friends wonder if it's me whan they see Delphinus Dreams elsewhere.
If you're into social networking and want to stay up to date with what we are doing I hope this blog helps you find a way to stay up to date with the news that's relevant to you, although if you've followed me for some time you will know things are liable to change, it seems that is what I do best.
This originally started as a business blog, but when I moved away from London my direction changed and this little space on the web evolved into my little advertising/ranting/pondering/protesting/admiring and general chill out space.
I like to think of it as a place where friends and family can see what I've been doing, and customers can see a human side to the business so I dare say the evolution will continue as long as I'm here!
I just thought to make it easy, I'd put the networks I actively use in one place.
Firstly ebay, because that's where most of my original customers found me. There's not much stock listed on my ebay any more as I'm moving it all onto the website.

Other places you will find Delphinus Dreams are Facebook, please stop by and like our page if you are a facebook user, you can stay in touch and stay up to date with us easily there.

You can also find us on Google+

also on Twitter
and Yahoo (just search Delphinus Dreams on pulse)

For updates on the Nemesis Now and Alchemy Gothic items we have a blog dedicated to them only at Gifts from the Darkside
It's a brand new blog but worth bookmarking if you want updates about the Dragons, Collectables, Fairy Figurines, Gothic figurines and the stunning English Pewter Jewellery.

For updates on the beautiful photography by Jaimie you can follow Sunsets and Seascapes on Facebook, you'll also find news on the gorgeous little Grylls there as well as here.
If you're on Tumblr you can add us on there too but the focus there is on the Nature and Landscape photography, not all the general blogging like here.
Sunsets and Seascapes also has it's own Facebook page, so please follow us there too.

If you have a website and would like to exchange links, please contact us.

Delphinus Dreams, the original blog will be staying right here with updates on everything we're doing.
Just exactly what are we doing? I wish I knew, but I know it'll be interesting finding out, stay with us, it's going to be fun!
In the meantime please shop at the new website, there's much more variety to choose from and if you're a regular customer or a regular reader of my blog you can get a 10% off all purchases from now until next year! Details are on the new business cards and on an earlier post on this blog.

That's work done for the day, now I have a very bouncy puppy demanding a walk, watch this space for new photo's :o)

A bit late for spring cleaning!

2011-09-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy few weeks here, but it's all good news!
To celebrate our new website we are offering all customers 10% off all purchases made on our new website!
See below for details.

Not so little Grylls

Grylls the little pup is just not so little now, he's growing fast and is a big, bouncy, healthy boy who still hasn't quite got used to the length of his legs yet!
He loves water, anything, the sea, river or puddles, funny how he hates the bath though!

Fritton

Fritton Forest appears to be safe now, which is wonderful news, sadly more trees are due to be felled, but they are planning on planting some before the felling starts again.

The Delphinus Dreams gift shop is slowly moving to a new server, we are featuring Jaimies work there too with it's own section Sunsets and Seascapes.
I'm currently working on another blog just to keep regular customers updated on stock and new lines from Nemesis Now and Alchemy Gothic.
The theme matches the colours of the new shop, and this blog seems to be more personal which was accidental but nice all the same.
So to keep up to date with the more gothic gifts at Delphinus Dreams bookmark wwww.giftsfromthedarkside.co.uk

There's more to come though, it's not all dark, gothic and fairy folk, we have some beautiful homeware, ornaments, bathroom goodies and other gifts due to be uploaded soon.
Less stock will be listed on ebay as I want to concentrate on getting the whole catalogue uploaded on the new website.
If you spot any glitches please let us know, we are ironing them out as we go.
To qualify for the 10% discount use code star51 in the box as you go through checkout.

Work at Fritton, proposed, or decided?

2011-08-13T07:48:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update on Fritton and "The proposed haul route" from the plant site to the A143 across an area of grazing land.
Proposed?
So what's this then?
Preparation just incase everyone agrees, or has the decision already been made?

This is how the "proposed" site looked on the 6th August 2011.

Home a rich variety of Wildlife

The marsh, now drained!

A picture paints a thousand words, what more can I say?
The diggers are right where the Marsh Harriers nest, it's a regular hunting ground for the Barn Owl that flies from the trees, over the marsh to the Windmill, the drained marsh was home to Heron and Egret, I could go on and on, but you get the picture.

I hope!

