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A brief window of sunshine emerged in an otherwise wet and dull day, to enable me to cut the grass, do some dead-heading, and repel bramble invaders on the back drive.
Otherwise I scanned a batch of colour slides from a trip to Richmond Park in May 1981.
Jessica, Sam,
Matthew,
and Becky were my companions.
It was the season of Aquilegias
and Azaleas.
When Matthew and Becky began fishing for sticklebacks in the lake, I walked around to the far side to see what I could do with my long lens.
Gradually, a certain amount of interest was aroused.
Jessica, Sam, and Piper, the dog, soon became involved.
Hello; who’s that behind Sam?
The people in the background were more interested in the shrubbery,
but soon there was quite a crowd of spectators,
who slowly drifted away.
This evening’s dinner consisted of Jackie’s classic chicken jalfrezi with vegetable rice salad. She drank her Hoegaarden/Bavaria mix and I drank Royale Pays’ d’Oc Merlot 2014.
Your slides have kept surprisingly well. I inherited a relative’s slides several years ago and they’d turned a most odd colour! Nice pics, too. 🙂
Many thanks, Val. I have slides going back to the 60s. I have kept them in storage boxes
Usually the colour shift is all one direction, so it’s an easier job than it once was to digitally correct them.
The question remains – were any sticklebacks captured? The quality of the prints is so different from the output of modern cameras – your posts have made me really aware of how I recognise photographic eras, not always by the fashions.
Thank you, Pauline. Of course, no fish were caught, as far as I remember. 🙂 A good point about the print quality
What a wonderful story in both words and pictures …. I love the reflections, of course and the people drifting over and away silently. Sticklebacks were so much part of childhood – such excitement provoked by tiny fishes 🙂
Many thanks, Osyth
Lovely photos and read.
Thank you, Lonely
I had the same question as Pauline…any fish stories? I assume this was a “catch and release” occasion, reminded as I am of Beatrix Potter’s TALE OF MR. JEREMY FISHER, the frog who ate butterfly sandwiches for lunch, and lived in a slippy-sloppy house. He was unhappy when he caught Jack the stickleback because Jack was too spiny to eat.
Very nice capture of an upside-down world…. and who WAS that…behind Sam?
I was thinking of Jack Sharp as well. I had forgotten the butterfly sandwiches!
Thank you very much, Cynthia. I didn’t know about Jack!! No idea who the interloper was 🙂
Confession….I had go Google Stickleback. I’d never heard of them. I love the reflective shots, Derrick! Even little Sam was curious. Great photos!
I didn’t know either! 🙂
Happy to be in good company with you and Yvonne. 🙂
🙂
I had to go and have a look also, Jill.
🙂
Many thanks, Jill
I am going to have to do that too, Jill! 🙂
🙂
Derrick, we have three-spined sticklebacks here in California. What kind are where you live?
The same as you, Patsy. They are the classic ‘tiddler’ of our rivers
Great! Good to know! Thanks, Derrick. Have a great day. 🙂
Wonderful photos and memories
Thank you, Lynn
I love your old photos! So special!
Thank you very much, Lynn
most welcome
These are great photos of kids doing kid things and wonderfully executed. I do love the sharpness of them as well–which is something I miss in digital photos. On the other hand, you can share the digital ones instantly…
Thanks, Lisa. You have hit on the reason I went digital – all because of the blog 🙂
Beautiful post, Derrick – I think we all love you because you mix the old and the new and we all struggle with that – things are changing so fast.
Thank you very much, Jodie. X
I enjoyed the journey back with you! I especially liked the reflection photos.
So lovely to go back and look at warm memories. That one photo looked suspiciously like a gorgeous columbine!
Sweet memories 🙂
Thank you, Geetha
Welcome Derrick and thank you really for sharing these beautiful spots of sunshine
Lovely reflections! I too, had never heard of sticklebacks – what fun!
Thanks, Karen
Absolutely precious memories! I love how you captured the reflections in the pond.
Many thanks, LT
Beautiful memories, enjoyed the ones with the reflections ~
Many thanks, Mary. I thought they were quite painterly
Absolutely!
Ta X
Reflections are beautiful, but you know what I would like? The recipe for Jackie’s classic chicken jalfrezi.
Thank you, Susanne. https://derrickjknight.com/2014/02/07/you-do-get-about-dont-you/ This post pictures the chicken and provides a link to the lamb version which describes the method. I hope you like it
These are so wonderful, Derrick! I really love the ones with all of the reflections! Some of those look like they could be awesome abstract paintings with all of those great colors! 🙂
Many thanks, Patsy. That was my aim 🙂
Well, you hit the target! 🙂
Thanks again
You’re welcome.
Fabulous reflections and colour…those moments that captured everyone’s interest then and now.
Many thanks, Mary. I’m pleased you found it
Fantastic slides. Love your Monet-ish photo-paintings 🙂
Many thanks, Inese. Glad you appreciate that 🙂