tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360286542024-03-23T10:14:40.736+00:00Ackworth born, gone WestA personal blog by Ackworth born Gerald England who married a Lancashire lass, went West and now lives in Cheshire.Gerald (Ackworth born)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10972748175799683560noreply@blogger.comBlogger823125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-26244696114552985212020-10-15T19:00:00.002+01:002020-10-15T19:32:27.533+01:00In Memoriam: Victoria Tarrani<div>Apologies for the lack of photos in this post but blogger seems not to want to load any at present.</div><div><br /></div><div> I was quite sad to hear that Victoria Tarrani had passed away in October 2020. I first came into contact with her around 1997 when she and I were both members of Cyberscribers.
Cyberscribers described itself as an International Writers' Forum. It ran as an egroup on OneList and had a site on Geocities - see an archived page on the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/19990222104057/http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Cafe/7573/bios.html" target="new">Wayback Machine</a>. For some reason or another that fizzled out and she started up <a href="http://www.geraldengland.co.uk/ww.htm" target="new">Wordwizards</a> on yahoogroups. It was a lively group for many years. Members included Salena Ford, Shanna Baldwin, Terrie Relf, Maureen Weldon, Alison Williams, Yvonne LaRose and many others. Group conversations dwindled in recent years as some people left and others turned more to Facebook, Twitter and other spaces for social interaction. Now it seems the plug is about to be pulled on all yahoogroups.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> In November 1999 to celebrate my wife's 55th birthday we decided to visit Los Angeles taking flights from Manchester via Amsterdam on KLM. Viki (as she is known to her friends) and her husband Mike invited us to stay with them at their house in Orange County. A brief account of our visit to California can be found on this <a href="http://ackworthborn.blogspot.com/2008/08/abc-wednesday-c-is-for-california-1999.html" target="new">blogpost</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div> Following a wonderful visit to Catalina Island, the next day we ventured out to Palm Springs. I went to look at the tramway. Viki and Mike went off to photograph the rocks. I returned to find Christine in the back of the car in agony. In crossing the road, her ankle had caved in underneath. At Palm Springs Hospital we waited nearly three hours to see a nurse and the first thing they asked us was "Why didn't you put some ice on it?" Just where two strangers to the country were expected to find that ice seemed not to enter their heads. In due course they took X-rays, strapped it up and sent us back to L.A. Viki and Mike looked after us splendidly until we got our flight home. </div><div><br /></div><div> You'll find only a handful of things if you search for Victoria on the internet. I came across this cinquain she wrote (using her pseudonym "zephyr" in the archives of the World Haiku Review:</div><div><br /></div><div>Stardust </div><div>scattered diamonds </div><div>shimmer across the sky </div><div>galactic nucleus sparkles </div><div>glitter.</div><div><br /></div><div> In our memory she will always be shimmering.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-44422432157397848232019-12-25T10:29:00.000+00:002019-12-25T10:36:36.031+00:00Donkeys at St Anne's-on-the-Sea<br />
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© Gerald England, 2019<br />
