Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category
. . . . blue eye
Posted: June 5, 2014 in Architecture, Cities, Cityscapes, Photographs, PlacesTags: London, London Eye, night lights
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The Kings Cross
Posted: March 19, 2014 in Cities, Cityscapes, Photographs, Places, TravelTags: Architecture, Engineering, Kings Cross Station, London, Public places, Railway Stations
Another station, cleverly attaching its concourse on to the side of the building losing no space inside and putting taxis ranks and drop off points underneath. On a spring morning looking as organic as intended – a beautiful space probably not thought off any more by the commuter.
. . . winter sun
Posted: December 17, 2013 in Architecture, Cities, Cityscapes, People, Photographs, PlacesTags: contemplation, light, Saint Paul's Cathedral
No.1 Ives Street
Posted: November 2, 2013 in Architecture, Cities, Cityscapes, Photographs, Places, TravelTags: art, doors, London, London Town, photographs, photography, pictures
doors, portals. entrances, unwelcoming, inviting but not much noticed as everyday sights, unless you do this….
Gherkin guts
Posted: October 16, 2013 in Cityscapes, Photographs, PlacesTags: London, photographs, photography
echoed images
Posted: July 21, 2013 in Art, Photographs, Places, Seascapes, TravelTags: arrows, art, markers, photographs, seascape, seaside, signs, skies, tags, visualisation
echoed images
guessing, not googling or binging, after all theorising is more interesting than the expert where art is concerned. – that the images created upon the impaled ship’s planks or driftwood on the promenade of Weston-Super-Mare were suggested by an artist to point out, direct your gaze to, the islands in the Bristol Channel? Or perhaps they are ancient defence forts as in the Solent off Portsmouth. Almost saying, there, look, see? Literally laying down a marker more impressive than any big arrow or a g.p.s. voice.
CITY ! !
Posted: May 13, 2013 in Cityscapes, Photographs, Places, TravelTags: city, cityscape, photographs, photography
hard lines of the city
comments
two way street
Posted: April 12, 2013 in Architecture, Cities, Cityscapes, Photographs, Skyscapes, TravelTags: art, London, photographs, photography, pictures, skies
Old & New
Posted: March 11, 2013 in Agriculture, family, Farming, People, Photographs, Ploughing, TravelTags: Clydesdales, Farming, Horses, Ploughing, scotland, Tractors
…this theme keeps finding my camera, wherever I look. Invited to the Ayrshire Ploughing Association’s ploughing competition, by the friend of a relative I was visiting, I witnessed horses actually ploughing a field and a computerised cabin of a tractor in action, trying to do the same thing.
As far as I could gather four pegs define the width and the length of the strip to have its soil turned, (you will have to excuse me farmers, I don’t have the jargon or language that grows from this specialist work). Then about ten furrows are ploughed, as straight as possible of course, at one end of the strip or rectangle of land. After completing these the ploughman has then to go to the other end of 
the strip and work his way back with straight even furrows until they match perfectly those at the starting end. (I have tilted the photos deliberately as this would be the ploughman’s view, with one wheel in the furrow).
It looked as if the horses had it a bit easier but it was obvious from the vintage tractors that they were in a class of their own and to be admired as still working at what I imagine was one of the jobs they were bred for.
Then, there they were, standing just right for me to race away to get a shot under the leaden skies of Scotland. As it turned out I was in the warmest place in the UK for some reason? I spent February avoiding sunburn in 40-50 degree temperatures while it snowed in southern England. I had another great birthday break exploring the lowland quarries, farms, stately homes and castles of Scotland on the west coast border just below Glasgow, thanks to my dear cousins and their friends and four Clydesdale horses.
dwk
sailboat
Posted: February 24, 2013 in Photographs, Places, Seascapes, TravelTags: boat, photographs, saiboat, sea, seascape, sky
Scottish wier
Posted: February 22, 2013 in love, Photographs, TravelTags: mill pool, rivers, scotland, waterways
Grandfather
Posted: May 25, 2012 in Education, family, Health and wellness, People, personalities, Photographs, TravelTags: Family, Grandparents, knowledge, Workplace
Apprenticed as a fireman in an open steam train cabin, my grandad moved up to engineer when considered “mature” enough by his superiors who had barely set foot in a steam-engine’s cabin. He spent his working life stoking or driving these grey beasts. Then came the day to drive the new Queen Elizabeth.
Among his peers he was considered as the most experienced engineman and therefore, the safest, but some bureaucrat decided a younger man would logically, be a safer engine-driver for the young Queen returning to London from Manchester. After he left his country’s mainlines for the sidings, my grandmother once told me “it broke his heart you know”. After so many years of service given and respect gained? A certificate of long service and a photograph of his favourite engine? He retired from the Salford Railyard that served the Old Trafford Industrial Estate, supported the railwaymen’s football team, met friends at the Union Club and loved his garden.
