Shots from my camera roll

Share a few recent shots from your camera roll, no context needed.

A thumb on the edge of the camera,

In my kitchen a gaggle of pseudotetramera,

For those of you not in the know,

They are a five jointed beetle with one that doesn’t show,

It made quite a stir to find them on the kitchen floor,

Rest assured I swept them out the door,

It was then I thought the blancmange looks nice,

And of course a photo I didn’t think twice,

Pink and Yellow it was quite fun,

A lot more interesting than my sister’s current bun,

It was then I noticed the full moon,

So after dinner I trekked outside and had a swoon,

I swear I saw a rat or perhaps a not well bat,

Either way my phone I dropped where I sat,

The thing moved too quickly for me to take a picture,

And the phone disappeared down a hollow stricture,

It got too dark to try and retrieve it ,

So next morning I kneeled down on the grit,

Put my hand in the hole and felt my thumb get bit,

The phone I grabbed despite my pain,

The picture of the angry stoat was caught in the frame.

Dark underground stoat photograph

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#HeadlineTherapy Bid to allow unaccompanied 12 to 15- year-olds into pubs.

This proposal which is been considered in Edinburgh concerns three venues which wish to give children the freedom to sit down with their friends ( limited to six) and have soft drinks and food served to them at tables.

Weirdly, this is during the school week, so the children will be visiting the licensed premises either during their lunch period or perhaps after they have finished school for the day. The licence specifies that they can stay until 8pm at night, but then will have to go away.

I know in Europe that there is much more of a family feeling in licensed premises as the emphasis is on families going out together. I don’t really think children are encouraged to go out by themselves, as indeed they are children and are part of the family.

After school coffee clubs or community hubs where children can meet other children of the same age is I think a better idea.

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.πŸ™

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Sentimental Attachment

What’s the one thing you own that holds deep sentimental value?

There are many things for me to be attached,

The shell from the first chick I ever hatched,

The rose petal that fell on the ground at my feet,

I entombed it in glass and made a paper weight,

My old school book signed by a friend,

I’ll keep that until the very end,

The teddy bear who took care of me,

When I had to have my appendectomy,

Those locks of hair that fell from my lover,

I kept them save so he won’t discover,

Perhaps I’m sentimental or just care ,

So don’t touch my things or you better beware.

Open vintage suitcase filled with letters, teddy bear, seashells, and dried flowers

Namaste and Thank You for ReadingπŸ™

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#HeadlineTherapy Work begins on transformation of historic Devizes building

Thanks to Jamie Singleton and the Gazette and Herald for the Headline.

Good News on the building renovation front in Devizes.

The Assize Court , which is a “grade II” listed building is being renovated to become the new home of Wiltshire’s Museum. Work began on the 26th October.

The initial work involves removal of lead paint and lime plaster within the building and removal of the ceiling , the main transformation work will begin in early 2027.

The project costing Β£14.8million will include a Community Space, Cafe and will create a sustainable cultural and community hub in the locality. Wiltshire Museum is scheduled to open it’s new home in 2030.

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.πŸ™

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#HeadlineTherapy Blackburn Council denies issuing overnight parking ticket.

Thanks to Shulab Khan and the Lancashire Telegraph for the Headline.

Apparently Council Traffic wardens in Blackburn do not work past 10.00pm at night. There is a shortage of overnight parking in the streets around Blackburn, so some residents will park illegally on double yellow lines overnight , but will move on in the morning before the traffic wardens or the Police arrive.

However, one unfortunate Resident was issued with a ticket at 2.40am , and the Police say it was not them that issued it as they were not in the area that night. The ticket demanded payment of a Β£30 fine. It is unclear who issued the ticket as the Police and the Council says it wasn’t them.

Vigilante Parking Wardens is that a thing?

Namaste and Thank You for Reading. πŸ™

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#HeadlineTherapy Scotland’s recycling rates at five-year low. How is your area doing?

Thanks to Kevin Keane and BBC Online News for the Headline

The recycling target for Scotland for 2025 was 70% of waste to be recycled, the figure they’ve hit Nationally is about 42% with significant regional differences.

The amount of waste going to Landfill thankfully has been reduced by 10%, but the reality is that some of what goes in the black bin could be recycled instead of being incinerated. Some inert material such as ash from the incinerators and building rubble will still be allowed at landfill sites.

