A Raft of Apples

ABC Wednesday - Bridge Inn

2012-01-24T18:37:00.000Z

The Bridge Inn, Boughton on the Chester stretch of the Shropshire Union Canal. I was fascinated by the chimneys of this pub which as you get closer

enclose the sign that proclaims the the date 1899. It was not the only ornate sign because going round to the front

two putti celebrate the name and

the pub sign celebrates the chimneys.

I could find no other information of the history of the pub but it is near a canal mooring point and canal bridge number 123. You can always depend on lots of pubs on a canal. I find it interesting that it was built at this late date when most canals were in decline (the railways were taking the trade) but perhaps the reason this canal was different because of rivalry. The canal was leased to the LNWR (London and North Western Railways) and operated energetically because a large portion of the canal ran through the area of their great rival the Great Western Railway. In 1895 there were about 400 boats operating on this stretch. By the 1920s the days of bulk water transport were ended. But to bring up to date more of interest to me is that it was in last years Good Beer Guide and has a wide selection of real ale. How did I miss that? Next time we are down in this area I will have to shepherd my companions through the door and find out what is inside, apart from a Pub Quiz which I notice is on Sundays.

An entry to ABC Wednesday, a journey from A to Z now at the beginning of Round 10

ABC Wednesday - Anderton

2012-01-17T18:06:00.000Z

The Anderton Boat Lift, sometimes called the "Cathedral of Canals". This was the elegant solution to connecting the Trent and Mersey Canal to the River Weaver which run roughly parallel at this point with a horizontal gap of about 400 ft (121m). In the photo (top right) can be seen the route on to the lift from the Trent and Mersey Canal. The canal barge floats into a huge water tank, or caisson, with watertight sealable doors

which is counterbalance by another on the other side. It makes its way slowly down to the other waterway. Here you can just see at the bottom the sightseeing boat which takes the trip down the lift

and emerges out onto the River Weaver, it is named after Edwin Clark who was the designer of this boat lift opened in 1875. He went on to construct more lifts in Belgium and other parts of the continent. Anderton was originally built as a hydraulic lift but in 1904 it was converted to electric, after operating for a hundred years it was eventually closed due to corrosion and the fact that its original purpose of transporting large quantities of salt from the Cheshire mines and also clay for the midland potteries was no longer required. This was as can be seen not the end for restored, returned to hydraulic operation it reopened again in 2002. (The full history and technology can be found on Wikipedia here). Today the Anderton Boat lift has a visitor and exhibition centre, of course the structure is the real attraction, still used by leisure craft. A link to the salt that used to be transported through the boat lift still exists nearby in the

chemical plant producing sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate located on the opposite bank just where boats turn from the lift into the River Weaver. On the side of the river I'm taking the photo, nature trails. A contrasting part of Cheshire.

Here we are at the start of another round of ABC Wednesday, we are into double figures, or even binary, have a happy Round 10 everyone.

Trafalgar Square

2012-01-14T23:47:00.000Z

Just back from a short break in London so here is perhaps one photograph that would sum up the trip (apart from the fact I can never resist a fountain in sunshine). Part of Trafalgar Square, in the centre of the city surrounded by galleries, theatres, restaurants and pubs and in the photo, lots of people, the art of display, interesting buildings and just in the picture a bit of construction. Its a long time since I have visited the city and it never disappoints, the only problem is fitting all one wants to do (impossible) into a short time.

ABC Wednesday - Zorb

2012-01-10T15:21:00.000Z

Ambling through my local park this past summer I spotted something new in the distance by the boat hire shed. Zounds I thought what is happing over there with the strange orbs in the water.

So off for a nosey and discovered a new attraction for the school holidays, a collection of Zorbs. You can see the zip entrance where one can enter the Zorb world. The fruitless efforts of children of all ages to make the ball move across the water entertained me on all those occasions I walked through the park this summer, that and watching the various techniques to try to get motion across the water. I would give all the participants an A for effort. The local model yacht fraternity

seemed oblivious to all the activity of flailing arms and legs zorbing to their right and their models

peacefully zoomed across the lake.

An entry to ABC Wednesday where we have reached the end of the alphabet. Are you on board for Round 10?

ABC Wednesday - Youthful

2012-01-03T21:26:00.000Z

Even a snow making machine is fun when you are young so the only place to be is in front of it. They would probably think themselves far too old to

ride the nearby golden, or even for my abc purpose, yellow dragon but when you are very young

riding a galloper is the thing to do, after of course having a picture for the family album. I am never sure whether

these are Gallopers or Carousels but they never fail to attract the young and youthful.

An entry to ABC Wednesday, a journey from A to Z

Green and White

2011-12-24T16:11:00.000Z

This year's Winter Solstice has arrived warm and green, such a contrast to last year's

ice and snow.

I'm away for the holidays so wishing you all a Happy Christmas

ABC Wednesday - Warrior

2011-12-20T20:06:00.000Z

HMS Warrior, now preserved in the Portsmouth historic dockyard. Just to show it on contrasting English summer days, here it is again

Built in 1860 it was the first iron hulled, armoured warship. Powered by both steam and sail it was a cutting edge design but only 4 years later it was superseded by faster, better armoured and bigger gunned warships and downgraded to coastguard duties. In 1883 her main masts were found to be rotten and to save cost she was converted to a Naval School. When she was put up for sale in 1924 no buyer could be found so the ship was once again converted but this time to a floating oil pontoon and renamed Oil Fuel Hulk C77 to spend her remaining working life in Pembroke, Wales.

By 1978 the Warrior was the only surviving example of the 45 iron hulls built by the Royal Navy between 1861 and 1877, happily the navy had kept her hull in good condition during her stay in Wales so when it was announced the oil depot would be closed the Maritime Trust made great efforts to ensure it was not scrapped. Towed to Hartlepool for what turned out to be a £8M nine year restoration project (mostly financed by the Manifold Trust) starting with the removal of 80 tons of rubbish including the thick concrete layer encasing the upper decks poured on when she had been an oil pontoon. Once the restoration was finished she left the Coal Dock in Hartlepool to travel 800 miles down the east coast of England and round into the English Channel to be greeted by fireworks, gun salutes and cheering crowds and at last dropping anchor in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard which has been her home ever since.

HMS Warrior by the naval artist WF Mitchell (1872)

An entry to ABC Wednesday, a journey from A to Z which this week has moored at W

Snowy Morning

2011-12-16T16:34:00.000Z

There has been snow on the hills but today is the first fall of the winter in Barrow. An abandoned umbrella caught my attention as I walked along Roose Road.

ABC Wednesday - VR

2011-12-13T20:06:00.000Z

Travelling around Britain one of the things often seen are the letters VR on objects of a certain age. This ones glistens on one of the sides of the ornate Eastgate clock in Chester. The initials stand for Victoria Regina, and the clock was made for the occasion of Queen Victoria's 60 years on the throne, the Diamond Jubilee in 1897. The clock stands above the old Roman east entrance into the city which was widened in Georgian times but is still on the Roman wall route if you wish to walk around the walls.

Not easy to spot this VR in Ulverston until getting closer

perhaps to post some cards. And there it is on top of the wall box. You can always tell the age of a post box by which royal reign it was made as the royal cypher is displayed on them. These cast iron boxes are painted every three years and it looks as though this one has been recently done. The first Post Office wall boxes (which are mainly for rural areas) were installed in 1857 and went through many designs (mainly to try to prevent the rain getting inside) before eventually in 1887 the so called jubilee box was the end result. The jubilee referred to is Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee (50 years on the throne).

An entry to ABC Wednesday, a journey from A to Z which this week has reached the letter V

ABC Wednesday - Urns

2011-12-06T20:07:00.000Z

The immaculate topiary of Tatton Park and one of the cast iron urns near the entrance to the Rose Garden with a relief showing Greek warriors. The garden designers must have had a fondness for these receptacles because they are everywhere.

on top of the ornate seats

and by the side of Verona marble bench whose ends are carved into winged lions.

But sometimes things are not what they seem. Stand here in the Pleasure Gardens and look at the wall (built in 1818 and behind which are the Orchard and Vegetable gardens) ] with ornamental urns stood on the top. They are a disguise and are actually chimneys. The south facing walls gain most of the sun but north facing walls are often in shade and these were heated in spring and autumn by furnaces whose flues ran through the thickness of the wall and emerge as chimneys. From the 18th to the mid 19th Century heated walls (also known as 'hot walls') were quite common in the north. Fires would have been lit in early Spring in order to protect the fruit blossom from frost.

More words starting with the letter U can be found at ABC Wednesday, a journey from A to Z

ABC Wednesday - Tarn Hows

2011-11-29T18:20:00.000Z

Looking back to a warm sunny day in September (unlike today when the wind and rain rattles outside) we headed for the tranquillity of Tarn Hows. This is a place I often visit but always tacked on to a longer walk so have never parked nearby. Events earlier on the summer when I broke my leg meant I was still on one crutch so a nice easy stroll round the tarns would be ideal. Parking at one of the little car parks out of sight of the objective a choice of two paths, one leading over a pretty little bridge. Over the bridge is the way I said confidently.

We gradually walked up hill past waterfalls, then it got steeper

oh yes we had gone up Tom Ghyll so a certain amount of being hauled up rocks now took place but I did discover that a crutch is ideal for crossing streams.

Our objective reached we joined

the families walking,

dogs paddling

and those just sitting an enjoying the day. I did some of that too. We then took the gentle route

back to the car, my self appointed fitness trainer (well someone has to do it) leading the way.

ABC Wednesday, a journey from A to B with this week lots of words starting with T here

ABC Wednesday - Roche Bernard

2011-11-15T19:54:00.000Z

La Roche Bernard is a small harbour town on the River La Vilaine, with a popular marina and Michelin starred restaurants. Its origins date back to the 9th Century with stories of Vikings but today it is a popular tourist destination.

Designated a "Petites cités de caractère" it has a historic centre but here we are walking down to the harbour.

The boat that takes trips up and down the river in Summer was about to leave but my attention was taken with

the numerous photos in the water by the yachts.

which were blown up postcards of the building of the bridge across the Vilaine. I collect old postcards so a lot of camera clicking went on at this point, this one is my favourite, all the town's population in those past times seems to be gathered on one side of the river. I guess the reason these photos were here was that there was a celebration of photography and an exhibition in La Roche Bernard and

large pictures were posted throughout the town. No time to be recumbent here, lots to see and do, not to mention canoes

to be hired and paddled.

