If It Keeps On Rainin', Levee's Goin' To Break!

 If it keeps on rainin', Levee's goin' to break,

 When the Levee breaks I'll have no place to stay.

My Olympic Dream has been well and truly shattered by 2 drug soaked cheats. What do I tell my grandsons now, "whatever you do in life just CHEAT and all well and good if you get away with it, if not some FOOL will let you off later, in the name of your human rights". Don't this disgusting pair even have the self dignity to bow out gracefully and not mar what is the greatest sporting showcase in the world. For my part the TV won't even go on, and as for ticket holders, every arse on a seat in that stadium when these 2 perform is a vote to say 'drug abuse' is OK - search your own conscience.

That's the Posh Sausage, aka David Frampton, with Sheila Edwards at The Swan public house last night where the latter took us out for an impromptu dinner. Dave, who I don't see as often as I used to, was also a Sea Captain working on a number of ships together as we both rose through the ranks. Despite the rain not easing for a second we had a great evening, ending with a look at the new laser lights along the sea front - a little disappointing.

The rain did abate overnight, but by early morning it had once again been replaced by dense fog but not enough to deter a run to Portland Bill.

Unfortunately, there was little to see except at the Bird Observatory where the last of the 4 BEDSTRAW HAWK MOTHs had emerged from the chrysalis,

this strange FUNGI was found by the roadside

and not far away a COMMON BUZZARD was surveying the possibilities of a meal from a high perch,

at least until I got too close.

The final photograph of the day was of LACY SCORPIONWEED (see Comments) as the rain started again at noon. So, I will finish with a return to

 

CHINA 

 

 

and the city of Xi'an which has more than just the Terracotta Warriors. These street scenes were taken in the Muslim Quarter where there is much to do and see among some lovely people.

A short flight to the capital Beijing and the longest covered Corridor in the World

and The Forbidden City.

 

The base of my second favourite man made Wonder of the World is a good vantage point to survey the

 

climb that was before us.

 

 

 

Physical fitness prevents most from going too far, but we did at least make it to the Guard House on the skyline where,

looking back you get a better idea of the enormity of this structure. It was better still from the aircraft at fairly low level.

Great Wild Goose Temple

where intricate repairs to the structure were underway.

The Temple of the Great Harvest.

and finally a visit to a silk spinning factory.

Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan,

Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan,
Got what it takes to make a mountain man leave his home.

                                                                    Memphis Minnie

Oliver's Army - Elvis Costello

No overnight rain was recorded but at precisely 07:00, just as I was slipping on my coat (in July??) it started again with little sign of it stopping. Looks like another day of photograph editing (no bad thing) and what might have been another post totally reliant on archive material except for a sudden rush of mails from some of my mates. Firstly, and most exciting given distance and country, a note and photos from my new found Israeli friends from Laos.

 Yarden (Jordan) Lamy Casoy and lady-friend Deia

Hello!! How are you? what's new? off on a new adventure? We are still in China, Deia is flying home soon and I'm moving on to Mongolia. I promised I'll send you some pictures. Hope all is well Yarden and Deia.

Unable to identify this one yet, but bet someone out there can do it!

Gathering of Chinese Butterflies.

PLUMBEOUS WATER REDSTART, thank you both so much for being in touch, Israel here I come!

No less important, in fact as far as Great British rarity goes about as scarce as you can get, are these Heart Stopping images of

LADY SLIPPER ORCHID

Bowie and Sheila are recently returned from Cumbria where the only colony, in this country, of this mega wild flower now exists. 

From John Gifford came this photo of a GARDEN CARPET MOTH, in no way rare but a delicate natural beauty for all that. Thanks go to all of those above.

The letter from Yarden and Deia in China also gave me some direction into which part of the archive I should delve, and came up with The Terracotta Army. A collection of sculptures depicting the armies of Quin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, it is a form of funerary art that was buried with the Emperor in 210–209 BC and whose purpose was to protect him in his afterlife, and to make sure that he had people to rule over. The figures, dating from 3rd century BC, were discovered in 1974 by some local farmers digging a well in Lintong District, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. The figures vary in height according to their roles, with the tallest being the generals and also include warriors, chariots and horses. Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the army there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried close to the Emperor's Mausoleum. Other terracotta non-military figures were also found in other pits and include officials, acrobats, strongmen and musicians.

