Weather was fab yesterday - but I was tired - think its the Paracodal thats making me tired cos when I stopped taking it I was as lively as a cricket.... now my back is playing up again and I've taken pain killers and yesterday ended up sleeping in the garden - which was not plan at all for the first lovely day this year!! This aft was nice - but its suddenly gone right off - need to keep an eye on the washing! Your 'spadge' is a right little cracker - its a good lens you have - very capable of cracking results but you have to get close enough in the first place - thats the things with birds! I flogged myself silly on my days off looking for fungi - got just 4 species worth photographing..... its a slow season here in the north west yet again. Next year I vow to begin looking from July onwards cos I suspect that many fungi are going throu earlier and earlier and I'm actually missing them......!!

Hi Pauline,Hope your back isnt playing up too much!
Tried taking shots of sparrows in the garden today and was amazed that I have got 2 that are rather good.Think it helped that it was sunny and they were only about 10ft away though,put them in my Gallery if you want to look them over.
Hope the weather isnt as bad as they said it would be where you are and you are enjoying your weekend,
regards ellen

Hi Pauline, I think the weather can be a factor as regards arthritis etc.My back isnt too bad at moment(touches wood!!).As you say once you have a back problem its a weakness for life.Hope that your back doesnt get too bad,its so debilitating especially if your job dictates a lot of walking/standing around.Rustys is sound again-he has been on light walks but tomorrow will go for longer trek.Weather does look good for the weekend,sorry it doesnt look so good where you are.But they have been wrong-you never know may be nicer than you think.Thanks for the encouragement again re: photos,must admit am looking forward to the dark mornings as we really do get lovely sunrises(and sunsets for that matter)over the Thames estuary.Also hope to get down to Leigh marshes to photograph the brent geese-wonderful to see them flying in!!
Take care,hope your back doesnt get worse and have a good few days off!!
Ellen

I'm just trying to decide whether I have answered your last post or not and I've decided not - so I shall stop being unintentionally rude and reply! Wonder if its the weather thats playing our backs up - all this dampness I feel isn't good for lumbago, sciatica and arthritis (my my can't you tell by the topic that we arn't 19 anymore!!) Bet you and the poor dog looked like you'd been in a fight?! My knee/gout/ whatever it is - is still sort of there on the side-lines but I'm walking normally and praying not to get pain like that again.......... my back went beautifully better after the EFT session and stayed better for a fortnight: now its kicking off again but this time with a little lump that is terribly sensitive and causes nerve pain if I pass my hand over it........... I've another 2 weeks before my next app so I hope it doesn't get too bad. I don't suppose standing around for 7 or 8 hours at Clumber did any good esp the standing then a short fast walk to next spot - then idling again, but I felt ok while I was doing it - on both days. Who knows? I think once back trouble arrives its with you for the rest of your life.

Keep getting out and taking the shots Ellen - you do 'atmospheric' excellently well! Its my Friday tonight - its now our two days weekly leave and whats the weather going to do up here - course it is - rain! But it looks set for a lovely warm sunny few days down south so enjoy! Pauline

Hi Pauline, Glad your back is ok at mo.Mine has been playing up lately,I get lumbago and sciatica-which really is a pain in the b**! My dog Rusty has been in the wars too,thought he had broken a toe but turned out it was bruised.So what with me bent over and him limping we looked a picture!! For a week I didnt go for our daily walks and I really missed them.Was glad to be able to get out Sunday,(me and the dog were fitter by then!!)when I took the latest shots.Think atmospheric shots seem to be my specialty!! Have really enjoyed using the camera,learning all the time with it,am even thinking of getting a calender done as xmas pressies of my "best" shots-if I get enough!!!
Anyway glad you are feeling fit and hope the gout goes soon!!
Thanks for your encouragement on the photo front,take care
Ellen

Yes I really could 'hear' it just from looking!

I get confused with these new pages (doesn't take much to confuse me these days!) and am wondering whether I replied to last conversation? In case I didn't (cos I'm never sure whether the replies stay on your own page or go onto the other persons page - I think its the latter) anyway my bck is ok (I'm saying it quietly cos I don't want it to suddenly 'go' again!) If this supposed gout in my right knee would go as well I'd be as near fighting fit as I've been for several years. I feel fit (I keep getting tired but thats cos I won;t go to bed early - keep trying to fit a bit more into each day and its counter-productive cos I then start sitting about feeling knackered!) Hope all well with you - keep taking those atmospheric shots! Pauline

Hi Pauline,thanks for comment-much appreciated-,wish I had recording when I took it,the noise!!!
regards ellen

Hi Pauline
How is the back?Know what thats like!!!
ellen

Just had a look at your latest photos,lovely shots! Looks like you had a good time
ellen

Hello there,Welcome back!
Hope you had a great holiday,as Ron said looking forward to the photos
Ellen