Council ref:
7.1.3 Great Yarmouth mineral site allocations

Site ref no. MIN 38A
Parish FRITTON

Today it's a dog blog, here's Grylls our little Bear

2011-08-08T03:50:00.000-07:00

Grylls first day at the beach

We have a new member of the family here at Delphinus Dreams, I'd like to introduce you to Grylls, he was found as a stray and about to be destroyed before he was rescued by Walkers creek.
I'd like to thank Claire for telling us about him, he's been with us just over a week now and is settling in really well.
We are not too sure how old he is, but he's obviously only a few months old, he still has all his milk teeth, very sharp little milk teeth!
He was underweight when we brought him home, but he's eating 4 or 5 times a day now and slowly gaining weight.
Considering his rough start, he's a very happy little Pup, on his first day in to town he joyfully greeted everyone that wanted to say hello, and had me laughing like a loon as he passed the shop windows trying to greet the identical puppy he saw in each one!

We don't know what breeds Grylls is crossed with, but it looks like he's going to be quite a big dog, his feet are almost the same size as Blacks already!

Black & Grylls at Fritton

It's been a busy week helping the little one settle in, and he's had a great time at Fritton forest and Winterton beach.

Walking through town can be difficult at times, it's obvious this poor little pup is used to begging for food, he will try and sit outside every single food stall or cafe we pass, so we'll only go through town after meal times, or else we'll never get anywhere, no-one can resist his little hungry puppy face.

The first 3 or 4 days were a bit of a nightmare, poor little Grylls would try to eat everything he saw, even if it wasn't edible! But he's a fast learner, and with a full tummy, he's realising he can afford to walk away from scraps, although given a choice he would eat every smelly corpse he's found on the beach, he does like smelly!
He had his first bath here Saturday after wallowing in the marsh at Fritton, then Sunday he decided he fancied a bit of duck and took a dive into the broads to try and catch one.
We'll keep him on a long lead for a while, I think because he's had to fend for himself he would quite happily run off given half the chance!

Grylls at Fritton

We took him to How Hill yesterday, he met a couple of Whippets and a Greyhound in his usual joyful bouncy way, one of the Whippets let him know it's just not socially acceptable to nibble ears, it was a bit of a shock for Grylls, but hopefully he will be a bit more gentle next time.
The Greyhound, Penny was a bit too timid to let him too close, but in usual Grylls style he learns fast and I think it wont be too long before he learns his canine manners, I had a lovely long chat with Penny's owner about dogs, boats and bread (like you do). He suggested I just introduce Grylls as a Bernese mountain dog, because it's easier than pondering what mixes might be in there, perhaps I will.
So far people have suggested terrier, Wolfhound, Poodle, Collie and GSD.
What do you think?
Whatever he is, it's going to be fun watching him grow, and I look forward to keeping you updated with how he's getting on. I'm sure he's going to have some fun times with us, and whatever he is, we think he's just wonderful!

Grylls first swim

Is this the end for Fritton Forest?

2011-07-28T03:52:00.000-07:00

Fritton

Fritton forest is under threat and we must do something before it's too late!
At the start of the year trees started to be felled, many were concerned that was the start of the councils proposal for a gravel pit, but were later assured it was due to a legal Forestry Commission granted Licence for 20 acres only and the area was to be replanted in Autumn.

Later this year the Forest suffered a fire, and now, well, I'm not quite sure what's going on but I'm determined to find out before it's too late.

I was at Fritton just a few days ago, and it's a heartbreaking sight! There are now JCB's and steel units in place, and it looks like flood barriers are being put in along the pathway.
More trees have been marked with pink dots, a sign I now know to be they are coming down.
Some of these trees are fairly young and slim, so I cannot imagine it's for a regular "crop harvest"

I would love to hear from anyone that has any information on what is happening, I feel we have a duty to protect the Wildlife there, so much of the British Woodland has been lost already, we need to hang on to every tree we have left!
It's not just a beautiful and peaceful place where families enjoy walks with their dogs, or youngster go camping, trek though on mountain bikes, or just sit and enjoy the spectacular views over the broads, it is a historical ground

