Bill Hall
@artboy
Artist, art teacher (semi-retired!) and, printmaker. Interests: Art, design, architecture, music, gardening, Latin & ballroom dancing, and politics.
Our "lawn" is absolutely parched, but the lobelia I bought cheap at Morisson's earlier this year is still thriving by the pond.
After all the the heat and lack of rain, it's not surprising that that our "gravel garden" is thriving and showing the best colours! Everything else in the garden is struggling to survive!
Everyone realises that the Labour government is in "The Last Chance Saloon", but it looks like a new Sheriff⭐️ has just rode into town ...
Andy Burnham beats Reform in Makerfield by nearly 20 % points and makes his route to Number 10 almost inevitable.
The numbers don't lie. It was under Thatcher and Major that UK defense spending was slashed in half from 5% down to 2½% of GDP. Cameron further reduced it to 2%. Badenoch may be shocked to find that waving a Union Jack is not a feasible defense policy.
Timeline cleanse: photos of clematis in our garden taken earlier, during a break in the rain showers ...
If you live in Makerfield, don't forget who Nigel Farage calls his friend and role model....
If you're thinking of voting for Reform, keep in mind that Nigel Farage supports Trump and calls him a friend. Trump is the leader that Farage aspires to be.
It took me years to fully appreciate birds. The highlight of my week was finally getting our resident robin to take bird food from my hand. I'm still buzzing from the experience!
Let's hear some support for our old trig points! Our local one is at Ockley Hill on the North Downs Surrey, and looks miles beyond the M25 down into deepest Sussex. It's a lonely but familiar landmark for walks along Pilgrims's Way.
Japan has cherry blossom, New England USA has its autumn leaves, but Britain has its bluebells. Today's walk through our local bluebell wood was a true and fleeting delight. These photos don't do it full justice.
"Timeline cleanse" ... Just had a walk around our garden. The air is still cool, but the tulips in a pot on the patio have opened wide in the warmth of the April sun.
So, the orange sack of skin is saying: "We smashed the hornets' nest out of the tree and swatted a couple. All the other countries just need to deal with the rest of the angry swarm. By the way, I have cornered the market in antihistamines, which I can let you have at now inflated prices."
It's been great to get out and do a few jobs in the garden today! The marsh marigolds in the edge of our pond are just glowing ...
Of course, Trump isn't "playing chess". He's not even playing draughts (US=checkers). Trump would struggle with the subtleties of "Hungry Hungry Hippos"!
The latest election map looks eerily like "The Danelaw", as agreed under the treaty between Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, and Viking leader Guthrum in 866. Coming next - "The Normans"! @electionmaps.uk
Happy St David's Day, and the first day of meteorological spring! (Daffs picked from our garden)
Strange to think that a few years ago, I'd never even heard of Hellebores (sometimes known as "Lenten Roses"). Now, I welcome them every February as a herald of spring. Here's a couple I photographed in our garden this morning.
There's something special and joyful when your amaryllis blooms at the darkest part of the year!
It's dull, damp, and cold outside. A good day to appreciate this amaryllis, a present from good friends several years ago. It's grown to over 2 feet high from its bulb since the beginning of January, and blooms at this time each year without fail.
Trump "playing 10-dimensional chess"? Oh come on! He'd struggle with the tactical subtleties "Hungry Hungry Hippos"
Here's hoping for a better 2026. Happy New Year, everyone out there! (This afternoon's walk on a sunlit path up through our local woods)
It's cheering to see the hellebore we planted last year opening for the first time in the watery December sunlight.
In the immoratal words of Charles Dickens' Tiny Tim: "A Merry Christmas to us all; God bless us, every one!"