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A contribution to <a href="http://image-in-ing.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">Wordless Wednesday</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-34666259427405399472018-10-16T10:20:00.000+01:002018-10-16T10:32:05.102+01:00WNBR Manchester 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A contribution to <a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">Our World Tuesday</a>.</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-75417595968303860402018-07-08T12:00:00.000+01:002018-07-08T12:18:40.301+01:00 Steve Sneyd (1941 - 2018): In Memoriam<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKprtrL2Tlvn_3aHSfBYSuLaHb4pQxjhbIQXIchF3SiAZLBjCs69nbnoF9liyCWjuGKMxwUVzUdiscyaF5KDAh7fgXXTTE7pd77lfz-TxmZQ46Vh_mTveFSuubi3WAHKLuAqjJtA/s1600-h/ppp11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKprtrL2Tlvn_3aHSfBYSuLaHb4pQxjhbIQXIchF3SiAZLBjCs69nbnoF9liyCWjuGKMxwUVzUdiscyaF5KDAh7fgXXTTE7pd77lfz-TxmZQ46Vh_mTveFSuubi3WAHKLuAqjJtA/s400/ppp11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215540668989290850" border="0"></a><br />
Photograph © 2001, Gerald England.<br />
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<blockquote>people who have vanished<br />
pressed into poems in small defunct magazines<br />
still breath sometimes athwart my dreams</blockquote><br />
so wrote Steve Sneyd in <a href="http://geraldengland.co.uk/pick/pick74.htm" target="new">Tributary Fractions</a> which I published in <a href="http://geraldengland.co.uk/nhi/headhope.htm" target="new">The Hallamshire & Osgoldcross Poetry Express</a> back in 1973.<br />
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Last week I said goodbye to him as he was buried at the <a href="http://www.rosehillburials.co.uk" target-"new">Rose Hill Burial Ground</a>, <br />
a non-denominational site for natural burials at Birkby above Huddersfield. His family, local friends and various people from the small press world including Andy Darlington, John Francis Haines, J C Hartley, Pete Presford and Chris Reed, gathered under the shade of a large tree in the grounds. We heard about his life, his work and his achievements, listened to some of his poetry and paid our respects.<br />
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I first knew Steve when he was publishing Ludd's Mill and I had started <a href="http://geraldengland.co.uk/nhi/headland.htm" target="new"> Headland</a>. We both contributed to a large number of the so-called "little magazines" that proliferated in the small press world of the 1970s and into the millennium.. In the pre-internet era they became a network through which poets communicated with each other. We met up at conventions around the country in Liverpool, Dartford, Norwich, Corby, Middlesbrough, Hastings, Newcastle and elsewhere. The photograph at the top of the page was taken at the Purple Patch convention hosted by Geoff Stevens in Sandwell. There Steve gave a talk on <a href="http://geraldengland.co.uk/zz/z50.htm" target="new">The Inclusion Of Poetry In Novels</a>.<br />
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I've published numerous poems by Steve Sneyd over the years and in 1992 his collection <a href="http://geraldengland.co.uk/pick/pick18.htm" target="new"> A Mile Beyond The Bus</a>. which was illustrated by <a href="https://ackworthborn.blogspot.com/2013/11/ian-m-emberson-1936-2013-in-memoriam.html" target="new">Ian M Emberson (1936 - 2013)</a>.<br />
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Despite have a huge interest in science fiction he was something of a luddite when it came to the internet. However he was a regular contributor to Comopoetry coordinated by Andrei Dorian Gheorghe from Romania. His contribution to their <a href="http://www.cosmopoetry.ro/throughthelight/" target="new">Through the Light</a> anthology was: <blockquote>IN DESPITE OF PROSPERO <br />
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Fall of Ariel <br />
this high brightness coming fast <br />
to free Caliban <br />
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PHILAE CALLING <br />
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from the comet’s shadow <br />
pod voice back so long <br />
"I’m still really yours" <br />
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-by Steve Sneyd (UK, laureate of the Peterson Trophy, director of Hilltop Press, editor of Data Dump) </blockquote><br />
Learn more about Steve and his work in the <a href="http://internationaltimes.it/steve-sneyd/" target="new">International Times</a>.<br />
