Of chaotic citadels, fragrant roses and air force attire! A few personal highlights from July 2026, captured in tiny wee snapshots.
This is my latest monthly selection of snapshots of things that caught my eye over these past few weeks, comprising the month of July – the first month of the second half of 2026.
Saturday 4 July 2026: Semiquincentennial 
I have definitely shared this picture of the stars and stripes (which I took in New Jersey, way back in 1993) more than once on this blog of mine… but I think that the occasion of the semiquincentennial celebrations of the United States are probably a fitting occasion to display it one further time.
Monday 6 July 2026: Almost triangular
Dawn to a burning hot day, the dispersing vapour trails forming almost triangular patterns in the sky.
Saturday 11 July 2026: Thirsty Meg
Ominous dawning (of a very hot day indeed).
Was I a negative creep for having found Nirvana a wee bit underwhelming live? I was able to source a second opinion on this matter, as quoted in my blog post Nirvana live in London 1989: A second opinion.
The first of a quartet of Ashdown Forest views from an exceptionally hot dog walk on this particular Saturday.
This time with a little lensflare…
Deep and profound verdancy.
Twisty tree trunk.
Meg looking distinctly thirsty after a short but very sweltering Ashdown Forest walk. A drink of water followed for her in short order, I am pleased to report!
Thursday 16 July 2026: Chocks away?
MJCarty in an RAF jacket, found in a charity shop but fitting as if it were tailored for me! I must stress that I have no affiliation to the RAF whatsoever, and would never seek to pass myself off as so having. My lovely wife has kindly offered to civilian-ise the jacket for me by replacing the RAF buttons and removing the insignia.
Friday 17 July 2026: Burning through
Rising sun burns through the morning mist as a bird watches from atop a TV aerial.
Tuesday 21 July 2026: Chaotic
I saw this map of “The Citadel of Chaos” lying on a pathway very close to my house the other day. I think that there is a high probability that this is the map of the location described in the early 1980s Fighting Fantasy book Citadel of Chaos by Steve Jackson, which I happened to read way back around the time of its original publication. It is heart-warming to think that modern kids may well still be not only reading said book but mapping out by hand the territories described therein.
Wednesday 22 July 2026: Would smell as sweet?
A quite beautiful pre-dawn sky, looking almost like a moody and evocative watercolour painting.
And to close us out for this month, the elegant and eternal (and indeed beautifully fragrant) simplicity of a rose.
Now: whatever might August 2026 have in store?
Your snapshots
What about you, gentle reader? What has made or is making your month memorable? I would love to know! Post a comment below, or @ me on the social medium of your choice: BlueSky, Mastodon, Threads or Instagram.
May you be nothing but kind today, to others and to yourself.
May today be nothing but kind to you and yours.
IMAGES
- All photography by MJCarty (except for the blog post thumbnail images, which are from Wikimedia Commons, and are fully credited on the relevant parent posts).
MJCarty 