Surprisingly the Orkney Islands only managed to recycle 18.2% of their rubbish which I found strange as living in such a beautiful area you would thing that they would be very careful about their environment. Glasgow only manages 26% but the good people of North Ayrshire manage 55%.

Add to that the belief that incinerating rubbish with the benefit of using the energy produced to add to the National Grid rather than repurposing it through schemes such as reusing glass bottles, recycling aluminum cans and presumably recycling cardboard. Is it cheaper for local authorities just to burn it?

Just a point of interest, Wales has achieved a massive 64.7% of it’s waste being recycled, so well done Wales. While Scotland at one point was considering sending it’s black bin bag waste to England for incineration, until the Haulier’s pointed out that they simply wouldn’t have enough lorries to deal with the amount of waste that needed to be transported.

Frankly, recycling is a mind frame, if we want to do it we will.

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.πŸ™

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The Motorway

What was the worst travel experience you’ve ever had?

It seemed so simple a trip to the beach,

But nowadays it seems enjoyment is out of reach,

I checked Google Maps it was all clear,

I suppose the tanker hadn’t planned to rear,

Must have happened in seconds and made a terrible mess,

Beer everywhere and everyone in high viz vests,

Thankfully no one hurt and the clear up started,

Those at the front of the queue were not

down-hearted,

I must have left just soon after the skid,

So at the back of the queue I was amid,

For hours we moved along like a snail,

Then you wouldn’t believe it but it began to hail,

The rain added to our gloom,

Increasingly we accepted our doom,

“Come off at the next exit,”

“This is about much fun as Brexit,”

” Perhaps we’ll forget the Beach for today,”

“We’ll have to go another day.”

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.πŸ™

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#HeadlineTherapy Campaigners stage Rest and be thankful protest over A83 Convoy plans

Thanks to Christina O’Neill and Rahim Cham for the Headline

Unfortunately the Rest and be Thankful in Scotland is not a very restful place to be at the moment. The Old Military Road is subject to landslips and the proposal from Transport Scotland to place a single-lane system on the A83 while they consider a permanent solution to ensuring a better route is established for the businesses going to and from Argyll and Bute.

The group of Campaigners say it is necessary to have a two way system and have suggested three possible routes to allow two way access and avoid a convoy system.

One is upgrading the existing forestry track ( the green route) for two way access, the second is to upgrade the Old Military Road to two way access, or thirdly a combination of both where the forestry track is one way and the Old Military Road is the other. Either way they are not happy with the single-lane proposal.

There has been much consultation and no final decision has yet been made, it will be interesting, not sure how long the green route would last if there are heavy lorries going up and down it.

Namaste and Thank You for Reading. πŸ™

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#HeadlineTherapy From Russian cages to Irish sanctuary:The five-year rescue of Bu and Tyapa

Thanks to Mike McBride and BBC Online News for the Headline

There are so many animals in captivity and in the wild that need our help to survive. These two bears were rescued despite horrendous odds, the rescue was lead by Killian McLaughlin of Wild Ireland who was helped by over 100 other people. These rescues are never simple. The bears left Russia and their transportation was affected by the War in Ukraine and also conflict in the Middle East.

The rescuers included volunteers, lawyers, veterinarians, animal transport specialists , cargo teams and officials in Russia, The United Arab Emirates and Ireland. So those two bears had a lot of people rooting for them.

It is such a relief that the bears will not have to suffer from cramped cages, poor living conditions anymore (one of them being forced to perform tricks in a circus. ).They now have forest and soil to dig their paws into. They were quite ill when they finally arrived in Ireland , but are slowly recovering their health, now that they have room to roam and also are getting the correct food and access to water.

The bears are safe in Donegal in “Wild Ireland” and are settling well into their new life.

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.πŸ™

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Bring Lunch and a Drink

What’s one piece of travel advice you always follow?

To travel to the unknown,

Perhaps you will be alone,

There might not be any shops,

The hotel kitchen might be full of slops,

It’s safer I think to plan ahead,

To ensure that you can rest your head,

Without complaining from hunger you are half dead,

A small packed lunch tucked away,

Will keep your rumbling tummy at bay,

And an isotonic drink,

Will stop you drinking water from that filthy sink.

It’s worth the effort to make your provision,

Other travellers will admire your vision.

Namaste and thank You for Reading.

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