Roger Thomas of English-Heritage is looking for info on a series of dugouts he found recently-
"Dear One and All, Can anyone help me with some dug-outs that I have recently found in Norfolk? There are a number of military fieldworks in the WaveneyForest, situated on rising ground to the East of the River Waveney. During the Great War the area was within the infantry defence scheme for Great Yarmouth and during the Second World War it was used by the Royal Navy during the to unload depth charges from a railway line, which were then stored nearby at Fritton Decoy. Later on circa 1943 – 44 the area was used by the US Army as an infantry training area, with a rifle range situated on the land adjacent to the River Waveney. At that time the area was not heavily forested and was chiefly heath land, the current forestry is approximately forty years old. The whole area is now covered with Bracken and is forested with two varieties of mature tall slender pine trees. Silver Birch trees seem to be growing on the forest floor as weeds. The Silver Birch however is proving to be a good indicator of archaeological features that consist of a variety of small fire trenches, an infantry redoubt with two integral dugouts (only earthworks remain), an intact dugout, and six accommodation dugouts that have had their roofing material removed. The dugouts all appear to have been made of corrugated sheeting laid on a horizontal timber frame set onto the ground over rectangular earthen pits. The spoil from the pits has been banked up to obscure the dug-outs from view and also provided additional over-head cover. The ground is of a soft glacial sandy soil, and to prevent the side walls from crumbling in and collapsing, the sides of the dug-outs are revetted with sacking held in place by galvanised chicken wire, supported by rough-hewn timber posts and steel angle-iron pickets. The condition of the chicken wire is remarkable, showing very little sign of rust. The redoubt was of the same construction and has a ‘crenellated’ plan fire trench on its western flank covering the river. Nearby are four roughly circular gun earthen emplacements, aligned on St Olaves Bridge (which is covered by a Great War pillbox). The big puzzle however are eighteen small dugouts (approx 12’ x 6’ x 4’) grouped into two groups of ten and eight. They are simple rectangular-plan 4’ – 5’ deep pits dug into the ground with the same galvanised chicken wire and sacking wall revetments held in place by timber posts and steel picket posts. They are not only smaller and shallower than the other dug-outs, they have 6” flat mass concrete roofs rather than ‘corrugated sheeting’, each with a 6” square vent at one end and a recessed 18” square access hatch at the other. The edges of the roofs lay directly on the ground and clearly are not capable of withstanding a great weight loading. Do you have any idea what they might be; I’ve not come across the like before? (See attached sketch from notebook). A friend of mine was told by someone that they may be pre-prepared SAA stores built in 1940, should the army have to fall back from the coast.

The above was posted by The-historian on the Archeology forum

You can see more on the BBC website here

There is also mention of it on the Councils site

English Heritage previously raised concerns about the impact of the site on a number of listed buildings in St Olaves and along the River Waveney. However, now that the site would be ‘enclosed’ within the forest, it is felt that there would not be any visual harm to the setting of these listed buildings. The Fritton area has been the site of various military activities ranging from the Civil War to World War II, and there are a number of archaeological remains. A gun emplacement at Bell Hill is thought to date from the Civil War, but because it is approximately 250m from the site boundary, it is not believed that its setting would be impacted adversely. A series of World War II defensive structures within the site boundary, including trenches and dugouts, have recently been investigated by English Heritage. Although these structures are not scheduled or listed, they are of value and further investigative work would be necessary (paragraph HE9.6 of PPS5). There should be a presumption in favour of retaining these structures, and so further work would need to be undertaken to provide better information on their value and any conservation strategy

What concerns me more is the fact it seems acceptable for them to even consider destroying protected Oak trees, Adders, Marsh Harriers and so much more.
It is very clear that people want to protect this beautiful and vital area, you can see for yourself on the Norfolk County Council Website and the Facebook group.

I'm off to google some more, but if you can think of anything that will help protect this beautiful place, please do it! Even sending an email of objection will only take a moment.
Thanks.

Wild Roses in Fritton

Blackberry Blossom in Fritton

Fritton Dragons

Amphibian Paradise

Before the devastation

The RSPB chased us down the beach Sunday evening!

2011-07-25T04:27:00.000-07:00

We'd had a long, lazy weekend and decided to walk off dinner Sunday evening along Caister beach.
The tide was high and the waves were magnificent, yet again we were being watched by a Seal. I often wonder if they recognise us now, we've been there so often, I like to think so, and I'm doing my best to learn to recognise them, it's amazing just how different they are.

While Jaimie took photographs I wandered along the beach with Black, it's funny, no matter where we go, or what we do, that dog can always find a stick!

As we walked further along the shore, we passed one of the sections that has been fenced off to allow the Little Terns to nest in relative safety, then we heard shouting, I looked up to see a man from the RSPB come running towards us shouting "don't go further!"
So we stopped and waited for him, he went on to tell us the Terns were feeding their youngsters on the shoreline and he didn't want them disturbed, sure enough, we looked over and the Tern were catching small fish from the incoming tide, as well as chasing off the Seagulls that flew overhead.

