Of battling storms.

I've just spent four days inhabiting a tent in the Brecon Beacons at the delightful Greenman festival.

Despite its uncommercial charm and beautiful setting it has a lot of things going for it that other festivals must dream of. Or not.

Questing was taken to new levels as armed only with sword of grass me and my trusty henchman vainly attempted to fight off storm clouds in the hawthorn arena.

Things to find in the countryside II.

No 2. Magic trees.

Trees that have:

Watched armies march by,
Watched miners delve deep,
Watched colours change.

Things to find in the countryside.

No 1. A burnt out car.

Strange the things you find abandoned. Take this car - a Rover 200 series, not that it matters - for instance. Driven to a remote moor hidden by gorse and set alight.

It burnt so hot the glass had melted. Maybe I should have sold it as art.

Tigers, frogs and orchids.

350 new species have been discovered in the past decade in the Eastern Himalayas.
They may vanish quicker than you can say global warming.

Read here.

Rights for native people.

Today marks the UN's Indigenous Peoples' Day.
The UK government refuses to ratify this law.

Read about it here

Nature's miracles: spider webs.

Taking photos like this on Polaroid, when you forget your close-up lens is a drag.
But such is life and you have to work within the limitations of your own imagination.

So anyway - I like these webs. I like their ordered complexity and their seemingly self-aware beauty. Why else would they perch in the dawn light twinkling with dew if not to stupify?

In other news. I've had a lake party and a road party this week. Both previously underestimated occupations.

Small world.

I think about this person a lot. I hope they're alright, but I haven't had a reply for a while...

If they see this photo maybe they will get in touch. They know who they are. No one else need apply.

Something for the weekend.

http://www.plant-talk.org/current-news.htm

Click the link to enlighten oneself about one's environment.