Migrating Twitpics: December 2010

Be nice to your turkeys this Christmas 13dec10

O starfish of wonder 16dec10

Ghostly snowman in the park 18dec10

Last day of the Christkindelmarkt 19dec10

Nelson Mandela Garden, Leeds 19dec10

The Skipton cygnets, almost fully grown now 20dec10

Ready for blood red skies tomorrow morning - solstice eclipse 5.30-7.30am, UK time 20dec10

Cat caught climbing clothes airer 281210

In bed reading our Christmas presents: TS Eliot and Cat Morgan 291210

Time frozen - dandelion clock 291210

Thawing fountains... 30dec10

...the last berg 30dec10

Watching macaws in the rainforest (Tropical World, Leeds) 30dec10

Migrating Twitpics: February 2011

Fishes' Football Pitch, Gotts Park, Armley 18feb11

Ghostly face in a lightning-struck tree by the towpath 18feb11

Sudden wintry shower today - strayed onto the golf course behind Gotts Park, lost in mist and snow... 19feb11

...before finding our way down to the narrow strip of ancient woodland by the canal - first shoots of bluebells and wild garlic 19feb11

Leopard Piglets, MVUF 21feb11

Snowdrops in Sleet, Meanwood Valley Urban Farm 21feb11

Wet Yorkshire days reminding me of my grandfather, the air smelling of his Donegal tweed, vice-versa it must have been in those days 21feb11

Golden Ice Owl 25feb11

Migrating Twitpics: March 2011

Take us away too, Tardis! 8Mar11

Grandad went past the Kafka Museum, Prague (Small brown building by the water) 11Mar11

Just as 'Frankenstein's Wedding' goes live over in Kirkstall... 19Mar11


Armley Supermoon

Armley Supermoon...

Abandoned armband by the Martial Arts Centre (Orange Armband, 10th Dan) 23Mar11

Early violets as we rush from school to ballet 23Mar11

The remains of a wooden icebreaker lie submerged - in mirror writing on the canal 24Mar11

Tiny picnic by the canal

Red Cross Crane 27Mar11

Leeds Sunrise 29Mar11

Who was that masked physicist: glued to the viaduct, Burley 29Mar11

Migrating Twitpics: April 2011

Route 66 1April11

Migrating Dyson left behind by the herd

Vjollca with Tinfish & Shadowfish 7April11

283 Paper cranes folded in 1 hour for Japan, Leeds Corn Exchange 16April11

Geese, Leeds Liverpool Canal 6April11

Ducks, on our way to Leeds 6April11

Vjollca in Speedwell 9April11

On a sea of speedwell 9April11

Grassfish & Speedwell 9April11

Bud


Butterfly patch between Leeds Livepool Canal/River Aire

Shhh...

Daisyblossom

Dogtired

Saltaire, & the Fate of Bobbins and Ducklings

Today we walked into Leeds from Armley Mills and heard that these two are the last surviving mallard ducklings on our stretch of the Leeds Liverpool Canal - some of the others having been killed by drakes. We watched them while the mother duck chased a dog down to the next lock. No sign of the geese, which have probably taken their goslings across the towpath to the river, where there is more space and shelter.



Then by train to Salts Mill in Saltaire, where we find crumhorns, lyres and balalaikas, digital flowers, bobbins beaten into biros and a grey heron picking its way slowly across the river, looking like Professor Yaffle on stilts.



http://www.saltsmill.org.uk/

Goslings and the Nelson Mandela Garden

Our friends the geese had a surprise for us this morning: seven goslings swimming.

Amongst the usual riverbank rubbish the packaging from two new fishing rods, like eel skins shed under the bridge.

'It is an exciting moment for me, when I see a blade of grass or a leaf on a tree, when I listen to birds chirping and running water in a stream, and for me to see this garden, reminds me of my childhood and happy days.

This makes me in peace with myself, in peace with the entire world, and in peace with the people of Leeds.'

Nelson Mandela, Millenium Square, Leeds, 30th April 2001.

The garden design recalls Nelson Mandela's imprisonment on Robben Island and his walk to freedom.

'Sisuka Enkulekweni Siphikelele Phambili' - From Freedom to the Future.

Vjollca is standing on the 'Freedom Path', which incorporates resin blocks decorated with the footprints of Leeds and Durban children.

Charming

• 
  
  Against Enemies

• Against the evils of your enemies:


• Evil eye


• Evil tongue


• Evil mind




• Three powers of the Gods:


• The merciful word


• The singing word


• And the good word.

• Against Sorrow

• The charm of the Dagda's shield,


• Of the spear of Lugh, the Long-Handed,


• Of the flame-bright veil of Bridget.




• The charm the gods set for themselves


• When even their powers had failed.




• A charm to be said to the North, South, West and East


• When the night is black and sorrow drags at the soul.




• A charm to be said at sunrise


• When your eyes are red with weeping


• And the madness of grief is strong.




• A charm that has no words, only the silent incantation.

Versions of these charms were collected by Lady Wilde in Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms and Superstitions of Ireland, 1888.