From The Desk of Marianne Knight

It is often said that London looks it’s best in the sun. And it’s true, there is something intoxicating about the bright rays of sun over the beautiful architecture, centuries of history come alive and you can feel an overwhelming sense of joy in this wonderful city. It may be that the rarity of such days holds the real essence of wonder but I am not sure, I don’t think I would ever get bored of London in the sun, even if we were blessed with such an occurrence every day. But that may be due to the fact that I am half Greek and could happily live in a sauna.

There is however another side to London that I would wager is more spellbinding – and that, is London at night. The sunsets on clear nights offer magnetic river views, with purple hues in the sky, the waters still and unreal, and moving further into darkness the twinkling of the city lights make it look extravagant and whimsical.

My favourite time to walk around London is late on a summer’s evening; a warm night offers a welcoming aura to the London, offering a different kind of beauty and peacefulness in an otherwise vibrant street. There is something electric about being the sole witness to a different street dynamic at this hour.

I will never tire of this place.

You can find more of Marianne’s photos and thoughts on her blog Shooting London.

The magic of seeing how the flower head creates these magic puff balls is a journey I want to take you on. Enjoy looking through my macro lens with me…

Roman tradition throughout the ancient time was to build on top of the ruins left. Different leaders and differing times left their mark on the area. Pre Empire temples then churches and arches sprawled the Forum in dramatic style, but of course it became very built up. Caesar was one of the leaders to start building more purposeful and purposeful Imperial Fora to stand out in the surrounds and start the demise of the one, once great Forum. To see the Roman Forum today it is very much a ‘remains’, a large intriguing skeleton of a time long long ago. In the middle ages it was falling apart and even used as a refuse dump.

More modern times over the last few hundred years have of course led to excavation and preservation. You can walk around this fascinating place on foot and some of the pathways have been excavated right back down to Imperial times. Parts of the once great buildings stand proud, columns stand alone that were once part of an ancient temple. Arches adorned with insignia of great names of Roman lore.

For a true archeologist the whole area of the Forum and the Fora has been both a ‘goldmine’ and a tragedy. The major wide road through the centre of Rome, the Via dei Fori Imperiali, was built by Mussolini in the 30s so he could see the Colosseum in a straight line from the window of his office. It cut straight through the Fora and many ancient remains and churches plus a densely populated area were stripped, demolished and now hidden under tarmac. Ironically the road was built to celebrate the glories of ancient Rome.

On a trip to Rome the Forum makes for a calm wander and respite from the tighter bustling streets. A look back in time. Standing in the footsteps of huge ancient names.

Chilling outside a coffee shop, queuing for an attraction or even just pausing to reflect. Look up and around. Yes, the statues are of course a big draw looking up and around.. but the windows and decor on what seems each and every building leaves a moment to savour. looking back at the photos I took that day I noticed my photo eye had caught more of randomness of the buildings and streets than the main sights. These are only a tiny fraction.

As dusk approaches in certain quarters of the city the buzz of small chatting crowds around the coffee bars transforms gently to drinking bars of many sorts. The buildings holding the bars together with all the surrounds heavily reminds you are so far from home yet in a wonderful place.  Music fills the air, conversations in full flow, together with all the animated arms of course

It was time for a drink to end a perfect day. Rome! Something for everybody.. Absolutely! Cheers

No matter how much we travel this view always makes us realise how fortunate we are to live in one of the world’s most beautiful places. The larks were singing, the swallows flying, and some ducklings on the pond (also known as a water hazard as we were playing a quick nine). It’s pretty in the fog but when the sun hits the Needles like today it is really something special. - @nlcondit

If you would like one of your photos featured on BaldHiker’s Your Britain please look here.

From the desk of Sheena Findlay

My name is Sheena, I travel the World for my job, so when I’m at home I love to walk, bake, socialise and generally keep myself fit by doing Pilates and Yoga. I took up walking on a fairly major scale last year. I joined a local walking club and haven’t looked back. But one thing became apparent, I needed to eat more to keep my stamina up, so I took up baking again. I’ve always enjoyed making cakes but haven’t really made any, seriously, for a few years; I really did not need the extra calories! These days I bombard either my fellow walking buddies or my work colleagues with sweet treats.

