greenwich

Steve has already written about our day over on Shadows and Light and put up some lovely photos.
Here are a few more from me ...




The Greenwich Observatory


Steve standing on the Meridian



Public standards of length. These British Imperial Standards were first mounted outside Greenwich Observatory main gates some time before 1866, to enable the public to check measures of length. The stated length is the distance between the inner faces of the 2 D-shaped studs.


Ceiling of The Painted Hall as seen in a mirror!

autumn leaves

I've spent a lovely couple of days enjoying some unseasonably mild autumn weather here in South London.
The winds have divested many of the trees of their leaves, but some still cling on bravely.



Yesterday A and I took a walk around Dulwich Picture Gallery. The Sweet Gums were changing colour





Earlier today we met up with Steve & Dave and Lettuce & her family for brunch, then Steve, Lettuce and I walked through Greenwich Park, cameras in hand, to see the ancient chestnut trees



and the oaks.



More photos to follow tomorrow.

theme thursday (on saturday) - gourds

I've taken liberties and posted a couple of photos of pumpkins here, too

These beautiful gourds were on display in Chelsea Market, NYC in October last year



This colourful decoration was seen on the steps of an old brownstone in Brooklyn



and this big pumpkin was sitting all alone atop a wall in the Cotswolds, England.

if at first ...

you don't succeed, try, try again!

So, back to blogging. Can't believe it's been two whole months.

The Theme Thursday picture was taken by my daughter R in Vienna.

As a photographer, there's something very interesting in watching other people taking photos. The girl with the Nikon is R's best friend Jenny (R is on the right.) Jenny is a very talented jewellery designer and photographer - though something seems to be puzzling her here ...

theme thursday - gadget

Me with iphone. Daughter's friend with proper camera!

My newest gadget is my iphone.
I love it. It's beautiful (even though it doesn't support flash!!) and convenient and fits in my pocket and has a camera (of sorts) and the internet and ...
But sitting on the desk in front of me is my canon DSLR with pictures not yet downloaded from the memory card.
So, time to find the usb cable, connect and download and post some more pictures.
Time to get back to blogging too.

travels in tuscany 1

Mosquitoes 12
Liz 0

After an interesting night (woken by massive firework display just after midnight, then at 5.30 when I realised my temporary veneer had come off my front tooth, then finally at 6.30 when my dozen mosquito bites all appeared to catch fire at once) we have had a fabulous breakfast at our B&B and are now sitting outside the local pasticceria. We're eating again. Well, what else can you do in Italy, when there's some of the best food in the world round the corner?






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friday weather

Busy packing and tidying the house before we go on holiday, yet still time for a blog post!

It's been warm and sunny today after a chilly start to the week.

Off to Italy tomorrow for a couple of weeks. We were hoping to do a fair amount of walking, but I'll have to take it easy as my leg is still healing. The weather forecast is 'mixed' so there's a scarf and waterproof coat in the suitcase as well as t-shirts and sandals.

Whatever the weather is like I'm hopeful it won't be as wet and muddy as it was at Latitude Festival in July! Am uploading some of the photos to Flickr, but here's a few to be going on with ...

This was our view in the morning from our podpad. A little misty ...



and then it rained (though as you can see, even rain will not keep the serious festival goer from his beer.)



Some came armed with wellies and umbrellas



and others with a poncho of sorts.



Fortunately the sun made an appearance so we could dry off between 'showers.'



I probably won't post much while I'm away, unless there's good wifi.

Arrivederci!!

wall art wednesday

These were taken at Latitude Festival last month. I meant to go back and photograph the finished work, but the weather got in the way!

weather

Always a topic of conversation at home and abroad.

We're used to changeable weather here in the British Isles, but I must admit I'm feeling a little chilly today and wondering where the summer has gone! It's been raining on and off all day. As a result the lawn is in need of a cut and blow dry at least, and our shrubs and bushes are covered in luxuriant foliage.

There are little muddy footprints on the kitchen window sill ( if anyone knows how to train cats to wipe their paws, do let me know!) and the washing is drying indoors.

Sending good thoughts to all those on the eastern seaboard, who are facing dangerous extremes of weather.

harbour

A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.
John A. Shedd, Salt from My Attic (1928)

vase

Brief post today, as I'm nursing a torn muscle and am feeling a little groggy as a result of the painkillers and the large glass of red wine with which I washed them down.

The vase is a family heirloom. It stood on my maternal grandmother's mantelpiece in London throughout WW2.

Whilst their house wasn't bombed, the neighbours' was and the vase remained intact.

Don't think it's worth anything much, but it has great sentimental value. There's a small bead stuck halfway down the narrow neck, put there by my brother when he was little!



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props

Don't know the last time I flew on a small(ish) plane.
Last weekend a Cityjet Fokker 50 flew me to and from France. On board I saw a sight I've not seen since 9/11 - the inside of the cockpit. Sorry I couldn't get a photo of that.
But as we wandered across the tarmac to board I managed a shot of the propellors.

theme thursday - tree

So, I'm a week late for Theme Thursday. Never mind.

I found a banana tree growing in a garden in Normandy. Not sure if the little green fingers will ripen. It was a very hot day, but I think it'll take more than a day or two of sunshine.

Is this a sign of climate change, I wonder, finding tropical fruits growing in northern Europe?

wall art wednesday

Saw this in Galway earlier this year. I think she's rather lovely. Seems to have a look of the young Audrey Hepburn about her.

les pommes

Last day of my brief stay in Normandy. Am headed for the airport and home to London tomorrow.
Lovely relaxing stroll around nearby Honfleur earlier today. Pictures to follow later, as they're on my camera.
It looks like there will be a bumper apple crop in France this year. We saw them ripening in the sunshine as we walked back to our B&B.





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normandie

Have taken a couple of days off to see my cousin, who lives in Normandy. We're staying in a lovely b&b in quiet countryside. The only sounds I can hear right now are geese honking and the high-pitched call of the swallows as they swoop past the window. We drove to Rouen for lunch and I took a picture of the rather splendid clock.



This is the view from my window





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rubbish

Who would have thought there would be so many different colours, textures and patterns in a heap of rubbish?







galway bay, ireland. june 2011

dublin

June found us in Dublin for a few days.

We checked out The Temple Bar for a late night of raucous singing and beer.



The next day we headed down to The Point.

Dublin Docklands was being regenerated until the recession hit hard. The promised 'Point Village' hasn't happened yet. Several large buildings stand empty. The only place we could find to get a cup of tea (it was raining and quite cold) was a business hotel, which seemed pretty empty.

But we took a ride on the Dublin Wheel



and enjoyed the views





Walking back into town, this caught my eye



Off to France tomorrow ....

enjoy

“The purpose of morality is to teach you, not to suffer and die, but to enjoy yourself and live.” Avn Rand

I like that thought.

snap!

Photography can be a very serious business



It can be great fun



frustrating



but ultimately satisfying (sometimes!)



1. concentration in la cimetière du père-lachaise, april 2011
2. family fun in sussex, august 2011
3. lighting disaster in chatsworth house, april 2011
4. the B train, coney island, october 2010

wall art wednesday

All taken in Paris in April this year.
If anyone can identify the artists, please do!