Like the Phoenix from the Flames, I Must Burn and Rise Again

 Every year that passes always brings new sights, new wonders and some new places.
2018 was no different as I continued my journeys through the natural world around us.

Let's not forget however, that the natural world is, us, and is within, us. We are part, not apart from it. Something which is all too easy to forget in the trappings of the current human paradigm we inhabit. It needs to be cherished and respected.

My wanders never left these shores in 2018 - well unless you include the Isle of Wight, which to some is another world (including me) rather than another country - but sometimes you don't have to travel to the ends of the Earth to find beauty and wonder. It can be right in your backyard without it literally costing the Earth, and quite often without a lot of people knowing about it.
I travelled furthest north to Cumbria, where glorious soaring Ospreys held me enthralled as I watched them raising a family from the shores of the Lake District in the Summer, furthest south as Devon to see the Teign Valley in all it's burgeoning early Spring glory, and to the Starlings at Ham Wall in Somerset, that thrilled me to the core and brought a tear to my eye in Winter with their mass murmurations.
 In between saw me pour through Dorset, Gloucestershire, Sussex, Surrey, Suffolk and Norfolk and my stunning home county of Hampshire which never fails to inspire. All in a year celebrating half a century on this blue ball. I was truly blessed.

This year will probably be best remembered for it's heatwave. Seemingly endless dry steamy days that almost dried my large wildlife pond to a puddle.
Whether in the short term it has helped nature or hindered it, only time will tell. Personally I worry about the long term effects and try to appreciate everything, every day because I fear the world in which we know it will change profoundly and very soon.

Rather than let this cloud my outlook, the focus of my attention and essentially my reasons for producing this pictorial journey through nature is firstly, to broadcast the amazing planet that we stride across and not least, to help myself realise the place I have in the great scheme of things and help me deal with the pressures that can consume us day to day. It really is one of the best medicines, and it's free too.

My thanks to all of you that have bothered to stop and take five minutes of your time time to look through my eyes and camera lens into our natural world via my blog. I've have been fortunate to have people view from across the globe : Iran, Iraq, Canada, Falkland Islands, Peru, New Zealand, Australia, Philippines, Russia, UAE, Bolivia and France to name but a few, and to the people who share my posts across the internet ether. Thanks Phil 'B' Badgerman, you're a real pal and to my beautiful wife Sarah who I adore and helps me stay afloat through the grey days.
I occasionally share my days out walking with my good friend Chris as some who read the blog will know, and whose dry wit, excellent taste in music and photographic skills make for a great walking companion, even in the dirtiest of weather and quietest of days sat in lonely hide somewhere, top man.

The title of this track I chose with regards to the cycle of the seasons and of life. Life resets and begins again but never stops... even if you reach the mountain. Let's enjoy the ride as best as we can. 

I hope you enjoy my yearly compilation on the link below, encapsulating a year and not a few miles into a few minutes.
Sit down and take a break for a while, put your feet up. Pour a glass of whatever and savour. There are some fantastic things to see out there. I intend to find some of them next year and meet you back here. You could always go and find some for yourselves too?

Enjoy X

My thanks, hope to see you next year,

All the best

Smudger xxxxx

 

The title of this post is a line taken from the track 'Mountain' by Dreadzone from their LP 'Dread Times' released in 2017.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPhCkaWRNro