A shutterbug of stone

In general, people don't really expect floors to be interesting but, just sometimes, you come across something like this.  Before I tell you about this stone, and the fossils in it, I'll tell you about the day I took this photo.   It was Sunday just gone, and for me it was a Red Letter Day.  I have a bucket list, and one of the items on it was to hear Mussorgsky's 'Pictures at an Exhibition' live.  If I could hear 'Night on the Bare Mountain' at the same performance, that would be a real bonus.  This Sunday, the Philharmonia Orchestra were performing both at the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank, London, and Steven Isserlis was the soloist for Kabalevsky's Cello Concerto number 2 in addition.  The whole concert was a real treat and well worth the trip to London. I'd got there early - a couple of hours early.  Deliberately.  That allowed for rail delays and gave me time to buy lunch (this was an afternoon performance).  It also gave me tim...

  Every summer, the Open University used to hold a residential course, SXR260 The geological history of the British Isles , based at Durham University. For a week’s study, you didn’t just need your everyday clothes; you needed your outdoor gear (not forgetting waterproofs!) and boots, camera, books, stationery, sunblock, hairdryer... you get the picture.   You tended to gain the odd hand specimen of rock to take home for your reference collection as well; not many, of course, but choice.   If you’re interested enough to be reading this, you have probably been on the same course or on a good few field trips so you know what I’m talking about in terms of luggage! Durham Station did not have lifts.   At the end of my week (I was there in 2005), there I was, struggling to carry my case down the stairs.   I’m not tiny but the case was hefty.   Bang on cue, this chap and his girlfriend overtake me and said chap takes the chance to impress his girlfriend with hi...