I'm indoors today, so here's another image from my trip to Poland last week. The Kotwica (meaning 'anchor') was the secret symbol of Polish freedom fighters during WWII. It is one of the murals at the Warsaw Uprising Museum, and I've published 25 similar images at Murals
Some of these may be disturbing, but they are important reminders of a terrible period in Polish history.

re: wigwmabam's photos
Just a little "trivia" on prickly pears. They are loaded with antioxidants and other medicinal properties. They are also the only plant the cochineal scale insect will live on. That is the insect used to obtain cochineal dyes from which are used in red food coloring and cosmetics all over the world. I have a friend in Arizona that makes prickly pear jam for me every year and it is superb! Sandy

This is one of my old regular places, Finchley library on the left. Before Funtrivia I'd go to the reference section and sometimes they'd have to go in the archives and open huge vaults to find what I was looking for. This is also heading for the main shopping centre at the end of the road.

Hmm. After the replies about the prickly pear I think I'll have to make a return trip and take one so I can try it.

A lot of the gum trees around here are coming into bloom. This one is particularly striking:

That is lovely, wigwambam!

Winston found the snow in the back yard a bit deep this afternoon, poor lad. I'm not tired of the snow yet (unless I'm shovelling it), but I think Winston is.

I made some bread, after a long time! It turned out well and I had to have the crust while it was still hot (oink!)

Yum - can I have a piece please Ren?

While cycling this afternoon, I watched this pair of mute swans performing an elaborate courtship ritual. They mimicked perfectly each other's every movement, and it was delightful to watch. There's a short video clip of them at SwanDance

I was just thinking, you couldn't ask for a greater contrast than wigwambam's tropical gum trees in full bloom and spanishliz's 'dog in deep snow'. Appearing next to each other heightens the contrast - which is what this fascinating thread is all about

Here is the notorious Neasden underpass where Neasden Lane now travels under the North Circular Road, after going over it and causing miles of trouble in the 60s. I go through this at least twice a week, for my sins...

Katt likes to be close to me when I'm at the computer. Here he is curled up by my scrapbooking stuff, just behind my computer chair.

This is Hunterston Nuclear Power station.



Larger pic with Goatfell on the Isle of Arran in the background.

Katt is becoming like one of my personal friends, he seems like a very nice personality.

Here is a typical view of a London suburb complete with red bus in Neasden.

Here's the lucky lion, on his way to the village yesterday

Another shot

Well, I returned to the prickly pear to take a fruit. This I did wearing a leather gardening glove. As I was returning to the car Hubby called out, "See if you can get two". What did stupid me do? - transferred the fruit I'd picked into my unprotected hand while I picked a second fruit! I spent the rest of the evening removing spines with tweezers.

I did get to try it though and found it to have quite a delicate fruity flavour and was refreshing.

Here's a photo of one of a couple of coccoons we have on the tree in the front garden (this one has been returned there). Does anyone know what makes it? My husband thinks a wasp.

Two little windmills in the snow, just outside my mother's apartment door...

Yesterday, I finally got rid of our lousy uncomfortable sofa and bought three lovely recliner chairs instead (one each for me, Maynooth and coolcat90).

Oh Boy I've been away for two weeks, so I've been doing nothing but catching up on all the great photos I've missed. Mrs. Argus and I have been to Hawaii so I have some new shots to present.

Here is Waikiki Beach On Oahu, one of the first photos I took.



The weather was great, however we returned to -30 C temps so we were not happy coming home.

This is my local town hall, dating back to 15th century, which is a couple of minutes walk from my home and which I pass every morning on my way to pick up the newspaper.



Here is a closer image of stonework

Here is one of the rare survivors from the 1970s sign replacement. You may ask why I posted it here and not the sign thread, the simple answer is there are more than one. Lots more...

Welcome back Argus, wondered where you were!

Satguru, I used to live in Harlesden.