BRIAN REID PHOTOGRAPHER

A Swordfish on Land

Friday, 18 August 2023 11:03

I have been a bit busy at home planning my trip to Ireland so not too much time for photography. I have managed a few local walks including a visit to Old Warden yesterday where an unusual visitor, the Navy’s historic Fairey Swordfish, was receiving some tlc. Seeing this beauty takes my mind back to the 70s living in Somerset, close to RNAS Yeovilton and enjoying their annual open days. There was a fair amount of activity with the Hawker Tomtit and the Miles Magister taking to the air and the arrival of the Navy Stinson Reliant from Yeovilton. Add to this a nice chat and coffee with friends and a stroll through the Swiss Garden and you have a pleasant morning. The sun was shining on scarab beetles, sunflowers, buff-tail bumblebees and the resident peacock in the garden. There are always plants I do not recognise and have never seen before to add to the pleasure. Meanwhile at the Lodge gatekeeper butterflies abound, flitting though the bushes. I’ll finish with a stormy sky over the local pocket park. It was a hang-onto-the-hat kind ofday!