As a twelve year old, I remember he showed me how to make firelighters from newspaper, as he had done on so many mornings to start the fire beneath the steam engine’s boiler, which I thought was wonderful! I, now too, could start fires, and loved helping him clean the home hearth, bring in the coal and set the fire. Running to open the front door for airflow, and learning how to balance the coal shovel in front of the fireplace on the hearth rail. Covering the whole fireplace with a sheet of newspaper when the flames caught, taking it away carefully when the coal fire roared.
Just an elderly man with his grandson both enjoying the passing of knowledge of the most fundamental kind – how to make fire.
dwk
The photograph is of Newcastle-upon Tyne Station in the 1960’s by Eric de Mare and is in the RIBA Collection.
silver birds fight
to find the wheat land waypoint,
struggle with the south westerly
blowing sunday’s sky clean
of white tales.
Sideways glides and power compensations
make the place of turns
then, at waypoint hammersmith
elements batter and bend flight.
Trying to find the waypoint for approach:
laser, satellite, computer and synapse
battle to hub, eyes and seatbelts tight.
But the calculation obstacle course
of raw natural power
runs away from waypoint goat farm
or row of cottages on the heath.
dwk
moss
Posted: November 19, 2011 in Brain Health, Health and wellness, Neighbours, Ramblings, TravelTags: Friends & Neighbours
The frostbitten, modern, glass trolley sheds like the mist, they get to be noticeable in their ice negligee, sparkling in the sun, while I am crunching across frostarmac, writing headsongs. They are illuminated frozen lanterns, standing isolated, though there are a few cars, those brave enough to come out this early still wearing shorts and flip-flops of course, – “its only chilly love, besides I will be in the car!” – and tomorrow they will complain about a cough, which is why I am out so early. My neighbours lungs have to be scraped off the walls each morning so I am shopping for my sick seniors (oh! what a hero, couldn’t you just clutch him to your heart) – (yes please, well, it is cold!)
On return, the weirdest thing; a neighbour I haven’t seen for a long time, sitting in her car, warming it up probably, not going anywhere. Only wearing a T-Shirt, floppy cardigan and trainers, unfreezing her fan-belt. I was actually beginning to worry about her because of the absence of car movement. After decades of listening to complaints about the large tree and our beautiful green forecourt and what it does to the vehicles (there are no greenies here), I don’t drive but understand. A paint removing gum falls from the massive tree onto the cars apparently, plus leaves and the pigeon’s contribution of course in a metropolitan area, – but that wasn’t the weird bit.
I had to ask 3 times! how she was. After a serious hospitalisation and gradual work recovery, I was still worried about my neighbour/friend!! NAH !! after finding a metal rod among the leaves, neighbour is gracefully poised over the windscreen and bonnet, and through the heavy condensation of her breath, is inserting the thick wire into every slot and groove she can find around the windscreen and removes up to a couple of hundred grams of – moss – and is so taken with this I have to virtually demand information of her health! I have never been allowed a car, but another example of how the metal beast transforms the most loving, sincere, honest, respectful etc., into…………….you too huh?
Finally the elders have decided to build, but nobody in Bath actually knew what would replace the 60’s shopping mall, when I asked them. I bet it involves some sort of antique facade, even if it is ultra modern, and will surely be bent toward the tourist? A taxi driver and I agreed that a big wheel in the centre of town would never happen but the tourist would love it. Well try my paltry offering instead:
http://images.soapbox.msn.com/flash/soapbox1_1.swf
Video: Panorama Bath
Back from mom’s 79th birthday, great to see my brother and sister, brother-in-law, nephew, once have loaded up we will see if the new embedded video works?
plus some photos of Bath. Some of my family don’t like idea of being visible on the internet so that’s about 50 shots down. But this city sitting in a bowl of a valley famous for its Roman Baths is so open to view that I tried looking at it through the foilage or masonry, well you will see if you wish.
Thanks for comments, you know who you are and now some have identified if there is anything I can put on here to help? Only too pleased to help.
Saw great movie last night. Last Orders was a book I bought long time ago great to see they made a very british movie with so many famous british actors in London.
Got to go now and take my meds and a lady has come in to do me cleaning, actually the idea of her weekly visits is to check that I am OK and I am pleased to say that through working for me I have been able to help her support her child but more importantly, she has recently qualified as a professional Carer. So its great to have someone check I am not damaged through falling or whatever, who really knows her stuff. Knowing your stuff?
knowing what you are about, in sync, able to tackle anything.
......over the edge 