An entry to ABC Wednesday a journey from A to B stopping at R this week

ABC Wednesday - Quince

2011-11-08T20:02:00.000Z

I remembered back in April I had taken photographs of the quince bush in bright sunlight, ABC Wednesday sorted. In the language of flowers, send a quince flower and it means temptation. Unfortunately the quince fruit on the bush this year are not very tempting.

One of just three on there at the moment, usually it is full. Maybe it is due for some cosseting. Certainly no-one will be queuing pick its fruit.

But on such a beautiful weekend lots were queuing to climb on board the ferry and shorter queues because there are more doors

to climb on board one of the trains of the Thomas the Tank Engine weekend. Thomas himself was further down the line.

An entry for ABC Wednesday, a journey through the alphabet.

Lakeland Weekend

2011-11-07T14:28:00.000Z

In the rhythm of the seasons the beaches in the Rusland valley are always the last to change colour which usually coincides with the first frosts, the prelude to winter. All though of winter are put aside for clear skies and sunshine this weekend have been perfect for

cycling club

who soon whizzed by towards their destination

Sailing on the lakes. The ferry Miss Lakeland was packed as it came to disgorge its passenger at Lakeside and fill up with more to travel down back down Windermere.

whereas the sailing boats were enjoying tacking across the lake. The smaller visitors to the Lakes were steaming

from Haverthwaite to Lakeside on Thomas the Tank Engine

ABC Wednesday - Peregrination

2011-11-01T18:56:00.000Z

For the perfect peregrination sometimes a little effort is required, gets the heart palpitating when winding

for water filling up the lock, two barges parked in parallel

but lots of other mechanical things to do while the pooch is patrolling along the top, meanwhile the driver

is relaxing having a powwow with a fellow peripatetic bargee on their rise up to the next part of the Chester Canal

The gates open and the journey continues. This canal has lots of possible destinations because it is is part of the Shropshire Union Canal, and as its name implies it is a union of many. We walked a small stretch at the weekend and

on the way back another two barges were going the other way. The Lock Keepers cottage (c1800) is a listed building, including its walled yard and privy which used to drain into the sluice-way under the house. Happily the latter aspect is not listed, modern plumbing rules.

The object of our peregrination was to walk around the medieval walls of the city of Chester , our entry point being by the side of this dovecote which was in possession of pigeons who suddenly flew into the air as I snapped my photograph.

Pop over to ABC Wednesday for more words beginning with P

ABC Wednesday - Old

2011-10-25T18:23:00.000+01:00

Its working days over this old tractor is gently disintegrating. If a member of the David Brown Owners Club spied this he might take it on as a renovation project. The company was an innovative builder of tractors between 1939 and 1988 and in its heyday this tractor may have looked like this-

I found this picture on an antique tractors site and its owner says it was the favourite tractor in the Netherlands "Dit is een simpele trekker en makkelijk te bedienen voor weinig geld en zo sterk als een beer!" (Simple and easy to operate for little money and strong as a bear). But elsewhere down on the farm the little heifer

is finding an old bath is ideal for cooling feet,

An entry for ABC Wednesday - a journey from A to Z.

ABC Wednesday - Etang Moulin Neuf

2011-10-18T19:12:00.000+01:00

A peaceful lake near Rochfort en Terre in France. This is the Etang du Moulin-Neuf, I did not spot any trace of the nine windmills but this 40 hectare stretch of water now attracts runners, walkers (with and without dogs) and fishermen. The wily pike and perch may even lurk beneath these water lilies. No French leisure destination would be complete without a restaurant and that is the building in the distance. A path runs all the the way round and nature surrounds, the only swan I saw was this one -

but there were many birds

I think I know where this artist of nature lives because by all these little touches of art was a painted sign

advertising the walk from the lake to the village of Pluherlin which seems to have everything to keep body and soul together.

The letter of N is this week's stop on the ABC Wednesday journey of the alphabet.

ABC Wednesday - Maritime

2011-10-11T21:34:00.000+01:00

They had a series of posters outside the Museum of Liverpool on the theme "Made in Liverpool" , these two feature the blue and red of the two football teams and the Mania of the Beatles, a product of the local Merseybeat scene. Music is still everywhere in Liverpool which may be one of the attractions of the numerous tourists who also make their way to

the Albert Dock for its shops, restaurants, bars and museums. Six areas of the historic centre and docklands have been designated UNESCO heritage status as a "Maritime Mercantile City"

and there were quite a few old sailing ships in the dock which is now a location for pleasure craft (the Maritime Museum is the building on the right). The workhorses of the merchant marine are miles down the road in the working docks. Worth a mooch if you are interested in industrial history for there are vast areas of docks which are gently decaying and mind blowing to imagine when all these miles were full of ships coming and going. One thing will be the same today as it would be then

seagulls doing battle with mussels. This is a juvenile who was not having a lot of success with its potential dinner, I think the shell might remain unopened

The Letter M entry for this week's ABC Wednesday - A Journey from A to Z

ABC Wednesday - Lifeboat

2011-10-04T19:05:00.001+01:00

My local lifeboat station on a calm day, all is peaceful, the little ferry boat at the end of the pier is waiting for passenger to take to Piel Island across the water. The lifeboat station is also on an island (Roa) but one that links to the mainland by a causeway. There is a popular cafe here, The Bosun's Locker, but if a stronger drink is required

then get a lift on the ferry across the water to Piel, to its ruined castle and the Ship Inn. The notice has all the information.

There has been a lifeboat station here since 1864 but many different constructions and lifeboats have been used over the years. The present boat 'Grace Dixon' is one of the very modern Tamar class, superbly ergonomic for heavy seas, computer controlled and of course most importantly self-righting. One of the previous lifeboats, 'Herbert Leigh' is now high and dry

outside the Dock Museum. The present lifeboat has many more years in front her to swoop

RNLI Photo by Nicholas Leach

down into the sea from the Roa Island Station. Take a trip on board the Grace Dixon in the short clip here:

Join the Journey from A to Z at ABC Wednesday and this week's letter L

ABC Wednesday - Kites

2011-09-27T19:15:00.000+01:00

I was going to do kayak for this week which just proves how the memory plays tricks because when I looked at the photos they were canoes, and no, despite my browse of the dictionary I could find no archaic spelling with a K. Then I remembered I had some kites from the first Kitefest held earlier in the year at Haverigg.

There were all sorts of shapes and sizes

and the Fusion Team dancing kites to music. Here they are practising before taking the field. Not easy on this weekend because despite the fact there are a number of Kite Surfing events held locally because of the reliability of the wind the early part of the year was notable for warm and and windless weather. If you were a

butterfly it would be OK, but the huge Dragon Kites had difficulty getting off the ground. No matter

there was a kite retail opportunity in the far tent and pancakes here or my favoured option

a kool ice cream. The event took place on the Haverigg Rugby Ground a good space for a kids kick around.

The Letter K for the ABC Wednesday - a journey from A to Z

ABC Wednesday - Journey

2011-09-20T19:01:00.000+01:00

To journey by bike is the best way to see a country, faster than walking yet slow enough see the sights and meet the people. This bike was outside the port office in La Roche Bernard so perhaps the owner had another mode of transport for his journey in mind such as

this one which would take the three sailors out into the Atlantic. If a little more comfort is required maybe something bigger would take one to another country

such as this ferry leaving Portsmouth bound for St Malo. Or maybe journey across continents by train

although you would have to pick the right day with my local line up the coast. This photo was taken on Sunday and no trains ever run on that day. So maybe it would be better to jump on

a motor bike like this one.

The ABC Wednesday journey from A to Z has reached the letter J

Duddon Dawdle

2011-09-19T20:02:00.000+01:00

The Osteospurnum making the most of yesterday's afternoon sunshine as was the little wasp.

The roads and fields are showing the effect of so much rain over this last fortnight. We passed this field on the way to walk through the Duddon Mosses. And boy were the mosses wet. I am doing flat walks at the moment to build my leg up after its break and was using my new walking stick while boasting about its usefulness in gauging the depth of water and so keeping my feet dry. No sooner were the words out of my mouth than my leg started to sink. I will have to add this move to my physiotherapy exercises, pulling leg out of gloopy peat.

The day was warm and a lone male black darter dragonfly flitted along the path while down below

a fox moth caterpillar was taking its ease in the grass, waiting for its photo opportunity. Next year this little fellow will metamorphose into this:

This photo from the blog Wild Wings and Wanderings

But in the meantime the fox moth caterpillar's favourite food,

heather, was flowering along the path under the birch trees where something had taken a liking to

a Fly Agaric and chomped half. I wonder what fancied a poisonous fungi with a powerful hallucinogen?

ABC Wednesday - Iris

2011-09-13T19:50:00.000+01:00

Passing by the little church at Woodland in July a flash of vivid colour caught my eye. So curiosity led me in to investigate.

Making my way to the colour luminous in the sunshine I discovered its flowery source growing

contained within a grave stone. I looked on the stone end for a name but time had erased all trace, but surely nature and the unknown gardener had already shown me the Christian name of the occupant

Iris.

My I entry to ABC Wednesday. A journey through the alphabet from A-Z

ABC Wednesday - Harvest

2011-09-06T18:27:00.000+01:00

Looking down from the top of Birkrigg common last week the harvest was in full swing. The hay baled and wrapped on the top fields, the bottom fields ready for the bailer to drive down the lines and, out of view on the left the farmers taking a breather. Its a busy time of the year and you could go anywhere in the country to see a similar scene

such as these square bales in Kent,

or journey over the water see some round ones in France waiting to be stacked

Room for a few more?

Hop over to ABC Wednesday to see more words starting with the letter H

Tarn Hows

2011-09-05T20:51:00.000+01:00

The forecast for the coming week is rain, rain and then more rain. The moral of this is get out when the sun shines. It was a gloriously warm and sunny day yesterday and these two girls had chosen one of the best seats in Tarn Hows.

ABC Wednesday - Grange Geese

2011-08-30T19:24:00.000+01:00

A seagull having memorised the the wildfowl names on the noticeboard is looking to see how many can be spotted, unless someone appears with food. The ornamental lake in Grange-Over-Sands park has in addition to the native species lots of geese and ducks not normally found in England. Although the two Ruddy Ducks resting in the distance are a North American species they are an established English breeding bird, the result of escapees from the Slimbridge reserve in the 1960s. I have looked at this notice from time to time but the names have not settled into my brain so lets turn from the lake and take a walk on the grass

and spot a growing chick, mother goose wondering if the grass is greener on the other side of the wall

although this family seem to have found lots of interest.

"Me and my shadow"

Photos taken on a sunny day in June, now the days are growing shorter and the little chicks will be a whole lot bigger.

