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Hi everyone,

I hope you will enjoy my place and my photos, I am looking forward to visits from friends, old and new.

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Wednesday, 24 October 2012

A blog award

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The Tudor Village at Hever Castle.

I was surprised and very pleased to receive a blog award from Arlene this week, thank you very much Arlene SmileSmile I have put my lovely award on my home page and below:

TO POPPY FOR AN INTERESTING BLOG ON HER TRAVELS

To Poppy for an interesting blog on her travels
An award for a well travelled lady

This award made me realize that I have been well travelled this year, far more than is usual for me. The reason for all the visits to the stately homes etc. is because about this time last year I applied for some free tickets from My Big Kent Weekend. You can apply for three places, then on a given day all the names are entered into a draw. I was lucky enough to win 2 tickets to visit Sissinghurst Castle way back in March. You will know that we had a great time, of course I took a lot of photos. The My Big Kent Weekend website invite you to upload photos of your visit, which in turn also go into a competition…I uploaded 4 photos of Sissinghurst Castle, and won the first prize in the ‘places’ category Smile My prize was a years membership to English Heritage for two people. A lovely prize I think you will agree. Not only that, when the prizewinning letter arrived enclosed was a small booklet allowing myself and one other person free entrance to 6 attractions of our choice (from a list provided) but these were not all English Heritage. The vouchers are only in date until the end of December, and no way was I going to waste them, so we have had great fun visiting an assortment of places Open-mouthed smile We have used 5 of these vouchers and as the weather is against visiting a lot of outdoor attractions the last voucher is going to be used for a visit to Canterbury Cathedral with my friend and photo buddy Sheila.

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A visitor to our garden last week.

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The doorway of Walmer Castle, in black and white to add atmosphere.

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Dawn over Deal pier.

I am at the moment gathering photos for a photobook. I did one with some of my China photos, and it turned out so lovely I have decided to get another one with some of my better photos from the last few years. Last night I started at 2007, when I had a very basic ‘point and shoot’ camera. It has been very interesting as I can see how much my photography has improved over the last few years, and has made me realize what fun I have had getting those photos.

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Taken on Deal Pier.

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I have added some assorted photos from this year, ones that have not made it into any of the blogs, but ones I hope you will enjoy looking at. 

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Whitstable Harbour.

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18 comments:

  1. TexWisGirl25 October 2012 at 01:20

    congratulations on the award! your photos are lovely. great fox shot!!

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    1. Poppy (aka Val)26 October 2012 at 21:02

      Thank you :) I was really pleased with the fox shot, 2 seconds later and he had gone!

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  2. PJK :o)25 October 2012 at 05:36

    Congratulations, Val. Well deserved awards.

    Cya next Wednesday - it's been TOOOOOOOOOOOOOO long :o)

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    1. Poppy (aka Val)26 October 2012 at 21:02

      Thanks Pat, really looking forward to seeing you, yes its been tooooo long!! Make sure the kettle is on :D xx

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  3. Horst in Edmonton25 October 2012 at 20:00

    Lovely photos Poppy, I like the first one the best.

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    1. Poppy (aka Val)26 October 2012 at 21:04

      Thank you Horst, that is one of many taken at Hever Castle. There will be a blog in a couple of weeks. Its just a shame I have to put the watermark across the photos now, but hopefully it will stop people using my photos without my permission!

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  4. Catches the Eye26 October 2012 at 11:15

    Congratulations Poppy well deserved your photo's are awesome.
    Have a great weekend ,
    Sheila x

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    1. Poppy (aka Val)26 October 2012 at 21:05

      Thank you Sheila :D I am so pleased that people enjoy looking at my photos, I get a lot of visits I wish more people would comment. I hoep things are going well with you, and I hope you have a good weekend too. x

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  5. Arlene26 October 2012 at 20:27

    Hi Val, glad you got the award uploaded, a very apt and well deserved one. I loved these new photos 4040 does it for me, What camera are you using ?

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  6. Arlene26 October 2012 at 20:30

    Sorry pressed publish to quickly, meant to say loved the fox, how DID you manage to capture that one !

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    1. Poppy (aka Val)26 October 2012 at 21:14

      I am really pleased with the award Arlene :D :D We knew there were foxes around, at the bottom of the garden is a shed with a wisteria growing over it. I came out of the house and there was the fox, on the shed roof so I grabbed the camera quickly and took a few shots in the few seconds before the fox ran off. I used zoom and think the photo came out quite well, he is a very handsome fox I think :)

      I use a Canon Powershot G12 its a great bridge camera. My camera goes everywhere with me just in case I spot something good, so it needs to be small enough to carry in my handbag. I did think of getting an SLR but they are big and bulky, so all the time I can get decent photos with the camera I have got I will stick with that one :) I see the next one in the range is out now the G 1X....it looks good....very good lol but will resist for now lol Hope you have a great weekend xxx

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    2. Arlene27 October 2012 at 20:51

      I quite qgree about the SLR, I have a panasonic Lumix, which I find good enough, though I probably don't use it to it's full potential. Oh to have enough money to satisfy all our whims, eh? :-)

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  7. Sandy's witterings2 November 2012 at 17:56

    I have membership to Historic Scotland (our version of English Heritage) and The National trust for Scotland (I can use them both in England and it works in reverse)which I pay for, but well worth it I must say. So your prize seems a good one - and other attractions chucked in too (it's amazing how many places belong to neither organisation) - well done on your prize and blog award.

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  8. Arlene2 November 2012 at 19:26

    I too meant to comment on how you managed to accumulate so many prizes, [I was so taken with the photos] wonderful to get all these free passes, and all from one entry, Mighty oaks from little acorns grow, eh! lets hope you get the similar chances next year, it's a pity the weather has been against you, though visiting Canterbury cathedral will be lovely, I went there once many years ago. and good luck with your photobook. Have a nice week-end XX

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    1. Poppy (aka Val)5 November 2012 at 22:48

      Thanks Arlene, I am nursing a horrible cold just now :( I will be glad when the fireworks stop here, my cat is old and stays in now but they have been very loud. Hugs to you and Ruby :0 xx

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  9. Here I Am Carrie5 November 2012 at 01:54

    You certainly are a well travel person. I love all the places you go to. How wonderful that you had won tickets to so many free visits so you could share your memories with us in your photos and blog. I love your fox photo. Have a wonderful week.

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    1. Poppy (aka Val)5 November 2012 at 22:50

      Thanks Carrie :) I was just saying to a friend, probably next year I won't get to so many places, but we will see :)

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  10. Catches the Eye7 November 2012 at 16:28

    Great pictures Val and a well deserved Award. Love to catch up and see all your wonderful travels..And to win tickets for free visits wow!
    I would love to visit Canterbury Cathedral amazing.

    Well Done
    Hugs Sheila
    x

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