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He will not be forgotten.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-62924141300554927192017-06-05T09:35:00.002+01:002017-06-05T10:01:49.903+01:00Bees are buzzing in Manchester<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszlH69agySsfYVxgVby5E6-IzFgSzTmMlVO_KaX8tjNwf_hxBilrJBVZR6l-ZHOTyT6rDZKqNzj-wcRomB_6S8cxA6Trn8EVWFqcL3HgSsVuNn8Kc1gIvIVPeiftqZi9IcEbc/s1600/bee1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszlH69agySsfYVxgVby5E6-IzFgSzTmMlVO_KaX8tjNwf_hxBilrJBVZR6l-ZHOTyT6rDZKqNzj-wcRomB_6S8cxA6Trn8EVWFqcL3HgSsVuNn8Kc1gIvIVPeiftqZi9IcEbc/s400/bee1.jpg" width="376" height="400" data-original-width="1024" data-original-height="1090" /></a></div><br />
This mural of a bee on Mason Street was created in December 2016 by street artist Bubek. I spotted it the day after the city had been rocked and shocked by the atrocity at the Manchester Arena. Roads around the area were closed off but this is not far away. During the Industrial Revolution, Manchester adopted the worker bee as a motif for its city. Seven bees are included in the crest of the city’s arms which were granted to the Borough of Manchester in 1842. Following the tragedy of May 22nd the bee has become a symbol of remembrance and hope.<br />
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Last Saturday I was on Oldham Street and saw this new mural being painted on the gable end of the Koffee Pot. It is a work in progress. When completed it will feature 22 bees representing the 22 people who died in the Arena bombing.<br />
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A contribution to <a href="http://oaklanddailyphoto.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">Monday Murals</a>.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-79530962407759845982017-05-23T21:00:00.000+01:002017-05-23T21:55:00.442+01:00Flowers for Manchester<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9aaaKr8D0m2pX46fhIv-hQchJc0pGV3UHNxNv2gfWb2vb-wkXLtVQY8lNGWPQ8FNTXf5BIjwOb6-Uvo-JZ5TQtRIA1JVGIE_o9gtxyLGmm7GQn3PyHAHvpDXfT2nbFiCMzErR/s1600/17may001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9aaaKr8D0m2pX46fhIv-hQchJc0pGV3UHNxNv2gfWb2vb-wkXLtVQY8lNGWPQ8FNTXf5BIjwOb6-Uvo-JZ5TQtRIA1JVGIE_o9gtxyLGmm7GQn3PyHAHvpDXfT2nbFiCMzErR/s400/17may001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<center>photograph © Gerald England, 2017.</center><br />
On the afternoon following the tragedy at Manchester Arena, a woman has placed a bunch of flowers below the information display at Piccadilly Gardens and is now taking a photograph. The display says "We love Manchester" and gives out the emergency contact number for the police. Doubtless more flowers will be laid here and around the city as the day goes on.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-22059332357427318592017-05-12T07:00:00.000+01:002017-05-12T07:00:36.875+01:00The Hindu TempleThe latest issue of the online anthology <a href="http://www.cosmopoetry.ro/betonplanets/" target="new">Cosmopetry</a> is entitled "BET ON PLANETS or THE SMALL OLYMPICOSMPOETRIADA OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM" by SARM Cosmpoetry Master Club and Friends .<br />
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It starts with photographs of the moon and Jupiter by Valentin Grigore over Targoviste in Romania. It is followed by numerous photographic contributions from around the world of heavenly bodies including, nebulae, eclipses, Saturns rings, the transit of Mercury, the Perseids, the Aurora Borealis as well as poems on astronomical themes.<br />
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My own contribution is an astro-photo-tanka from March 2001 in Singapore.<br />
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the Hindu temple<br />
through the open doorway<br />
people at prayer<br />
over them in a dark sky<br />
sickle moon and Jupiter<br />
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© Gerald England<br />