A beautiful sight!
Breeding little Terns are vulnerable to a wide range of potential impacts including disturbance, predation, flooding and changes in food supply. Their long-term survival depends on the protection of different colony sites along the coastline.
It is so good to see people going to so much effort to ensure the safety of these beautiful little birds.We had a long chat about their breeding grounds this year, more can be read here
We walked back up to the pathway to get along the beach without disturbing the young birds, I never got the name of the man from the RSPB, but I think he's just fantastic!
He left us and went back to his birdwatching spot only to jog back down the beach every time people got too close to the Little Terns, he must've been exhausted by the end of the day!

I haven't blogged since we got back from our holiday, we had a lovely time on the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, naturally we have 100's of pictures, some will be uploaded on the site soon.
Even though it rained most of the time, we didn't want to come back.
One day, eventually we'll have our own boat to escape on.
If you really want to see the Wildlife, a boat is a must, it allows you to sit quietly out of sight, with a bit of patience, the Wildlife soon comes to you.

We were thrilled to see Otters for the first time on the Broads, and we got closer than ever to Marsh Harriers and Egrets.
We moored at How Hill for a while and watched a Barn Owl hunting. We spoke to a couple who also told us to look out for the Swallow tail Butterfly , within a couple of hours I watched one flutter over our boat, Wonderful!

Oh yes, I'd like to still be there, but for now it's back to work, I've uploaded more photographs onto the photography website and my gift shop
You can also use the link on the right of this blog to purchase some of the photographs printed on postcards, greetings cards, posters and wall art.

Just a quick note before I get back to work, don't forget the Perseids Meteor shower next month!
It peaks August 12, 13 and is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at their peak.
The shower's peak usually occurs on August 13 &14, but you may be able to see some meteors any time from July 23 - August 22.
The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Perseus.
The full moon will definitely be a problem this year, hiding the fainter meteors with its glare, but with up to 60 meteors per hour possible, it could still be a great show, so keep looking up (if we get clear nights)

A quiet few weeks ahead, with just a sprinkle of fear

2011-06-13T03:15:00.000-07:00

Summer's here at last! I never thought I'd say it but it's been good to see some rain, everything was starting to look dry and sad. A worrying time for farmers.
Despite the rain we had a walk around Fritton last night and it's good to see the woodland is making a fast recovery from the felling and the fire.

On saturday we had a walk along Caister beach, there were 1000's of tiny jellyfish washed up on the shore, it's not the first time we've seen this, apparently they are Sea Gooseberries and their luminescence can colour the waves at night.
I intend to try and get down there for the evening soon and hope we get a chance to see them in action.
Don't let them put you off paddling in the sea though, they're don't hurt if they do try and sting. (we know, because they tried)
Sadly we also found a small Deer washed up on the shore, poor little thing. After seeing the little one Struggle across Breydon water the other week, I wonder how often a Deer chooses to swim, and why?

Before we got to the beach we took a drive over to Reedham, Jaimie is stocking up supplies for our holiday and wanted to check out the Humpty Dumpty Brewery
I think that's him now sorted for the summer break!
If you're in Reeham and like real Ale it's worth visiting.

I'm getting excited, my first ever child free holiday is coming up, I have every intention of avoiding as much technology as possible and hope to have a blissfully peaceful time.
Everything is organised, I have a few people staying at my house to look after the pets, there's just one thing filling me with dread and that's dropping off my youngest Son at his eldest Brothers house.

Oh, yes it'll be wonderful to see my family, I'm looking forward to that part, it's the getting there that's a problem.
Yes, it means that dreaded trip back to London, those of you that read my Escalator post will understand!

I'm a Londoner, I was born in central London, so why does it always feel so alien going back there?
I suppose I am a country girl at heart, I hate being in the city, all the noise, the sheer busyness of it all, and since I moved away a couple of years ago it seems harder and harder to psyche myself up to go back..

Or is it just the thought of the escalators? I don't know.
I think I've found a route to avoid them so hopefully I'll be able to answer that question myself in the next few days.
I am really looking forward to that />sarcasm

In the meantime, while I'm off having panic attacks with occassional bliss, if you do shop with us over the next few weeks please just allow extra time for delivery.(approx 7 days)
I will get all orders out as soon as I get back, if you are worried about a current order and I don't respond to your messages, don't worry!
I will deal with all emails and orders as soon as I can.

Don't forget to browse Delphinus Dreams
I am slowly getting more stock added there, but during my break I wont have as much stock listed on ebay
All orders from either site will still be processed within a week, so shop with confidence as always but don't expect the usual lightning speed service.
My regular customers will know it's not often we have a total shut down, if only for a few days.

