Wow!(I mean everyone Wow!)

This is the sea front at Illfracombe, North Devon. This was about 5 years ago but I doubt that
it's changed much. The white circular thing in the middle is a merry-go-round which looks quite
spectacular at night when it's all lit up. I have a photo of it 'somewhere'. If I can find it, I'll
scan it & put it up here.

Thank you! I used my sink spray nozzle.

What was Finchley tax office.

Something more modern and utilitarian than the Central Exchange. The building on the left is Eldon Square Indoor Shopping Centre which houses todays equivalent of the Central Arcade. Car park on the roof and bus station in the basement, shops in between

Hatfield House from the gardens

A pretty dandelion.

Modern sculptures in Hatfield's gardens

Those gardens look very interesting!

More from the salt lakes. We went for an adventure out there yesterday for something to do. On top it's about an inch thick of salt, looks like an ice sheet, and underneath it's the blackest mud.

Me again.
Jess looking majestic

Seen at a local garden show. Some days I think I really should get one of these and put it by the front door as I seem to get grumpier as I get older.

Christinap, I'm sure that as we get older and wiser, we realise just how much there is to be grumpy about.
I have my very own terra-cotta warrior who has guarded the path to my front door for many years.
Allow me to introduce Brando, the Surly Cat!

Love him, he's wonderful!

This may be a cue for a 2 week thread. Garden stuff?! Hmmm

In that case I'll save a couple I was going to post for that.

Exactly 150 years ago today (17th October 1861), the railway line between Forres and Grantown opened. Closed by Beeching, it's now a good long distance path. This is what it looks like now, near what was Rafford station. It actually goes over a small road just before those pine trees.

Centre For Life Newcastle upon Tyne



The Centre for Life is a pioneering science village based in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne where scientists, clinicians, educationalists and business people come together to promote advancement of the life sciences.

A bit of grass that has blown on the salt lakes and grown crystals.

The river Mole just before it meets the Thames

More of my fascination with paths, this is the one by the river yesterday

Cressing Temple Barn in Essex. This is the oldest complete medieval threshing barn in Europe. Built by the Knights Templar it once stood at the centre of a thriving estate. The medieval site is now preserved by the local Council and includes another smaller barn of the same era, the fish ponds in which the Knights would have kept carp for food, various agricultural outbuildings including stables and grain stores, a pump room, a 17th century farmhouse and a Tudor era walled garden which would have been used mainly for vegetables and herbs as well as bee=keeping. This has been restored in recent years and now has bee hives in it again. Chickens have also been reintroduced to the site as they would undoubtedly have been there in medieval times. The barns are completely original and the supporting timbers inside them have been carbon dated to the 13th century

St James' Park home of Newcastle United Football Club

That temple barn is amazing!

A paw print

Copago, the whole site is wonderful actually. The Council have gone to great lengths to protect it. They do have carefully selected events there, antiques fairs, that sort of thing, but not very often. It is actually a very tranquil place to walk round and a real wild life haven as well.

Dollis Valley walk in Barnet, alongside Dollis Brook which eventually ends up in the Thames at Brentford, passing very near my house on the way.