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<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLSJ48sFumE_TJ3G6RJe_bmzJW6cgZRW1DobxnvDKPuTRT3ZJMQFj9WHlpRi6dRisuFa8IqHjn3vFeMSQ7qXw4HtjQ7Hkx2Qe1nkHPUxjzVjG3uETe5wg1SllIU3vx_fsx-3Q/s1600/hindu+temple.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLSJ48sFumE_TJ3G6RJe_bmzJW6cgZRW1DobxnvDKPuTRT3ZJMQFj9WHlpRi6dRisuFa8IqHjn3vFeMSQ7qXw4HtjQ7Hkx2Qe1nkHPUxjzVjG3uETe5wg1SllIU3vx_fsx-3Q/s400/hindu+temple.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671527866581425202"></a><br />
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Other photos show the similarities between Teide Volcano, Tenerife and Mount Fuji, Japan. Catalin Beldea displays a lovely sequence showing the total solar eclipse of March 8th 2016 over Indonesia. Adrian Bruno Sonka writes about Asteroids with Satellites. The whole collection was coordinated by Andrei Dorian Gheorghe and designed by Florin Alexandru Stancu on behalf of the Romanian Society for Meteors and Astronomy.<br />
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See the whole thing at <a href="http://www.cosmopoetry.ro/betonplanets/" target="new">Cosmopetry</a>.<br />
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Also visit <a href="http://skyley.blogspot.com/" target="new">Skywatch Friday</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-40216246723609264062017-03-13T07:00:00.000+00:002017-03-13T07:00:09.766+00:00Strathearn Gardens Mural<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT310-WdxQ0EqQcqeYiKwEp-X-3wKwSyGmRLDBNfHSzH2QYxdKf5hoVEmCEBolyq9gTuNHd4G30Pfk61QpdenIy20lQ4YGCUVc9VMFC3cOj8ME_zRCCLTJpOe8zzifDpElTe1S/s1600/17mar017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT310-WdxQ0EqQcqeYiKwEp-X-3wKwSyGmRLDBNfHSzH2QYxdKf5hoVEmCEBolyq9gTuNHd4G30Pfk61QpdenIy20lQ4YGCUVc9VMFC3cOj8ME_zRCCLTJpOe8zzifDpElTe1S/s400/17mar017.jpg" width="400" height="295" /></a></div><br />
The inside of the perimeter wall on the north side of Strathearn Gardens in Royal Leamington Spa has been painted as one long mural.<br />
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The apartments in the background are on Stamford Gardens and were built by the local authority in the 1960s.<br />
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The mural was painted by local artist Izumi Segawa in 2013/14 when the gardens were renovated and renamed from Stamford Gardens to Strathearn Gardens.<br />
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The gardens link Rugby Road to Clarendon Crescent and contain various pieces of children's play equipment.<br />
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Photos of the work in progress can be found on the <a href="http://hachiware-art.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/stamford-gardens-mural-project-progress.html" target="new">artist's blog</a>.<br />
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A contribution to <a href="http://oaklanddailyphoto.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">Monday Murals</a>. <div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-90633064946615511012017-02-05T10:10:00.004+00:002017-02-05T10:13:12.693+00:00Somme shadows at Heywood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGJYmfSFFQT4ehed-DsgAGnvU2eIodzCBe9OENbZjori4jASqxyok99Qlxj_hFauarspH-acfl0N6_HAIJomn-1nB1l1NMcrEdMvRFQqK-M9HCYLY6S5B66t-wgwI95P2I8eY/s1600/heywood1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGJYmfSFFQT4ehed-DsgAGnvU2eIodzCBe9OENbZjori4jASqxyok99Qlxj_hFauarspH-acfl0N6_HAIJomn-1nB1l1NMcrEdMvRFQqK-M9HCYLY6S5B66t-wgwI95P2I8eY/s400/heywood1.jpg" width="400" height="302" /></a></div><br />
Yesterday I stopped briefly in Heywood, a Lancashire town that lies halfway between Rochdale and Bury. This photo was taken in Heywood Memorial Gardens looking across towards St Luke's Church.<br />
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Four World War commemorative benches have been installed in the Memorial Gardens and were dedicated in the Battle of the Somme centenary anniversary commemorative Service held as part of the Heywood 1940's Day on Saturday the 18th June 2016.<br />
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Heywood Township provided a World War One and a Lest We Forget bench and worked with local Groups to provide another two, The Heywood Rotary Club purchasing a World War One bench and the Heywood Armed Forces Covenant Partners, The Lancashire Veterans Association purchasing a World War Two bench. <br />
