Miscellany

Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity of wishing farewell to Roberta Cleopatra Flack who died this very day in New York City at the age of 88. She was born on February 10th 1937 and was blessed with the voice of an angel. She could take a song and get lost in it, totally absorbed. I have mentioned her a few times in this blog and five years ago I showcased a video of her singing "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" on the BBC back in 1972. She was thirty five and at her peak, comfortable in her own skin and at one with the lyrics of one of the most plaintive love songs ever written. Here it is. In her memory, please give it a listen.

Secondly, I would like to welcome Arctic Fox back into the blogging fold. He was lost but is found again. I used to joust with him in the early years of my life in blogging but then, in 2012, he disappeared as sometimes happens. However, In Arctic Fox's case, he chose to return just this year after a thirteen year gap - possibly because he had time on his hands after losing his job. He is a Yorkshire lad like me and the way he writes is kind of quirky but genuine too. Why not roll over there and check him out? 

Thirdly, one of the other guys who regularly contributes images to the Geograph project is a fellow called Julian Paren who worked for many years with the British Antarctic Survey team. He is retired now. The other day, I stumbled across a video he was commissioned to produce  eight years ago  by  the  Gatliff Hebridean Hostels Trust. It looks appreciatively at the island of South Uist in Scotland's Outer Hebrides. I found it peaceful, mesmerising and enticing - taking me away from  the continuing worries most of us are having about Ukraine, Gaza & Israel, Putin, The White House and the future of our planet. Maybe you would like to visit South Uist for a little while too, courtesy of Dr Paren's video...