National Space Centre, Leicester

As promised, here are photos from the National Space Centre in Leicester.

It was a good day and my daughter enjoyed it. A lot for the kids to do and lots of crafting too. When we visited at the start of April the Solar System section was shut which was a bit annoying as I wanted my daughter to see it. She knows all the planets, I spent 2 weeks teaching her them! We went to a show in the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium and I felt a bit queasy but everyone else was fine! I'd have to say the cafe did cater well for all diets and allergies and I gave the coffee a thumbs up too! 

I'll leave you with the last photo...Are we alone? What do you think? 

Signs 20th May 2026

Linking to Tom's Signs: https://backroadstraveller.blogspot.com/ 

Saw this quote at the Science Centre and I really liked it.

Shining Bright

 

One of my better photos of the moon! It can be really hard to capture with a phone!

Harvest Mouse

 

During the Easter Holidays we visited Calderglen Country Park. I got lots of photos! Up first is this tiny little Harvest Mouse! I was really happy how the photos turned out as this was taken through glass!

All Tuckered Out

 

This little bee was struggling and on the ground. At first I thought it was dead but once I got a dandelion and put it on, it started moving. I took it inside for a bit of warmth. After about 5 minutes we went back outside and it was lively! I put it near other flowers. I checked back about 10 minutes later and it was gone. I always try and help where I can.

Caturday: The 2 Faces Of Stitch

 

This is Stitch and his two faces. First is his cute and not thinking pose and second is is fully alert look.

Chilean Rose Tarantula

 

This is a Chilean Rose Tarantula that we saw at Amazonia recently. I like spiders.

Hanging Around

 

This is some sort of Bracket Fungi I think. I took this last year.

Signs 13 May 2026

Linking to Tom's Signs: https://backroadstraveller.blogspot.com/ 

I certainly do! 

A Happy Coot

 

This is from a few years ago at the pond. It's one of the coots. I think it looks happy.

It's Hiding!

 

Can you spot the moon behind the clouds?

Feeding A Female Mallard

 

This is from last year when we went to Alton Towers. My daughter was trying to feed this female mallard. The ducks at Alton Towers are used to the humans!

Caturday: Mother And Child

 

This is Abby and Chiana. Abby at the front and Chiana at the back. Abby is Chiana's mother! I've had Chiana since she was 6 weeks old and she will be 16 in August!

A Lovely Big Tree

 

I really liked this tree I saw when we were down in England in April.

A Litter Caterpillar

 

This little caterpillar was on my slabs next to the grass. I got a photo of it!

Signs 6th May 2026

Linking to Tom's Signs: https://backroadstraveller.blogspot.com/ 

How many people do you think Pushed it?

This is from the National Space Centre in Leicester https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/. We went there at the start of April when we were down visiting my partner's dad. They live near Northampton. I will get around to posting the trip to this Museum

Looking Up

Tom over at https://backroadstraveller.blogspot.com/ is always telling us to keep looking up! 

This little Tamarin clearly got the memo! This is from a recent trip to Amazonia. 

RIP Jackie

 

I wasn't about yesterday and only found out today that my new friend Jackie has passed away. She ran 2 blogs: https://twodevoncats.blogspot.com/ and https://allatseawithme.blogspot.com/. The first about her cats and the second was her photo blog. 

I had joined a Christmas Card exchange list before I broke my ankle. After Christmas I emailed everyone on list explainging about my ankle and Jackie emailed me back telling me all about her experience with a broken ankle. We emailed back and forth and commented on our blogs. This is the Christmas Card she sent me.

She really was a lovely person and will be missed. Sending love and hugs to Ivor <3 RIP Jackie.

It's A Maze!

 

Can you spot the squirrel? These trees were like a maze for it!

Caturday: Cali On The Bear

 

This is Cali. We have a big teddy bear that we bought for my daughter years ago. It sits in the living room next to the radiator, so as you can imagine the cats have claimed it! Cali was having a lot of fun playing with me that day!