Go visit ABC Wednesday where there will be lots more words starting with G

ABC Wednesday - Fir

2011-08-23T19:39:00.000+01:00

The first colours of autumn are starting to appear, a fluttering of leaves are floating to the ground but the firs will remind us through the winter that the green will return. These three magnificent trees stand at the side of a field, this photo was taken in March so there is no surrounding colour, apart from the blue of the sky.

Sometime firs can provide their own colour. Technically I suppose this is not a fir but I'm considering its spiny leaves and cones can come within that generic title for ABC purposes. This is a larch, the only common cone-bearing tree that looses its leaves in the winter. These pretty female flowers are sometimes called 'larch roses'.

And lastly a domestic fir,

looks like a leylandii that I poked my camera around to photo this fabricated shed with its cheery façade. Who lives in a house like this?

Follow the link over to ABC Wednesday to see lots more words starting with F

ABC Wednesday - Embroidery

2011-08-16T18:07:00.000+01:00

Embroidery is one of the oldest arts, and a perishable one, what remains from past ages are very precious. Heraldic and Ecclesiastical embroidery was full of the splendour of gold and silver thread but these cushions from the choir stalls of Winchester Cathedral are not luxurious but tell stories and show off the art of needlecraft. The Winchester Cathedral Broderers' Group was founded in 1931 and produced over 600 kneelers, canvas work, cushions and alms bags for the building. When the cushions that I show were created in the 1930s they were originally laid out on the choir benches to tell a linear historic story, but to prevent wear today they are moved around. It must be quite interesting for the choristers, as the cushions are moved, to see who they are sitting on today. I don't think anyone would have be able to 'sit' upon Henry Beaufort (1375-1447), the embroidery shows his cardinal hat, unusually he was both a cardinal bishop and a Plantagenet (his half brother was Henry IV), heavily involved in the politics of the time and also went into battle. He is possibly most famous for being the interrogator of Joan of Arc and instrumental in condemning her to death.

It is interesting to see how each Borderer interpreted their story. Here is Henry VIII, a Tudor and the red dragon of Wales.

The date on this cushion of 1642 is the start of the English Civil War

The first date of 1736 is the date the fund raising work of the Rev Alured Carke came to fruition with the admittance of the first patient into the first hospital founded in Winchester. The second name will be more familiar, Florence Nightingale, the lady with the lamp, and one of the founders of modern nursing. I do not know the significance of the second date, 1868, but the 1880s was when Florence Nightingale introduced trained nurses into they hospital system so perhaps that is when they arrived at the Winchester Infirmary.

So there is a random selection of ecclesiastical cushions, unfortunately I did not take any pictures of the choir stalls because I was taken with the glitter of the eagle on the lectern in there

Enter ABC Wednesday to see more words starting with the letter E

ABC Wednesday - Dry Dock

2011-08-09T17:49:00.000+01:00

Berthed by the side of the resplendent rigging of HMS Victory (Nelson's flagship) in the Portsmouth Naval Dockyard this little ship in dry dock is often overlooked despite being painted in the dazzle anti-submarine camouflage she wore for most of 1918. The HMS Monitor M33 is one of only two World War 1 warships to survive both war and time. The Monitors were a shallow draft coastal bombardment vessels who steamed into 'enemy' waters to discharge their 6 inch guns. The HMS Monitor had a long life under different names and guises but during that time many of the original features were removed, now located in Number 1 Dry Dock, Portsmouth these features are being replaced or reconstructed to restore the ship as near as possible to her 1915-1919 configuration.

The ship in the background is HMS Illustrious built in 1976 at Swan Hunter but due to be decommissioned in the next few years. She is an Invincible class light aircraft carrier, the first in class being built in 1973 in the shipyard of the town where I live, at some point the Invincible would also have been in a dry dock (used for construction, maintenance and repair of ships).

I wonder if it was this large one in Devonshire Dock , maybe not for this photo is on a postcard from the 1920s. The photographer has climbed the Vickers Crane which was very high and dominated the town, as did its replacement, both now gone, are as all the chimneys in the background which I think must be the old steelworks.

Dash over to ABC Wednesday where there are lots more words starting with D

Easely Seen

2011-08-03T21:12:00.000+01:00

This artist's workshop was closed when we passed through Rochefort-en-Terre, a shame because the sign was so inviting.

An entry to Signs, Signs

ABC Wednesday - Clock

2011-08-02T16:52:00.000+01:00

The Winchester clock, recently repaired, restored and in place again on its gilded timber bracket. The building was originally the 'new' Guidhall built in 1713 now it is the Lloyds TSB bank and the present Guildhall is a much larger and grander building.

The statue is of Queen Anne, the last Stuart monarch and says in Latin "Anna Regina, Anna Pacifica", which I think translates as "Ann queen, Ann peacefully". Not that she had a peaceful life but the burgers of Winchester wished her this. Here is a sketch of the Guildhall

as it originally appeared when the coat of arms of the City of Winchester looked like this

and in fact the city still continues to use the 16th Century arms in its original form without adding crests or motto. Winchester is the ancient capital of England and the design features the Royal Lions or the Lions of England

Come over to ABC Wednesday where there are lots more words starting with C

How Green Is The Sea

2011-07-27T22:13:00.000+01:00

A glazed tile on a house wall in the village of Coet-Bugat, France. The language is Breton (Breizh) and the lettering and design attracted me. I liked it even more when I looked up the words. It says "How green is the sea".

An entry to Signs, Signs

ABC Wednesday - Break

2011-07-26T19:49:00.001+01:00

How nice to get away and take a break, relax. We arrived in France on the 9th July driving down to the rented Gite. All discoveries in front of us. Unpacked and later that evening up the stairs to bed. If only I had not decided to come down the stairs again in the moonlight. They turned at the bottom, but I did not my feet scrambling on air. Bump, my hip hit the tiled floor. Argh. My partner, when I could not move, ever the optimist said, maybe it is a muscle injury. No signal on the mobiles so off he went into the night and returned with 2 French men who by chance had been returning home from a night out. One was a paramedic who looked after me until the Pompiers arrive. In France it is the Firemen who run the emergency services, and one of the reasons they are held in such affection by country and get to lead the parades.

In the rural part of France where we were staying they were volunteers so they were called from their homes to look after me. They made me comfortable placing me on the air stretcher, the leader, a small, but strong, woman lifting me on. Off we went with flashing lights and arrived at the hospital in Vannes half an hour, a fast trip. We shook hands and thank them as they left, a trio of kind strangers. Taken to X-Ray or Radio it was discovered I had broken the top of my femur. The surgeon asked if I wanted to be repatriated or have the operation there the next day. It took a heartbeat to say here. After a painful (douleur) night the next day I was operated on and returned to the hospital room. I now had an prosthesis (a new ball joint and a spike down my femur). Returned to one of the two bedded rooms, I was lucky enough to have the one by the window. The rooms were light and airy. I gazed out of the window on to the tree lined car park. The days passed with pain killers and wonderful medical care. How to learn French with total immersion. Well actually how to learn medical French. My little French/English dictionary came into its own as I and the nurses flicked through it. What wonderful cheerful, professional care I received from the nurses. Eventually I arose from my bed to be taught by the physiotherapist how to use cannes (canes) or as we would call them walking sticks. The surgeon had said I would be in for 5 days and then walk out. Behold I did. What else can I say. Well the hospital meals were restaurant quality. Apart from breakfast, well I'm English so missed a gentle cereal rather than a strong bowl of coffee and a bun.

At first I shared a room with a very sick and elderly woman who had a superb appetite, I though it was me who could not manage the full array until I shared the room with a woman who had broken her arm in 3 places in the shower. We both agreed these were big meals as we swapped holiday destinations in France and England.

Better medical care could not have been given in such a caring way. So I raise my glass to French hospitals, in particular the Centre Hospitalier Bretagne Atlantique, their staff and the kindness of strangers.

The pictures are courtesy of my partner who travelled on the train each day to see me in hospital with news of the outside world. He thought this kissing couple were about to be parted but no, they were just waiting for the train together.

Bob over to ABC Wednesday to see more words starting with the letter B

Breton Flag

2011-07-06T12:54:00.000+01:00

I'm off on holiday to where this flag flies. Looking forward to good French food, great scenery and dolmens. I'd say sunshine but don't want to jinx it too much. Back in a few weeks.

ABC Wednesday - Yacht

2011-07-05T19:29:00.000+01:00

Yo ho ho and avast me hearties I see a yacht mast behind the yellow centred pansies.

it be the Badger, its yard painted yellow, but its not setting sail, the tide is out on the Duddon Estuary.

No problem when you have a ladder. This is the macro tidal estuary of Ravenglass, with a tidal range of over 7 metres (23 feet) on spring tides and largely empties of water at low tide. So why not tootle over in a van? But the best way to see a yacht is

under full sail. This is St Malo harbour late morning, the sun shining, and a warm breeze. If all goes well I will be arriving here in the early morning on Saturday for a few weeks in France. Hope to see you all in the next round of ABC Wednesday.

Yomp over to ABC Wednesday to see more words starting with Y

Engine Inn

2011-06-29T23:08:00.000+01:00

This pub sign is certainly a work of art. The inn is 17th Century so in contrast to that the scene is modern. I would image that the original meaning of The Engine Inn might refer to a beer engine, one that pumped the beer up through the pumps from the cellar. But this sign is appropriate because for past 4 decades in the nearby Cark Airfield there is a Steam Gathering with vintage steam vehicles used in agriculture, industry and on roads.

An entry to Signs, Signs

ABC Wednesday - Xylogenous

2011-06-28T19:51:00.000+01:00

We have reached the tricky letter X for this week's ABC Wednesday so its a browse through the short dictionary entry, and the result - Xylogenous, a biological term for growing on wood. The fungi growing on this tree is the wonderfully named Dryad's Saddle, named after those mythical tree nymphs the Dryads, who it would seem were just the right size to ride one of these. The Dryad's Saddle (Polyporus squamosus) is edible but not recommended when it gets to this size. As the guide says soft at first then tough. It tiers on trunks of living or dead trees, especially elm or sycamore.

The other grower on wood, lichen, on a fence pole pictured on a snowy day. A long hard winter like the one that is now long behind us is sometimes called a Blackthorn Winter

and every branch of this Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) bush if not covered with moss is covered with the shrubby Ramalina farinacea lichen. It must be a very old bush but is always laden with sloe berries in autumn. In fact my last lot of Sloe Gin was made from this tree, and the end result was eXcellent.

eXit to ABC Wednesday where there are lots more words starting with X

ABC Wednesday - Weirs

2011-06-21T18:55:00.000+01:00

The River Leven drains from Windermere but when it reaches Backbarrow the terrain gives it a steep fall so the weirs perform their task well at this point of altering a rivers flow and preventing flooding. In the past this water flow allowed industrial use of the river for mills and ironworks. Nowadays the water just gives its name to a hotel, The Whitewater.

