Photos and occasional pomes

Haiku Blog – Pictures and Words

  • Safe?

    I placed them safely
    And out of the way for once.
    But then I forgot.

    Amazing what you come across during an early morning walk in the park. Were they put there safely as I aimagine? Or lost, and then found by a stranger who kindly put them somewhere visible? Not that visible though, if you have lost your glassess…
    As someone who has managed to drop a pair of glasses over a cliff, I am not really in a position to criticise though.


  • Misty

    Ahead lies a path
    The destination misted.
    Turrets pierce the sky.

    A misty morning on Wollaton Park in Nottingham. Out of sight to the right is the lake. The resident deer will wade in the lake to cool down. Not that I have seen them yet, but one day I will capture that image. Wollaton Hall is rising through the mist at the end of the path. Hard to believe this was once someone’s back garden!


  • Wistful

    I can see the deer
    But why can’t I play with them?
    Maybe one day soon?

    The words will seem more relevant when I explain. Some people (not poor people) are lucky enough to have gardens, and gates, that back on to Wollaton Park. Which is where there are two herds of deer. Thst is where I found this guy, peering wisfully through his fence looking for friends.


  • Vaping

    Is anything worse
    Than being shrouded in smoke?
    Smells of vanilla.

    I don’t usually do street photography, but this pair caught my eye. Highlighted by a shaft of sunlight coming between the tall buildings of Nottingham;s Lace Market area, I just waited for the exhalation. I will never understand why anyone would deliberately damage their lungs, and look ridiculous at the same time.


  • Carousel

    Horses stride on poles.
    Victorian favourite
    For the modern age.

    The grounds of Wollaton Park play home to several events each year. These can range from veteran car rallies, music festivals, and a pop up cinema through to an old-fashioned fairground. The carousel remains an eternal favourite.


  • Haunted

    The ghosts of past lives
    Wander the formal gardens,
    Feeding off your fear.

    The stone steps leading up to the back of Wollaton Hall in Nottingham, from the Camelia House and formal gardens. It is known as the most haunted building in the county, and regular ghost hunts are organised for those prepared to be scared witless in the dark.


  • Riverside

    Beside the river
    Walking among the shadows,
    Warmed by evening sun.

    Just in case the title didn’t make sense, the river is visible through the trees on the right of the path, Found it?
    This was taken on a walk during a recent visit to Grassington in Yorkshire. Grassington is the village where All Creatures great and Small is set.
    One of the issues I face when taking photos as part of a holiday break with my wife is that I walk more slowly than she does. Apart from the obvious issue, that if I stop to take a photo I can look up to find I am left behind, there are photos like this one. I see it, I love it, and my wife is already walking through it. Sometimes it works, but other times I have to call her back to stand behind me so I can get a clean image. I know landscapes can be enhanced with people in them, but not always. In my humble opinion, of course…


  • Swan

    Marc Bolan rode one
    In the 1970s.
    It must have been big!

    I guess you need to be a certain age to get the reference. Well I am. There is something about a swan, especially when they are set against the snow, and you can just focus on the face. Is it still called a face on a bird? And is this a high key haiku?


  • Splash

    Powering through the waves,
    Challenged by the white water.
    Trying not to drown.

    At least you can’t see the face, so no problems with model release…
    Amongst other things, Nottingham is home to the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepont. It is a great place to visit for action shots of the paddlers practicing on the white water course.


  • Pointless

    Shall we play a game?
    Please, not hide and seek again.
    You always find me.

    Hiding in the long grass presents a problem for some. This deer is part of a herd in the local Stately home grounds – Wollaton Park. The hall is known for being Wayne Manor in one of the Batman films. The walls around the park are very old and thick, and when the film crew left they managed to knock down a great big chunk of it with one of the trucks. I would like to say it was repaired symapthetically with the old bricks, but that would not be the truth. There is a now a gleaming section of new orange brickwork. Why?