Langdale

We struggled to get out any more while we were in the Lakes, constant rain and showers. We tried a brief walk around Langdale but ended up getting soaked in a downpour (which ended by the time we got back to the house, of course). Had to grab a few shots between downpours but nothing much in lots of cloud.

"Mousey" (actually a Bank Vole)

Lichen on dry stone wall

Slater's Bridge

Langdale Pikes

Langdale Pikes

Langdale Pikes at dusk

Grizedale Forest

The weather predicted a dry morning and a wet afternoon so a morning's stroll around Grizedale Forest. Although mostly dry it was very dull and misty so not much to see apart from one mushroom.

Grizedale Forest route

Fly Agaric

Fly Agaric

Fly Agaric

Fly Agaric

Just before the rain came down a quick shot of the forest.

Path through Grizedale Forest

Bracken changing colour

Ambleside

A rest day and some shopping around Ambleside. As usual a detour through the Apple Pie Eating House and a picnic lunch in the park. Also as usual we were attended by bold Robins and shifty Crows.

Our Robin chum

Robin

Carrion Crow investigating the table

Carrion Crow and Crumbs

Carrion Crow keeping an eye out for suspicious picnickers with cameras

Buttermere and Haystacks

Up at 5am so we can make the most of what will probably be the only good weather we'll get this week.  Taking a very long drive round to Buttermere for sun-up we only just make it, with the sun rising as we get down to the water's edge.

Buttermere and Haystacks elevation

Buttermere and Haystacks route

Sunrise over Buttermere

Sunrise over Buttermere

Sun shining behind Fleetwith Pike

Buttermere

Sunlit trees on the edge of Buttermere

Sunshine behind Fleetwith Pike

Waterfall by Buttermere

Path by Buttermere

Buttermere (and Crummock Water behind)

Tarn by the summit of Haystacks

Tarn by the summit of Haystacks

Distant view of Buttermere and Crummock Water

Buttermere and Crummock Water

Waterfall by Fleetwith Pike

Buttermere and Fleetwith Pike in the afternoon

The tunnel on the east bank of Buttermere (no giant spiders battled)

Chapel Stile

A very dim (and slightly drizzly) afternoon in Chapel Stile so we jumped in our wellies and went down to the river. Very high after all the rain but good conditions for watery-mossy rocks and trees.

Great Langdale Beck and the new footbridge

Great Langdale Beck and the new footbridge

Great Langdale Beck and the new footbridge

Mini-mushroom

Mini-mushrooms

Amsterdam (CHEP2013)

CHEP2013 in Amsterdam. I'll not bore you with the physics or computing. Being in the conference 0830 to 1830 nearly every day, combined with poor weather at the start, meant we didn't get to see much of Amsterdam, in daylight anyway. My main impressions were of constant bustling; trains, trams, buses, bikes, thousands of tourists and building work everywhere.

Tram by Beurs Van Berlage

More bikes than I've seen in my life

On Wednesday they let us loose in the afternoon. I went to the Amsterdam Museum and a bit of a wander down the streets.

No two buildings the same, and bohemian smoker at window

Hopscotch or something else?

Be thankful for sea walls (just like in Lincolnshire), dotted line is sea level

Catholic statue of Virgin Mary defaced (literally) by Protestant rebels

"Women Only": lacework, made by reformed fallen women, being inspected by governesses

Intricately carved elephant tusk presented to dutch Governer by the Chinese

Dr F.M. Wiebaut, Dutch Socialist

Painting of famous Dutch people (central figure represents the Netherlands)

The most interesting part of the museum was an exhibition of Mondrian paintings, covering his life and works in the Netherlands.

Dying Chrysanthemum

Evolution (one of three pictures, but I couldn't use a wide angle lens in the gloom)

Riverscape with row of trees

Girl with flowers, the eyes were striking in real life

The Call by Peter Alma, communists crying out against authority

Communist artworks

Jordaan by Henri Braakensiek

Conversation over billiard table, nobody knows what it was about

Children Asking Questions by Karel Appel

Lights and Mirrors, corridor to the exhibition

As I was finishing in the museum I saw someone just starting...

Man with Beard with Man with Beard

These two again

Recovered street art

Then a little look around the river area by the hotel at the end of the day.

Tall ship by Nemo museum

Nemo Museum

Chaotic buckets

Long ship on the IJ river

Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Amsterdam Centraal Station (designed by the British)

Torture for sale

Some pictures from within Beurs van Berlage where the conference took place.

Effectenbeurszaal in Beurs van Berlage

CHEPers

More CHEPers

Glass cube in one of the halls

Lunchtime in the Grote Zaal (great hall)

Spot the Steve competition

Grot Zaal

Amsterdam in evening light

Mural for Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands

On the last day we finished early so I had an hour or so to wander round while getting souvenirs. There wasn't a queue at the fries bar so I got a medium cone. Very nice but roasting hot and I couldn't finish them all.

Chips with mayonnaise (I was feeling like Vincent Vega here), they were fantastic

A fun fair was set up just down the street from the conference. Very noisy and tourists everywhere.

Crowds, trams and chaos at the fun fair

The nicest Grim Reaper you'll ever meet

Tourists stream into Amsterdam from the station (this never seems to end)

Try not to get run over by the trams

Waiting at Schipol

I made sure I had my camera ready on the way back but 30s after takeoff we went above cloud and never saw land again until just over Liverpool.

Back to Blighty, flying over Liverpool... (I can see my office from here!)