Sounds just like that Leffe stuff !

I think we shall be missing one or two other things too before very long. Watching Ebay (like it or lump it) gives a very good indication of how things are progressing in general. The number of sellers who are gathering mountains of similar items - one presumes for very small outlays - and offering large job lots of them is increasing daily. They don't even differentiate brands and offer say, 5 -7 lenses or 10 SLR or even DSLR camera bodies in a heap. This trend isn't picking on any particular maker but appears to be saying that the whole idea of photography as we all know it is rapidly becoming history. Even relatively modern items that were purchased for 4 figures maybe five years ago (DA*300mm for example) are appearing for £150! If the box-shifters cannot make a go of it then where does that leave things?

This fellow was my all time favourite. He ruled the heap of rubble where they lived and was always fighting - hence only having half his right ear! How close did the one on the feeder let you approach? It was watching you very carefully.

The first one is better without the second - you provide an escape before one has considered all the possibilities of braving the darkness!

I think I prefer the first one - is there any left?
I'm guessing this was the boxed EBay item from last week? I'm glad I didn't bid or we would have been competing!

Everyone ought to know my love of the Meyer Optik Trioplan by now - in its many variants. This collection is (almost) pure, classic 100mm f2.8 and I dare you to step into this mind altering, fungal circus. Psycho-active fungus reaches its peak at Halloween. One is warned about the shaggy parasol but if you really have to eat it



Expect your vision to start wandering quite quickly. My neighbour's car, parked across the street took on an almost fine art appearance.


Which quickly morphed into a bewildering collection of mobile spheres



and which finally resolved into an invitation to enter some woodland that I used to know very well but that seemed to have shifted into a different dimension. It isn't what I once knew.



Come in - if you dare! .... It rustles and it drips - and one hits the back of your neck, causing an adrenaline fright.


And your attention is suddenly attracted to a bright red jewel (bottom left) in total contrast to the prevailing drab green !


And everything explodes into a fiery eruption of flames and sparks - but which will suddenly subside .....



and will present you with a smorgasbord of fungal delights to carry your experiences forwards with cheesey delights and with mobile cauliflowers and not forgetting the intense calling of tiny slime molds to finally ruin your woodland tour.



The slime mold mentioned at the end wishes it to be known that it has no relation to the various fungi with which it shares the same tree stump.

Lovely birds - always around but seldom seen - especially this close. Well done!

Don't start me off about the symbolism of the nave! The center point about which all else revolves - think 'navel' (we all have one) or in more modern times, 'nave plate', or hub cap - that pesky cover over the wheel nuts that sometimes comes loose, falls off and often overtakes the car to which it was affixed! Once you get into sacred geometry you can kiss sanity goodbye. (I haven't read Bond. I will try to get a copy).

I honestly can't understand this !

Beautiful image, in every respect - and perfect for a bit of education.

Most older fonts are octagonal.
They are generally found either just outside (in a baptistery) or just inside the West door of the church.
Symbolically, square shapes traditionally relate to matter or earthly things whereas a circle, being without beginning or end, relates to eternity and spiritual things.
An octagon is half way between a square and a circle, which is why fonts were made in this shape.
Similarly, it is placed at the entrance to the church to symbolise the transit from one state to the next. To wash away earthly stuff, leaving one clean and purified to progress. Unfortunately, many churches are completely unaware of these things and tear down their nasty, unwelcoming, cold stone thing and place a basin or some other 'nice' container in the body of the building in an effort to include all and everyone while destroying the essence of what they wish to do. .......... Sorry - I am a traditionalist!