Virginia Water Wander

We were out and about again on the 15th April 2007. After much debate we decided on having a look around Virginia Water, as Ed can never remember going there, but I didn't take much notice of this, as, at his age his memory can't be expected to be as good as it used to be. This time however, a decision had been made that we needed a chaperone as we can't really be trusted out on our own, especially near water. June was duly invited along to keep her beady eye on us and to make sure that we didn't get into any trouble. We set off early, and the trip reminded me of a school outing, June being the teacher obviously, Ed being the sensible Prefect, and me as the naughty scallywag who can't be left unsupervised.

Anyway, as we were early, we managed to find a space in the lay-by on the A30 and parked the school bus (sorry Clio) there, thus saving the car parking charges across the road, (bit of a theme developing here I feel) and we ventured into the park to see what we could find. Naturally I went straight down towards the lake, with Ed following, whilst June disappeared off into the woods in the other direction. A photographer walking away from water to take pictures of dry land, whatever next? Seems she had spotted the early morning light filtering through the trees in an arty fashion, something Ed and myself had totally missed as we hurtled down to the lake. Perhaps there was a lesson to be learnt there, that sometimes we are a bit blinkered and biased in what we see, when we should really just slow down occasionally and actually look around us.

The weather was very kind to us, it really was a cracking morning, and we all felt very pleased that we had set the alarms early. There was an early morning mist across the lake, which gradually burnt off as the morning wore on. Naturally I was having great fun taking pictures around the lake, my sort of scene entirely. The only thing that surprises me at Virginia Water is the fact that most of the wildlife seems particularly shy, I would have thought that with so many human visitors being there, the local wildlife would have got used to humans by now. You really have to search out the wildlife. Which we duly did.

We found, in a tributary stream, a lovely family of ducks. Mum & Dad complete with a trailing line of cute ducklings. Now this was more like it, we carefully moved round them as quietly as we could. The only problem being that one of my Berghaus walking boots has developed an annoying squeak. Can anyone explain how one boot develops a squeak, whilst the other one remains silent? They have obviously had the same amount of wear and been to the same places (I don't tend to hop) so why does this happen? I presume when people refer to me as 'Squeaky' they are referring to my foot apparel, and not my aversion to spending money. However we followed the duck family around for a bit, and came to the conclusion that if one of us walked round behind them they would swim towards the waiting photographers. Prefect Ed (Obviously after some house points) duly volunteered, and it all worked out handsomely for June and myself as the duck family did exactly as we had predicted and swam straight towards us and hopped over a log right in front of our eyes. Shame that Ed missed out on the shot though, but that is what you get when you volunteer, without considering all the options.

You may be wondering if the morning went without any mishaps, as we had Teacher June with us. Things got worse rather than better. There were various bits of camera equipment being dropped all over the place, lens caps, filters, release cables, they all seemed to be coated in butter. If that wasn't bad enough, we stopped for our customary coffee break from the infamous flask, and I felt very chuffed that I had remembered to bring along two extra cups (for Ed and June) only to find to my dismay as I began pouring it out, that I had forgotten to put any milk in it! Got 400 lines 'I must remember the milk' as punishment. However the beauty of this place is that there is a tea and coffee van on the footpath, and so at the end of the walk, we had a nice round of fresh coffees. Heaven, I thought as I was sipping a nice Americano, when this too seemed to develop a coating of butter on the outside of the cup and I managed to spill it all down my T-shirt, much to the other two's delight.

This really is a super place to go and take photos, and there really is a lot to see and explore. Ed and myself have been back since and can only recommend it.

Dave

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Thanks scallywag, Dave. Yes it was certainly an experience being out with the masters of the light who missed the light in their rush to get a photo of a bit of wood in the lake! The early morning light cried out to be photographed in the woods so I left them to fight over the much used reflective shot and I went fertling in the woods. All joking aside it was a great morning and a lot of fun........Thanks lads.

Teacher June

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Well going out and about with both 'Scallywag' Dave and 'Teacher' June was certainly an experience. With Dave was out searching for reflections and June fertling in the woods I had my hands full keeping them both in control. I decided to split my time between the two of them, first off I joined Dave down by the water. The mist was just rising off the lake and with the early morning light it made for some interesting shots.

I left Dave down by the waters edge and went off to see what June was up to. She was somewhere in the adjacent woods up to no good. I did ,unlike Dave, see 'the early morning light filtering through the trees......' but June had already nailed the best shot with the man out walking his dogs but I gave it a go anyway.

Then, as Dave said, we set off in search of some wildlife. At least this time Dave had not worn his bright red T-shirt that he usually wears, the wildlife gets one glimpse of that and goes scuttling off into the undergrowth! He still had his bright red cap on though and that squeaky boot. We found the family of ducks which of course were in the wrong position. I was duly volunteered to go off to try and coax them round to where the obliging Dave and June were waiting, at least that way the squeaky boot wouldn't frighten them off. Consequently Dave and June got all the cracking duckling shots and what did I get, yes you guessed it just a shot off them being wildlife photographers!

We all know that Dave has a strong competitive streak and that even extended to the 'Mishap of the day Competition'. His attempt at juggling with a cup off coffee won that easily – was it hot Dave!

Prefect Ed