Few days away

Just spent a few days in Devon.  Three birthday celebrations, and a visit to Ronald and Audrey in Beer.

Classic picture of Beer beach

Flower tub at Budleigh Salterton

Portsmouth

On Sunday I joined friends from the Western Region of the RPS on our annual "Field Trip"  - we went by coach to Portsmouth to visit the Historic Dockyard.  
Since I last visited, the 'Mary Rose' Museum has been radically changed and I enjoyed visiting this attraction.  My knees ached after all the up and down steep stairways on the 'Victory' - but worth seeing again.  My picture was taken in one of the other museums, which I call "Asleep on the job" Quite a few lifelike figures there!

Probus outing to Dartmouth

On Thursday 7th August, Kingswood PROBUS Club organised an outing to Dartmouth, via Totnes, on a boat to Dartmouth, ferry to Kingswear, Steam Train to Paignton and the coach home to Bristol

 

Ultra modern and rather ancient

 

Through the train window, Goodrington Sands

Called at Penarth for a cup of tea!

On our return from the Boy's Village (see next set of pictures), we called at Penarth for a "cuppa"
The pier was crowded so I settled for a picture of the Railings and shadows. Obviously I could resist a picture of the iconic Pier frontage!

 

Visit to the Boy's Village, Aberthaw, Vale of Glamorgan

Together with my friends Geoff and Steve,  we went yesterday to the Boy's Village, which is at Aberthaw in South Wales.  This is a derelict site, with many buildings which are filled with graffiti. The Village was created in 1930 as a holiday place for the children of miners. It was taken over by the military during the war and later refurbished and used as a camp for Scouts and Guides, church groups etc.  It was finally closed in the early 90's

The Church

 

Across part of the site

 

Church interior

The whited-tiled kitchen (I assume)

 

One of the rooms

The Gym and Baseball Court

Showing friends around the City

I had the opportunity to show three friends around parts of Bristol yesterday afternoon. They were en route to Warwick for a photographic event, but were keen to see some of the Street Art in Bristol. I took them to Stokes Croft and St.Werburgh's, also to Millennium Square (which they loved!)

Ann being nice to the statue of Thomas Chatterton.

Peter in the Street Art Tunnel

He spotted me!

St.Fagans, National History Museum of Wales

Following the trip mentioned in my previous blog entry, we went on to St.Fagan's Museum in the afternoon.  I've been there several times before, so I didn't do much photography, but this shot in the Castle Gardens which I thought would make a pleasing Birthday Card!
Incidentally, it has been pointed out to me that in yesterday's blog I mentioned the word 'icon' several times, which should of course, have been iconic!  I also mentioned Canon - which is the make of camera  - and it should have been Cannons.

Trip to Cardiff Bay

I went with the St.Stephen's Men's Club to Cardiff Bay and St.Fagan's Museum. Just a few shots taken at the Bay, several icon views.

Old and New technology - The Canons

and the Mobile Phone

'That Way' - the icon statues on the Bay

Inside and outside - the Wales Millenium Centre

 

 

Another icon Bay image

 

Another Sunday Morning outing!

When I was on my "mission" two Sundays ago, I missed two original pieces of Banksy Street Art. I decided to make another visit today with the following results.

 

This Banksy piece is high on the side of a building in Stokes Croft

 

 

This Banksy appears to have been in inaugurated into

another mural in Easton

 

This piece by Stinkfish is on the junction of Stokes Croft and City Road

Armed Forces Day 2014, Kingswood, Bristol

We had many storms and downpours here today, but managed a few shots.

 

Christian Bikers - British Legion

 

The Expert?

 

 

One Sunday Morning . . . . . . . . .

Last Sunday morning I was up early and went into Bristol looking for new street art which I considered I might make into an AV sequence. Following are just a few of the 45 or so I photographed.  As much of this was in a rather "dodgy area" I carried my camera in a Sainsbury's Orange carrier bag!

Bank Holiday Monday runabout!

On the afternoon of Bank Holiday Monday I took a friend of mine for a ride and we explored a little valley off Lansdown above Bath.  The road drops into the valley to the tiny church of St.Mary, Magdalene, Langridge.  Although built long ago by the Normans, not many people know it is there nestling  peacefully in isolation on the hillside with just a farm and its buildings for company. The Saxons and Romans had been here before and over the centuries the church has witnessed historic events. The battle of Lansdown was fiercely fought on the neighbouring hills in the Civil War.  The parish's earliest mention is in the Domesday Book (1086).

 

Church Interior

 

View across the Valley

 

We then went to visit the church of St.Mary the Virgin at West Kington. To reach this church by road one has to travel through a large Horse Stud - access from the village is by a steep lane. The Church has a fine 13th Century West Tower, and some interesting windows.

 

 

 

 

 

Weeds in my Garden!

 

Sat in my garden the other afternoon and for the want of something to entertain myself, I fetched the camera and the long lens to photograph some weeds!

West Wales Holiday

At last, the camera was put into action last week when I went to West Wales with my Probus Group.

We stayed at Gwbert on the coast just outside Cardigan.

The Glasshouse at the National Botanic Garden of Wales

On the Vale of Rheidol Steam Railway

 

St.David's Cathedral

 

A window of the Apothecary Hall at the Botanic Gardens

A bloom in the Glasshouse

Sea of Pink and Blue

Nantyronen Station on the Rheidol Railway

Audio Visual Day

Regret still no new pictures - still hobbling around. I was given a lift to Clyst.St.Mary (near Exeter) yesterday for the Western Counties Photographic Federation Audio Visual Competition day, and was delighted to get an HC (actually 4th place) in the "over 3 minutes 21 seconds" class. The subject "the Church that Moved" is all about St.Teilo's Church at St.Fagans, the Welsh National Museum.

 

Got a little creased on the way home!!

....me at last!

If anyone following my Blog wondered why there were no postings for such a long time, it's merely that apart from taken a picture of the Speakers at both Kingswood P.S meetings and Kingswood Probus meetings for the relevant websites, I haven't done any serious photography all winter.
Now here we are in March - and little hope of more pictures as I fell and broke my left knee-cap two weeks ago and the leg is encased in a Velcro splint. I am unable to leave the house unless taken, and spending a lot of time working on the computer, reading and watching TV.  It's likely to be 6 weeks before the splint is removed!!   Just for fun - this is a picture of my foot elevated on a chair to get the swelling down.

Christmas

I was with the family over Christmas, so I thought I would post a few snaps!

Ellena with her "One Direction" boys!

Joseph concentrating on his presents



Ellen and Joe with me

The Mob!