Passing on the torch…

by wighteye

…or more precisely passing on the flame.  A good crowd of people gathered in Newport, county town of the Isle of Wight to watch the Olympic Torch pass through.  Wighteye was fortunate to witness the arrival of double gold medal winner Shirley Robertson in the High Street and the passing of the flame to the next runner.  What was truly heartening was the joy on Shirley’s face and her excitement despite having already achieved so much;  she clearly was aware of the honour in taking part in this tradition.  Less impressive, even off-putting were the sponsors lorries that passed blaring out music and reeking of commercialism, or am I just getting too old?

Video of East Cowes new homes fire

by wighteye

New homes destroyed in just a few minutes

by wighteye

Wighteye was concerned to see plumes of dark acrid smoke billowing above East Cowes this evening;  two new terraced homes built by Barratts and due to be made available by Spectrum Housing as shared ownership homes were engulfed by flames as firefighters fought to prevent the fire spreading to adjacent properties. Worrying to see how quickly the fire spread, fortunate that the houses were not yet occupied!

Shine…. silently

by wighteye

Leaving home I slipped the compilation CD into the car’s player and Nils Lofgren’s wonderful song put me into the right mood for a walk in the woods, Firestone Copse to be precise.  It felt as though summer had really arrived, my black jeans soaked up the sun’s rays and humidity levels were up.  Having skirted Wootton Creek, the footpath led upwards through pines, with little to be heard but occasional bird song.  A waving tail caught my attention, lit by a shaft of sunlight that had penetrated the canopy. The red squirrel soon vanished and the pathways led me higher, through beech woods where the freshness of new growth was beautifully illuminated, hopefully captured in the photograph!

Living in a box

by wighteye

Not a bad place to be on an overcast day; tracks become watercourses, dampness pervades.

Little treasure

by wighteye

From one little treasure, Wighteye’s Jack Russell, to another, this flint fossil of a sea urchin.  Found when dog walking on the stony banks of the river Medina at low tide, it’s markings are amazing; it’s a little compacted in shape, but easily recognisable.

Time lapse floating bridge

by wighteye

Too optimistic?

by wighteye

Not known for optimism, Wighteye has surprisingly been caught out by the weather here on the Isle of Wight today.  Cloudless blue sky gradually gave way to towering cumulonimbus resulting in a rainstorm on a trip into town.  Marooned in the car for 15 minutes due to lack of waterproof or umbrella, there was nothing to do but be mindful and make the most of it – hope you enjoy the short videos!

Buds

by wighteye

We all need buds, here are some of mine:

Spring and optimism

by wighteye

The dog gets wighteye out on a daily basis, this has led to further exploration of parts of the Isle of Wight that have been hiding until now.  The woodland near Belmont Farm, close to the crematorium, is deciduous and in need of management.  It was a joy to see new growth and even an owl peeking from it’s nesting box!