Male bees are almost swarming around our bee hotels as the females emerge. I have never seen so many brimstone and holly blue butterflies and there are ladybirds galore. Queen bumblebees are underfoot looking for nesting holes and there are caterpillars underneath a lot of the new leaves - to the delight of the bluetits. Perhaps this is a regional thing?

It has been glorious. I got sunburned on the bowling green, where I also shifted a few pints of "Abbot". Not a camera in sight ! What would CAMRA think of it?

You speak of 'planning a trip' as if the experience will be dominated by which lenses you select. It is doomed to failure! The only lens you need is the A series 2.8/50mm macro and, if you are desperate, an F series 1,7X Auto Focus adapter to go with it. The only time you will need more is for highly specific purposes such as wide angle and high telephoto distances - and both of these will dominate what you do and where you go. The humble 50mm will range from centimeters to infinity - provided you have both it and a camera with you as well!

Wow. If youth in my day had this sort of place in which to congregate the world might have emerged differently. Great composition with (as you say) super colours.

Wonderful use of a great find ! (what's in that feeder??)

Then you should go there. Fantastic fish and chips - unfortunately, the gulls are in full agreement!

Super photos of a lovely place - IF you can find somewhere to park!

A convert ! Whoopee!

I have always avoided buying a K70 due to the risk of solenoid failure. M42 lenses won't be affected by it so I might get one now for that specific, dedicated use. Thank you. ... There is always something to learn.

Yes, but when you view it full sized you don't see that. All you get is a close-up of the main subject - and it's first class.