The Wadworth Shires (Friday 9th August 2019)

It's a year since I last photographed the Boys and quite a lot has changed, as I found out talking to Callum. Last week the wonderful Max went into semi-retirement at Gentle Giants and was replaced by Jac. Monty had been retired to the same place but has since gone to a lady owner in Nottingham who owns several other heavy horses and plans to ride him. Archie was sold in January as he was nervous of town work. I asked after Prince, who retired a few years back and apparently he is enjoying life at Weston's Cider. So now they have two shires, Jac and Sam, who replaced Monty last year, and I had a chance to say hello to both of them this morning. The Blip shows Jac with Callum, with Sam behind him in the Extra.
In contrast to previous years the weather was grey and drizzly and I decided not to go on to Bulkington to see them into the field that will be home for the next two weeks, but returned via Devizes Wharf (see Extra) to the car and then homewards.
I'm still trying out the Kiron 28-210 lens, getting used to the combined manual focus and zoom action. One problem today was that the viewfinder diopter adjustment had shifted somewhat, causing the focus to be slightly off, not helped by poor light conditions.

L.
9.8.2019 (2237 hr)

Blip #3006 (#2756 + 250 archived blips taken 27.8.1960-18.3.2010)
Consecutive Blip #004
Blips/Extras In 2019 #183/265 + #069/100 Extras
Day #3423 (765 gaps from 26.3.2010)
LOTD #2150 (#1991 + 159 in archived blips)

Wadworth Shires series
Shire Horses series
Horses series
Devizes series

Taken with Pentax K-1 Mark II and Kiron 28-210mm f/4-5.6 Macro lens

Lozarhythm Of The Day:
Prince - Gold (recorded October 1993, Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, Minneapolis MN)
A somewhat forgotten but beautiful single, chosen because I was reminded of his equine namesake.
"Gold is the 18th and final track (twelfth song) on Prince's 17th album The Gold Experience, the first album to be credited to [Symbol] and, two months after the album's release, Gold was released as the album's second and final commercial single (although various promotional singles had also been available).
Basic tracking took place in late October 1993, at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota (in the same set of sessions as 319, Strawberries and Billy Jack Bitch). Ricky Peterson added additional keyboards and post-production work to the track. Gold was included as the eleventh and final track on an album configured in 1994 (unnamed, but considered to be an early configuration of The Gold Experience). It was included as the 18th and final track (eleventh song) on March 1994 and May 1994 configurations of The Gold Experience, before being included as the twelfth and final song on a later 1994 configuration. The 13 October 1994 configuration included Gold as the 20th and final track (13th song), before the track Days Of Wild and an accompanying NPG Operator segue were removed from the album for release." - Prince Vault

One Year Ago:
The Old Forge (Dock leaves)