A gentler flow in a tributary of the River Kent which has a weir mechanism on one of the flows, the people in the camp site lower down can rest easy at night. Some weir mechanisms are more elaborate

although this one in France did not seem to have a lot of water coming down it, and was very still

on the other side. I think the metal work would be tempting for a small boy to walk across

although this one on the River Findhorn as it flows through the town of Forres in Scotland is so much better to launch your boat down or test your fishing net.

An entry for ABC Wednesday, a journey from A to Z
Whiz over to ABC Wednesday to see more words beginning with W

Where the Woodbine Twines

2011-06-15T22:37:00.000+01:00

I often see these little vans out and about from Woodbine Dairies, delivering their products. Its a pretty W on the side. This one is parked outside the Braddylls Arms which invites, on the wall:

An entry to Signs, Signs

ABC Wednesday - Verdant

2011-06-14T20:41:00.000+01:00

I did a double take when I passed this municipal planting on Sunday, a bit of serendipity for this weeks letter. The verdant grass had been cut and new plants, arranged and designed, I will have to wait for the rain and sunshine to do its work to see what the other symbols will grow into and what it is commemorating. But this week I am celebrating the verdant countryside, and the reason we passed this planting was to walk along

the seawall, and then to the seashore. The elderflower growing on the banking. It does not seem long ago

that the bluebells were diluting the verdant green with their intense blue, and the

dandelions had made their first appearance, in profusion, as if to alert the gardeners, hey we are back, the great survivors.

But eventually the fields will turn a lush and

verdant green in the valleys

and on the coast with the patchwork fields.

Vault over to ABC Wednesday where there are lots more words starting with V

Harmonic Fields

2011-06-08T22:33:00.000+01:00

I posted the pictures from the Harmonic Fields event (an artistic installation of aeolian wind powered instruments, a soundscape) yesterday, but there were not only wind catchers but lots of lovely signs.

I appeared to be the only person taking photos of them, now I am sure if the participants of the Lesley's Signs, Signs meme had have been there it would have been a different story.

The signs were everywhere, most with the different winds of the world like

the "Pampero, westerly wind in the Rio de la Plata", then underneath the musical term 'presto'. And some more esoteric words

like Labyrinth, well actually Labyrinthe, the French spelling for the the art company are French. This sign stands on part of a limestone pavement, a geological feature of the location of Birkrigg Common.

An entry to Signs, Signs

ABC Wednesday - Near Ulverston

2011-06-07T21:45:00.001+01:00

Strange sounds were heard on the upland near the small town of Ulverston where usually sheep graze, people walk their dogs and children play. Strange objects on the top making noises Boom, bang, clank clink wizz, howl. We were here on Friday when the sky was blue, the sun was warm but not a lot of wind just a

zephyr which meant that the wind was not whistling this corridor but there was still things to hear

and to see

Dancing to the sounds

Or just the closing of eyes and relaxing

But watch out for the UFOs

There is Ulverston clustered down below as the contraptions whirl on Birkrigg Common.

This was Harmonic Fields brought to the area at the beginning of June by Lieux publics (France) as part of the Lakes Alive 2011 events. 500 instruments creating a musical soundscape. Here is a video from someone who was here here at the weekend on a greyer but windier day

Visit ABC Wednesday for lots more words beginning with the letter U

Power to the People

2011-06-05T12:05:00.000+01:00

Here we have a record cover from back in the time when you bought singles as vinyl rather than a download. Power to the People was John Lennon's fourth single with the Plastic Ono Band. Issued in March 1971 it spent 9 weeks in the charts, highest point number 7. Like 'Give Peace A Chance' John wrote this for people to sing. In the cover photo he is wearing a Japanese riot police helmet. Showing his revolutionary credentials.

An entry to Sunday Scans, a meme to resurrect the analogue.

Sunny Jim

2011-06-01T22:25:00.000+01:00

I'd heard the expression Sunny Jim used but never realised until this weekend that it was an actually person, well not exactly living but a character promoting wheat flakes. With the help of Wikipedia here is the verse from 1902:

Jim Dumps was a most unfriendly man,
Who lived his life on the hermit plan;
In his gloomy way he'd gone through life,
And made the most of woe and strife;
Till Force one day was served to him
Since then they've called him "Sunny Jim

The day was suitably sunny when I saw this sign at the The Green railway stop serving the narrow gage train

in the Eskdale valley.

An entry for Signs, Signs

ABC Wednesday - Traffic Cones

2011-05-31T21:37:00.001+01:00

Why are there always lines of traffic cones but no sign of anyone working on the road? I pass a line of them every morning with the added twist of temporary traffic lights. No sign of anyone doing anything, maybe they will disappear as mysteriously as they came. Perhaps to take a relaxing bathe in the local reservoir

Or have a group hug while waiting to come into action in Trafford Park

On the road again. Coming to a highway near you.

Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway

But not when travelling by train.

Travel to ABC Wednesday where there will be lots more words beginning with T

Green Lanes

2011-05-29T12:14:00.000+01:00

I have a few old nature books which I love for their illustration. This is the frontispiece of one of them. The swallow in pursuit of another hunter, the dragonfly. The sight of swallows as they first arrive and when they swoop through the air in summer is one of the joys of the natural year. The book does not credit its illustrators but their names are on the drawings, this one is in the bottom right corner, Whymper. I think this may be Edward Whymper mountaineer and explorer, who is probably most famous for the first ascent of the Matterhorn. When he was not climbing he was an engraver of illustrations for books and magazines.

The book has a slightly battered cover

which I like to think is from being in a pocket while wandering those green lanes, maybe getting a bit damp when observing life in a tarn. This book is a seventh edition published in 1890. Its author John Taylor was curator of the Ipswich Museum and both a geologist and a naturalist, writing about his specialist subjects in an entertaining way. In his preface to this edition he ends by saying if the reader "has developed a love for the multitudinous natural objects which surround us, his pleasant labours have not been in vain".

An entry to Sunday Scans. A weekly meme dedicated to anything scanned.

Pedal Power

2011-05-25T23:09:00.000+01:00

If only they had made the sign of the same material as the bicycle, but although aged, it is still selling the bike. The slogan was to differentiate this bike from their competitors who used cast iron for some of the critical parts, making them heavier than the all-steel Raleigh. .

I can imagine this workshop being filled with bicycles in its heyday. Perhaps with another sign inside

in stainless steel.

A world away from today's bikes.

An entry for Signs, Sign

ABC Wednesday - Scarecrows

2011-05-24T18:37:00.000+01:00

Some scarecrows were dressed for relaxation, at the end of the year when the crops had been taken and only squash were left to guard.

Some were snappily dressed, perhaps ready for a night out.

Some were on their uppers, possibly the stress of guarding both cabbages and squash.

I met this quaint group of scarecrows in the walled vegetable gardens at Tatton Park last September. I wonder if they will have a new set of clothes this year as spring planting goes ahead.

The Scarecrow by Walter De La Mare

All winter through I bow my head
beneath the driving rain;
the North Wind powders me with snow
and blows me black again;
at midnight 'neath a maze of stars
I flame with glittering rime,
and stand above the stubble, stiff
as mail at morning-prime.
But when that child called Spring, and all
his host of children come,
scattering their buds and dew upon
these acres of my home,
some rapture in my rags awakes;
I lift void eyes and scan
the sky for crows, those ravening foes,
of my strange master, Man.
I watch him striding lank behind
his clashing team, and know
soon will the wheat swish body high
where once lay a sterile snow;
soon I shall gaze across a sea
of sun-begotten grain,
which my unflinching watch hath sealed
for harvest once again.

Stroll across to ABC Wednesday where there will be lots more words starting with S

Sunday Scans

2011-05-22T11:52:00.000+01:00

An entry to Sunday Scans, a "weekly meme dedicated to scanned pictures, anything scanned welcome".

I've gone way back in time for this photo, my teenage self has written on this slide "how many people can you get on a trig point?". The answer is in this case four, which I think is very impressive. I have no idea which high point this triangulation point is located except that it is somewhere on the Isle of Arran in Scotland.

I only took two photos on this day (so unlike my digitally equipped self) and this is the other one, on which I have helpfully written," Looking towards the hills, Sunday Walk", so no clues there. My friends and I spent two weeks on Arran in August '69, which I remember as being wall to wall sunshine. If you are wondering whether we could have squeezed another person on the top of the trig point perhaps I'll show you the size and type of all Ordnance Survey triangulation points.

I'll confess this one is a digital photo, and it is in my home county, not Scotland, but I don't think I have delved far enough down in my old slides and photos to find anything else.

Join Sunday Scans here

Goose Step

2011-05-20T20:09:00.000+01:00

Come on family time to get going, walk like me

Thats it now you are moving

We've got a hill to climb, don't drop off the back.

I will enjoy seeing this little family grow up over the weeks ahead.

ABC Wednesday - Ruminants

2011-05-17T19:10:00.001+01:00

Ruminants roaming in a rural environment. There are 150 species of ruminants in the world but I'm showing the domesticated variety as we don't have many camels, bison and giraffes here. It also gives me an excuse to post cute lamb photographs.

These in the pastures

and these on the low fells. Surrounded by the plant based food they like, ok grass,

which is eaten and then initially softened within the animals first stomach which is then regurgitated, as semi-digested mass (cud), and chewed again. No worries on the effect on the teeth of all that chewing for they continue growing throughout their life. No wonder cows always seem to be dribbling for an adult one produces 100-150 litres of saliva a day.

I don't think this little chap is up to that amount of saliva at the moment as he keeps a wary eye on me.

Always a good sign when every cow in a field is lying down it means there is continuing warm weather. This one is modelling her ear tag (there is a tag on each ear). The one showing is the yellow primary ear tag. This shows her unique number, which will be listed on her passport with all her details. When moved this passport will go with her.

I'll leave you to ruminate on that information.

Roam over to ABC Wednesday where there are lots more words starting with R

Sign of Sheep

2011-05-11T22:37:00.000+01:00

Where sheep do safely graze, in the Howgill Fells

And enjoying the spring grass, not too far away in Ravenstonedale. There has been an inn at this crossroads since the 17th Century. The 7 acre Crossbank nature reserve is at the rear of the Fat Lamb inn, a popular bird watching area. I don't know which is the greater attraction the birds or a well stocked bar.

An entry to Signs, Signs

ABC Wednesday - Quarry

2011-05-10T20:36:00.001+01:00

An portal to another world? It certainly looked like it as I passed, the steam rising with a gathering storm.

