The Simple Pleasures Of An Unplanned Day

We should have been in Paris but were instead at home and then out in the local area. We had several mundane things to do such as recycling and organising dry cleaning. We needed to get Greg's glasses mended - they recently had structural failure. I did not expect anything special of Gosport which I usually find very dull. It certainly lacks visual appeal. Quite unexpectedly I found a sand sculpture event in Gosport Discovery Centre. On arrival I was immediately despondent as there were children there at two instructional sandpits. Legislation these days prevents one from photographing children even incidentally and I only wanted shots of the main piece. To my surprise and gratification the centre staff were extremely sensible and accommodating and I got my photographs, child free, and reviewed them with a staff member. The artists, Paul Hoggard, his wife Remy Geerts and their assistant Ian Cooper are incredibly talented. I was inspired and uplifted by the work and by that illustrated on their promotional flyer. You can visit them at http://www.sandartist.com/ and www.youtube.com/paulhoggard .



The harbour front also provides plenty of interest and although I was unable to get a decent shot of today's naval residents, I was very taken by the gathering of immature starlings which look very striking in their 'half-way' plumage.

Lunch in Lee on Solent afforded the opportunity to enjoy the ever changing seascape of which I never tire. Today there were blues and greens which could, dare I say, only exist in God's creation. I know what I mean.

Later still, the simple act of going to close the back door led to an unplanned shot of two of our loveliest neighbours.

It was a day to love life.