Saturday 25 April 2015

SUNDAY IS NATURE DAY

Il n'y a rien d'aussi beau
Qu’une vallée à l’abri du temps,
Où les oiseaux font leurs nids
Dans les cœurs des arbres géants,
Et coule la rivière, 
Dans l’ombre et la lumière.
Doux vallée,
Sweet Swiss valley
Il fait bon vivre chez toi. (Pétula Clark)

There is nothing as beautiful
As a valley in the shadow of time
Where birds nest in the heart of giant trees
And the river flows, in the shade and the sun.
Sweet Valley
Sweet Swiss valley
It's good to live within you. (Petula Clark)

Sweet Valley. I'm not even sure that this is Switzerland
But the minute I saw it I thought of the beautiful song Pet Clark wrote about
her Swiss home.

19 comments:

  1. Great pics, although the tree is a bit freaky. Be a bit eerie at night.

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    1. I think he's a lovely tree. I wouldn't mind him in my garden... :)

      Scare away burglars!

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    2. I saw Jim Murphy in one of the photos.

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    3. Now look what you did. You put me off the poor tree...

      You can't unthink things you know!!!

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  2. Your "Swiss" valley is, in fact, Romsdalen in west Norway. The mountain on the other side is Trolltinden with the famous 1500 metre high Trolltind Wall, Europe's highest cliff.

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    1. HI Norway walker. Thanks for letting me know.

      As I said, I didn't know if it was in Switzerland or not, but the minute I saw it, the music for "Swiss Valley" came to my head.

      Norway has some fantastically beautiful scenery and like the rest of the Norden countries, I find it fascinating. I wish it weren't soi expensive for poor Brits. I'd love to go walking there.

      :)

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  3. Stunning pics, the lavender fields are quite surreal.
    And that tree is a bit freaky, almost looks like it's got teeth.

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    1. Lavender fields are amazing, Jim. For a while I was lucky enough to live along from a farm that have dozens of them. The view was amazing, and smell ...out of this world.

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  4. Loved this comment on the Welsh blog, National Left, from English Labour activist Bill Chapman 26 April 2015 at 09:28:

    "I don't see a referendum on Scottish independence on the cards for a generation or two. There is simply no enthusiasm for it. Don't forget that the Yes vote did not even reach 45% last time. There are new members in the SNP, it is true, before they drift back to Labour. Indeed the SNP might very well serve as the training ground for the Labour MPs and MSPs of the future."
    http://nationalleft.blogspot.com/2015/04/listen-to-people-gordon.html

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    1. Anon:

      I started to write a response to that on that blog, but it kind of grew into a post for here. So I'll put it up later tonight.

      Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

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    2. They really are living in the clouds.

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  5. That squirrel must of lost its teeth using a lump hammer to crack a nut tut tut.

    Just been watching my webcam of a Blackie nest in my shed were the fourth egg eventually hatched into a winter wonderland.

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    1. Ho ho....

      Oh that's magic. I don;t suppose you could put it up on Youtube so I could upload it here for everyone to enjoy...?

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    2. Do you Skype tris?

      I got them last year building the nest which is quite amazing to see, using a simple a concept with no training, tools or certification module to pass.

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    3. No CH. I don't have skpye.

      It must be fascinating to watch though.

      I've had a few nests around the garden, usually in nesting boxes put there specially for them. I've got mice living behind the cupboard in the shed, and quite often see them, if I open the door quietly.

      I put down food for them, and a dish of water which saves them going out and risking getting caught by the neighbours' cat, which seems to enjoy killing them for no reason.

      They share the back of the cup-board with a family of bees, and we have a two robins (a pair, obviously) and a collection of blackbirds that are ridiculously tame.

      Mainly tits and starlings apart from that... and a Great Tit family last year.

      My friend has a frog and some spawn in her pond. I'd love some tadpoles but I'm worried about the cat...

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  6. Just wanted to say that when all this election rubbish is going on it's great to look at your pictures.
    I suppose that's the point.
    I love the tree, not spooky at all. Trees are the most wonderful things. Especially when a soft breeze moves them to whisper.
    We live in the most beautiful country in the whole world. We just need to take the time to stop and look at everything around us.

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  7. Just wanted to say that when all this election rubbish is going on it's great to look at your pictures.
    I suppose that's the point.
    I love the tree, not spooky at all. Trees are the most wonderful things. Especially when a soft breeze moves them to whisper.
    We live in the most beautiful country in the whole world. We just need to take the time to stop and look at everything around us.

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    1. Well, that's how I feel too.

      So every week a day for nature pics and another day for a few jokes...

      It's a break from the election...and we all need that!

      I'm really glad you are enjoying them...

      T

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