January | 2016 | Taking One Day At A Time

Blue Monday: Doris Longwing (4 Photos)

The Doris Longwing (Heliconiini Laparus doris) is a new butterfly to the 2016 Butterflies In The Glasshouse event at RHS Wisley Gardens. The Doris has striking, iridescent patches of blue on the upperside of the hindwing. The underside shows patches and stripes of red as do many other longwings, they can sometimes be hard to tell apart! They’re graceful, dainty and beautiful to watch in flight, or sunning themselves and feeding. The annual event is on now until March 6th. If you are planning to visit at the weekend, or during school half-term, you would be wise to book yourselves a time slot as the glasshouse gets very busy and queues can grow quickly! I hope that my photos of these wonderful creatures entice you to visit and enjoy the magic for yourselves. It’s guaranteed to lift your spirits and banish any Winter blues!

Linked to Weekly Photo Challenge: Optimistic
And Smiling Sally’s Blue Monday

Bluebirds Flying Free

An Ode To Bowie: Just Like That Bluebird

My own words cannot presume to match the genius of David Bowie’s lyrics. This photomontage was inspired by lines from his last release Lazarus, on his farewell album Blackstar. He starts simply by saying “Look up here, I’m in heaven” and finishes by reassuring us that “Just like that bluebird, Oh I’ll be free, Ain’t that just like me”.

I applied a writing style called the Cut-up Technique, a Dadaist form often used by Bowie, on his own song titles to create a poem of remembrance. My own quirky way of saying farewell to a great artist, who has and always will be ever-present in my life and work.

Thirty Eight Line Poem

When I live my dream,
An occasional dream,
There is a happy land
After all.
I know it’s gonna happen someday.
If I’m dreaming of my life,
Please, Mr. Gravedigger,
Don’t bring me down!
Who can I be now,
After today?
Lazarus?
I feel free!
Let’s dance
Tonight.
The dreamer’s
Slip away.
Hang on to yourself.
It ain’t easy.
Where are we now?
The stars are out tonight
Dancing out in space.
I’ll take you there,
Thru these architects eyes.
Little wonder
I keep forgetting
Reality.
New angels of promise
Telling lies.
Time will crawl,
Never get old,
Ashes to ashes.
We are the dead.
Can you hear me?
Oh! You pretty things!
Move on
Starman,
Everything’s alright.