Skywatch and Rainbows

Skywatch - somewhere over the rainbow as the song goes- rainbows hold a fascination for me - and I am sharing two of my favourite shots with you my blogging friends.

The first shot in my header picture was taken in Newquay Wales last summer - or Llareggub as it is called in Under Milkwood by Dylan Thomas - Dylan Thomas as it is told had a quirky sense of humour - if you reverse the spelling of Llareggub ! well say no more! maybe maybe not!

If you visit Newquay - you can follow the Dylan Thomas Trail - when you can visit places connected with him - his poetry and his stories.



I like this view - it is a busy little harbour and very colourful - the dolphins come in quite close to the harbour wall and during the summer months - a daily dolphin count is maintained by the local Dolphin Watch - you can view records and so forth in their office in the town




This view was taken walking down the cliffs into Newquay - I always think the houses look like little toy houses - sporting all the colourful paintwork




There are many walks to enjoy - from around the other side of the harbour -the lifeboat station can be seen - lots of activity there - where you can view the boats up close



Dusk is quite magical in Newquay - the sea birds calling - and the sounds of the little boats bobbing up and down in the harbour - the picture above was taken quite late - on a walk around the town



My other rainbow shot was taken from the boat between Oban and the Isle of Arran = the light was amazing - a painters paradise

For ABC Wednesday - B is for Bus

B is for Bus for ABC Wednesday - lets turn the wheels once again - we can have classic old buses - double decker and single decker buses- open top buses - tour buses - and what about the school bus and the walking bus maybe - can we include that one I wonder? there are work buses and of course the playbus - it is endless - buses are a reliable source of transport both in the big cities and the countryside - they are pretty much reliable for time - well hmm!! maybe - what is that saying - one bus will come along followed closely behind by another one - well that's life and you take it on the chin and on to go - this blog is a bit of a ramble of thoughts of past and present.

Does anyone remember the series in the clip below I wonder - it brings back many a memory for me and I still laugh at all the corny jokes and the characters in the films





Eeek! I must dash - I have a bus to catch!!

A is for Aber for ABC Wednesday

A is for Aberystwyth in Ceredigion -WAles And A tribute to ABC Wednesday which is on its ninth round of fun and games - you must visit.

It wAs A glorious sunny dAy,we hAd A dAy to SpAre,so whAt could be more therApeutic thAn A wAlk in WAles.

Boots And geArwere hAstily pAcked into the cAr-And Away we went, cAlling at the Dyfi Osprey sit on the wAy up.



We spent An hour or so here - wAlking round the reed beds And hides - I've Added the web Address for Anyone interested - blogger refused to let me Add A link!www.montwt.co.uk - below is A little clip from the site.


About the Dyfi Osprey Project
The Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust are pleased to announce that for the first time in over 400 years, ospreys are breeding in the Dyfi valley, on the Trust's Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve. After many close calls during the last two years, our male osprey, 'Monty' has finally managed to attract a female. This osprey has a ring on her right leg - she is a 2008 bird from a Rutland Water nest - we've called her 'Nora'! After 16 days of frantic courtship behaviours our Dyfi pair laid their ever first egg on Easter Monday - 25th April. A second came three days later 28th April and a final egg on 1st May.On Sunday 5th June, at 1:10pm, the first osprey chick began to make its way into the world. Within two hours, the first chick had emerged, closely watched by proud parents Monty & Nora. The second chick finally struggled free of the egg at 6:35am on Monday 6th June, leaving the third to burst forth on Tuesday 7th June!



We drove on to our destinAtion A little coAstAl villAge cAlled ClArAch BAy- ApproximAtely one And A hAlf miles from Aber.



The wAlk wAs steep to begin with And the sun hot - but soon we begAn to cAtch the seA breezes




We reAched the top of Constitution Hill And gAzed down on the VictoriAn houses Along the seA front




Aber hAs its own electric cliff rAilwAy for rAilwAy buffs And weAry trAvellers - it dAtes bAck to 1896.


The journey down wAS fun


pAssing the second rAilway cAr coming bAck up




Everyone wAving frAnticAlly As you do!

On Arrival we mAde our wAy Along the promenAde drinking in the Atmosphere of the little town


A greAt dAy lots of sunshine A return trip up the hill on the trAin - Another wAlk Across the cliff tops to ClArAch BAy - All downhill this time!



A lAst look bAck - And then on for a stop off for supper At the Kerry LAmb

An Absolutely Action-pAcked Adventure !!

Shadow Shot -- Here's to You and Yours

I could not resist this shot for Hey Harriet Blog today. We were enjoying a well earned meal - well we thought so ! at the Red Lion Inn at Longden Common - in Shropshire.

The sun beamed in through the paned window and caught our two glasses of red and white wine.




The Red Lion Inn is an old coaching inn, food is to die for and the atmosphere and company good.





The Red Lion plaque is above the bar

Have a good week everyone

Skywatch over the Wrekin in Shropshire

We watched the evening sky drop away into a fantastic sunset as we climbed towards the 1335ft summit and I thought of Skywatch.

The header shot was taken looking through the trees towards the Welsh mountains

The Legend of the Wrekin
Wellington, Shropshire


A Welsh Giant, bearing a grudge against the people of Shrewsbury, set out one day with a spadeful of earth to dam the Severn and thus drown the town. But he took the wrong road and, meeting a cobbler near Wellington, enquired of him the way. Now the cobbler, hearing the Giant's intention, decided he could not risk losing so many of his best customers. So he tumbled the boots and shoes from his bag. "I've come from Shrewsbury, and I've already worn out all these boots and shoes, so far away is it." In despair, the Giant dumped his spadeful of earth where he stood, and returned home. The Giant's load is the hill which people now call the Wrekin.


