Thursday 29 June 2017

Öööh ... thingy?*

... otherwise known as "The Seaside Snack That Melts In Your Mouth, Not In Your Hand"

 Yes, it's time we put you out of your misery and revealed what last week's Item of Interest actually was. Despite cries of it being a facehugger (LẌ), an albino's penis head (Hound), and Winnie the Pooh cosplay porn (yes, thank you, Mr Peenee), the item in question was...

::drumroll::

A sea gooseberry (scientific name Pleurobrachia pileus)!


 These little blobs of jelly can be found around the coastlines of Great Britain and northern Europe from early summer to autumn, often washed ashore where they gleam like jewels on the sand.

* Thank you Mago for the post title. 

::

Friday 23 June 2017

Items of Interest: Gooseberry Fool


 Yes, it's back. After a little over a year four months since the last one, Items of Interest returns!

 What - you may be asking - has prompted this comeback? Well, just something I overheard from one of you. Oh, and that this is quick and easy as I have had (and will have) very little time to myselves what with getting The Parents' moved into their our new abode, and dealing with The Royal Visit, aka the arrival for the weekend of Indescribable, The Little Witch, and Babyzooky.

  Hey! Hang on a minute... You've just copied the last Items of Interest post and crossed out the bits that don't apply!!
 So? We're busy, aren't we?
And tired.
Lazy, more like...
  Shush, you two!
 It works, doesn't it? Anyway, you're a fine one to talk.
  What?!
 You started this copy/paste malarkey here - and it wasn't even our own blog post that you copied!
  Oh, get on with it then...     
 Thank you! So, on with the show: For those of you who are new to this, or have forgotten what to do since the last Items of Interest post (and the one that brought us the infamous "nylon netting shower pom pom on a string thingamie"), the rules are as follows:
 Just guess what these particular photos are of and, if you're very lucky, win a prize (yet to be determined)*. And I don't mean the photo up there as that's the logo image (from The Towering Disco Inferno). No. The photo's below (after the jump).

Sunday 11 June 2017

Covered in Bees!


I popped down to the beach for a swim a little earlier, but instead I got:
[Eddie Izzard via GIPHY]
::

  Not really. But I did walk up a stretch of cliff that was covered in bee orchids (Ophrys apifera). I'd never noticed them before, but then I rarely climb up the cliff*, instead preferring to walk up the promenade slope or the steps behind the beach huts.

Aren't they stunning? The flowers really do look like cute little bumble bees.

Thursday 8 June 2017

Quick! To the Cat-Cave!


 I've just got time to post these follow-up photos from Underground Owl. After all, what's the internet for except for cat pictures and porn?
 As usual, click to embigulate (but not by much).






 I nearly didn't bother with any snaps as I made my way through the underpass again yesterday, but then I remembered Dinahmow's light pestering and, with a sigh, found Phone at the bottom of my bag and took these photos.
 

Sunday 4 June 2017

Beside the Seaside, Beside the Sea


 Well, this is our first day of residence in our new abode - converted hippocampus stables at the top of the cliff (but not precariously so, we hope) in Overstrand. 
  After waking up amidst the clutter of yesterday's moving day mess, and imbibing a strong coffee to fully join the land of the living, we decided to make the most of our new location (and the brilliant sunshine), and take a walk on the beach. Sorting out the boxes and bags and the like can wait until later.
 Or tomorrow.
 Or next week!

Having alighted gracefully on to the beach from the cliff top (and not fallen down it at all. Not even a little bit), this is the view west towards Overstrand's main beach

From whence we came.
That little hut is not the new Castle DeVice - we live a little further along on the right

Overstrand East beach with Sidestrand just a little further on

Thursday 1 June 2017

Triffids Amongst the Blackberries


  I'm just back from my first sea swim of the season, and have just enough wits about me to share these few photos from the end of May (the 28th). They should tide us over until I can come up with something a bit more interesting:

A cinnabar moth seen on a walk into Northrepps

From the Sidestrand/Northrepps border in Overstrand, Cromer Lighthouse in the distance, with Overstrand allotments looking like a small shanty town on the other side of the field.