Dragons' tongues

Dragon's tongues, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

A stopover in Istanbul on the way to Dubai, courtesy of Turkish Airlines, gave me the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful tulips of this wonderful city. These were all taken in the Yildiz Park in Besiktas.

The Death of The Grand National

The Death of The Grand National, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

Here is the brilliant Clare Balding starting off the final coverage of the Grand National by the BBC, coverage which has helped ensure that the race is one of the greatest sporting occasions in the national consciousness. By passing to Channel 4 and with too many controversial deaths and the memories of Red Rum's exploits fading in the people's memory, I think we will see the Grand National on a quick downward course in the coming years.

The Death of The Grand National

The Death of The Grand National, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

Synchronised, the 2012 Gold Cup winner and favourite and, in the background According to Pete, whose story received a lot of attention from the BBC before the race, both died, having broken their legs. So sad.

I am not sure, but maybe the grey head behind Synchronised belongs to Neptune Collonges, the first grey to win the race since Nicklaus Silver in 1961.

Springtime in Syria

Springtime in Syria, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

This was a bunch of wild flowers left behind in a pool of water in Apamea, just outside Hama in central western Syria.

Not Easter bonnets but the Flower men of Tihama

Not Easter bonnets but the Flower men of Tihama, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

From just over a year ago, from the deepest south of Saudi Arabia.

Happy Easter - scenes from the Nether Green Easter Bonnet parade

Happy Easter - scenes from the Nether Green Easter Bonnet parade, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

Harry Roffey, again!

According to wikipedia, the Easter Bonnet "represents the tail-end of a tradition of wearing new clothes at Easter, in harmony with the renewal of the year and the promise of spiritual renewal and redemption".

I can't remember that we ever had the tradition of having new clothes for Easter but Fred, coming from a more traditional family than mine, tells me that he DID have new clothes (often a shirt and shorts) which he wore to church every Easter (no pics unfortunately).

Anyway, Harry's school in Sheffiled seems to have revived the more recent tradition of the Easter Bonnet Parade (origin New York in early 20th century) , which we were lucky to see last weekend when in England.

Old doors and door studs in al-Hamra in Oman

Old doors and door studs in al-Hamra in Oman, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

The pink stars of a ribes

The pink stars of a ribes, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

As seen in Sheffield yesterday.

Family group out in the Peak District

Family group out in the Peak District, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

We all met up this weekend to celebrate our father's 80th, however, due to unforeseen circumstances, he could not make it over himself, which was a pity. Anyway, we enjoyed two magnificant walks in the Peak District near Sheffield in Friday and Saturday, enjoying each other's company, seeing lots of interesting birds (including larks, pipits, stonechat, dippers, nuthatches and even a red grouse, enjoying their songs as well as the delicious fresh air. Yesterday, we finished up for a (very late) lunch at the Fox's Arms, whereafter the girls went back with the dogs and picked up the car to take us back to the big city...

The idea is to make a book of the photos we took to let our Dad enjoy vicariously the time we celebrated his 80th. I am hoping to see him in two weeks, but that hangs in the balance, it seems.