Wild ponies

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I went for a walk up Firle Escarpment the other day. As I reached the top and looked back cloud enveloped me, a watery greyness that cleared as quickly as it had arrived, leaving a rainbow behind. In the distance dark curtains of rain swept across The Weald. On the way back down I encountered a herd of ponies. As I skirted around them one trotted over to investigate.

Donations to worthy causes...

I've just donated money to two causes I find worthy. They were the Celia Hammond Animal Trust and Sea Shepherd

Celia Hammond's Lewisham branch was where we found the beautiful cats we take care of; the trust do an amazing job trying to give animals a better quality of life and frequently seem to face overwhelming numbers needing care and attention. I'd suggest very strongly that if you're thinking of co-habiting with an animal you start here and avoid breeders and the like who are doing nothing but exacerbate the problem of too many animals and too few homes to give them the love they all deserve.

The crews of the Sea Shepherd vessels deserve a special mention for laying their lives on the line for a cause they believe in. They don't stand by and 'bear witness', they actually stand up for those that can't defend themselves and stand against illegal whaling activity when governments around the world will not.

Which reminds of this great article I read: Scientists say dolphins should be treated as 'non-human persons'. Too true. One day. And hopefully soon.

Hiatus...

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I've had a busy August which was dominated by getting married. This was a tremendously exciting and beautiful day; blogging has thus been far from my thoughts.

After the wedding we went to Cornwall for a few days, a part of the UK I hadn't visited before. We visited the typical tourist attractions which I'm really pleased we did as both the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan are amazing. Eden had shades of Logan's Run about it, I was expecting to be summoned to Carousel at any moment.

Cornwall is geared up for tourism, there are B&B's everywhere though booking ahead is essential during the summer months. We stayed at The Avalon guest house in Tintagel and The Chapel guest house near St Austell, both of which were lovely and I'd recommend without hesitation.

I would however mention that on our first night, shattered from a seven hour drive, we ate at a place called The Olive Garden which is just next door to The Avalon in Tintagel. Avoid. All of the worst food I've been served in this country has been at so-called Italian restaurants, perhaps because people who can't actually cook think it is an easy option.

Cornwall was lovely, but all the stories about getting there are true... it takes a day in itself.