Chewie the cockerpoo

As fans of the "Star Wars" films will know, Chewie is an abbreviation of Chewbacca, the name of Han Solo's hairy co-pilot, a member of the Wookiee race. In our family, however, it is also the name of a black, white and grey cockerpoo belonging to one of my grandaughters. She obligingly posed for me as she claimed her position on our sofa.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

A River Wye convergence

Areas of the River Wye in Herefordshire are focal points for recreational activities. In recent months canoeists and paddle boarders have outnumbered the sleek craft of the rowing club at Ross on Wye, and the swans, ducks and riverside birds have had to get used to their fair weather companions. However, when I saw this convergence of a mute swan with four cygnets and the canoeists with his dog, I did wonder if the current amity was going to be broken. I foresaw the swan reacting forcefully to the threat it perceived in the dog and its owner as they got ever nearer. It was not to be, however, and with a few strokes of their webbed feet the birds moved away and the photographer/canoeist turned around and paddled off upstream.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Pavement fountains

It has been interesting to see the spread of "pavement fountains" in recent years. I've come across several in Britain and I've seen them in other countries too. They are a magnet for young children and dogs in hot weather, and have their attractions for older folk who are young at heart. What draws children, and what leads to them getting wetter than they perhaps intended, is the apparent randomness of the way in which they turn off and on, catching out the over-confident. The fountains in the photograph are near King's Cross in London, a particularly large example that was offering welcome relief on a hot July day.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10