A Scattered Summer

Summer 2024 may have been a late bloomer (as I type, the sky is blue and the temperatures are set to climb into to the mid twenties), but it has given us all the impetus to seize the day when we have glimpsed those rays.  

The John Lennon quote "Life is what happens when you're busy making plans" couldn't be more apt this season.  It's been a mixed bag of work, promotion, unlikely connections, friendships and impromptu outings and with a world in turmoil, you have to grab life by the horns!

Before I get started on a couple of summer highlights, I'll fill you in on a recent addition to my camera kit.  Earlier in the year, I purchased a vintage 50mm lens, which just so happens to be compatible with my Nikon cameras.  

Helios lenses were widely produced by the USSR and are renowned for their signature "swirly bokeh" dappled light effect.  This one was purchased from a seller in Kiev and messages were exchanged before a deal was struck, as I was keen to establish first and foremost, that the seller was safe and actually in a position to sell.  He assured me that he was, although taking each day as it comes, and explained that the main risk at that time was power outages which might result in delays.  In the event, the lens not only turned up well within the time frame provided and in near mint vintage condition.

Sun has been in relatively short supply, so I'm still getting to grips with it.  I'm not convinced I've nailed the signature bokeh effect just yet and have barely had time to use it, but here are a few examples.  I like the quality of the glass and photos with this lens certainly have their own personality.

Back in June, we met up with fellow bloggers Vix (and partner, Jon) and Ann, aka Polyester Princess and her partner Jos, who were over from Belgium for their annual stay in Shropshire.  Unbelievably, this was a time when we we were still flicking on the heating and cursing the weather forecasters for their doom laden weather predictions.  

Our agreed destination, the NT's Dudmaston estate, provided plenty of outdoor and under cover options, from extensive parkland gardens through to the second hand book store, a modern art exhibition and of course, a pretty darn good tea room.  Needless to say, we did it all!  

In the event, despite the gathering clouds, the weather was kind to us.  We took a leisurely walk around the lake, spotted a snake, (which I spectacularly failed to photograph as I'd inadvertently knocked my focus into manual), dodged the rain and even glimpsed enough blue to make a pair of sailor's pants!

Dudmaston

Only room for four!  The gang, minus Gareth.

Pretty as a picture:  Ann and Vix

Lakeside

Even I can keep Mexican Fleabane alive!  This plant is the gift that keeps on giving.

Poppies

A very potted history before we head inside.  Dudmaston has been lived in by the same family through inheritance and marriage for over 875 years and never sold.  Its story started with a Norman knight and today Dudmaston is home to the Hamilton-Russell family.  On the day of our visit, the house had played host to a joint family birthday party the night before (an 18th and a 50th).  Marquees had been erected in the garden and according to our guide, the celebrations had continued until the break of dawn.

Fans of the British TV sit-com Only Fools and Horses, might expect me to make some joke about outsourcing work to Trotters Independent Traders at this point.  I'm not going to go there.  You don't need to hear it from me.

Loved this ancient oak table...

...and this exquisite peacock wallpaper.

Let there be light!

The art exhibition was fascinating.  Weirdly, I'm sure I took more photos of the art, but I've had an organisational blip and can't find them.  Anyway, if, like me, you don't know an awful lot about modern art, it's well worth a trip and I'm linking to Vix's post and more extensive coverage of the exhibition here: Vintage Vixen: A Day Trip to Dudmaston (vintagevixon.blogspot.com) and after a quick edit, Ann's post, which I've just spotted (our timing is impeccable!) Polyester Princess: Sunday pursuits and a Monday meet-up (polyester-princess.blogspot.com)

I found this artist's comment on the Spanish Civil War pretty absorbing, as did Ann.  The work portrays a cinema screen showing a clear picture of those in charge at the time being viewed by a sea of abstract figures, thereby conveying the importance (or lack of) placed upon the general public and their suffering.

All opinions/musings on art are welcomed at Dudmaston.  This one made us all chuckle.

After further refuelling at the orchard tea-room, it was kicking out time and we were forced to say our goodbyes.  As usual, Ann and Jos came bearing gifts.  I was treated to the cutest vintage woven bag, bangles, a statement necklace, book...

... and a vintage maxi skirt (which I wasted no time in wearing).

Jos also handed us a beautiful gift box of Belgian beers with the coolest drinking glass and a box of the finest Belgian chocolates, which are now a dim and distant memory.

Vix came armed with a supply of beauty products which never fail to excite me.  The Ethiopian Honey mask is amazing.  Now that The Body Shop is no more, I might need to explore making my own version. *Raids kitchen cupboard.*

Thanks all!  Same time next year?

The sadness at waving goodbye to Ann and Jos wasn't helped by another prolonged spell of gloomy weather, abbreviated briefly by a stonker of a day which luckily coincided with Kingswinford's answer to Glastonbury.  

Ashwood Field Fest took place over Glasto weekend at the farm a stone's throw from our house - and we were lucky enough to score free tickets to the farm's first event in return for some behind the scenes photos to document the day.  Thanks to my manager/Gareth for that arrangement. 

We arrived ahead of opening time in order that I could take photographs (just a fraction of which I'll bore you with here).  We were accompanied by our friends Paul and Nicola and family, who arrived in their recently converted and very throaty American Dodge street van.

We could not have asked for a better day.  The vibe was a million miles away from corporate festival with only a handful of rules.

I loved the hand painted signage...

...and this fella, who took up position next to the vintage tractor.

The staff were friendly and efficient.

Visitors and musicians began to stream in.  Not a helicopter or winnebago in sight!

The atmosphere was chilled with punters of all ages taking their positions on bales of hay and deckchairs.

Band merch...

The line up.

Set up and soundcheck.

Soon, the barn was rocking. 

Tyrannosaurus Nebulus

Gareth needed little coaxing to try and get the party started.

Headwired

Other photographers turned up....

...much to the amusement of my friend Nicola (below), who compared some of them to "Simon and Garfunkel" the fictional rival metal detectorists from the TV series Detectorists.

The festival was a huge success and plans are underway for a return next year.

A good time was had by all!