It's May

 

May already! Jeez oh where did the time go? This is Anthurium also know as Flamingo Flower. It looks like a heart and it beautiful. I really like this one.

Forever Autumn

I took this photo when we were away at the start of April down in England. It reminded me of one of my favourite songs called Forever Autumn by Justin Hayward.

Signs 29th April 2026

Linking to Tom's Signs: https://backroadstraveller.blogspot.com/

Tam Shepherds was a very famous shop in Glasgow. It was a trick and joke shop. I used to go there a lot in the 80s and 90s. It sadly shut down a few years ago but they still have an online shop. Here's the Wiki link about it: Tam Shepherds. Anyone of a certain age from Central Scotland will remember this shop!! 

Not Quite Hallowe'en

 

I've had this Glow in the Dark Skeleton hanging up in the hall for a while now and it was only a few weeks ago I noticed how well it glowed! I think it's really cool!

The Pond On A Sunny Day

 

This is the pond I visit, on a sunny day last year. I still haven't been up but hoping to go this week at some point and see the old gang...the crows, ducks, coots and other birds and insects.

Insect Houses

 

I was shopping at a Retail Park and saw these insect hotels or insect houses. I thought it was a nice thing, to encourage insects. A Retail Park is a place with many shops in the same area outdoors.

Caturday: A Jethro Sandwich

 

These are my 3 older cats. Abby at the front, Jethro in the middle and Chiana at the top. I spoke to Jethro and he looked up at me.

Saving It

 

This little woodlouse was scuttling about on the floor. The cats were showing too much interest in it so decided to lift it up and put it outside. Got a photo before I did that of course! They are amazing little things I think.

Holly-leaved Hellebore

 

This is Holly-leaved Hellebore (Helleborus argutifolius). I really liked the water droplets on it.

Signs 22 April 2026 And Update

Linking to Tom's Signs: https://backroadstraveller.blogspot.com/

I saw this sign when I was last at the physio and I really liked it. Very apt!! 

I had my hospital appointment today and got discharged. He was happy with my progress and was amazed at how well I am doing after 4.5 months and considering how serious the injury was. He was impressed I was walking unaided too! He said to continue with the physio for the next few months at least. He said whatever I am doing to keep doing it as I am doing so well and regaining movement in the ankle! He did say, though, it'll never be back to 100% but we are aiming for 70% or 80%. I said to him I am walking and driving and happy to be able to do this. So all in all a good report. 

A Witch's Hat

 

I spotted this flower in a recent Garden Centre visit and thought it looked like a Witch's Hat. I didn't see her nearby though! It's a Purple and White Viola.

The Hielanman's Umbrella

 

This is the Hielanman's Umbrella in Glasgow. You can read about it HERE. It's part of Glasgow Central Station. It was a sunny and rainy day in Glasgow when I took these back in March. I hadn't spotted the gull in the second photo until I was cropping it!

First Butterfly Of 2026

 

This is the first Butterfly of the year. I saw it a few weeks ago when I was on the school run. It was a rather nice day and I saw it flying about then it rested near my car and got a good photo. It's a Peacock Butterfly.

Caturday: Cleo's Close Up

 

This is Cleo, my wee black cat with the white bib. She was happy for me to take this close up photo of her. She really is the most photogenic cat in our house!

A Happy Pigeon

 

We spotted this Pigeon on a short walk recently. I had taken seeds with me and fed it. I tried to capture the lovely colours on its neck.

Ikea Glasgow View

 

Click to enlarge!

We were in Ikea recently and grabbed lunch. They do nice Plant Based Meatballs and unlimited coffees, so I'm in lol. I was looking out the window and really liked the view of the hills in the background. 

Pinky

 

This is a Pink Daisy (Bellis perennis). I spotted it in a garden centre and really liked the texture and colour.