Tuesday 20 December 2016

X

St Bee's railway crossing and station provides an X this week with the yellow cross hatching of the road's 'no stopping' lines.  This is also probably the only angle one can get a full view of the signal box on the right.  Built in 1891 it is a rare example of one built in the Arts and Craft style although the windows are no longer original, a shame for the viewer but not for the signalman who I imagine appreciates the double glazing at this time of year. The station and most of the village is constructed of the dark red St Bees Sandstone, the same type as in the nearby sea cliffs
here seen with a thin strata of white sandstone.  Its full geological name is St Bees New Red Sandstone, yes 'new' - a mere 200 million years old.  

Time to shoehorn another X, this time an Christmas, or rather Xmas, cactus.  Half of mine has just flowered but it looks as though the other half might actually flower at Xmas-time, which will be the first time it has lived up to its name. As my cactus is red Mr Google has helpfully provided a xanthic one in full flower. 
Blessings to you all and have a very Merry Xmas


An entry to ABC Wednesday, a journey through the alphabet, this week sojourning at X here

9 comments:

Hildred said...

Love your Irish blessing. And hope your Christmas Cactus comes through, - I am waiting on Paper Whites. Have a merry and joyous Christmas...

Leslie: said...

Love the railway house! It's similar to the one in Grosmont in North Yorkshire near Whitby where my friend Jill lives. And lucky you to have your Xmas cactus bloom at Xmas! I should get one - maybe I'll have some of that Irish luck this time. Merry Christmas!!!

Leslie
abcw team

Roger Owen Green said...

yellow comes through! merry Xmas.
ROG, ABCW

Deepa said...

Beautiful read

Merry Christmas :-)

Amit Agarwal said...

Lovely Irish blessing:)
Merry Christmas, Joy:)

MelodyK said...

Beautiful surroundings on the photo's ... the Irish Blessing is beautiful too

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones
Have a nice ABC-Wednesday / _ Week
♫ M e l ☺ d y ♫ (abc=w=team)
http://melodymusic.nl/abc-wednesday-19x/

carol l mckenna said...

Lovely choices and photos for X ~ Irish blessing is very special ~

Wishing you a Happy Christmas ~ ^_^

Trubes said...

That was an interesting read Joy.
Parts of Liverpool are built on and with red sandstone.
THere is a Quarry nearby where I live called Woolton Quarry,
and it supplied the red sandstone used to build the Anglican Cathedral
All around south Liverpool there are buildings and walls made of red sandstone.
I haven't been to St Bees, a place to visit on one of our trips to The Lakes.
Merry Christmas,
Best wishes,
Di.
ABCW team.

Su-sieee! Mac said...

Cool post, thank you. I must check out the Christmas cactus. That would be nice to have bloom indoors, if possible, in our area. Merry Christmas!