The Banana Loaf

I decided to bake a banana loaf, my take on the Bakewell Tart and some oat and raisin biscuits. The banana loaf is more of a cake in all honesty. It serves 8-10 and can be frozen un-iced.

Ingredients:

140g/5oz butter, softened
Plus extra for the tin
140g/5oz caster sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
140g/5oz self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 very ripe bananas, mashed
50g/2oz icing sugar
Handful dried banana chips, to decorate

Method:

Heat the oven to 180c/160c fan/gas 4. Butter a 2lb loaf tin and line the base and sides with baking parchment.

Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then slowly add the eggs with a little flour. Fold in the remaining flour, baking powder and bananas. Pour in to the tin and bake for about 33-40 minutes until a skewer comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack.

Mix the icing sugar with 2-3 tsp water to make a runny icing. Drizzle the icing across the top of the cake and decorate with banana chips.

Tips: I like to use Lakeland loaf tin liners, they work a treat and saves having to butter your loaf tin. I also found that the cooking time that was given in the original recipe was for 30 minutes. Having made this a few times now I have had to extend the cooking time by at least 10 minutes. My suggestion would be to keep a keen eye on it after 30 minutes. Banana chips are not that easy to come by, but I believe you can buy them in Holland and Barrett. None of my local supermarkets stocked them.

This recipe is from Good Food magazine.

My take on a Bakewell tart

Ingredients:

75g/2_oz self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting
375g pack sweet shortcrust pastry
140g/5oz butter, softened
140g/5oz golden caster sugar
2 large eggs
75g/2_oz ground almonds
175g/6oz mixed dried fruit
Zest and juice of 1 orange
1 tsp mixed spice
1tsp cinnamon
6 tbsp cherry jam
175g/6oz marzipan, cut in to small cubes
50g/2oz icing sugar, to decorate
25g/1oz flaked toasted almonds

On a floured work surface, roll out the pastry to the thickness of a £1 coin. Lift the pastry over your rolling pin and use to line a 20 x 30cm rectangular fluted tart tin, leaving a rim of overhanging pastry. Chill for at least 30 minutes.

Heat the oven to 200c/180c fan/ gas 6. Line your pastry case with baking parchment, then fill with baking beans. Blind bake for 15 minutes, remove the beans and parchment, and bake for a further 10 minutes until the pastry is golden and biscuity. Leave to cool.

Reduce the oven to 170c/150c fan/gas 3. In a bowl, cream the butter and sugar until pale and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking well between each addition. Stir in the flour, almonds, dreid fruit, half the zest of the orange and the spices. Spread the jam over the tart case, then dot the cubes of marzipan over the top. Pour over the cake mixture and smooth with a spatula. Bake for 35 minutes until golden and risen. Leave to cool in the tin.

To make the icing, mix the icing sugar with enough orange juice to make a thick, smooth icing. Drizzle the icing over the tart, top with the flaked almonds and the remaining orange zest. Cut into squares to serve.

This recipe is supposed to serve 15 but I think it would serve considerably more. All depends on your appetite.

Again this is adapted from a recipe courtesy of Good Food magazine 

Oat and Raisin Biscuits

Ingredients:
125g unsalted butter, softened
150g light brown muscovado sugar
1 large free range egg, at room temperature
1 tbsp full fat or semi-skimmed milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
100g self-raising flour
75g raisins
150g porridge oats

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180c/350f/gas 4. Put the butter and sugar in to a mixing bowl and beat with a wooden spoon or electric mixer until pale and fluffy in texture. In another bowl beat the egg with the milk and vanilla extract until just combined, then beat into the butter mixture. Add the flour, raisins and oats to the bowl and mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon.

Put heaped teaspoonfuls of the mixture onto greased baking sheets, spacing well apart to allow for spreading. (Bake in batches if necessary). Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the biscuits are lightly browned around the edges.

Remove from the oven and leave the biscuits to cool and firm up on the sheets for a couple of minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely. Store the biscuits in an airtight container and eat within 5 days.

Makes 30.

This recipe is from The Great British Bake Off – How To Bake.

