Monday, July 28, 2008

The Birds

Just to prove that amongst all the financial angst and budgetary gloom it is possible to have a good time without spending too much money... Karen and I, as part of our 3rd wedding anniversary celebrations last Wednesday, took the kids to Moreton-in-Marsh and visited a lovely falconry centre and arboretum whose exact name and location (somewhere outside M-in-M*) temporarily escape me.

If you’re a fan of birds of prey then this is the place to be. If talons and vicious beakery give you the heebie-jeebies then perhaps you’d be better of spending a day at ‘the mall’...

As for me, I was making like Alfred Hitchcock. And here are a few pics to prove it.

(Click on the pics to see a larger version...)


The day was rounded off with a kindly babysitter to take care of the kids while Karen and I headed off to Warwick and The Saxon Mill for a gorgeous anniversary meal. Naturally, given the theme of the day, I selected yet another bird from the Mill’s superlative menu – not an endangered one I hasten to add (though I doubt it had felt particularly safe at the moment of termination) – a spit roasted chicken. It was very satisfying...

Please keep any filthy comment to yourselves. This is a family show.

*Batsford Arboretum and Garden Centre

11 comments:

Annie G said...

Fabulous photos Steve. You took these? What make of camera have you got?

It sounds as though you had a wonderful day. Happy Anniversary!

Anonymous said...

Roasted Kite or Eagle might be kinda fun...

Steve said...

Thanks Annie. The camera is a Fujifilm FinePix S5700 digital. I don't usually get on well with digital cameras but this one converted me.

Might be a bit stringy though Mutley - according to the falconer birds of prey have poor stamina and not great muscle tone!

The Sagittarian said...

Snap, Steve! My camera is a Fujifilm Finepix s5600 digital and it hasn't put me wrong yet! Mind you, those are great bird pix you have taken. Looks like a fun place for kids. That Saxon Mill looks familiar to me...I wonder if I drank there once? (They didn't have a wanted poster up did they??)

Steve said...

Hey hey hey - great minds, Amanda, great minds. It is a great camera and easy to use. As close to the standard of an SLR as any I've come across which is why I like it so much. I got lucky with the photos mind you - Karen is much a better photographer than me. As for The Saxon Mill - didn't see any wanted posters but the maitre d' looked very jittery. A lot of the staff there seem to be antipodean which suggests it's got a lure for the good people down under... so who knows. Maybe you have graced the mill with your superlative wine tasting skills?

Rol said...

"Please keep any filthy comment to yourselves. This is a family show."

Really? Have you changed the rating?

The Poet Laura-eate said...

Great photos indeed. Yes I've heard of the Saxon Mill as one of the nicer eateries in Warwickshire.

Good that you and Karen managed to have a few hours alone in the evening.

However much people love their kids I think the odd evening/weekend alone together to focus on each other/keep the romance alive is also essential!

Glenda Young said...

They give me the heeby jeebies but they really are stunning birds.

Steve said...

Rol, I've downgraded it from an R18 to just an ordinary 18. Somewhere between The Simpsons and Debbie Does Dallas.

Laura, that was our thinking exactly!

They were stunning birds Nora and I would have loved to have held one... alas that was a privilege restricted to the children in the audience for some reason (apart from the bald eagle which was held by the falconer only).

-eve- said...

Oh... what beautiful pics! You're a great photographer, Steve! :-)

Steve said...

Thank you, Eve - though I have to say that my wife is much better. :-)