It is a different world down there. Hartley Quarry, which I have been told produces limestone aggregate. The colour looks like that at the 'portal' but the colour of the quarry is not as expected. The brown pigment apparently is due to iron compounds. Like most of the quarries in Cumbria it burrows amongst the hills. Looking down the valley, it sits above the village of Hartley

which now runs into the larger place of Kirkby Stephen. In earlier times (the quarry opened in the 1920s) a klaxon used to sound when they were blasting but now I think there must be just a

red flag hoisted. In those olden times a rail connection used to run to the quarry. Eventually the line closed but the 6 miles to the quarry remained and became their responsibility. By 1967 the metals running to the quarry deteriorated and were considered not strong enough to hold the weight of a British Rail steam locomotives and they were stopped.

This photo was taken in 1966 of one of the last runs to Hartley Quarry, showing a freight carrying Ivat 4MT locomotive. Nowadays of course lorries carry the aggregate on the road from the quarry, wonder if some of those loads will end up as roads.

Quoth I take a trip across to ABC Wednesday to see lots more words starting with Q

Kitefest

2011-05-09T17:07:00.000+01:00

Living on the north west coast one thing you can be sure of is there will be a wind. But this year's spring has been most unusual, high temperatures for the time of year and still days. When the first Western Lake District kite festival was planned to be held at Haverigg one thing that would be expected would be a strong wind.

Nope. Despite this the Fusion display team did manage to put on a series of musical displays but for the large

Chinese kites the 10 mile wind was not enough. Everybody had fun flying kites so we had a nice afternoon out and of course

an ice cream. You can also tell from this photo that the event was held on the Millom Rugby Union ground. They are hoping to hold another Kitefest next year,

Ices

2011-05-05T00:12:00.000+01:00

My local ice cream van is Roy's Ices with his 28 great flavours but if I travel to the other side of the bay then I could call by the My-T-Fine. These two vans may even face each other across the water. One in the little coastal village of Bardsea and this one in the seaside resort of Morecambe.

An entry to Signs, Signs

ABC Wednesday - Poètes Ferrailleur

2011-05-03T18:43:00.000+01:00

On holiday near Lizio in Morbihan area of France we kept passing a tower on a hill in the distance, it looked from another world. When on a showery day we fetched up at he Musée de Poètes Ferrailleur we discovered what it was.

It was part of the whimsy of Robert Coudray, the Poètes Ferrailleur in the title. A ferrailleur is a scrap iron merchant but Coudray has turned the scrap iron into whirling motion (this one wind powered), and to works of imagination, he is the iron poet.

Perhaps this sail plane is about to take off

the boat-car set sail

The entrance looks as though it is about to be towed into the air. Inside there are automata, a mechanical theatre of fey creatures, rolling balls and lots of kinetic energy. I didn't take any photos inside, how could they capture the motion, so here is a short taste.

Pop over to ABC Wednesday to see other words starting with P

Bluebell Day

2011-04-29T18:20:00.000+01:00

It was very quite in the town and countryside today, no sign even of the dog walkers, but there was the

buzz of the bees, and the rustle of the breeze

through the blossom. Was there something happening today? As we passed through Cartmel Priory churchyard

a father said to his little girl. "The princess is getting married today", to which she replied, " Oh In there?" "No not there" he said to her disappointment.

Welcome Sign

2011-04-28T00:20:00.000+01:00

I couldn't see a crooked birch but it lives on in the house gate sign. They specialise in horse riding holidays here, many bridleways to trot along and panoramic views of the hills in this quiet corner of the Lake District.

An entry for Signs, Signs

ABC Wednesday - Oak

2011-04-26T20:49:00.000+01:00

An ancient oak, with an opening, or perhaps a gate. In Celtic mythology the oak is the tree of doors, the gateway between worlds, a portal. Its strength and longevity making it a thing of myth. I wonder how old this tree is? There are ways of measuring their girth and estimating their age, but because it is hollow and has gnarled roots, these are signs that it may be hundreds of years old.

Oak avenue in Levens Park, originally a mile long carriage drive to Levens Hall (famous for its topiary gardens dating back to 1694). It is now a popular stroll by the River Kent, some of the older trees are further on, these look in rude health.There are some wonderful trees in the park, it is a walk for all seasons.

But here is an oak tree just starting out in life and festooned in oak flowers. The wind will spread the pollen, a sunny warm and breezy spring, which we are having at the moment, means that there will be many acorns in the autumn. A wet spring washes the pollen into the ground and then the flowers do not catch the pollen they need to swell into acorns. The main oak here in the north is the sessile (Quercus petraea), it is smaller and has a narrower crown than the large southern English oak (Quercus robur). One way to tell them apart is the English oak acorns have stalks, whereas the sessile do not and sit directly on the twig.

At this point I was going to show the acorns, however my memory had played tricks on me , the photo I was thinking of was actually of hazels, a tastier, and safer, option, also by coincidence my Celtic tree birth sign. The hazel is the knower, obviously not in this instance. If you are born between 10th June and 7th July then the oak, the stabiliser, is your sign, strong but gentle.

Over at ABC Wednesday there are lots more words starting with the letter O

Run Free

2011-04-20T23:19:00.000+01:00

Lots of places to run free by this small caravan park.

An entry to Signs, Signs

ABC Wednesday - N

2011-04-19T21:20:00.000+01:00

Just down the road from Natland is the village of Endmoor and their millennium clock and a little bit of nature surrounding it. What time is it, well look at the numbers. Maybe after a good lunch it will be time to have

a cat nap. Not that this is anywhere near any of the other photographs today for it is way south in the quaint town of Rye. But back on home ground and the

navigable part of Lancaster Canal. Part of the far northern reach is dry because it was cut across by a motorway, but for years there have been plans for it to be re-watered and brought back into navigation, not in my life time I suspect, but it is still pleasant to walk the banks. This weekend the season for sailing in a

nifty nautical barge, which has been laid up for winter, will now be taken up and down the canal by the Lancaster Canal Trust. If the weather keeps as warm as it has been this week it will be a popular and pleasant trip. I wonder if the weather will bring nymphs and naiads out on the water, perhaps only the insect variety.

Nip across to ABC Wednesday where there are lots more words starting with N

Rest In Peace

2011-04-15T20:53:00.000+01:00

9 Feb 1925 - 10 April 2011

Winifred Catherine Wilks (nee Gardner), my Auntie Winnie, She had a love of life, a love of singing, a love of people and a love of quilting and was a member of so many societies too numerous to list. Her service of remembrance took place in Settle Parish Church on a grey Yorkshire day but the singing in the packed church sent her off in style, the organ thundered and the voices rose, Guide me, O thou great Redeemer and one of my favourites, Jerusalem. She was remembered with sadness and with humour. We journeyed on to the crematorium some 17 miles away and we, and my cousins following, only lost the hearst once, not bad. A prayer and a meditation from the vicar in the chapel, who had previously said that he fully expects her to arrive in heaven singing and organising the choir, and maybe patch the angels wings with a quilt square. She had a deep faith, the thought would have appealed to her. The coffin disappeared as we quietly contemplated and then the singing of Oklahoma (her favourite musical) rang through the small chapel. She would have loved that touch, I can hear her laughing.

With her great grandchild.

24 Hour

2011-04-13T22:30:00.000+01:00

No do not even think of parking here.

This is on a garage door in a backstreet near a very small car car park, in the middle of the town where I live. I had never seen it before until taking a short cut during the snow earlier in the year.

An entry to Signs, Signs

ABC Wednesday - Miller Arcade

2011-04-12T20:15:00.000+01:00

Now what could I find for this week's letter? I rooted round some this years photographs and found in a recent visit to Preston I had taken a photograph of the windows ( and balcony) of the Victorian Italianate terracotta façade of the Miller Arcade. The Victorian were fond of balconies so there is one on the end

of the building, suitably ornate. The British Listed Buildings site describes the arcade as being of "an eclectic style with some Moorish elements". This is probably because until the mid 20th century it had a Turkish Baths on the first floor. The entrance to it was blocked up when it was turned into offices.

In a previous visit before Christmas I had taken a view of the interior of the Miller Arcade, well actually it was the stained glass in the windows, but being a gloomy winter afternoon they did not appear in the photograph as they had to the eye. I had a search to see if I could snaffle someone's superior camera work but no luck, however the Lancashire County Council site does have one which shows off

its roof. The building was modelled after the Burlington Arcade in London, however this Preston version got an award in 1895 that may be perceived as rather niche for the 'best planned fire-proof arcade', so rest easy if you are shopping here.

Mooch over to ABC Wednesday where there will be lots more words starting with the letter M

Fair Daffodils

2011-04-08T23:51:00.000+01:00

Near Endmoor, Kendal

This years daffodils seem to be holding up rather well. An icy winter with lots of snow must be just the thing to make them thrive.

And they are everywhere. River banks, country lanes, woods and gardens. Soon will come the next chapter of Spring as they disappear to pour their strength into next years bulbs.

Wood anemones, amongst the wild garlic, with a sprinkling of celandines, a spring salad. But only one of those things is edible.

Oblivion

2011-04-06T22:33:00.000+01:00

The entrance to Oblivion. It was shut when I walked past so cannot testify to the accuracy of its message.

"The problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind" - Humphrey Bogart

An entry to Sign, Signs

ABC Wednesday - Llama?

2011-04-05T18:39:00.001+01:00

Llama or alpaca? Which of these camelids are they. Do those ears have the curve of a llama, or are they straight like an alpaca?

Their legs are woolly but the fleece has been shorn, possibly to make an Andean (or in this case a Cumbrian) hat or jumper.

Do they have the straight back of a llama or a curved back and high tail of an alpaca?

Yes I think they are alpaca as well. Dash it, I'll have to think of something else for ABC Wednesday.

What a about a little horse?

Leave for ABC Wednesday here and see lots more words starting with L

ABC Wednesday - Kimbo

2011-03-29T19:11:00.000+01:00

I don't think I have ever heard the word kimbo without it starting with an a, or being part of a phrase such as arms akimbo. But I learnt today that it is a word in its own right, possibly from the Old Norse kenebowe, although its precise origin is unknown. Its meaning, bent into a curve or crooked. This tree by the side of Coniston Water fits the word kimbo perfectly. I wonder why it has grown into this shape? The trees are leafless but just budding now and still showing their myriad shapes, some just start to bend from the bottom

like this one sitting on a little knoll. I have a tendency to keep on snapping here at this time of year

although this year I snapped it without its kimbo. I wonder if one can call the bend in a river kimbo?

I think I will today.