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The bright February sun was casting strong shadows across the grass.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkuNXRSwsBzYNEr3hV3ir9TEfsUf5O2Y5HvD5-wRi_H2hDS_lApl_p3X2VHjiTmoC_GYem4j0UDk8CwYO3rjzjtMNZYJ8KsdUmukO5YnTjxTnqva0Ih2QAQcNcs108Gv1F5X1/s1600/heywood5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkuNXRSwsBzYNEr3hV3ir9TEfsUf5O2Y5HvD5-wRi_H2hDS_lApl_p3X2VHjiTmoC_GYem4j0UDk8CwYO3rjzjtMNZYJ8KsdUmukO5YnTjxTnqva0Ih2QAQcNcs108Gv1F5X1/s400/heywood5.jpg" width="400" height="228" /></a></div><br />
A contribution to <a href="http://shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com/" target="new">Shadow Shot Sunday</a> and <a href="http://inspiredsundaymeme.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">Inspired Sundays</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-58488327131721932882017-01-30T07:00:00.000+00:002017-01-30T07:00:12.668+00:00Ceramic Murals at Dinting Station<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QAQjF-C8JjiSnWwOuhzVzPPME-Ov3hFnrq1tY4YrQIxulRTvQOZFHsfTfhulVu5WQ6TVsomeHvzi9pyyLoV_El_ihrqVPnLdn77D3OjxQVQf0RmRZpqSYgivDTw9ewd9cza_/s1600/xtra663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QAQjF-C8JjiSnWwOuhzVzPPME-Ov3hFnrq1tY4YrQIxulRTvQOZFHsfTfhulVu5WQ6TVsomeHvzi9pyyLoV_El_ihrqVPnLdn77D3OjxQVQf0RmRZpqSYgivDTw9ewd9cza_/s400/xtra663.jpg" width="400" height="329" /></a></div><br />
One of five murals created in 2014 by Glossop ceramicist <a href="http://www.adrianholt.com/" target="new">Adrian Holt</a> and members of <a href="http://www.highpeakarts.org/project-earth-2/" target="new">Project Earth</a> at High Peak Community Arts and displayed at Dinting Station.<br />
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Dinting Station opened on 24th December 1842. It was originally called Glossop station and was the terminus of the line from Manchester until the line through Hadfield and the Woodhead tunnel to Sheffield was completed. <br />
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The branch line to Glossop itself (the East curve from Hadfield) opened on 9th June 1845 and the station was renamed Dinting. The West curve linking the Manchester line to Glossop opened in 1884.<br />
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The Woodhead line was closed in 1981 and only Hadfield station survived. Although in Derbyshire it is part of the Transport for Greater Manchester rail network. <br />
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Trains from Manchester generally stop at Dinting en route for Glossop. On arrival at Glossop the trains then travel to Hadfield and back to Glossop before returning via Dinting to Manchester.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFA2PD1ASOU0012BIlpsNdfeDr_0gxjTGi6ZiSqMTPcrdwYF3gpMLSYZBZaTO_gVBdYtw49OggK8-3I0XiWvb7s8d3Qa4xdg8aoZ_oY1AFOjuJNQo3CN0rqlPOcaPanxEYr0nW/s1600/16sep339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFA2PD1ASOU0012BIlpsNdfeDr_0gxjTGi6ZiSqMTPcrdwYF3gpMLSYZBZaTO_gVBdYtw49OggK8-3I0XiWvb7s8d3Qa4xdg8aoZ_oY1AFOjuJNQo3CN0rqlPOcaPanxEYr0nW/s400/16sep339.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a></div><br />
A contribution to <a href="http://oaklanddailyphoto.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">Monday Murals</a>.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-14798964824370824082017-01-16T07:00:00.000+00:002017-06-14T13:30:28.127+01:00Sysyphus by Alex Void<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yO_xe_8TUS3mjAyyTRDS0HiwvcDbFdez_lffK4W4ZbfAtZUkJdUsKRb0k53I0DgeBHS7bZP9Uq7DAw7jJU9HE79gU5Ax6oqcecrwTflNAbUMhR_87Q_ztbPJkSaXoThTZqDY/s1600/sysyphus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yO_xe_8TUS3mjAyyTRDS0HiwvcDbFdez_lffK4W4ZbfAtZUkJdUsKRb0k53I0DgeBHS7bZP9Uq7DAw7jJU9HE79gU5Ax6oqcecrwTflNAbUMhR_87Q_ztbPJkSaXoThTZqDY/s400/sysyphus1.jpg" width="400" height="328" /></a></div><br />
In May 2016 a team of artists created nine new murals as part of the "Cities of Hope Street Art Festival" in Manchester.<br />
