A perfect day...

Today has been wonderful.

Alan, Shelley and Jordan headed to the zoo and after lunch David and I headed off to explore the coast heading north.

The scenery was spectacular and not just the coast but the countryside too.  Beautiful fields and valleys, gold and green and divided by hedgerows full of wild flowers and bramble bushes.  

We stopped at Lynton and were drawn to a lovely little art gallery.  Chatted to the owner and found our selves returning to one particular painting again and again.  We used the excuse of our wedding anniversary at the beginning of August to justify buying it.  A perfect reminder of our holiday.

There was an old church opposite the art gallery with an tiny ancient graveyard and I took lots of photos of the grave stones that are slowly sinking into the daisies and dandelions.

Afterwards we drove down to Lynmouth to the harbour and I got up close and personal with a seagull who was happy to pose for me on the harbour wall.  I was so close my camera lens was almost touching him and it was wonderful to get such detailed shots.  I think he was hoping I would produce some food but be was left disappointed.

We then followed the coast road, stopping when we could to let me take photos of the coast.  We planned to go as far as Porlock but rather than take the main road all the way we peeled off and took a toll road.  What a stunning drive (although I was glad it was David driving and not me as it was very narrow and a bit precarious)  Lots of photo stops.

Afterwards we headed back to Lynmouth as we decided earlier that for tea we fancied a fish supper sitting at the harbour.  

Fish suppers bought, we positioned ourselves with a view of the sea and enjoyed our food in the company of a one-legged seagull, who I felt sorry for and gave it some chips, then it revealed it's second leg which had been tucked up out of sight!  I am sure it's a trick it has learned to gain the sympathy of the public! 

We drove home as the sun was setting and the light was stunning.  More photos.

Back to the barn and a G&T poured and me looking forward to an hour of editing my photos.

So given all the lovely scenery I have photographed today, why you may ask, am I posting a rubbish shot of wind turbines?  Well, through sheer stupidity I have managed to delete every photo I took today (apart from this one!) from both my macbook AND the camera card, AND deleted them from the trash folder!!  

I am beyond angry at myself.  In seven years of photography I have never once deleted shots straight from my camera card, far less copied them to my laptop then deleted them from there too and then immediately deleted the trash folder.  

The real kick in the teeth is I had uploaded them to Photoshop Elements so I can still see the thumbnails!  Arrrrgghhh!

In other news, the word from Evelyn is that Lola is missing us dreadfully.  Not.  As the extras show :-)))

Oh I have just had word from the wonderful Dr Twitcher that her wonderful man can help me recover them.  The wifi here is rubbish so might have to wait till I get back home but for the time being I have hope :-))