Keep clicking to ABC Wednesday and see more words beginning with the letter K

Spring Has Sprung

2011-03-25T20:39:00.000Z

We are here and we are blooming wonderful. What about the rest of you?

Nearly with you, one last push, eeeew

Truly today was a beautiful and warm spring day. I liked contrast of trees the first ones on the left starting to bud and very slightly green, the next still with bare branches and in the background the firs, green all year round.

ABC Wednesday - Jasmine Tea

2011-03-22T18:48:00.000Z

What was I going to post for J, I wondered while eating an apple cake at the Mystery Tea House as I looked at my pot of tea, waiting for it to brew, and realised that there in front of me was the answer. I was drinking an aromatic Jasmine Oolong tea, a combination of my favourites. Jasmine tea dates way back to the Song dynasty. Traditionally the night blooming jasmine is gathered in the morning and kept cool all day. In the evening when the flowers begins to open and release their scent they are placed with the tea. Jasmine is most often combined with green teas so combined with Oolong is not as easily available in the UK. Nowadays the process creating Jasmine tea is more mechanised. The flowers and teas are mixed in machines that control temperature and humidity. It takes at least 4 hours for the tea to absorb the fragrance and flavour of the jasmine blossom and for higher grades of tea the process can be repeated several times.

And it can end up looking like this, the small jasmine pearls and the large balls of blooming jasmine. Or perhaps combined with other flavours like rose and jasmine in green tea, like the Yunnan tea package. I came across this in an unexpected place; the coffee loving nation of France. The cha box was a Christmas present and filled with different teas. So now do you fancy a relaxing cuppa?

My Chinese tea cups, the one on the right is the oldest, the one on the left is more sophisticated for it has a removable matching tea strainer in the top. Take the top off place it upside down on its flat top and take the strainer out to rest on it. Both are ideal for jasmine tea, but if drinking the blooming type, glass is required

so you can watch the magic of the ball unfurl into a beautiful flower.

Jump into the fun over at ABC Wednesday where there will be lots more words starting with J

Shrimps Travel

2011-03-16T22:46:00.000Z

This was a cheery sight on a dull day, a bus decorated with Morecambe Football Club's colours, a team of the lower leagues. An idea of two fans which is now reality. On the left is the team's captain, Tim Bentley and in the background the red roses of Lancashire and a sailing boat which was until recently their badge. The nickname of the club is The Shrimps, the ingredient of possibly the most famous food of Morecambe Bay (Potted Shrimps). On the bus towards the front is their rather understated new badge of a lone shrimp, together with the motto of this seaside town and of the club "Beauty surrounds, health abounds". The old badge and the new rather ghostly shrimp:

An entry for Signs, Signs

ABC Wednesday - Ingle

2011-03-15T19:33:00.000Z

Ribblesdale

Today I'm taking you to the Yorkshire Dales on the road that crosses the Pennines, the dividing point of east and west in the north of England. A popular run out for bikers, who lean into a incline position to go round the bends. In the background is the Ribblesdale Viaduct which carries goods and passenger trains from Settle to Carlisle.

So as the train crosses the valley, rising in the background is the 2372 bulk of Ingleborough. On its flat summit is the remains of an iron age fort. An ideal place to see all the surrounding countryside. At the foot of Ingleborough lies

the village of Ingleton. a popular tourist destination and walking base. The church on the hill is St Mary's whose oldest artefact is a 800 year old Norman font, found in the river just over a century ago. I wonder which part

of the River Greta it was hidden. The Ingleton Viaduct spans the Greta Gorge with its 11 arches. It was completed in 1859 and the village had two railway stations because there were two competing railway companies. However the line is now disused and unlike the other historic viaducts of the area it is not accessible so I content myself with taking pictures from the ground.

The traditional Dales cottages huddle near its arches.

in the hollow of the valley, on this side a farm and caravan park. No trains to watch except in

past photographs. Date unknown, but the locomotive pulling the passenger carriages looks very old.

ABC Wednesday has illimitable words starting with the letter L

Whernside

2011-03-14T21:02:00.000Z

Coming down from the top of Whernside and looking back, at this 'flat top' and one of the Yorkshire Three Peak Challenge. We were on a saunter on a glorious warm sunny day. But soon after this gate we met someone doing the challenge who had set off at 8 this morning and was on his way to do Pen-y-Ghent, the last one on the list. How lucky was this young man from Herefordshire to find such a day.

And he looked remarkable fresh and clean from mud for the ground underfoot was a squelchy ooze. There also was still a few slivers of ice near the top. This walk to the summit was a bit of a first for us. We have done it in rain, cloud and have even set off in sunshine for the mist to come down and cover the top. In fact we have never had a view from the top of Whernside, and this is view has some potential, of the Lakeland hills, the Yorkshire Dales the Howgills and even Morecambe Bay.

Today we got the lot. A full panorama, here is just one direction. We sat on the top, and felt those failed attempts to see the view made today even more special.

A Place of Trust

2011-03-09T22:37:00.000Z

Trig (triangulation) points are on top of prominent hills throughout the UK, the Ordnance Survey ones tend to be made of concrete but on land owned by the National Trust they like to do things differently. Great panoramic views of mountains and a lake from this point but no shelter from the weather, I think it is due for a lick of paint.

The colours should be like this, but then this sign is conveniently placed by the side of a road.

The National Trust's motto is "For ever, for everyone"

An entry to Sign, Signs hosted by Lesley here

ABC Wednesday - Haverigg

2011-03-08T20:03:00.000Z

This week's I would like to show part of my north west corner of England. On the Duddon Estuary sits the village of Haverigg, a place of sea and sand dunes. When the tide is up it laps or crashes (depending on the weather) against the pebbles

Perhaps bringing interesting things from the sea. The bikers were taking in the sun having loaded up with drift wood. We were coming down from the sand dunes to walk along the beach, when we came back they were struggling to pull their wheeled trailer

up the banking of pebbles. One very long heave and their task was complete. When the tide retreats there is

a nice long sweep of sand to stroll along. I won't suggest going in the water unless you are one of those year round swimmers. I like it to hit 20 degrees before jumping in, not the 5 it is at the moment. Perhaps you prefer a boat

down by the harbour, or alternatively pay a visit to the

Harbour Hotel. One of those beers being carried out of the door could be for you. If its too early for a drink then perhaps call in at

at the Beach Cafe for a meal or a pot of tea, scones and cream. I dived into the ice cream cabinet and had a ice lolly (a rocket shaped Fab in case you were wondering) to eat sitting by the sea. With irony I say, no need to rush to eat before it melts. Up on the sea banking is

Josefina de Vasconcellos sculpture "Escape to the Light" pointing towards the sea, a memorial to honour the heroic lives lost on sea rescues in the British Isles. The building in the background houses the Haverigg Inshore Rescue Team's lifeboat, crewed by volunteers. The dragon in the stone symbolises evil. The man is just within its reach as he escapes to the light. On the other side

nature is fleeing from pollution and extermination. I will end with the words of Vasconcellos which are quoted on the small, battered,sign by the sculpture, started in 1999 and installed here in 2003:-

"Like the first man we stand
barefoot on time's sand...
Courage and wit will keep the body,
but where's the power that can arm a soul
against the dragon who would eat it whole?
With single-minded faith and sight
Cast out the evil and Escape to Light.

Hop over to ABC Wednesday where there are lots more words starting with the letter H

A Visual Pub Crawl

2011-03-02T23:07:00.000Z

Wander along the streets of the town of Lancaster and not only are there many pubs but you are never in any doubt of what they are called. This, the Duke of Lancaster with his crown, is possibly meant to be the 14th Century John of Gaunt, a Plantagenet and brother to the Black Prince. Lancaster lies on the River Lune

and this sign is a wonderful recreation of the 18th Century St Georges Quay and its warehousing along the banks Of course if there are ports and ships there must be sailors

and they are rather fond of pubs.

Photographs for the Signs, Signs meme

ABC Wednesday - Gateway

2011-03-01T19:40:00.001Z

The gateway to the Kirkby Stephen Parish Church, whose byname is the Cathedral of the Dales. A sturdy, small and pretty church, the gateway was built in 1810 with money from the will of John Waller a former resident and leads through the cloisters to the entrance of the church which stands on an old Saxon site. One of the things the church is famous for is its possession of a Viking carving called

the Loki Stone. It features the horned figure of Loki who from Viking stories was sometimes on the side of the gods and sometimes he plagued them for he was a trickster. At the end he went too far and killed the son of Odin, the result, eternal punishment, which is why this stone shows him bound. And just to add that little bit of detail is is with the entrails of one of his sons. A serpent drips poison, which his wife collected in a bowl. When the bowl is full she had to pour it out and the poison then dripped on Loki, his pain as he writhes and cries out in pain causes earthquakes. Gosh I feel like a walk to clear my head after that thought.

maybe through this gate on a path lined with gorse. Or perhaps a walk in a country garden

Tatton Park

with a cool archways of trees. On second thoughts although today has been spring like, no shade required yet,

the gritters are out again tonight. Only for ice, all our snow has gone. Wooden gates need a bit of upkeep

Lancaster near the River Lune

not this one, the building is due for conversion into flats or redevelopment. Sometimes things have gone too far

when lichen and rain have worn away its purpose. Standing propped against the wall is its replacement.

Go to ABC Wednesday where there will be lots more words starting with the letter G

Take A Break

2011-02-23T21:25:00.000Z

The sign is a bit faded by the sun but it is in an ideal position, at the midpoint of the rows and rows of the 3,000 Neolithic megaliths at Carnac in northern France. Just about the time one may be flagging and ready for pancakes, drinks and ice cream. Chez Céline was a small hut with outdoor seating. Order at the window, the staff were a full pelt over hot stoves. We had ice cream. Delicious, definitely home made by an artisan.

The drawing recreates the old pictures of the 19th century when the locals liked to have their photograph taken sat on top of the larger stones.

An entry for the meme Signs, Signs

ABC Wednesday - Forests

2011-02-22T20:46:00.000Z

Today I am celebrating forests for two reasons. One, obviously, because it is ABC Wednesday but the other is that the government have done a U turn and backed off from selling off the forests in public ownership. The 'consultation' of selling the forest was announced quietly but a growing vocal opposition to the plan, pointed out the financial figures did not add up and the government would probably end up making nothing. Forestry consultants also thought it was a woolly plan and were suspicious of the motives. Prices of timber are at a high, perhaps the government had interested parties who thought they could make a killing. With the present economic cuts yet to bite and also cross party opposition Prime Minister Cameron must have decided this may be one future fight too many and announced the scrapping of the idea.

