Mark Ellis

Natural History Museum, London.

Meanwhile - in the Natural History Museum …

… dinosaurs and whale earwax

Wonderful trip to the fabulous @covmusicm.bsky.social today - stuffed full of brilliant stuff and supported by amazing volunteers. Loved it 😀

Close … but remember Aston Villa 1 - 0 Bayern Munich is THE European Cup / Champions League score

My first game in The Holte - loved every second.

It was indeed

If we get him and we don’t create a song around the tune of “When I Need You” then I am going to be seriously disappointed.

One for the kids there …

It wasn’t clear on the round - the thaw was just starting and the prints had lost any clear definition.

In the absence of decisive evidence I think I’ll just assume it was aliens👽

Possible - might be a bit big for a cat … although the melt can make prints look bigger. Do foxes walk on similar manner?

Nature experts … any ideas what left these tracks (Midlands, UK)? Rabbit or squirrel is my best guess but not sure they are classic of either.

Winter fun has started in these parts …

I’m so old I can remember when Aston Villa used to lose football matches …

#AVFC

The current top four in the Champions League table - sharing a stat that they were all beaten last time they played Aston Villa. Just saying …

#AVFC #UTV

Very excited this evening to attend the launch of OPEN: The People's Exhibition at @leicestermuseums.bsky.social ... especially as it features my eldest's first piece to be on display in a public art gallery.

#Stoneface by Edward Ellis

Wet days at work bring extra duties … but all the umbrellas will be dry and ready for tomorrow’s intrepid explorers. (Featuring a wet floor sign for added safety)

As always it was a delight to be at the Royal Albert Hall today for the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance - and I’m so proud of the part the National Memorial Arboretum plays in helping to bring society together to remember those who serve and sacrifice.

It was great to slip onto site today to help our volunteers plant 35,000+ Poppy Tributes for the RBL Field of Remembrance here at the National Memorial Arboretum … my knees were a bit sore after an hour so huge respect and thanks to those who have been out doing it all day.

A very special day at work as we dedicated the new LGBT+ Armed Forces Community Memorial in the presence of His Majesty The King.

Careers, livelihoods, and sometimes lives were lost as a result of the ‘gay ban’, and now people can serve regardless of who they are or who they love

Today's hard work included a meeting at Lichfield Cathedral - the current home of the Fenland Table, a 13 metre long table made from Fenland Black Oak that has been preserved in peat for the last 5,000 years. Not only remarkable but also designed to be used (hence the coffee and pastry)

Three trees in various stages of turning from green to autumnal colours stand in front of a modern building

The changing of the seasons is marked by the pin oaks (Quercus palustris) displaying their gorgeous autumnal colours in Heroes’ Square at the National Memorial Arboretum.

Not only a powerful reminder of the inherent beauty of nature but they also provide a great excuse for a daily walk around site

Ride To The Wall (RTTW) brings thousands of motorcycle fans from around the UK to the National Memorial Arboretum for huge show of remembrance and respect - always a highlight of my working year.

And despite the challenges brought by Storm Amy this year’s event has been as great as always.

A cathedral spire standing at the end of a paved area between ruined walls

A bronze sculpture of a winged St Micheal holding a spear, hovering above a prone figure of Satan

A view down a cathedral nave with a huge figure of Christ above the alter

A metal sculpture in front of stained glass window.

An afternoon off near Coventry … and time well spent in my opinion

Myself, on the left, shaking hands with HRH The Princess Royal with the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire behind us.

A group of people stand watching HRH The Princess Royal preparing to return to her car, flanked by standard bearers.

Amazing who you meet at work sometimes …

On this occasion to dedicate a memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum to the 97 men who died in the Le Paradis Massacre in 1940: www.leparadismassacre.com/massacre-ove...

Green fields and trees under a blue sky scattered with some white fluffy clouds

A lobe tree against a blue sky

Green fields and trees

After a very dry summer it’s lovely to see some vibrant greenery return to the National Forest before we head into autumn.

A completely fearless performance … not sure I could walk along that pathway - let alone run and dance down it in heals while belting out a total banger of a tune.

Fixing a broken laptop hinge with nothing but some basic tools, a YouTube video and a sense of adventure … what could possibly go wrong?

Brilliant

A black cat sits next to a green bird bath.

A black cat looking at the photographer whist sat next to a green bird bath and a chimera

Next door’s cat waiting, with hope over expectation, that a bird decides to take a bath.

Illuminated roller coaster track over the heads of people walking through a theme park at night

The fabulous art-deco style entrance to The Grand National 'coaster illuminated at night at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

The White Tower Restaurant building in twilight at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

The seafront in evening light from the balcony of the White Tower Restaurant at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

So you probably worked out my last post was Blackpool - and whilst I was there to discuss the many challenges facing the visitor attraction sector with some brilliant people from across our industry, it was also a lot of fun to be at Blackpool Pleasure Beach at night.

So close …