Smoke and mirrors

Bird watching round Blackford Pond today. Apart from the usual mallards and swans and gulls, we saw a grebe. And a dunnock. And lots of robins. Or it may have been the same robin following us along for a laugh. Because each time it sang, we stopped and gazed reverentially. Often for quite some time. We didn’t move until he’d finished (and moved on to the next bench). I’m sure he’s never seen that behaviour from a group of humans before. I must say, after the fourth time, I got a teensy bit bored with this, preferring to chat quietly to others in the group who also found it a teensy bit boring.

In the afternoon I met up with the Kiwi visitors at the Camera Obscura. I haven’t been there since going with my granny in the 60s. And I expect I won’t be going back for another six decades or so… Not that it wasn’t fun. It was- with the kids. But it was a dull day, so the image in the camera wasn’t too bright.

But the rest of the many exhibits were excellent! Mirrors, lights, optical illusions - we had such a laugh and I took many photos in the semi-darkness. I was pleased once again how the E-P5 handled the (lack of) light. And I loved having willing models - the kids are used to posing for their dad.

There was a great illusion where it appeared the person’s head was on a silver platter on a table. And one in a room where the child was larger than mum - you know the kind. A wee boy photo-bombed our shot and stood in the middle. His name was Connor. He was going crazy with all the lights and mirror corridors. As we left we heard the mum calling, ‘Connor? Connor! CONNOR!!’

There was one metal bridge with flashing lights whizzing all around. The bridge didn’t move, but I stood on it and immediately felt seasick and had to come off. The others thought it was marvellous.

The place was FULL of kids yelling in all languages. Had to go and have a beer afterwards to recover. The Kiwis are heading off to Paris now. It was great to catch up with them again, and so nice to meet the kids. Maybe they’ll come back to live here - they felt at home!

btw - S’s feet are not that big!