Theme Day: Animals

Today it's the CityDailyPhoto Theme Day and this month it's animals. One thing I love about Poland is its nature. The forests and fields are abundant with fauna. Quite often you can see deer, boar, frogs, squirrels and hares roaming the countryside. This image was taken some time ago about 10km north of Toruń in the Polish countryside.

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Autumn Colours

It's one of the most beautiful times here in Poland, when the leaves turn that wonderful golden colour. Having said that, after spending a couple of hours clearing away the leaves from our garden...autumn can also be a pain!! ;-)

Bee & Blossom

Here are some beautiful shots of a busy bee hard at work. Blossom is everywhere in Poland and the trees are looking their best. Wish we could say the same for us hayfever sufferers...the pollen count is very high at the moment. Cue: a lot of sneezing and itchy eyes!!

Spring Colours

Poland is looking its best at the moment. Spring is in the air...and the bees are out making honey!

Fields of Beauty

God...I love spring in Poland!!

The Good Luck Stork

Poland is a very superstitious country...with many quirky tales. I particularly love the superstition about chimney sweeps. If you see one, you have to hold your button until you see someone of the opposite sex wearing glasses. Apparently, it brings loads of good luck!

Similarly, the arrival of the stork to Poland brings its own legend of superstitions. The first time you see a stork each year signals your character for the rest of the year. For example, if you see it sitting down, you will be very lazy. However, if you first see it flying mid-air then you will be very productive and hard-working throughout the year. Luckily, I saw my first 2011 stork in mid-flight...and so far the prophecy is true. Was up at 7.15am and did 7km on my cross-trainer!! ;-)

Here is a photo taken yesterday of the stork in action. Proof that 2011 will be a very productive year indeed!!

Awaiting the Rain!

Was walking home this evening and almost splatted this poor frog! It was sitting on the pavement minding its business. Walked right past it and it didn't even flinch. Apparently, it was sitting waiting for the rain which is forecast this evening. Let's hope it moves away before some passer-by does accidently splat it!

Spring is in the Air (part 2)

Some more signs that spring is here in Poland: Green grass (and not that horrible white stuff)...and a beautiful, bright red ladybird. The only ladybird I've seen for the past few months is the one planted on that damn Biedronka logo (a cheap and nasty Polish supermarket chain). Great to see you little ladybird...thanks for bringing spring back to Poland!!

Spring is in the Air (part 1)

The snow is officially gone, the blue skies are more apparent and the temperatures are much warmer (today it peaked at around 10C). However, the real sign that spring is on its way are when the flowers begin to bloom. And as captured this morning...TDP can say that spring is here to stay for sure!

Polish Wildlife

Today the sun is shining and there are clear, blue skies. So what better to do...than go for a walk in the Polish countryside. Flora and fauna (even in winter) is abundant here in Poland...and it wasn't long until we came across a herd of deer (8 in total!). The first picture looks as if it was taken in the mountains...but that hill behind the deer is actually a huge landfill (the result of the construction of the Sharp factory near Toruń).

The End of the World is Nigh...

Was sitting at work yesterday evening...and suddenly one of my colleagues noticed hundreds of birds flying low over Toruń. So what did I do...grabbed my camera!!

Of course, there is a rationale explanation for this strange phenomenon but disaster movies such as 2012 do always stick at the back of one's mind. Last week, I had a teenage student who was almost near to tears as she had just watched a documentary informing her that the end of the world will be in December 2012. Watch this space!...

The Assassination of Mr Mouse by the Cowardly Mr Cat!

Welcome to country life...and the sometimes cruel acts of nature. A mouse which had been rummaging around our cellar for the past few days (eating our potatoes and nibbling into our electrical wires) was caught at last. It was then let out for its run to freedom...but unfortunately landed straight into the paws and jaws of our waiting cat. Such is life I suppose! TDP was there to witness this incredible event.