Back to Georgia at last, on May 20, & then almost straight away to Lali's family in East Georgia. This is the country's main grape and wine region, which has just hosted an annual international wine conference, at which a kvevri (clay wine container) from the 6th century, and another with a 4-tonne capacity, were displayed). Here are some scenes from Lali's parents' vineyard, early grape buds
Swans, Stirling University
Just reflections
Two Hanmers at the family's coat-of-arms
Top: some faithfully copied gargoyles at a friend's house near Liverpool, England
All black & white today, from colour originals. Top 1 is Edinburgh, bottom 2 are near Dunblane.
Top 2 - the beautiful capital of Scotland (it took some doing to get the tones in the top shot separated, from a colour original)
Lali and a police box from another century (not the same as the one Doctor Who uses)
View from our hostess's house
These, dear reader, are beach houses. How much one costs depends on its location in Britain. One of these, in Bognor Regis, on England's South Coast, will set you back 15000. GBP, pounds, that is. For the privilege of going to this particular bit of coast, opening the door, and having your time, your picnic or read or sunbathe or chess game, as often as you want.
Bluebells in the forest, near Bristol
More tree climbing, Mark behind the lens. it was a silver birch, about a 50-footer, nice views of the village from the top
Tree climbing lesson with Mark Petrauskas outside his house. Great fun!
The top one's a composite from 2 photos of Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, England's most famous view. Acrylic on Canvas. The bottom is Jackie's version of a photo of mine of upper Ushguli, Svaneti. Acrylic on masonite. Both of these are her gifts for our house in Svaneti, yet to be bought but we're hoping. Thank you so much Jackie!
Just a few paintings to liven the place up a bit - from the owner's 19th century European travels
Happy Birthday Dad!
I came across this lovely old mirror and decided to use it as a frame for some group portraits. As I'd hoped, the damaged reflecting surface only added to the mood of the resulting shots. Light was low and I wasn't allowed to use tripod or flash, but it was a great experiment anyway, one I'd return to for more of the same, given the chance
This is the "Pope's Cabinet", once owned by a 17th century pope and then bought by Stourhead's owner on his travels, and recently restored at great cost - read about it here if you're interested further