I currently have postage set to UK rates only on Delphinus Dreams
If you live outside of the UK and are interested in purchasing any of our items please contact us and we'll give you an accurate quote and/or send an invoice for the products you require.
Much of the Nemesis now! range is quite heavy and may be cheaper to send to you via courier, rest assured we will do our best to find you the lowest prices possible.

So why all the scenic images?
Well that's explained below, but it's also a psychological calm down for me after just even thinking about the toughest part of my break.
We've been busy behind the scenes preparing some of Jaimies pictures for sale on canvas wraps, some will be limited edition, others we will be arranging to sell on posters and postcards.

All of the current stock were taken around the Norfolk Broads this year.
We will hopefully be listing other printed products very soon so keep an eye on sunsets and seascapes.co.uk

For now, I'm off to stock up the shop before I leave, enjoy browsing, and whatever you do, have a lovely Summer!

Deer swimming in Breydon Water, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk Broads

2011-05-23T06:33:00.000-07:00

We had spent the day at the beach on Saturday and decided to get something to eat, then take the dog for a walk over Breydon water.
Jaimie took the camera to catch the last of the sunlight as the evening fell.
There was a flock of Seagulls screeching and swooping over something in the water.
Jaimie looked closer and spotted something, he made jokes about it being Nessie, but we assumed it must be a Seal, it wouldn't be the first time we'd seen one out here.


The Loch Ness Monster? In Yarmouth? Well... no....

He took out the camera and realised it was a little Deer!
How it managed to cope with the strong tidal water here I don't know, the poor little thing looked exhausted as it finally got to shore.
The Seagulls were diving like Vultures until the poor little Deer safely reached the muddy banks and struggled up to the field above.

It was nerve wracking standing on the bank willing the little Deer to make it across the water, it looked tired, cold and wet when it finally reached the bank, but aftter a dazed second or two it made a healthy run for it across the fields and hopefully to safety.
There are more photos on the website, but I cropped the originals for this blog.
I hope the little Deer made it home safely, it certainly had the strength and determination to survive that difficult swim.

The elusive Montagu's Harrier

2011-05-10T03:33:00.000-07:00

It's wonderful when the unexpected just happens, I seem to have experienced that a lot lately!
I feel very lucky to have seen a stunning pair of Montague Harriers a couple of times now, at first we were unsure what type of Harrier it was as it hunted it's prey in the early evening.
We just saw a flash of white as he soared up to the hills picking small beasties from the sandy grass.
What a beautiful sight that was, I can't wait to see the pictures Jaimie managed to take!
Typically, when we went back to show my Daughter this rare British Bird he'd decided to hide for the day.
Since going back we've also seen a female hunting nearby so I hope we are lucky enough to catch some pictures of the pair, I'll keep you updated :o)

In the meantime work calls, I'm sure my regular customers have noticed massive changes in my ebay shop just recently, I'm also stocking the website as quickly as I can.

I also need to apologise to all my customers I accidentally sent a test message out to, it made no sense and was due to a technical fault (me playing with software and clicking randomly in the hope I could get it to work)
I can assure you I will not be doing that again, and would like to thank all the customers who could see the funny side, thankfully and sent me lovely messages of support.

This blog seems to be a mish mash of everything I'm doing, and i am trying to re-oganise my work so you'll be able to follow the bits that are of more interest to you.
I now have a blog on both http://www.giftsfromthedarkside.co.uk/ and another on http://www.sunsetsandseascapes.co.uk/
I will be keeping this blog as my usual random pondering/newsy place.

I am looking forward to new lines coming soon that will be based around work and pleasure, I can't wait!
Look out on sunsets for some of Jamies pictures on stunning canvas prints, we'll be adding those as soon as possible. In the meantime if you want any of his images printed please let us know and we'll be happy to help.

Freedom! The best of Naturism

2011-03-31T11:03:00.000-07:00

No,this isn't my usual kind of blog post. My facebook friends will know about the naturist site I found today, totally by accident I must add.
Being a keen reader, and a lover of British beaches, I had a read through the site and I just had to share some of the best bits with you.

These are reviews from visitors to the listed beaches;

Leysdown;

"I know it says clothes optional, but really, a man walking round in a shirt and under pants on a hot sunny day!"

"The beach at shellness is quite amazing: deserted, sand and fine-ground shell (obviously). Nice view across to the packed beaches of whitstable and herne bay, and rather beautiful Decaying Groins.. the nudist section, however, is somewhat less appealing."

"I've been down to leysdown a few times but have been unfortunate enough to find mainly the 'meerkats' there. I've mainly been at the weekends."

Brighton;

"I would not recommend this beach... which is a great shame because it is clean and the water is great and fairly clear."