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Sysyphus on the side of a building off Oldham Road is the work of Alex Void.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYv2-QNDsKv1l1tj3fVbCPB3qg5mP7OB4GMlHmXgT9vS-xJaw_3lHLL-TKji1hHeSjuPXm4PwNfcMkaJDwdjScweoykAct2Mjx-Up7kSxiT1mClEoox2wOdNY2gXedumymB7a/s1600/sysyphus2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYv2-QNDsKv1l1tj3fVbCPB3qg5mP7OB4GMlHmXgT9vS-xJaw_3lHLL-TKji1hHeSjuPXm4PwNfcMkaJDwdjScweoykAct2Mjx-Up7kSxiT1mClEoox2wOdNY2gXedumymB7a/s400/sysyphus2.jpg" width="259" height="400" /></a></div><br />
More information and photos of the artist at work can be found on the <a href=http://instagrafite.com/sisyphus-by-axel-void-for-cities-of-hope-manchester/ target="new">Insta-grafite mag</a><br />
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A contribution to <a href="http://oaklanddailyphoto.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">Monday Murals</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-76921139316526595562016-07-13T00:00:00.000+01:002016-07-12T21:18:54.109+01:00ABC Wednesday: A is for Andy Pearce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMikpPQzA3v-pQ9h0iD3dNNiZrg0wun-3AxJUD-yvDA2ZTmRec5YigkVBstfh_7-UHZEp_g-qZte72-AB-k0eLTAuIlHTcMoON9Z-D1qj_CbREVE6vmS7gLZs5e3u3uI79xVO/s1600/andypierce00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMikpPQzA3v-pQ9h0iD3dNNiZrg0wun-3AxJUD-yvDA2ZTmRec5YigkVBstfh_7-UHZEp_g-qZte72-AB-k0eLTAuIlHTcMoON9Z-D1qj_CbREVE6vmS7gLZs5e3u3uI79xVO/s400/andypierce00.jpg" width="400" height="222" /></a></div><br />
On the evening before the start of the annual Victorian Extravaganza Weekend, the lifeboat "Andy Pearce" was towed onto the slipway where it remained for the whole weekend. The Mersey class "Andy Pearce 12-006" arrived at Llandudno on 15th November, 1990 and after a week of intensive crew training, she was placed 'on station' on 23rd November. It is capable of operating at up to 17 knots (31 km/h) and can be launched from a carriage but can also lie afloat or be slipway launched when required. Its propellers are fully protected from damage when launching or in shallow water by partial tunnels and two bilge keels. Its low height can be further reduced by collapsing its mast and aerials which then allows it to be stored in a boathouse. A sealed cabin gives it a self-righting ability. Power comes from two Caterpillar 285hp turbo-charged engines. It carries 1,110 litres (290 US gal) of fuel to give it a range of 240 nautical miles (440 km). It has a crew of six and can carry a X Boat inflatable which it can deploy at sea. Its survivor compartment can carry 43 people, but more than 21 prevents self-righting should the boat capsize.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfbrO8m-mJjUr8_3T0KRMPUN8B_982aOvDRUg3WUmCJOAeFo5QMfTV2bmNb7r0GtH9MX7fLgSm_saMsX34asWMFqo9lwyuZQB7I2q4M_QnYutGU3rvaobyghsMVKwJkCqVF0J/s1600/andypierce01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfbrO8m-mJjUr8_3T0KRMPUN8B_982aOvDRUg3WUmCJOAeFo5QMfTV2bmNb7r0GtH9MX7fLgSm_saMsX34asWMFqo9lwyuZQB7I2q4M_QnYutGU3rvaobyghsMVKwJkCqVF0J/s400/andypierce01.jpg" width="400" height="266" /></a></div><br />
The All-weather Lifeboat 'Andy Pearce' cost approximately £455,000.00 to build and was provided out of a legacy from Mr Andrew Pearce, plus other gifts and legacies. Andy Pearce successfully carried out her first rescue on 17th April 1991 when she was launched in early darkness to rescue two men in difficulties off the Rhos-on-Sea breakwater. The two men, in a 25' converted ships lifeboat, had been in trouble at the boat's mooring because of a strong north westerly wind (more than 40 mph) and a four foot swell. Both men were taken abroad the lifeboat unharmed and landed safely at Deganwy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPL1006FExoU-n14sSsySjgaSJ7YyN3IYotK_7UTeGje1PGwCoJ69A-YshcOQRRK9GQ0ZRk0bc_c-BPM5XV5FwnTfwHl3tmNgUGDx9m3MW39cO4ZIxPSg3ZTmvD4VlMBkmKCN/s1600/andypierce02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPL1006FExoU-n14sSsySjgaSJ7YyN3IYotK_7UTeGje1PGwCoJ69A-YshcOQRRK9GQ0ZRk0bc_c-BPM5XV5FwnTfwHl3tmNgUGDx9m3MW39cO4ZIxPSg3ZTmvD4VlMBkmKCN/s400/andypierce02.jpg" width="400" height="328" /></a></div><br />
