Skywatch Friday :

It's freezing today but we do have blue sky and sunshine ... but lots of wind .. which makes it colder ! In Gauteng, it's winter so we expect to be cold ... this is a cold front that is sweeping up from the Cape ... brrrr ...

.. we do get days like this too ... grey and cloudy ... and cold of course, and on this day a week or so ago .. the sun peeped through for just a moment highlighting this copper coloured tree in the distance ... I happened to be standing at my kitchen window and grabbed the camera before the sunlight faded and turned the 'copper-coloured-tree' into just an ordinary tree ..

For even more spectacular skies around the world visit Skywatch

Up, close and personal ...

... that's what you see when on the Xstrata Treetop Walkway in Kew Gardens in London ..



... a treetop walkway is exactly what it is ... a platform walkway built at treetop height ..



One of the mum's, whose son does karate on the same day as Bradley, was saying yesterday that she and her hubby are flying off to London today .. which made me think of our last trip - to Ireland, stopping off in London for a few days on our way home. On one of the days, hubby and I visited and walked around the most beautiful Kew Gardens. I love gardens, so this was special for me!!!! On our walk around we came across the treetop walkway and climbed the steps into the tree canopy, 18 metres above the ground ..

Quite a unique experience walking at the same level as the tops of the trees ..

.. where all along are 'pausing' areas with small plaques such as this one which reads "89 million trees in England live in fields, hedges, orchards, gardens, parks and streets" ...

There is also a lift for those who cannot climb the stairs ...

At the base of the walkway is a replica of a fallen tree to show how a tree 'works' with a simple diagram and explanation for children ...

On the board is a quote by Lucy Larcom :

"He who plants a tree plants hope"

Wish we were flying off to London like the 'karate mum' and her hubby .. !!!

Weekly Winners : 17 - 24 April

Monday : Had a very busy day yesterday ... houseful of family !!! .. and wasn't able to finish putting up my Weekly Winners .. not that there are many photos .... 'cos ... the week started with lovely warm blue skies ...


... and then the wind blew ... scattering more leaves around the garden and pool ...


.. then the rain came ... and stayed ... and stayed

.... lovely weather for a good glass of Pinotage from Doolhof Wine Estates in Wellington ... "A burst of chocolate/mocha aromas, rich black cherries, coffee and almonds" .. now how can you resist ? !!! ... especially with an alluring label like this one ..


A week's worth of photos wouldn't be the same without one of our gorgeous grandchildren even though he is one tooth less !!

For more Weekly Winners visit Lotus' blog

Come with me .....

.. while we walk along the banks of the River Martin, towards the Blarney Castle, Co. Cork ...

... the path leading to the Castle meanders through part of the 60 acres of parkland ...

... with trees in their autumnal shades ...

.... crossing over the Blarney River we come across the Castle reaching high above it's rocky foundation ...

... no .. not up these steps ..

.. we must pass the tower ...

... is Sleeping Beauty in her slumber, waiting for her handsome Prince inside the castle surrounded with thorny rose bushes and climbers ...? ...



... let's enter the gate ...

... and climb 127 very narrow steps ....

.. not quite at the top ... but take a breather and enjoy the view .... overlooking the castle wall and road below it ...
... just like the doves ...


... phew .. at the top of the Castle's keep where the man who-holds-you-ever-so-tightly-while -you-bend-backwards-pursing-your-lips-to-kiss-the-Blarney Stone ... awaits his next 'victim' ...

.... hubby !! ... actually it was me .... hubby didn't want a turn (!) .. but was kind-of coerced !

... while I leaned over the battlements to take in the beauty of the surroundings

The 'Wow' factor !

Choosing overall photos from hundreds and hundreds we took, between hubby and I, was a mammoth task!!!! So have picked a few that really made me go ...


.... WOW ..... to the grass which is the greenest of greens ...

... the trees .... scattered in parks like this at Blarney Castle, Co. Cork ..

.... and forests with autumn colours ...

... the mountains, reminiscent of our Cape mountains, mirrored lakes - in the Connemara National Park, Co. Galway

... the barren, rocky landscape of The Burren, Co. Clare which extended for miles and miles ...

... the exquisite beauty of the original Waterford Crystal ...

.. which showroom is filled with sparkling works of art like this beautiful huge vase ....

(sadly, it's only the showroom left with a few people manning it as the entire factory closed down due to the recession and has relocated to Poland. There are still some items - genuine Waterford, made in Ireland - left for sale .... hubby bought me the most beautiful bud vase which has the Waterford stamp on the base! Exquisite !! Shall have to take a photo of it !! )

... and this magnificent chandelier which sparkles with the light shining through the large window ..

... to the centuries old buildings ... like this Round Tower reaching 30 mtrs which stands at the 6th century monastic site established by St Stephen in Glendalough, Co. Wicklow .. (first thoughts that came to mind was ... "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair ...")

... and another centuries-old rocky stronghold which "rises dramatically out of the Tipperary plains". It dates back to the 4th/5th Century. The museum houses treasures including The St Patrick's Cross - St Patrick visited Cashel in 450. In future posts, I will show more of this magnificent medievial complex.

... to the colour of the calm sea at Mizen Head, Co. Cork - the furthest south-westerly point of Ireland ...

... and I was there ....

... to the majestic Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare, which rise to a height of 200 mtrs above the sea and stretch for 8 kms ... a little hazy on the day we went

.. but it was breathtaking .... we walked from that castle perched on top .. to the brownish area above that huge cave in the photo above

.. to the misty plains and castles ...

... and the hundreds of statues .... this one being one of my favourites ... she stands at Rosses Point, Co. Sligo 'watching and waiting for loved ones to return from the sea'

... and then of course there were all the churches and abbeys with magnificent ceilings, interiors and stained glass windows ... this reflection of the beautiful colours caught my eye in the Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin which is the oldest church in Ireland ..

... not forgetting all the pubs including this one simply called The Bank ... as it was a bank! (We both had a very good meal whilst sipping my French wine and hubby drinking his Guinness!)

... and then ... of course .... you can't visit Ireland without kissing the Blarney Stone ... !!!

... and visiting the Guinness Storehouse and having a Guinness ... cheers !!