Long rock beach;

"The "Naturism is not condoned" signs have gone, as have the kiteboarders"

"No unpleasant smells from the sewage works in recent years."

Camber;

"didn't notice any other nudists but the people that were dressed didn't blink"

Folkestone:

"[how long does it take to walk to the naturist beach from Folkestone?] It depends where you start from"

Holkham Bay

"If I didn't have my girlfriend there to protect me I wouldn't feel comfortable getting my kit off on this beach"

"A beach tent is a must"

"There is no such thing as a 'gay' beach"

Corton sands

"The water quality is good(a state of the art sewage works is nearby).Swimmers need to be competent-in 3 steps you can be out of your depth and there is a long-shore current.."

I think the decaying groins was the best comment!

Have you seen the Great White Shark on the Norfolk coast?

2011-03-31T04:41:00.000-07:00

No, neither have we, nor have we seen the Puma or Panther recently seen in North Norfolk, but we will keep our eyes peeled and promise you updates should we see either of these beautiful Beasties on our travels.

I've seen some huge paw prints around the marshes, but in all probability it was a Great Dane or another large dog.
The local Deer don't seem to be too bothered and I don't think any farmers have lost cattle or sheep around the Broads to some unknown, mysterious beast.

I could be wrong though, if you have any photos of large wild cats prowling your area, please show us, we'd love to see them and will share them on our website.

As for the Great White Shark, well no we've not seen that either, stories started after a Porpoise was found washed up on the shore with large bite marks on it's body.

What's the biggest fish you've seen on the East Coast?

Positive thinking does work! Super Moon Saturday

2011-03-23T05:55:00.000-07:00

Scroby Sands wind farm, Caister. March 19 2011

Turned out to be a rather spectacular day!
We spent the day at the beach, wandering around the dunes we found a pond alive with Newts enjoying the first warm sunny day of Spring. The power of positive thinking must have worked this time, the fog had cleared and the skies were clear.

http://www.sunsetsandseascapes.co.uk

After sitting in the sun for a while watching the Newts make the most of this gorgeous sunny day we decided to take a stroll along the beach before the Moon came up.
When we got there we quickly realised we'd have to go another way.
That section of the beach was full of Seals also enjoying the warm Spring sunshine, so we headed back up over the dunes and down the other side to sit and watch them from a distance.

http://www.sunsetsandseascapes.co.uk

The sun started to go down, so we walked back along the beach, being followed by some of the Seals. They'd pop their heads up now and then to watch us as we walked away.
They are fantastic to watch and it was an unexpected bonus of the day, I was thrilled to see them again.

We went along to Caister, just to catch the moon rising over the horizon, it was a dramatic red and looked stunning coming up over the blue sea, fantastic!

Spring is finally here and what a spectacular start to the season!

I am so pleased to report my earlier image of speedboats along the Broads isn't quite how it's going to be.
I've asked around, but no-one could answer me, however a little more Googling and I found The Norfolk Broads Authority Waterski map

That's great news, for both Watersports fans and the Wildlife.
It looks like the Harriers and Owls can nest in peace, brilliant :o)

The Marsh Harrier & the Barn Owl on the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads

2011-03-21T03:55:00.000-07:00

Neither of these magnificent birds have a voice, they have been endangered in the past due to damage caused by Humans, both are still supposedly protected.

I am lucky to have been able to enjoy watching these stunning birds on a regular basis, they are majestic in flight, beautiful, stealthy predators, yet their lives still hang in the balance.

As recently as 1971 there was only one known breeding pair of Marsh Harriers left in the UK, this was after they became extinct in the British Isles at the start of the 20th century, but thanks to help and encouragement in the 1920's a small population was restored and started breeding again, only to be almost wiped from the map in the 50's and 60's due to overuse of pesticides.

Since the last known pair in 1971 the population has slowly grown following some migrating from Holland.

Marsh Harriers live in large and dense reed beds, around lakes, marshes and Rivers, they are ground nesting.

Barn Owls hunt from the air, in large open areas that are a popular habitats for small mammals. This can include the fringes of urban areas, as well as farmland and more natural habitats. Although Barn Owls are not woodland birds they will use woodland edges, rides, and large clearings, especially those with long grass.

This beautiful bird has also suffered declines over the past fifty years as a result of the degradation of once prey-rich habitats in the face of intensive agricultural practices

Both of these remarkable birds are listed as Amber status on the list of conservation importance

I was very lucky last year, I spent much of Summer watching a whole Family of Marsh Harriers, prior to this I'd only ever seen one or two at a time, but at Fritton, (Waveney Forest) me and Jaimie were lucky enough to see 8 Harriers flying from their nest in search of prey. It was one of the most beautiful sights I've seen!

