8: August

Ashbourne Animal Welfare's annual summer fete, held at The ARK. This year the weather held and the place was a mass of people. Fun and fund raising abounded and I was lucky to escape with enough money for the fuel to get home.

One thing about Derbyshire villages is that no matter how many times I visit, I always seem to come across something I have walked passed and never noticed. When I saw this path to some hilsde cottages, I wondered how it would feel having to deal with these steps with a few bags of shopping, or returning from a few pints at the pub late at night. Knowing this was the way home, I think I would probably move.

Buxton's Grove Hotel, this view across the road from the EWM shop gave me a view of the hotel and is'scanopy and shops as perhaps they were in the Spa's Edwardian peak. Wishful dreaming perhaps.

An Alpaca, I saw a couple of these at the Ark Gala Day but couldn't get a decent shot of one as they were attracting a crowd. I asked the owner if I could visit ang photograph one, he agreed this is the result. They have such soft deep fur it's amazing.

As with many Derbyshire villages, there is always something woth pointing the camera at in Cromford. I had seen this giant doll on her bicycle rickshaw outside the Eco shop many times, and never got aroung to snapping an image. Today I stopped and took the shot, although I often wonder why she sit's there.

This evening there was a sudden heavy downpour just before dusk, this producd a lovely full arc rainbow bright against the quickly darkening sky. So I grabbed my camera and had a go at seeing if I could capture the moment. This image is the result.

white duck on a pond, letf my imaging a bit late this evening, but this caught my eye.

Inspired Earth in Cromford (formerly Beautiful Days; see day 142) now has a cafe on the first floor. The whole business retains it's Eco Ethnic character; and the cafe although a new venture and a little basic it fit's in well. The coffee is good, and the vegetarian food fresh and flavoursome. A definate addition to Cromford's character.

Visited Fresh Fields Donkey Sanctuary today, on arival weather was bad so I left my camera in the car, then it picked up so out came the phone camera!

This sign marks the start of a footpath from Hartington to Dovedale, originally erected in 1907 by the Peak District and Northern Counties Footpaths Society. Although over one hundred years old it remains near enough in it's original position. Also the society that erected it still exists, and has a website!

The mill stream as it exit's Cauldwells Mill at Rowsley Derbyshire. A grade II* listed historic roller flour mill. Powered by water from the river Wye, one or more mills have stood on this site for at least 400 years. The present mill was built in 1874 by John Caudwell and run as a family business for over a century. The mill is now operated by a charitable trust.

This patch of meadow flowers caught my eye as I past, so I got down low to get the image I wanted. I tried to incluse some blue cornflowers, but I felt it destroyed the composition of the poppies.

A litter of seven baby bunnies, unwanted by the owner who asked a animal rescue to take them. Luckily the rescue agreed on the proviso that the mother stayed at the rescue until the litter was old enough to be rehomed, and that the mother bunny is spayed before being returned to the owner (to prevent a repetiton). The owner agreed and these beautiful little bunnies will soon be seeking new homes.

Lucky is not the name of this Exmoor Pony; lucky is what it is! This pony along with foutry-one others was rounded up to be shot as the owner decided he could no longer aford to keep them on the moor. All Fourty-two were saved and dispursed across the many animal rescue centers and sanctuaries across the UK. This is one of four that ended up in Nottinghamshire. Now socialised, it along with it's companions will soon be looking for a premanant home.

Madness at BARC [Barnsley Animal Rescue]. Today was thier fund raising event and open day, run from a private home the rescue holds most of it's small animals out with voulenteer fosterers.

One of a small group of Common Phesant (Phasianus colchicus) out on some moorland for a pleasant stroll in the evening sun. This bird as were the others was always on the lookout for those pesky men with dogs and guns!

The Executive Toy; a true waster of desk space, money and time. But to a photographer stuck for some thing to photograph on a wet evening in order to keep the projrct going, fantastic! But to be honest the decision to image a black tower, on black perspex, against a black background was perhaps not the best option. I think I may have to revisit this one!

Time to get the tripod out again, and try to illustrate how technology is invading everything! Business cards, nice simple pieces of card, just big enough to promote youself. If well designed (I hope mine are ok) not too tacky. Underneath is the electronic phone and machine readable version; the QR-Code V-Card. Do you think the Business card has had it's day? One advantage the QR-Code is the abiliy of it's matrix to carry 4096 characters of information, yet remain easy to integrate into websites. I think I may put on on the back of my next batch of cards.

Birmingham Internationam rail station, as seen from the road bridge over the lines on Bickenhill Lane. To be honest I was a bit short on ideas today.

Made a return visit to Fresh Fields Donkey Sanctuary this time the weather was kinder. This donkey is perfectly norman (as Donkeys go) but is a great example of a image taken using a low angle with a wide angle lens.

One of a pair of giant South American Otters that live in a natural large pool fed by a woodland stream at a nearby Owl Sanctuary. Not what you might expect in Derbyshire, but I'm not complaining.

Another image from the inside of Scarthin Books. Once again the camera phone has the day (if you have visited there you will know why using a SLR is not an option). This is the conservatory between the vegetarian cafe (hidden behind a bookcase on the first floor), and the garden. Just incase anyone is wondering those are real vines and grapes, and I did end up buying a book this time!

The view from the top of Lawn Bridge over Cromford Canal. Looking back along the nature reserve tow-path looking North-West towards Cromford village and Wheatcroft's Wharf. Pike were very much in evidence today, ranging from small jack Pike of a couple of inches, to large fish of around two feet in length. No wonder there seems to have been a shortage of ducklings this season!

Homer in rather an undignified pose, about to have his daily "bum check". During warmer weather all of our bunnies have regular "bum checks" incase of fly-strike. I must admit Homer has grown some since is appearance on day 1 of this project.

The view down to Chatsworth House from the edge of the woodland above Calton Houses. Last year I took an image from the same spot; to be honest I think last years image is better!

I guess that by looking at this image you have a good idea what the weather is like. A rainy day picture if ever there was one. Although I posted an image of the opposite enf of my book case on day 174 this end shows where my work and personal interests overlap. It also shows my sad addiction to O'Reilly books, you can also find O'Reilly publications on my desk in the office and on my Android phone's Kindle app'.

I often see Fallow Deer in the distance as I drive home in the evening, but preperations for a nearby music featival has caused them to move closer to the road and into the range of my camera.

A visitor to my garden that I have not seen before. Brightly coloured, very hairy, and fairly quick, I had to work hand held to photograph this catapillar. Looking at it even without a lens said don't touch!

At the bottom of our garden is a "rough patch" or wildlife garden, the bit the bunny tribe goes and hides in when I want to get them back inside. Today I had to trim it back be 18 inces or so to allow me to reposition the shed. This was my reward, I never plant the beans but every year one or two grow through the brambles. As for the potatoes i have no Idea where they came from, but I know where they are going!

A tranquil river bank view of the Derwent, taken at a point where a stream joins the river ftom the left of the image. Just upstream was a Trout with the flesh eaten cleanly from it. Otter perhaps?

Evening was drawing in, and it was time for the bunny tribe to come in for the night, unfortunately their leader has not quite got the hang of beng so white! Mr Bunny decided he was not comming in ad wanted to stay out; so he ran to hide in one of the dark corners of the shrubbery, being white it didn't work (as usual).

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