The Wrekin has long been the subject of many a myth and legend



Turning around and looking to the east , the harsh reality of the chimneys of the Ironbridge Power Station at the head of the Ironbridge Gorge was visible




Then a last look at those skies over Wales

The Legend of the Wrekin
Wellington, Shropshire


A Welsh Giant, bearing a grudge against the people of Shrewsbury, set out one day with a spadeful of earth to dam the Severn and thus drown the town. But he took the wrong road and, meeting a cobbler near Wellington, enquired of him the way. Now the cobbler, hearing the Giant's intention, decided he could not risk losing so many of his best customers. So he tumbled the boots and shoes from his bag. "I've come from Shrewsbury, and I've already worn out all these boots and shoes, so far away is it." In despair, the Giant dumped his spadeful of earth where he stood, and returned home. The Giant's load is the hill which people now call the Wrekin.

Z - for ABC Wednesday

Z puts the BuZZ in the bees and the JaZZ in RaZmataZ for ABC Wednesday




Does anyone remember Zebedee in the Magic Roundabout 1965 -1977 - a childrens programme - Zebedee was Jack in the BoX - my favourite character in that programme was Ermintrude the cow!




We could Zoom about in a Ford Zephyr car from times gone by



Or be blown away by the sheer beauty of Zinnias and Zygocactus- pic above is one of my own in my greenhouse - it has blossoms the size of teacups




How about dancing to the music of Zorba the Greek - or we could Zig Zag with amaZing Zing and Zip after drinking Za Za cocktails of Dubonnet and Gin

'Forties' Shadows

How was your weekend?- this weekend we went to a 'Forties Event' at Attingham Park in Shropshire and caught the sun casting shadows on these old army vehicles parked up on the front lawn - and I thought of Shadow Shot Sunday - and wanted to share.

Look at the Royal Enfield motorbike in my header picture- isn't it spectacular - my father was a dispatch rider in the war and he rode one of these!




I took random shots of the vehicles




Look at the contents of this medicine box - click on the pic ture for a closer view




I think this chap must have been having a shower or something - but he still has his shoes on ! - see the old tilley lamp hanging to the side




The event was very well supported and created a lot of interest




Forties big band music was playing in the background

A great afternoon!

Skywatch First Time

When nature met industry

Stark reality in Pembrokeshire, Wales

The oil refinery was etched against a magnificent sunset.

A holiday shot taken a few weeks back

Y is for Yesteryear

y is for Yesteryear - celebrated with a visit to Blists Hill - Ironbridge in Shropshire. Blists Hill is a Victorian Museum in the form of a working town of that age - 1890 -1910.

Last week we took our two grandsons to the museum - they were off school due to a teacher strike - and we all really enjoyed the day. I have posted some off the pics of the day - special bits that a caught our eye.

My header pic is of the Trevithick Steam Locomotive - it is a replica of the worlds' first steam locomotive constructed in Coalbrookdale to the designs of Richard Trevithick -1771-1833



How about having your post delivered by a postie on this little beaut !



I loved this cartoon - must share!



Pen and Quill - boys and myself had a go at writing with the quill and I think we did rather well!



Potions on the chemist shop shelf - kill or cure! as they say




Needles -pins - buttons - little treasures - special place for the lady of the house




Merry go Round and fairground music - bliss!




Not in action today shame!




How I appreciate my washing machine!



More washing arrangements of the personal kind!




My grandma had a larder like this one - it was so familiar to me after many years as a child - eggs -ham - pots - stone jars - unidentified objects wrapped in muslin cloths - jams - chutneys - tin mugs - oh memories!




Jenny off to be harnessed into the cart




Stage 1




Stage 2




Stage 3




Stage 4




Stage 5





Away we go !

What a day of gazing back at distant times - boys and ourselves had a fab time - but I declined the chips cooked in beef fat - Ahh!! - but I did enjoy the treacle toffee!

Two walks - chasing shadows

Walking I think is good for the inner being - time to reflect - time to relax - and to generate energy to face the day

My pics I hope illustrate the beauty of English woodland at its best and also catch a shot or two for Shadow Shot Sunday over at Hey Harriets blog.

My first walk is at Attingham Park in Shropshire - a favourite spot of mine - the sunlight was amazing that morning last week - so strong and casting strong shadows on the tree barks - the birds were singing and there was a gentle buzz from the insects - who fortunately kept themselves to themselves! - which is not always the case when I walk past!







This walk is called the Mile Walk - and is quite popular with dog walkers and joggers - hoping to beat their personal best - or in my case burn off a few calories before breakfast!




There is always something different to see - could be squirrels squabbling - a jay calling or a different plant bursting forth



Friends meet have a chat and then move on




There are many pathways to follow - which means every walk can vary according to the mood -



There are many shades of green and has the sunlight catches the leaves - there is an ever changing stream of colour




Time seems to stand still as you walk and only when you reach the end of the walk - do you return to normality if that makes sense!



My second walk was taken on Pontesford Hill - this was an evening walk and again the sun was very strong casting deep shadows - this again is a favourite haunt of joggers and bikers on the special tracks



It was a lovely evening and people were taking time out to wind down after a hectic day




The bikers streamed past - eyes fixed on the finish -their leader called 'walkers'and we dived to the side of the path




We walked all three of us until dusk - gazing on the beautiful sunset over the Welsh Hills - then on to the local pub for a welcome glass of wine and a chat - very therapeutic