I feel as though I’ve been time travelling at the speed of light since it’s already the first week of May and my last post was a just a quick Easter message so I’m going to travel backwards in time now with this recap.
Mid April and the first stop was London and a brief meet with a very dear friend. It was also a chance for the Ricoh to practice its forte i.e. some street photography in Covent Garden where the camera sometimes unwittingly captures personal dramas. Also a splash up lunch at the Royal Opera house and on to the Royal Academy exhibition of Brazilian modern artists.
Next stop was Germany and the chance to spend some time with another lovely friend and photo blogger Kiki @ CKOH Photography. Over the years we have met up in London and I always envy her talent as well as value her company.
This time the street photography emphasis was on people within the framework of Stuttgart architecture for which the black and white format suits, even on brilliant sunny days. I’d accidentally switched the setting to cross processing in the Black Forest spa town of Bad Wilbad but regained colour perspective for the red sandstone of Hirsau monastery and castle.
Back home for Easter and then a friend to stay for a few weeks, and also help with a some jobs in my Japanesque garden, including finishing touches to the Teahouse style gazebo.
The tail end of April brought some scorching weather which accelerated the Spring bulbs into an unwelcome summery demise. And the old saying of ‘Ash before Oak, in for a soak’ did not apply as already the young oak leaves and flowers were appearing in the nearby fields whilst Ash still held itself within sooty buds.
The runes however did not predict the Covid virus which has laid me low for the past 10 days or so and from which I’m just recovering though the airways were making some tell-tale V signs in the sky!
PoetryPix 
Hi Laura, I am sorry to hear you had Covid. My family had it in February and we were all very sick. My mom had to be hospitalised. It sounds like you had a wonderful holiday. I see the Royal Acadamy has an exhibition of Victor Hugo drawings running until 29 June. I think I will squeak in to see it during my London visit. I fly on 28 June.
thank you Roberta – I’m not a patient patient and had expected a faster recovery but antibiotics have now been necessary which should help! Going over these photos brought back the good times I had including the RA – definitely worth a last minute visit for you
I will definitely try to get there. I am also not a patient patient and it is to my detriment.
Many commiserations over nasty germ, Laura. Respiratory afflictions do knock the stuffing out of one, so hoping you’re back on form soon. But before the lurgy you took some very striking photos, the Royal Opera House a particular wonder.
thank you Tish for commiserations and photo congrats – I’m champing at the bit to be ‘up and at em’ but the old germ is putting up a good fight against my resurrect!
Hi Laura. Glad to know you are recovering. Covid can be nasty.
Some stunning photos.
thank you Punam for your appreciation and especially for standing in for me on my prompt night last week. Yes I’m still fighting my way back to health
You are welcome, Laura. I very much enjoyed reading all the responses to your prompt as alliteration is something I really enjoy. Take care and rest as much as you can.
I too am an alliterati 😉
So happy to see you back with an amazing crop of images! Sorry to hear about Covid but hopefully as I write, it’s already gone and forgotten! Many hugs your way! do
thank you for the welcome back Marina – and get well wishes. Hope you three are all well and settled into your new home – looking forward to seeing you art again. I’m hoping to pick up a brush soon – something blue methinks!
Ah, ‘something blue’ sounds nice! Looking forward to that! xo
Covid is no fun. This was a very bad winter for all kinds of viruses.
I’m especially taken with the Royal Opera House, both for its geometry and all the reflections.
Hope you are fully recovered soon! (K)
thank you Kerfe – its a classic shot of the RO but irresistible -I just can’t resist any glass as per the header shot!
p.s. Getting better slowly and learning to be more patient!
Patience is a virtue I lack as well.
Beautiful photos, Laura. Lovely compositions. That opera house shot is wow.
thank you Sunra for being wowed 😉