#Words and #PictureOfTheDay: 24/May/22

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, opinion, Photography5 Comments

A Gated Entrance, Open only to Walkers. A gate into the forest? It’s locked so irresponsible owners of four-wheel Chelsea tractors cannot easily enter the trees to destroy the peace, disturb the wildlife, and damage the environment in the name of ‘fun’. Access is needed, of course, for those who manage the forest for the …

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Why You Can’t Catch a Rocket to Mars, by Prof Lyndon Neal Smith PhD: #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Mars, opinion, Reading, Review8 Comments

275 pagesScience & Scientists Humour/Automatic Control/Sherlock Holmes Mysteries Subtitled: Some Personal Reflections on Science and Society. Whether a reader can empathise with the writer of a book essentially driven by personal ambition, hopes, or dreams, depends on how that reader feels about those aims. I confess I’m definitely with the author here. Given the chance …

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#Words and #PictureOfTheDay: 23/May/22

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, opinion, Photography4 Comments

Dorset, May 2013. Spring has yet to reach this lone tree on a Dorset hillside. The picture was taken in May 2013. Can it be that climate change has moved spring so much earlier over such a short period? All the pictures in this month’s series were taken in May, but during different years. Are …

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Horse of a Different Colour, by Melodie Trudeaux: #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Reading, Review4 Comments

112 pagesRiding & Horsemanship/Gen Sprots Hobbies & Games/Teen & Young Adult This intriguing and humorous adventure story for children, especially those who love horses, involves a little magic in the form of role play that suddenly becomes real! It becomes potentially rather dangerous for young Megan, able to swap places with Jack, the old and …

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#Words and #PictureOfTheDay: 22/May/22

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography, Poetry5 Comments

Bluebells in the Forest of Dean Bluebells sparse but bright Clothe the forest floor under Spring’s increasing greens (((((((((((----)))))))))) From the end of May, I’ll post a picture once a week. Books and writing have taken a back seat for too long. I started this series when Covid confined people to their homes, unable to …

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#Words and #PictureOfTheDay: 21/May/22

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography, Poetry5 Comments

As May moves to a close, vegetation bursts with spring luxury. Lush lie the green ferns Lining a track through green trees Under clear blue skies. (((((((((((----)))))))))) These posts were scheduled to maintain the series while I’m offline. I can’t respond to comments, likes, follows, or questions. But please interact. I’ll try to catch up …

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#Words and #PictureOfTheDay: 20/May/22

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography, Poetry6 Comments

Looking out to a fishing pond in the Forest of Dean. Peaceful lies the pond Beyond the still sylvan bank Inviting us in. (((((((((((----)))))))))) These posts were scheduled to maintain the series while I’m offline. I can’t respond to comments, likes, follows, or questions. But please interact. I’ll try to catch up on my return. …

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Tamed, by Alice Roberts: #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Nature, Reading, Review2 Comments

368 pagesEvolutionary Psychology, Philosophy of Physics Subtitled ‘Ten Species the Changed Our World’, this book is a tremendous work of scholarship, intelligence, insight, and sheer common sense. Professor Roberts, the history and science buff often seen leading BBC TV documentaries, has pressed into service all her wide knowledge into describing how ten of the crops …

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#Words and #PictureOfTheDay: 19/May/22

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography, Poetry3 Comments

An old road through the Forest of Dean. Where will you lead me To a house hidden in trees Or a long dead mine (((((((((((----)))))))))) These posts were scheduled to maintain the series while I’m offline. I can’t respond to comments, likes, follows, or questions. But please interact. I’ll try to catch up on my …

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#Words and #PictureOfTheDay: 18/May/22

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography, Poetry5 Comments

Track through cereal crop in East Yorkshire. Tractor wheels track through A cereal crop growing Green undulations (((((((((((----)))))))))) These posts were scheduled to maintain the series while I’m offline. I can’t respond to comments, likes, follows, or questions. But please interact. I’ll try to catch up on my return. In future, I’ll post a picture …

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#Words and #PictureOfTheDay: 17/May/22

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography, Poetry5 Comments

A forest pool. White water feeds pool Slowed by unseen bars ahead Wildlife drinks here now (((((((((((----)))))))))) These posts were scheduled to maintain the series while I’m offline. I can’t respond to comments, likes, follows, or questions. But, please interact. I’ll try to catch up on my return. In future, I’ll post a picture once …

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#Words and #PictureOfTheDay: 16/May/22

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography, Poetry11 Comments

Bourts Inclosure, Forest of Dean. Dark under shadows soft ground hides heavy footsteps paced by lone walkers (((((((((((----)))))))))) These posts were scheduled to continue the series, as I’m offline at present. I can’t respond to comments, likes, follows, or questions. But, please interact. I’ll do my best to catch up with everything on my return. …

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#Words and #PictureOfTheDay: 15/May/22

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography, Poetry6 Comments

Path through mature beech trees. Green is the spring Fresh the growth Tall the trees Dappled the path Where many feet Have trod (((((((((((----)))))))))) These posts were scheduled to continue the series. I’m offline now, so can’t respond to comments, likes, follows, or questions. Please interact. I’ll do my best to catch up with everything …

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#Words and #PictureOfTheDay: 14/May/22

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography6 Comments

A brook in the Forest of Dean. The water flowing here in a small brook originates in hills some miles away and runs through an enclosure fenced off to protect our beavers, an experiment in water management to prevent future flooding of the village the stream eventually flows through on its way to the River …

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#Words and #PictureOfTheDay: 13/May/22

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Nature, Photography2 Comments

Beech saplings in the Forest of Dean. Young trees sprout the fresh green of spring as they line a wandering path through the Forest of Dean. Walkers and mountain bikers have made this track over the years. Sometimes, if it’s quiet, deer can be seen here. They’ll stop grazing and look across with curiosity rather …

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