But of course opposition to the plan was not really about money, it was about access. The area I live is full of woods and if it had not been grey and raining for a week I would have gone out and taken some photographs, but as I am a wimp I'm using photos from my archive, so the seasons following will change in a random manner

A field of sheep munching contently by the small hamlet surrounded by a mixed wood forest. Some well worn paths take routes through the forest, others in the growing season may

not be as easy to find. The map person is not too keen on forests when paths disappear in undergrowth and all direction is lost. The ones in the background are not heavily used but other areas such as

around Yew Tree Tarn are one of the areas favoured by walkers being in the Lake District proper. In places like Grizedale Forest it has wonderful paths for mountain bikers and is famous for its pieces of art scattered around the forest which one can come on unexpectedly

Photo courtesy of Anne Bowker

This would have been one of the forests under threat as it is owned by the Forestry Commission. The main Cumbrian "Save Our Forests" demonstration was held here. I would guess it is the most used forest in the county, while still also a working forest. I am not uncritical of the Forestry Commission for in the past they have tended to plant nothing but rows of firs

but in recent more enlightened times there are a mix of firs and deciduous trees. Which are better for the forest plants and birds

It would be wrong to condemn all privately owned forests, some are well managed but perfectly accessible

to walkers and cyclists like the ones owned by the Holker estate. At bluebell time this metalled track leads to a gate into the wood where it will be a perfumed blue heaven. But when a piece of forest was sold recently

on the east side of Coniston Water the new owner installed a gate, lock and chain. The stile access is still available into the mixed forest of sessile oaks, beech and birch but you have to get to the stile first. This side of the lake is used by people just wanting to sit by the side of the lake, mess about in boat, or walk and cycle in the forest. The east side of the lake has a narrow road

mostly one car width, (stop tuck in and pass), so limited parking on the road (no public transport). There a small rough car parks of various sizes every couple of miles, the one that has been closed off is one of the larger ones holding about 18 cars (with or without boats). Hopefully the public mood will mean that no further pieces of forest will be sold off (in this case for what seemed a rather low price) and they will be managed for future generations to enjoy.

Follow the link to ABC Wednesday where there will be more words starting with F

Sign Heaven

2011-02-16T22:26:00.000Z

A visit to the Lakeland Motor Museum who appear to have a cornucopia of old signs, alongside their bikes and motors. Some of the iconic brands are here. But the one that caught my attention was the Fry's Five Boys Chocolate, each piece with a boy's different expression, from joy to anguish. Produced from 1902-1976 it also appeared in wall dispensing machines on Railway Station, often the only thing available if you were hungry. Sometimes you stopped hungry if the machine jammed. It was the sort of chocolate bar always remembered, unique.

An entry for the Sign, Signs meme

ABC Wednesday - Eskdale

2011-02-15T20:27:00.000Z

This old advertisement was in the little history centre which tells the story of the Ravenglass and Eskale Railway, from its 1875 beginning in industry when it took iron ore down the valley to the port of Ravenglass, and its history of carrying passengers and eventually holidaymakers, on this miniature railway track.

River Mite (2-8-2) Steam Engine

It is still a popular tourist ride down, what this poster calls "the most beautiful valley in Lakeland", now there may be some dispute and other contenders for that title, but it is a very pretty ride on the train.

Eskdale is one of the starting routes to climb England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike, part of the group of mountains know as the Scafell range. The reason I took a photo of this poster is the marketing of the area as 'The English Alps' which I found quite amusing, it should have added, 'in miniature', for the highest point is only 3,209 feet.

An annotated view of the Scafell group (where would we be without Wikipedia info) the photo is taken from Crinkle Crags which is part of another valley, Langdale, this also could be another good contender for "most beautiful valley" . Here is Eskdale's upper end,

verdant valley and small fells which eventually lead out and up to the higher reaches. Being lakeland of course I have to include the

local hill sheep of the valley.

The River Esk flows down the valley

on its way to the coast where it will join two other rivers to flow into the Irish Sea. Many streams run down from the tops to fill the river, the most well know of which is the

one mentioned on the poster, Stanley Ghyll, which always has a steady stream (don't groan), of people strolling up and down, in various stages of fitness to look at the run of many little

waterfalls.

Time to take the train home?

Climb Aboard. Perhaps don your anorak, I've got mine on; and watch the trains

Entertain yourself with a visit to ABC Wednesday where there will be lots more words starting with E

River Leven

2011-02-14T21:32:00.000Z

Clear and cool, clear and cool,
By laughing shallow, and dreaming pool;
Cool and clear, cool and clear,
By shining shingle, and foaming weir
Under the crag where the ouzel sings...
(from 'The River' by Charles Kingsley)

A river full of rain and more to come. The River Leven at one of the Backbarrow weirs, Cumbria.

Look Out

2011-02-09T21:39:00.000Z

Looking for eagle-eyed people to spot the introduced grey squirrel. Protecting the endangered small native red in Northern England. And don't mess with the cat.

Posted for Signs, Signs

ABC Wednesday - Derelict

2011-02-08T19:35:00.000Z

The Furness Railway Locomotive Sheds mid demolition to make way for the Waterfront Project and marina which now will be disrupted and put on hold because of government cuts. I meant to take a picture of the sheds still standing but due to my procrastination gene I never got around to it, however I did like the broken windows on this cloudy day. The sheds (dating from the 1860s), original purpose was to refit and refurbish locomotives, in recent times they have been used by local businesses. I believe some of the dressed sandstone has been kept for use in other projects. Not too late to get your free firewood.

Not demolished but a derelict farm, not an unusually sight in the outlying high fells of the Lake District and often used for storage or animal shelter in winter. Higher up the fell was a sturdy looking

barn the walls repelling the weather but not the roof. There is your taste of agricultural dereliction and here is

some industrial. The buildings of the old copper mines have become quite scenic over time and the valley has taken on their name. There are some miners cottages below, (not in the photo) now converted for holiday use, and the white walled Youth Hostel by the old workings lower down on the right. A good stretch of the legs to get to work in past times and also for the postman delivering letters.

Near Pleurmel, France

No use delivering post in this house of decay.

Dash over to ABC Wednesday where there will be more words starting with the letter D

ABC Wednesday - Caen

2011-02-01T19:55:00.000Z

Early morning in the coastal town of Caen, with the rising sun shining on the roofs and spires. We had stopped briefly after arriving by ferry and as the town was quiet thought it would be nice to have a quick browse around. Thereby hangs a tale. Driving into the town from the port of course the first thing to look for was a car park. "Look there" I shouted, as we swung left and then left again through an entrance. Only it wasn't an entrance, it was a gap, as we realised after bouncing down the high curb on the other side. Which would have been fine if it was not one of those car parks where you get a parking ticket when the barrier opens to let cars in. How to get out? Too tricky to get out the way we had come in. We had a look at the instructions. Do you know there wasn't anything about accidentally coming into the car park over a pavement, but there was one if a ticket was lost. Well it would have to do, oops, it was going to cost 8 Euros. I always have some small change (sometimes I think its magnetically attracted) but could only copper up 2 Euro. We would have to buy something; never a problem to me. We wandered into town.

and admired the rather elegant town hall, its

formal gardens and the Abbaye aux Hommes built by William the Conqueror in the 11th Century, as a penance to the Pope for marrying his cousin Matilda of Flanders, she built a twin church, the Abbaye aux Dames. William was buried here but the tomb was destroyed by the Huguenots in 1562 during the Wars of Religion. Some of the bones remained but the last of William was scattered in the French Revolution.

Well apart from that gory tale, it was all very pleasant, the streets were being washed but nothing was open. So where was this change going to come from? Then we turned a corner to a square and there in rows were the stalls of the food market with their produce stacked high, glowing in the sunshine. After oohing and ahhing at the pile of produce (France is food central) visiting various stalls, stocking up with kilos of juicy tomatoes, fruit, vegetables (I'm putting tomatoes in a special category because I'm never sure what they are) and cheese, we had all the change we needed, and as a bonus almost everything required to arrive at our holiday cottage. Which we reached after a short diversion to the coast (I thought I would try for a hat-trick of navigation errors)

where as we saw the signs took a look at Omaha Beach and as I stood on the cliffs looking down, wondered how the troops of the bloodiest battle of the D Day landings in 1944 ever made it off the beach. The Battle of Normandy apart from the tragedy of loss of life also destroyed much of the centre of Caen.

Catch up with what the other participants in ABC Wednesday are talking about beginning with C

ABC Wednesday - Bracken

2011-01-25T19:52:00.000Z

Bracken, an ancient plant going back millions of year, another ancient species, the damselfly, taking a rest, surely one could not call such a beautiful creature a bug. Some larvae and invertebrates feed on bracken but it is carcinogenic to most mammals.

The Victorian were rather keen on ferns in their gardens and grew all varieties but perhaps they would not be too keen on bracken with its invasive nature and a propensity to swamp other plants although

foxgloves seem to cope quite well , but as they appear in June the bracken is still of a manageable hight and has

not reached 5-6 foot yet. I have had 'interesting' times on hillsides trying to find the path down to the valley when the bracken it at its hight, not being able to see underfoot or where the path is hiding. It can be a case of tumbling down the hill rather than walking. At these times it is my least favourite plant, however I can forget all that come the autumn and winter when it has died down and the hills take on their russet brown.

At this time of year the bracken is only a covering, the colouring is still there but it looks best in November

when the sun shines directly upon it, the bright light bringing out its hues. Although it always

adds another colour to the pallet in a view. As you see there is a limit to the hight the bracken grows, the Langdale Pikes in the distance having not a fond in view. The lower peaks

such as the ridge to Helm Crag have an intermittent covering. The underneath of a leaf of bracken is covered in spores that will spread it offspring on the wind and it is a difficult plant to control. There are many different methods to reduce its spread such as, cutting, burning, ploughing or herbicides. Another way is during winter encouraging livestock

into the area, such as this pretty bovine the Belted Galloway They trample down the plants and this allows the frost to penetrate the rhizomes (bracken has creeping roots). We sure have had a lot of frost this year, down to -19C in this area.

Bounce across to ABC Wednesday where there will be lots more words starting with the letter B.

ABC Wednesday - Arch

2011-01-18T19:47:00.000Z

The Imperial Arch, entrance to Chinatown in Liverpool. This used to be the largest Chinese population in Europe but the area has declined in recent times. Liverpool's trading links with Shanghai in the past was the start of Chinese immigration. It was a rainy day when I took this photo so the 200 dragons don't really stand out. The arch was shipped piece by piece from Shanghai and constructed in 2000 for the Chinese new year festival which take place here every year. The characters in the middle say "Zhong Guo Cheng" meaning simply, Chinatown.

