Three Lions

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I was asked recently what I remember of England winning the World Cup in 1966?

Well, the answer is very little really. I have no recollection whatsoever of either watching the match or seeing on the news that England had won. Strangely though, I have a very clear recollection of England’s mascot, World Cup Willie and also the trophy being stolen and found by Pickles the collie before the matches began.

I find all this a little bit of a mystery given my love of playing football even at 6 years old. That had started on the beaches of Cornwall as a way of warming up after surfing in freezing cold seawater without a wet suit. Chasing a football around on the Cornish sand soon developed into a passion for the beautiful game!

So why can’t I remember England’s greatest player Bobby Moore lifting the Jules Rimet trophy? Maybe it was because my father doesn’t really like football so the match wouldn’t have been on our television whilst the rest of the country were glued to theirs. Maybe it was because we weren’t allowed to watch television during the day….oh how times have changed! Or maybe the answer lies in the date….30th July 1966……which would have been at the start of the school summer holidays.

So where would we be? Well, not in Scotland at the end of July due to the “wee beasties” and I know we were there at Whitsuntide of that year as Dad filmed the Mallaig Trawler cine in 1966.

The mystery remains, except for one further clue. Cornwall was our summer holiday destination of choice. I have a funny feeling that the reason I can’t remember England’s greatest football moment (so far) is I was  probably in my own little world running around after my own little football trying to stave off teeth chattering hypothermia. How ironic!

****GOOD LUCK ENGLAND****

****THREE LIONS ON A SHIRT****

****IT’S COMING HOME****(hopefully)

Diana Marshall-Kay 

9th July 2018 

 

 

 

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Fifth Generation Photographer

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Christopher Thomas Green PhD is following in the footsteps of his Great Great Grandfather James, Great Grandfather Jack, Grandfather Marshall, Mother Diana (moi!!) in being bitten by the Kay family photography bug.

Christopher’s work can be found at www.christopherthomasphotography.co.uk and I have a feeling he is going to outshine us all, if not having done so already.

Head over to www.christopherthomasphotography.co.uk and have a look at his wedding, landscape and street photography portfolio.

I may be biased, but take an objective look and I’m sure you will agree he has a talented eye for a photograph.

Who knows, you might even book him for your wedding……………………………

Diana Marshall-Kay 

2nd February 2018 

 

 

 

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If – by Rudyard Kipling

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**********IF by RUDYARD KIPLING********** 

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you.

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting ,

Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, 

And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

 

If you can dream -and not make dreams your master;

If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken 

Twisted by knaves to make traps for fools, 

Or watch the things you gave your life to,

broken,

And stoop and build ’em up with worn out tools:

 

If you can make one heap of all your winnings 

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, 

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew 

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

 

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

And -which is more- you’ll be a Man, my son! 

 

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Fat Lass at The Back Cycling in the Yorkshire Dales

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Last Sunday I had a fabulous day out riding in the Yorkshire Dales with my cycling buddy.

 

We cycled 44.5 km through glorious countryside starting from Gargrave, riding past The Angel at Hetton, to Grassington and returned via Linton Falls, St Michael’s Church and Airton.

 

 

Lunch in CoffeECO in Grassington was lovely and we made it back to Gargrave just in time to have coffee and cake in the fabulous Dalesman Cafe.

Highlights of the day were meeting a couple of Canadian gentlemen in Grassington who stopped to admire my bike, and seeing a pair of lovely little Goldcrests flitting about at Linton Falls.

This ride was my first opportunity to fully road test my new FAT LASS AT THE BACK cycling jersey, which proved to be brilliant to wear and, as it says on the collar, top quality clobber!

All in all, a fantastic day out with spectacular Yorkshire Dales scenery around every corner. And the answer to the question “where is Kirk Yetholm?” Well it’s 186 miles that way of course!

20th October 2017 

#thisgirlcan

 

 

 

 

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Wilson & Fay Sail The Wayfarer

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Whilst on holiday last week, I had the opportunity to do a photo shoot with a new children’s author, Fay Lakin, who has written “Wilson & Fay Sail The Wayfarer”.

Fay and her Springer Spaniel, called Wilson, are lucky enough to live on the shores of Coniston Water in the English Lake District and the book is a lovely tale of sailing and adventure on the lake. It will delight all children to read of Wilson’s adventures and the book is also beautifully illustrated with watercolour paintings.

Thank you to our reading models for taking part in our photo shoot and to their parents for allowing me to take their photos and use them in this blog post. I have a feeling I might have been videoed saying “silly sausages” in public!

Wilson & Fay Sail The Wayfarer

Wilson & Fay

Our models

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Coniston Water Summer 2017

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The beauty and diversity of the English Lake District is never more apparent than when kayaking around the northern shores of Coniston Water.

The lake is home to a huge number of species of flora and fauna.

Grey Herons stand to attention in the shallows at the water’s edge, watching and waiting for small fish to stab for their supper. Alternative feeding methods include perching precariously on an old wooden fence post for an elevated view of the water and what lurks beneath. Mallard’s take a more comical and direct approach to scan the depths.

Female Goosanders carry their chicks on their backs as the family slowly explore, feeding and playing in the warmer shallow water.

Mallards dabble amongst the weed, the drake showing off his beautiful plumage in the sunshine. The female looking drab in comparison until a closer inspection reveals beautiful patterns of camoflauge colours.

Summer water lilies float on the surface of sheltered inlets, their flowers open in the warmth of the sun and closed again by bedtime.

A pair of majestic Mute Swans feed on submerged aquatic plants and weed. Sadly without cygnets this year, but still to be wary of when paddling kayaks in their territory.

Coniston Water is 5.25 miles long and 0.5 miles wide. Cold waters reach 184 feet deep in places and it is the third largest lake in the Lake District. It is my playground and home to many. Imagine having all this on your doorstep all year round.

August 2017 

Diana Marshall-Kay 

Diskay Photography

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