After use the lifeboat is towed back through town to the lifeboat station. Llandudno Lifeboat Station is the only lifeboat station in the UK to have its boathouse located in the middle of town. Whereas most lifeboat stations are situated next to the sea for obvious reasons, Llandudno Lifeboat Station is situated in Lloyd Street, almost equidistant from both of Llandudno's shores. The reason for this unique situation goes back to 1861 when the boathouse was positioned so that the boat could be towed equally quickly to either North Shore or West Shore. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiP1BPN2Jgn2ISnz7UtAmW4jgBT3XghwK9MN5bkkiyxcxHS2x3puNBbYQhWOtZuIe9rQGwHwFGrXuhQu-4uJa_5lyWHsdZ7w8dZVGkncf_VlPliFXXCUHyPke6qJvFD16jPjE/s1600/andypierce03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiP1BPN2Jgn2ISnz7UtAmW4jgBT3XghwK9MN5bkkiyxcxHS2x3puNBbYQhWOtZuIe9rQGwHwFGrXuhQu-4uJa_5lyWHsdZ7w8dZVGkncf_VlPliFXXCUHyPke6qJvFD16jPjE/s400/andypierce03.jpg" width="400" height="312" /></a></div><br />
The current boathouse was constructed in 1903. A new lifeboat station is currently being built at Craig-y-Don where a larger boat can be accomodated.<br />
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For more information visit the <a href="http://llandudnolifeboat.weebly.com/" target="new">lifeboat website</a>.<br />
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A contribution to <a href="http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">ABC Wednesday</a>.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-82011846091049642432016-06-29T12:20:00.000+01:002016-06-29T12:23:08.206+01:00ABC Wednesday:Y is for Ynys Gored Goch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscYQw6ipyx50GK5LkYq09jaamDKAGiImkm1rd8BkWzdjb3My0q140uLC-Z7JBLHt39FSFkQTg32pDoPm7KBlkE9Go78PZl5vVEf6PrvEsVRkmNSyzX91vqMe3W2Fu2f9uK_2l/s1600/ynys+gored+goch01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiscYQw6ipyx50GK5LkYq09jaamDKAGiImkm1rd8BkWzdjb3My0q140uLC-Z7JBLHt39FSFkQTg32pDoPm7KBlkE9Go78PZl5vVEf6PrvEsVRkmNSyzX91vqMe3W2Fu2f9uK_2l/s400/ynys+gored+goch01.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Ynys Gored Goch (Red Weir Island) also known as Whitebait Island sits in the Menai Strait between the two bridges that link Ynys Môn (Anglesey) to the mainland. The stretch of water is known as "The Swellies" due to whirlpools formed by the string tidal flow. <br />
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In 1590 the island belonged to the Diocese of Bangor who leased the island to Thomas Fletcher of Treborth who paid three pounds plus one barell full of herring. The island was used as a fishing trap. During high tides fish would swim into traps set near the island. <br />
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In the early 20th century, it was fashionable for visitors to cross to the island to enjoy whitebait teas. They would walk down to the shore by a footpath through the Coed Môr woods, ring a bell placed on the shore for the purpose, and a boat would put out from the island to collect them. The Gorad Whitebait Tea consisted of a pot of tea, brown bread and butter, and whitebait "fried in a basket", priced one shilling. During very high tides in the spring and autumn, the water sometimes reaches the outside of the houses on the front and west sides.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIexan10G09Blsj0mGlkSjac921DrGFVA7Amh_PFmi_e_YxAqbsBW_t6ze2FXNmBzOgBxRDCLorFb1Qjr8Ppfo_4qbmDUO1C7ykWDeCrPdAcb5yufS6yb_33d2O5Kg3wB2nMr/s1600/ynys+gored+goch02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIexan10G09Blsj0mGlkSjac921DrGFVA7Amh_PFmi_e_YxAqbsBW_t6ze2FXNmBzOgBxRDCLorFb1Qjr8Ppfo_4qbmDUO1C7ykWDeCrPdAcb5yufS6yb_33d2O5Kg3wB2nMr/s400/ynys+gored+goch02.jpg" /></a></div><br />
In more recent times the island has been privately owned and according to the details on the <a href="http://www.walesdirectory.co.uk/holiday-cottage-s/S8425.htm" target="new">Wales Directory</a> the two houses on the island are available for use as holiday accomodation, although this information may not be current.<br />
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Information sources: <br />
