A few more macros

Managed to take a few more macros out in the garden tonight...its a real challenge!

A bee settling down for the night

An ant attacking aphids!

Out in the garden again

In between decorating the small bedroom, we've been out in the garden as its been nice and warm. This morning while we were having breakfast, this little visitor turned up looking for something to eat.

I took some more macros this afternoon, here's a spider attacking a small fly (both insects were only 4 or 5 mm in size!).

And this strange insect was sitting on a leaf.

Macro photography in the garden

I got out my Raynox 150, and put it on my Panasonic Lumix FZ18 to take some macro pictures in the garden today. Its a bit tricky trying to do these handheld, but a few came out OK.

Tiny flower buds on a tree in the garden.

An unripe blackberry.

This spider was on the underside of a leaf, and was only a few millimetres in size!

The stamens on the flowers of our New Zealand flax.

The Gherkin on a sunny day

Finally, it seems as if Summer is finally here! I Took this picture of The Gherkin on my way home from work.

Hello to the new member in the Otis family

Just got these photos through from James of their new dog Roxie...or maybe Rosie....only 8 weeks old and a real cutie!

Father's Day

Today was Father's Day in the UK, and so we risked the weather by having a barbecue round Russell's. Luckily it stayed dry, and the sun even came out for a while!

All the barbecueing wore Russell out!

Millie and Grace play Millie's favourite game, tug-of-war!

Father's Day from martin clinton on Vimeo.

Some clever Zack Snyder-esque editting on the trampoline courtesy of Sony Vegas

Trampoline! from martin clinton on Vimeo.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World…..

Here are a few snippets from Rick, Ron and my barnstorming version of Start Me Up from Chris and Becky's recent Wedding....Full American tour in 2010?

The live album sleeve?

...and here's the original!

Weekend in Kirton - Sunday

On Sunday, we got up to a light breakfast, before heading out to a surprise tour of the Bateman's Brewery in Wainfleet, before we enjoyed a lunch in the garden. It was a very relaxing and enjoyable way to spend a sunny afternoon. After that, we headed home, stopping briefly at a garden centre, before going back to Karin and James' house and heading off home.

Batemans from martin clinton on Vimeo.

Weekend in Kirton - Saturday

On Saturday Morning Siv and I drove up to see Karin, James, Nori and Eirik in Kirton. Karin had to attend a conference in Birmingham during the day, so the afternoon was spent in the back garden playing football with Nori and Eirik and enjoying the good weather. In the evening we were invited along to a party held by Karin and James' friends Richard and Tara. As you can see from the photos, everyone had a great time, and the evening's finale was the launching of two mini hot air balloons!

Balloons! from martin clinton on Vimeo.

Kirton Party from martin clinton on Vimeo.

Marie and Therese's visit

Marie and Therese came over to visit us. They went off with Siv to a lot of the usual haunts (Camden Town, Oxford Street etc.). On the Saturday, we went to meet up with the girlies in Covent Garden who were meeting up as Katy, Woody and Trude were in town. While Siv, Marie and Therese went off shopping and the others went off for more wine and food, Lev and I went to The Empire, Leicester Square to see the new Star Trek movie.

All of the photos from their stay are here: Marie and Therese's visit

London June 2009 - Marie and Therese's visit from martin clinton on Vimeo.