Last weekend we visited Standen which is owned by the National Trust which is a lovely house set in beautiful grounds in East Grinstead, West Sussex. Not only is it a nice place to simply look around but it also meant that I could try and get a few photos of the many flowers there as I don't often photograph floral subjects.

 In September 2005 my wife and I made our first trip to the Lake District and we loved it so much that we vowed to return. Well almost exactly 4 years later we did just that and have just returned from a two week holiday up there. Whereas last time we stayed in the tiny village of Troutbeck close to Windermere, this time we stayed practically on the banks of Ullswater close to the lovely village of Pooley Bridge.