One thing I very quickly learnt is, you have to sit quietly for some time to watch either of these birds of prey in action, but patience nearly always pays off and I sincerely hope I can enjoy watching these majestic creatures forever.

Sadly, I worry this will no longer be the case, for this very place I've watched Barn Owls silently swoop and Harriers soar and glide.

We sat in our usual place, only to see two brand new luminous yellow signs on the River, I expect they've been placed there ready for the Summer tourist season, and it tells me Summer at Fritton will never be the same again.

This is a stretch of the river that was originally marked with a 6mph limit to protect the Wildlife and to prevent erosion etc, but now it seems it's about to be opened up to speedboats.

The sign warns of water skiers!

I feel quite sick!

I'm all up for people enjoying summer however they like so long as it's not hurting anyone, but did anyone think of warning the breeding wildlife as they decided to open up this very peaceful stretch of water to water skiers?

I'll keep you updated

Marsh Harrier at Fritton

We have miles of waterways, why this quiet narrow stretch when we have much larger, wider broads with tourism and sports already in mind?

The new water skiing area!


Home to diverse Wildlife


Home to rare birds, insects, various deer and much more!

To be replaced with Speedboats!

Family of Harriers nesting on new water ski area

2YSQ9MQYJKBJ

The eve of the Super Moon... and it's foggy!

2011-03-18T00:42:00.000-07:00

http://www.sunsetsandseascapes.co.uk/

I just love the Great British weather. If you can be sure of one thing, if there is a major Astronomical event, it will be cloudy.
Having a sense of humour helps, but for now I'm using the power of positive thinking to clear the skies.
Tomorrow the Moon will swing around Earth more closely than it has in the past 18 years, lighting up the night sky from 221,567 miles away.
On top of that, it will be full.
Awesome!
So if you're a keen photographer and the skies are clear (oh, please let there be clear skies) it will be the perfect chance to capture some stunning views.

If Mother Nature does her best to cover up the spectacular full Moon tomorrow, you can still view the Moon in all its glory here
The image is amazing, it’s one of the highest resolution pictures of the entire near side of the Moon ever compiled, a mosaic of about 1300 separate images taken by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter’s Wide-Angle Camera.
If you'd like an even closer look, click here you can zoom in and study the Moon like never before.
Brilliant!

Help!

2011-02-24T12:47:00.000-08:00

The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads is Britain's largest protected wetland and third largest inland waterway, with the status of a national park. It's also home to some of the rarest plants and animals in the UK, the litter seen around the Broads has been increasing steadily, this is putting our Wildlife at risk.
Jaimie and I have written blogs and taken photographs to try and highlight the problem, but after reading about a £40,000 survey was taken out on Vauxhall bridge and seeing it needs restoring at a cost of possibly over £295,000! I was amazed it was something people could even afford to consider!
So this should be a fairly simple, and relatively inexpensive concept for the local Authority, residents and visitors.
Shouldn't it?
Please help by liking and sharing the facebook page and joining the group
thanks :)

Beautiful Norfolk, do you love the Broads?

2011-02-24T09:39:00.000-08:00

I do, it can be such a tranquil, peaceful place. Beautiful big skies, stunning coastlines and gorgeous waterways full of life mean there is always something to see and do.
Below is just a tiny snapshot of this Winter in Norfolk, it was going to be a longer blog but after seeing the Facebook campaign to save Great Yarmouth Vauxhall Bridge at a cost of approx £295,000, I have a high horse to be jumping on!
Update coming soon.....

Is it just me? Escalators = Panic!

2011-02-10T04:49:00.000-08:00

Ugh!