A bespoke building has now been erected over the excavation, covering a vast area,

which also includes a number of out-buildings and annexes.

As the world witnessed at the Beijing Olympic Games, here too the Chinese eye for tasteful style and attention to detail is also shows.

Entrance and vestibule are, like the rest of the museum, spacious, well ventilated and lit to best advantage,

while in the main auditorium seating and walkways are designed for best viewing.

These would be the first sights the spectator gets on entering the vast room

constructed to cove the 3 pits containing the army,

which I, as a mere mortal, could only describe as breathtaking.

Along with the pits, and at the far end of the building,

stand a selection of exhibits more or less at eye-level giving a completely different prospective.

While most of the characters were found in natural terracotta, some were found to be painted with much of the decoration intact.

Like the proverbial Iceberg, most of the army remains uncovered and so far lost to view but,

along with a massive amount of reclamation eventually all will be revealed, I'd like to think of a return there when it is!

Beyond the main site, but attached, is a smaller museum which houses many of the smaller and more delicate artifacts found at the dig including Emperor Quin Shi Huang's State Coach and team of horses.

A kneeling Foot Soldier

Mounted Pipes and Drums

and who knows?

Ever since a visit to Cambodia in 2003 and in turn the 250 square mile archaeological complex (much still afforested) that is Angkor Wat it has been, and still remains, my No1 favourite 'Man Made' Wonder of the World. Not only for the familiar Main Temple or Angkor Thom, Great Elephant Terrace, Pre Rup Temple ruins and the Battle for the Sea of Milk fresco but for the whole legacy of what was the Khmer Empire. This would be closely followed by The Great Wall of China at No2 and even closer at No3 by what no photograph could ever properly portray.

At the end of an amazing day you can take your own Mini Warrior home with you.

Finally a last minute thought. Today I had consigned about 30 'fine wine' bottles (empty I hasten to add) to the recycle bin, there being no room for such things in my intended new life, then had the thought that someone out there may collect such items. Mostly claret, including all 5 'first growths' (Haut-Brion, Latour, Lafite Rothschild, Margaux and Mouton Rothschild) but other 'classics' such as Cheval Blanc and Opus One. Most, if not all, labels remain in-tact the only proviso being this must be on a collect basis only.
Please advise by e-Mail including telephone number to captbagsy@btinternet.com

Jenny Wren - Paul McCartney

Didn't even need to get out of the bunk to suss the weather as at 05:00 the wind was rattling the pains and by 07:00 the rain had started in earnest. It stayed that way all day, hence a return to the archive for a few photos of the Wren Family, and associates, to brighten an otherwise dreadful day.

 

RED-BACKED FAIRY-WREN - The Kakadu, Northern Territory, Australia

APOLONER'S MARSH WREN - Cerro Guadalupe, Colombia

BAR-BACKED WREN - Hatto Pinero, Venezuela

 BEWICK'S WREN - Cape May, New Jersey, USA

SUPERB FAIRY-WREN (male)

SUPERB FAIRY-WREN (female) - both Sydney, Australia

 

FALKLAND'S GRASS WREN - Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

MUNCHIQUE WOOD-WREN - Doradal, Colombia

GRASS WREN -  Costanera Sur, Buenos Aires, Argentina

 

HOUSE WREN -  Oklahoma City, USA

GREY-BREASTED WOOD-WREN - San Lorenzo, Colombia

MARSH WREN - McQueen's Slough, British Columbia, Canada

 

SPLENDID FAIRY-WREN (male) 

SPLENDID FAIRY-WREN (female) - both Walpole, Western Australia
and litterally moments before clicking the button to post, we received the following:-

SAT 21 JULY 2012     OPENING DAY FOR THE FINE FOUNDATION CHESIL BEACH CENTRE

12 noon to 5pm.  This will be a day for volunteers and the local community to celebrate the opening of the new Chesil Beach Centre. There will be family activities, outdoor food, and entertainment by local choirs – Quangle Wangles and Coastal Voices. Free event, everybody welcome.   For more information ring Emily on 07824438975.  The Centre is half way along the Causeway from Weymouth to Portland, on the Portland Beach Road (A354). Many Thanks go to the sender.