Dark Thoughts

It's like you have a cinema screen at the front of your mind,
Onto which you project what you see, what you wish, what could be.
And then a box appears in the corner, a preview of something else.
But you didn't call it - it sprang up unbidden,
A subconscious well of poison hijacking a moment of your attention.
You can't help but look, and you focus, the rest blurring out,
Until there is nothing else to think about but the inky black portrayed.
You try to break it, but the inkiness somehow becomes real,
Suffusing even the big screen, spreading hopelessness.
But the well is finite, and to cover everything it dilutes down,
Gradually becoming nothing, the screen still clear.
But it hasn't gone away, and the well will refill,
Ready to spread it's hopelessness again.
Dark thoughts are like mists in the consciousness,
Carpeting the ground, always burned off by the sun,
Always returning, and always with the fear of what if the sun fails...

Loneliness at Christmas

Sitting there, people all around,
In the square, Christmas sounds.
People going to and fro,
People chatting to whom they know.
Songs that talk of being together,
Of giving presents forever and ever.
But one thought please for that person sitting there,
Single, worn down, an almost soulless stare.
For there's nothing worse, it shouldn't be allowed,
The terrible loneliness in the Christmas crowd.
Love thy neighbour, wish good cheer,
Just remember that for some it will bring a tear.
And if you see a tear, don't back away,
Go and speak to them, make their day.

Tour of Britain in Stoke Gifford

Sir Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky navigate the rabbit roundabout on the Winterbourne Road in Stoke Gifford.

Tesco garden draughts set - shame about instructions

Instructions from the Tesco foam mat garden draughts set - shame that the diagram has the different coloured tokens laid out incorrectly.

Goldfinches

Adult goldfinch with young on thistles.

Micro-moth caterpillar

This suspected micro-moth caterpillar was spotted on a leaf this week. It is only 5mm long, and looks like a little fuzzy worm until you look closely.

Check lists

When out with children at a zoo or wildlife park, there is lots to see. Why not use the following species check lists to make sure you see all there is to see, or for your children to tick against as they go around?

Bristol Aquarium (added 19th Aug 2014)

Bristol Zoo

Slimbridge WWT

Note that especially at Bristol Zoo the exhibits change over time, so these are correct as of this posting.