I was enjoying the journey and was quite relaxed on the train from Norwich to London. I'd psyched myself up for the worst part, or so I thought until I got there. I only had to hop from Stratford to London Bridge, it's been a long time since I used the Underground, first thing I noticed was it smells different, it's been modernised just a bit since I was last there, and is it me or are the trains faster?
The worst part of it all though is the escalators, they are huge! Just the thought of them sends my stomach turning and my nerves shaking. Totally irrational I know, but I can't help it.
I got off my train and busied myself with the tube map to delay the unavoidable, my Son was getting impatient pointing out the easy colour codes and obvious route plan and I realised I just had to grit my teeth and get on with it.
As I approached the escalator I dithered as usual trying to get my step just right, knowing if my foot wasn't flat on the step I'd get into an even bigger panic, I watched the commuters in front of me glide onto the moving stairs with ease and tried to compose myself and step on with the same look of confidence and non concern.
I failed!
Hand on moving rail first, bring foot over at same time.. no, my hand has moved up the rail and my feet have taken on a mind of their own and are staying firmly on the solid floor, I break into a sweat and order my feet to move while my Son is giggling like an idiot behind me, really not helping.
I feel the impatient queue behind me and with a rush of adrenalin get my foot on the step and drag myself to catch up with my hand.
It's then I realise I'm on the wrong side, carrying a bag in my right hand, I'd automatically fixed myself to the left side of the escalator without thinking, knowing if I intend to stay firmly on one step I have to move over to the left, to allow other people to casually fly up the right hand side.
So, nerves shattered, I try to release my tight grip from the right hand rail and move over to the left, it takes just a second but stuck in a moment of pure fear it feels like it takes forever, heart thumping, body shaking, I now feel a little more secure as a rush of disapproving tuts from other passengers speed past after being held up by my blind panic.

My darling Son feels my fear, and as we are halfway up giggles "look behind you Mum"
I carefully glance over my shoulder behind me as I see the floor getting further away and feel sick, he seems to find this even more amusing and just for the hell of it gives me a poke in the back and laughs out loud as I stifle a terrified squeak!

I try to pretend I'm fine and have just a couple of seconds before I have to do the whole silly hand foot coordination dance again as I step off, I brace myself, carefully watch the speed and try to step off in one easy movement, but no it's never easy, I do a sort of leap and pigeon step off and try to look cool and casual, I obviously didn't do very well because my offspring is still behind me sniggering, but I feel quite pleased, my first trip to London via rail in years and I have survived the escalator.

Or so I thought, not another one, but two more to go!
Has it sunk? I swear there was only one many years ago?
With the same palaver and ritual as before I face the next two in more of less the exact same manner I did the first, I cannot tell you the sheer joy I felt at seeing real daylight knowing I had finally reached ground level and that was it, no more moving stairs from hell.

For a few days I forgot I had yet to make the journey home.....

This was worse, the true horror hit me as I got to the Underground, this time I had to go down and face the whole hugeness horror full on and even worse, this time I had another bag with me.
I try yet again to delay the inevitable by studying the tube map like a confused tourist, when in reality I was trying to see if there was another route... any other route would do!
There wasn't, it had to be done, so I brace myself, stomach churning, knowing not only did I have to face going down (for some reason, it's even scarier than going up) but this time I had two bags, and it was busier!

I make a mental note to ensure I step on the right side so I can cling on for dear life the whole way as I near the steps, I swing one bag over my left shoulder and carry the other in my left hand as I make my approach.
I dry my sweaty right palm on my jeans and take a deep breathe trying to ignore the growing crowds of people behind me as I grasp the moving rail, swing my foot and pray I've got the rhythm right as my foot lands on the flat moving surface.
That's fine, but as I carefully rest the bag on the right hand side, the steps start to drop and I realise my foot isn't fully on the step and I do a little shuffle to make myself more secure.
Remembering my Son and his playful pokes the last time, I whisper to him "Do not touch me" as I try to think of anything but where I am as I descend into the depths of my own personal hell.
He's still finding the whole thing highly amusing and I suppose I should be pleased my fear hasn't been passed onto him.
I breathe slowly and deeply, reminding myself it's almost over as I move mechanically down clinging on for dear life as other people nudge me on their way past when I realise I've almost made it, solid ground is within my reach and I get ready for the mad coordinated shuffle as the whole ground control thing becomes mine again, but shock horror!
The bag I'd rested beside me gets stuck in the little grooves on the elevator step, this shoots adrenalin through me all over again as I yank the bag in a panic and nearly smack the person in front of me with it!
Heart racing, controlled slow breathing I find and board my train and try to put this whole silly episode into perspective.

I'll be doing it all over again soon, and each time I will psyche myself up so I'm in high panic mode before I get there and even worse when I arrive.
Stupidly it seems to remove all logic from my brain, I was still in a fluster when my train came to my station, because this one didn't have automatic doors, I stood at the doorway puzzled.
There was no handle, no button to push and my poor brain had done as much thinking as it could for one day on the escalators, so I stand there, gormless wondering how I'm supposed to get off this train.
Son is still giggling, I'm still in a panic and people behind me are sighing and tutting, so I leave that door and escape from one that's already open.
Puzzled, I look back and realise I just had to open the window and release the door handle...

Why do we have these silly phobias? How can a metal moving stairway turn a rational person into a nervous wreck? And why do loved ones find it so hilarious?

Oh it's good to be home! :o)