Bergy Bits in the cove catch the sunlight and reflect the brilliant blues of Mother Nature.

What the locals drive by every day, quickly become special images for photographers to capture as reminders of the beauty their eyes have witnessed.

The lobster fishing pots are stacked on the wharfs awaiting their journey to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

A precariously placed bench can give a passerby a spot to rest…

…as they enjoy the view.

The wharfs’ colorful sheds, referred to as stages, remain inactive as they await the start of the fishing season in the Atlantic Ocean.

The friendly people, rugged coastline, and scenic views, make anywhere around the many bays of Newfoundland a favorite place for me to spend a day.

The Maldives lies in two rows of atolls in the Indian Ocean, just across the equator. The country is made up of 1,190 coral islands with only 200 inhabited and with a small proportion used for agriculture. To get to the islands from the mainland you have two options, either speedboat or sea plane depending on which island you are travelling to. I had a 30 minute exhilarating speedboat ride to my island which was one of the best ways I’ve ever arrived at a hotel!

Given the geographical make-up of the islands scuba-diving and snorkelling are two of the top activities available and both are definitely worth trying given the rich and vibrant life among the reefs. However, it will surprise most people to know that the Maldives is also a favoured destination for surfers. The island I stayed on, Hudhuranfushi, is incredibly popular with surfers from all over the world who return regularly and say it’s as good if not better than some of the more well know surf destinations we have all heard of.

The purpose of my visit was to relax and wind down from a hectic city life, so the beautiful white sandy beaches and crystal clear sea were on my agenda. The island I stayed on was tiny and you could walk around it in its entirety in about 15 minutes. There are no vehicles on the island other than golf carts and bicycles used by the staff so no traffic noise or fumes!

Most of the accommodation on the island are individual villas on the beach or over the water. Mine was on the beach with its own secluded outside shower. There’s something quite liberating about showering outside! Needless to say I spent most of my time on one of the amazing beaches where the lagoon like sea was refreshing and relaxing. There was also a pool with a swim up bar which was a plus if I felt like a change!

There was also a lot of entertainment on offer in the evenings which varied from musical performances from local bands to BBQ’s on the beach. The sunsets in the Maldives are breath-taking so if a meal on the beach is your thing you can do that too either as a couple or with other diners.

I would definitely recommend a visit as the location and people are amazing. Sitting at an average of just five feet above sea level (with 80 percent of the Maldives less than three feet above the encroaching waves), many scientists predict that rising water levels could submerge the chain by the turn of the century so go and visit before this paradise is lost forever.

Here is Coniston Water taken on a very calm day. I wish every day could be like that @shaunkhickey

If you would like one of your photos featured on BaldHiker’s Your Britain please look here.

From the desk of Pati Robins

When Paul asked me to do the guest post for his website – I was astonished and extremely honoured. Landscape and nature photography (if you can call my effort as a photography) is not something I do every day. But I love focusing on small things rather than the big picture, I love the detail, the small things that tend to come unnoticed for us.

I have a huge fear of spiders, so when I spotted this “big” scary spider (see above) inside my daughters playhouse its colours where beautiful, I knew I needed this shot, no matter what, so I grabbed the longest zoom lens I had at the time, and from safe distance I took the shot. It was few years ago, my fear of spiders is still there but fear of missing out on capturing single moments in my life is far greater.

My passion for photography started at very eary age. I shoot anything and everything, and my parents where “sick and tired” developing my endless camera rolls. But I started to love it more when I moved to UK in 2006 and received my first DSLR camera and between love-hate relationship I self-learned how to take proper picture.. since then I came on leaps and bounds.

It always amazed me how some of the pictures can attract our attention, and produce in us this kind of feeling and emotion we never experienced before – and I yet to try and achieve this

We can find an interesting subject anywhere , inside and outside – we just need to “open our eyes” to the endless possibilities

I don’t tend to travel much , but when I visit new places or revisit places Loved I always try and take a snap to catch the way that particular place made me feel.

I look at this like my big treasure box , full of things and places that make me feel good , full of simple things like – the leaves, or an empty bench I was looking at –I tend to focus on small things – because small things can make our life whole.

You can find more of Pati’s photos on her website or follow her on twitter.