Travelling inland to the city of Chester

and Eastgate. This gate has three arches. Can't see them? There are two small pedestrian arches at the sides, hidden by people walking through them. Eastgate also carries the walkway forming Chester City Walls. The clock on the top was constructed in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Jubilee and is one of the famous sites of Chester. In contrast to this elaborate clock the arch in the city's park by the riverside is

quite rustic and is one of the entrances into the park with its Arcadian lawns, trees and flowers. The view through the next arch is not of flowers

but architecture. The ruined arches at the rear of the church in Tinténiac, France provides a admirable frame for the many towers of the present church.

A new round of ABC Wednesday with lots of letters in front of us. Visit the participants of Round 8, words starting with the letter A will abound.

Jumping

2011-01-14T22:12:00.001Z

Jumping out and descending

Wind pressing, breath expending

Ground and tress into view

Floating down, two by two

The prompt of Theme Thursday this week is - Jump.

The photographs are of tandem skydivers at the Cark Airfield. Harnessed to an instructor the thrill of free-fall from 14,500 feet can be experienced for first time jumpers. Gift certificates available; don't buy me one. I was gasping for breath on a sudden (and mere) 400 foot drop via bosun's chair into a cave once.

ABC Wednesday - Zebra

2011-01-11T19:38:00.000Z

Got to keep an eye open for prowling predators when you are a Zebra. We live on grasslands, savannas, woodlands, scrubland and hills in Africa but I'm a long way from home here in England.

Not sure if my stripes are giving all the camouflage I need in this Skimmia, but my main predator the lion is colour blind so I'm blending in. I in contrast have perfect sight and hearing. Aren't my stripes wonderful. You humans may think we are all the same but each of us has individual stripes.

Coast clear and down to the water hole, always a tricky moment. If there are a herd of us when we run away the mass of vertical stripes running in all directions can be a wonderful and confusing sight.

What I go through to get a decent cup of tea. Perhaps I'll take time out to read about my homeland and take in some cosy crime with Mma Ramotswe who is investigating suspicious crimes in "The Good Husband of Zebra Drive". She loves a good cup of bush tea. Or perhaps I'll write up my adventures

on my owner's laptop. Well I say owner but don't mean it, we zebras unlike our close relatives the horse have never been domesticated. It is said that our nature is too unpredictable and tend to panic when under stress. We only pretend, zebras are very brave. That is all from me Ziggy Zebra, and round 7 of ABC Wednesday. Hope to see you again in Round 8.

Zip across to ABC Wednesday and see more words beginning with Z

Exit

2011-01-07T20:17:00.000Z

I liked the effect of the light on the station steps as clouds started to gather. Perhaps a Gothic effect as we exit to where? Well actually the small town of Millom, but who knows in an alternative universe there might be something else waiting on the other side.

The Thursday Theme meme prompt this week is.... Stairs.

ABC Wednesday - Yellow

2011-01-04T20:52:00.000Z

Yikes I was so busy relaxing over an extended Yule time that not a thought was given to this week's letter. The only thing I can come up with is the colour yellow. What a good excuse to show a stripy yellow bee really getting down to nectar collecting in a dandelion. It is said that aerodynamically a bee should not be able to fly, but nature knows more than aeronautical engineers

although this small plane used for skydiving also sports a certain stripy élan. What a shame nobody was floating down on a yellow parachute, although it is a popular colour for working modes of transport such as rescue helicopters, breakdown vans, diggers and the occasional

fishing boat. The building being constructed in the background will soon be filled with the youth of the University of Cumbria when it is finished, opening a new door on life. Let me take you through ye old cottage gate still hanging on

in the Howgills, which lies on the border of Cumbria and Yorkshire. Journey south and over the English channel to the town of

Josselin in France. A popular tourist destination because of its medieval castle and 16th Century half timbered houses from days of yore. There are lots of opportunities here for tourists to spend their money in gift shops and also buy postcards to keep or send home

and pop them in a yellow 'La Post' box which vary in their essential yellowness depending on how sun bleached they are.

Yomp over to ABC Wednesday where there are lots more words starting with Y

ABC Wednesday - Numerical X and also X Craft

2010-12-28T16:31:00.000Z

The Roman numeral X represents 10. On its side 1,000 (you will have to turn your head to one side to imagine it) and with a dash over the top 10,000. In algebra and mathematics in general x represents an unknown quantity. Not an unknown quantity in this photo however for the stones are from the old dock, measuring depth. Today they placed within a little amphitheatre

with an a tiled compass point forming the 'stage'. I would have liked to have taken a better photo than this but nature intervened

with a covering of snow. This little space is by the side of the Dock Museum, an old Victorian Graving Dock, which in times past had a shipyard by the side of it building sailing ships from 1872-1884 both of wood and iron, what a pity none of them had names starting with X. Oh well what about another look at those numbers carved in stone

or perhaps look towards a covered dock that is still active.

Looking from the amphitheatre, past the maritime themed playground is Devonshire Dock Hall, referred to as the DDH by those that work within and the Big Shed by everyone else. Today huge submarines are built inside this structure, such as the 492 foot long trident Vanguard class, but from 1943-1944 this shipyard, then known as Vickers, built the X class midget submarines, which in contrast were 51 feet long. Their full complement was a commanding officer, first lieutenant, engineer and a diver. They were used in WW2 or should I say WWII most famously for the attack on the Tirpiz in a Norwegian dock. Six set off towed 1000 miles and then naviagted their way through minefields, dodged nets avoided guns to place limpet mines on this famous ship, only 2 returned. A film was later made of this operation called Above Us the Waves with

a suitably claustrophobic poster. Other X boats, not made by Vickers were used to survey the landing beaches for Operation Overlord, mostly of what is now Omaha beach in France. The range of these midget submarines was limited to 14 days or up to 1,500 miles at a 2 knots. They were usually towed to within a few miles of the target by conventional submarines or under surface ships or launched from the deck of submarines and surface ships. The diver came out of a wet and dry airlock. I don't think I would have liked to be in one of these for 14 days

Control Room of an X Craft

X or Cross across to ABC Wednesdays's new home for all things beginning with, this week, X

Christmas View

2010-12-24T20:26:00.000Z

Surprisingly I completed all my Christmas shopping early, so today was rather relaxing, and I could view the laden shoppers, as I made my way to the Channel-side walk, with a certain amount of smug relief. As can be seen today was a still blue winter day, Black Combe still covered with snow. Well everywhere is still covered with snow, and tomorrow is promised to be the coldest day in England since records began. At first the forecast was for the North West, but what relief that we are not to get below -20c here and the forecast for low temperatures seems to have moved to the Midlands.

The fishing boats are moored up for Christmas

so the fish can sleep easy tonight.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas

Town Hall

2010-12-23T00:19:00.000Z

The rear entrance of Barrow Town Hall faces the town and its shopping centre and is the one that everyone uses (lots of footsteps in the snow), rather than the the connecting front entrance. Everyone always says the building is the "wrong way round", although it was intended this way. Built in 1887 with local sandstone, at this time of year, and waiting to light up when darkness approaches, the festive greeting above the door, which I echo,..... "Merry Christmas".

Mary the Teach is the hostess of the midweek meme Window Views and Doors Too

ABC Wednesday - Winchester

2010-12-21T20:24:00.000Z

As can be seen looking at the narrow main street there is a reason why Winchester has a park and ride system. Calling in here on the way back from the summer holidays we judged that three hours would be enough time to have a look round, wrong. This city was the capital Wessex which became the dominant kingdom under King Alfred and was later the capital of England until the 12th century. So even if you ignore the shopping, coffee shops, pubs and restaurants history has left a lot to see. Go up this street and through an

arch of what used to be part of the Norman castle entrance, now just a passing place to arrive at

the Great Hall which houses one of the treasures of Winchester, hanging high on a wall is the

Round Table. That of the Arthurian legend of knights, magic and the quest for the holy grail. It measures 18 feet across and would originally have had 12 legs and seats for 25 people (24 knights and 1 king). It is not THE table and has been dated by dendrochronology as being made some time between 1250-1280. The Round Table festivals of the Middle Ages were a celebration of the Arthurian legend and consisted of jousting, feasting and dancing, a good time was had by all. This table was probably produced for such an event. They were lavish spectaculars, René of Anjou even erected an Arthurian Castle for his Round Table celebrations in 1446.

In 1522 Henry VIII had the Winchester Table painted for the visit of Charles V with the names of the Arthurian knights and his own portrait with the Tudor Rose (his house) in the middle. Henry was rather paranoid about the plots against him (with some reason, they were not all in his imagination), and also the legitimacy of the house of Tudor so this would be his statement of power.

As you may observe the table could resemble a dart board and was used as that as target practice by Cromwellian Troops in the English Civil War in 1645. The holes were filled and the table was repainted again in 1789.

Moving across the town to the other centre of power in the middle ages, the cathedral which was built from 1079 onwards, it is rather an understated perpendicular style on

the outside. But once inside

the detail is stunning. It also is the burial place of many famous people, such as the writers Jane Austin and Isaac Walton (who has his own chapel), and

St Swithan, probably most famous for the 'fact' that the weather on his feast day of 15 July will continue for 40 days.

St Swithun's day if thou dost rain,

Forty days it will remain.

St Swithun's day if thou be fair

For forty days 'twill rain nae mair

He was bishop of Winchester from 852-862 and wished to be buried outside but when his body was dug up and taken to an indoor shrine it started to rain, it was very wet, and a legend was born. The remains originally were enshrined behind the high altar, later removed to a marble shrine on this site, destroyed in 1538.
To head deep under the cathedral to the crypt

which often floods, stands a statue by Antony Gormley called Sound II installed 1986, also down here is a bust to the diver William Walker who worked underwater from 1906-11 underpinning the the nave and shoring up the walls of the building. Winchester Cathedral is a treasure of objects and architecture, a long time

could be spent here, but the time for our park and ride was nearly expired so a run for the bus was our next move. Always leave something for a reason to return, perhaps at a more leisurely pace.

Wander over to ABC Wednesday where there will be more words starting with the letter W.

On the Beach

2010-12-19T20:03:00.000Z

Sea, beach and land merge under a blanket of snow. Dusk at Bardsea on the shores of Morecambe Bay.

Window Seats

2010-12-15T23:42:00.001Z

Maybe these chairs were here so you could sit while you browsed, or look through the window or even perhaps they were for sale. They are glitzy enough for Christmas. I'll never know; I was following the crowds on a sunny winter's day to visit the famous ice-cream shop a few doors down at Parkgate on the Wirral.

Mary the Teach is our hostess for the midweek meme Window Views and Doors Too