YOU SHOOT THEM, I SHOOT YOU...

 Yesterday we saw that spring is in the air, and apparently so are weddings. I imagine this was a pre-wedding informal shoot.

I shoot you, you shoot them.

SPRING IS SPRINGING

 It had to happen, whether you thought it would or not, given the sad state of world affairs.

Blossoms!  They seemed to have popped out of their branches overnight.

Keep 'em comin'.

THEME DAY MARCH: Mirrors

 Ah, what to do for mirrors? I thought of going surreal, inspired by Man Ray et al. but been there-done that.

Then inspiration hit me!  I believe I am going to downsize....tired of lugging my one or two DSLRs plus weighty lenses around. I am looking at a mirror-less camera and will decide soon.  I could buy an adapter and use my lenses on the lighter mirror-less, but then the bulk would be pretty much the same, so I will probably go for a Nikon Z50 bundle I saw. I have heard Z60 is better, but I never, ever do video so I don't care.

Any of you folks downsized to 'something else' recently?

See other mirrors on THEME DAY.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS--Kolarac Restaurant

Kolarac (KO-lahr-ahts) Restaurant is one of the oldest restaurants in Belgrade, established in 1870. I like to go there but of course have not been  in ages because of the virus. They do also have a lovely garden in the back where you are totally unaware of the often crowds on Belgrade's walking street, Knez Mihailova.

Read more about the restaurant here, and see some more pictures in addition to the vintage one posted above right here.

Also, see more reflections on James' WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

SKYWATCH--Twilight Time

 The ever-changing face of Belgrade.  That hideous tower on the left is only  one part of a city project entitled Belgrade Waterfront. High-rise and high-price apartments that will benefit only a chosen few. Even the walkways have been, in my option, poorly laid-out. Bike and pedestrian lanes too close....and I'll stop there.

See other skies on SKYWATCH.

MY BELATED BIRTHDAY PILLOW

 Every now and then  one receives a really special birthday present, albeit a teeny bit late.

This beautiful pillow was HAND-EMBROIDERED for me (except the bands on the top and bottom) by my soon-to-be 89 year-old Irish former colleague and India travel buddy, who's  lived in 'Yugoslavia' since 1958.  This woman is amazing in many, many respects, and this pillow is only a small proof.

Many thanks, Gillian.  I love it.

MONDAY MURALS--too cold to sit

 A bit too nippy now to sit outside, even though our temps here have warmed up over the last week.

But pretty to look at from the comfort of your own home computer screen!

See other murals on MONDAY MURALS.

JUST ME AND MY SHADOW AND MY DOG

 A late-night walk with the pup.

See other shadows  on SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY.

HIDDEN BEAUTIES

 Another fine from roaming around the city. There were six of these lovely frescoes hidden from the crowds on the sidewalk along one of Belgrade's main streets.

COLONEL TADIJA SONDERMAJER

 This morning while walking the dog I came across this sad little park a few streets over. I rarely go this way, and have a vague memory of seeing the bust of 'someone'. Today I took the time to look and read.

Tadija Sondermajer (the J is pronounced as a Y) was born on February 19th 1892 and died on October 10, 1967. He was a Serbian and Yugoslav Royal Air Force Reserve Colonel, a decorated fighter pilot in WW I, and one of the founders of the first civil aviation company inn the then-Yugoslavia, Aeroput.

Here's a cut and paste from Wiki: "Born in Belgrade, he was the first engineer of aeronautics in the country and the only fighter plane pilot from the Kingdom of Yugoslavia to fight in the French Air Force during World War, I on the Western Front, most notably against the German squadron of Manfred von Richthofen. In between the wars he flew a record intercontinental flight between Paris and Bombay, India, and back to Belgrade. He received the highest, Serbian, Yugoslav and French decorations for his war service and numerous peacetime decorations. Sondermajer is undoubtedly one of the most striking figures in Yugoslav civil aviation and a major contributor to the development of civil aviation in the region."

Thought it fitting I should post this today on his birthday.

ALL I HAVE IS...

 All I have today is this photo of my shorkie (Shih Tzu/Yorkie), Madhu.  The reason is mainly because two days ago I received my night table from IKEA.  Despite their near-perfect illustrations (instructions in languages are apparently a thing of the past for them) I have not managed to get the blankety-blank thing together correctly. I took a breather to have a snack and fume.  

Madhu was sympathetic, I think, but imagine she was just interested in a tidbit.

Trying again today with a peaceful mind.