Splash of Sunshine ...

..... not really but the backlight makes this flower centre look, for all the world, like the sun is rising from it and leaking gold into the petals.

Seems I'm having a bit of a flower fest again - after Mexico, the North Sea and Christmas baubly things I have reverted back to blip-type ...... seems you've liked my last three flowery offerings (thank you very much) so hoping this one meets with your approval too.



R.I.P. "Stormin'" Norman Schwarzkopf aka "The Bear" (1934-2012)

After he retired from the Military he went into charity work - mainly to highlight awareness of prostate cancer.

Himself had the honour of a fleeting meeting with this man, in the Middle East, during "Desert Storm" - his opinion ... "..... Stormin Norman was a big man with a big personality, he did not suffer fools gladly and would say so without hesitation. He was a first class leader and knew his job inside out but, above all, he treated those under his command with respect and had a wonderful sense of humour"

I reproduce ten quotes below attributed to "The Bear" - I think the message behind most of them would translate into the everyday lives of us all quite well.

10) "Do what is right, not what you think the high headquarters wants or what you think will make you look good."

9) "You learn far more from negative leadership than positive leadership. Because you learn how not to do it."

8) "War is a profane thing."

7) "The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it."

6) "True courage is being afraid, and going ahead and doing your job anyhow, that's what courage is."

5) "It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle."

4) "When placed in command, take charge."

3) "The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in battle."

2) "Any soldier worth his salt should be antiwar; and still there are things worth fighting for."

1) "Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without strategy."


If you are interested there is an excellent tribute here - in The Telegraph.




NIKON D90 : f/5.6 : 1/60" 105mm : ISO 1600