ZEN.........

ZEN

A famous ZEN master once said - when asked what ZEN was,  - "Your everyday thought".
Zen trains the mind...clarifies thought....
This image was taken at The Royal Botanic Gardens - Kew...commonly known as 'Kew Gardens'.
This is part of the Japanese landscape...it is divided into three main areas. The Garden of Peace & The Garden of Activity which are linked by The Garden of Harmony.
Peace and Activity linked by Harmony- the simple message is clear.............

INDOOR PLANTS...?

INDOOR PLANTS........?

Another  gem of the Cotswold Hills is Studeley Castle. This was once the home of Katherine Parr the last and surviving wife of Henry V111.
Nowadays the gardens of the castle are well worth a visit and the plants can be found both within the walls as well as out.........
I have always liked the combination of ruins and plants and in black & white can make a classic 'romantic' image......

HAILES ABBEY Nr WINCHCOMBE IN THE COTSWOLD HILLS....

ONE SMALL FEATURE OF HAILES ABBEY

Once a Cistercian Abbey , founded in 1246 by Richard Cornwall and dissolved on Christmas Eve 1539, Hailes never housed large numbers of monks but had extensive and elaborate buildings. It was financed by Pilgrims visiting it's renowned relic 'the Holy Blood of Hailes' - allegedly a phial of Christs Blood.

THE OLD QUAY

THE OLD QUAY-EXETER

In my opinion one of the best areas of  Exeter in the County of Devon is the Old Quay. A number of small artisan style businesses can be found here as well as places to stop and have a coffee (or something stronger) and just sit and watch the world glide by...
I took this shot not just because of the view but because I was taken by the pattern of the sky....

REFLECTIONS...

WATER FEATURE - SANTANDER

On many occasions I have found myself in Santander in Northern Spain. Either arriving on the ferry from the UK at the start of  a Trekking trip in the Picos de Europa or preparing to leave on the Ferry at the end of a visit.
At the beginning of September this year I will be back in Santander while on route to Gibraltar for the start of my cycle ride back to the UK.
This water feature is to be found in a small square in the shopping district of the town. I was taken by the shape and angular lines of  the feature as well as the reflections on the smooth surface of the water.

BREAKING FREE....

BREAKING FREE FROM THE BARS

At last.....!... I am now starting to get out and about.....My eyes are getting better and I am now recovering from the cold that I seemed to have picked up just after my operation. Hopefully I will be back to my normal blogging routine by the weekend...............

BEHIND BARS.........

BEHIND BARS.......

Sorry to all my photo blog friends for my lack of activity for the past few weeks.
Due to surgery on one of my eyes I have been unable to spend much time on the computer. During this period I have also been forced to spend all of my time indoors so have not even been able to go out and take any photographs.
Not being able to do the things that I enjoy doing has been similar to being stuck behind bars.