<a href="http://www.anglesey-today.com/ynys-gorad-goch.html" target="new">Anglesey Today</a>;<br />
<a href=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ynys_Gored_Goch" target="new">Wikipedia</a>;<br />
<a href="http://www.anglesey-hidden-gem.com/ynys-gorad-goch-under-water.html" target="new">Anglesy Hidden Gems</a>.<br />
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A contribution to <a href="http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">ABC Wednesday</a> and <a href="http://waterysonglines.blogspot.com.au/" target="new">Wednesday Waters</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-58011976762680415932016-06-04T09:20:00.000+01:002016-06-04T09:30:49.772+01:00Kashmir Goat sculpture on the Great Orme<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iQKj244mixFQB27KlCRCxBdDy_mvufUCETcE03IVylkjreq9mXrLLGsBRtHP5PZf8x98pIHhF76XbGk1rYBON9j-GHcLuQwYGNbHgUq_3rFDSoObORExkkzBqaG7Hj6G1xGz/s1600/grahamhighgoat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iQKj244mixFQB27KlCRCxBdDy_mvufUCETcE03IVylkjreq9mXrLLGsBRtHP5PZf8x98pIHhF76XbGk1rYBON9j-GHcLuQwYGNbHgUq_3rFDSoObORExkkzBqaG7Hj6G1xGz/s400/grahamhighgoat.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The Shah of Persia gave a herd of Kashmir goats to Queen Victoria who passed them on to Lord Mostyn the local landowner in Llandudno and their descendants now roam the Great Orme. I posted photos of a black goat at West Shore in a post dated <a href="http://ackworthborn.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/goats-at-west-shore-llandudno.html" target="new">2nd August 2014</a>. A fuller account of the goats can be found on the <a href="http://www.llandudno.com/goats.html" target="new">Visit Wales</a> website.<br />
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This sculpture was unveiled in 2002 at the opening of the refurbished Great Orme Visitor Centre next to Summit Tram Station. It wasn't until I tried to find more information about the sculpture that I discovered it was by Graham High, the same Graham High whose fourth poetry collection <a href="http://www.geraldengland.co.uk/nhi/wolf.htm" target="new">Wolf on the Third Floor</a> I published in 2000.<br />
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For more information on his work in various creative fields please visit <a href="http://www.grahamhigh.info/" target="new">Graham High's website</a>.<br />
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The coloured version of this photograph can be found on <a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4979380" target="new">Geograph</a>.<br />
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A contribution to <br />
<a href="http://blackandwhiteweekend.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">The Weekend in Black and White</a>;<br />
<a href="http://weekendreflection.blogspot.com/" target="new">Weekend Reflections</a>;<br />
<a href="http://shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com/" target="new">Shadow Shot Sunday</a>.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-62898420330176587862016-05-25T10:00:00.000+01:002016-05-25T10:04:28.021+01:00ABC Wednesday:T is for Tombola<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2XgkBGW42Snxk7uuGboBt4iDTAQDTCq_872E2hOoQ1g5hvuI9DhJDwfNRJgNSTj0FeWS4Tl_2TyqdDV6zleK9ZawIryFHjp8X3JX04435SxuJDHdp8paQrnJCtJhwc-9sYCo/s1600/tombola1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2XgkBGW42Snxk7uuGboBt4iDTAQDTCq_872E2hOoQ1g5hvuI9DhJDwfNRJgNSTj0FeWS4Tl_2TyqdDV6zleK9ZawIryFHjp8X3JX04435SxuJDHdp8paQrnJCtJhwc-9sYCo/s400/tombola1.jpg" /></a><br />
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Tombolo (BF6303) is a Foden steam traction engine built in 1911.<br />
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It was taking part in a parade during the 30th Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza Weekend.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZO6SqZgthBls9ng51vkzGgWJz2W2zxoXXA4ovFfu_RV8XlVAt3_bgxtXOrLs_-OkEVIMMO4di_Was28qyc5Dfwi3Iea-YQtaBUKrBlT7J6mVuBCfCpFE2xDYq-_Du6NbB_wIJ/s1600/tombola2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZO6SqZgthBls9ng51vkzGgWJz2W2zxoXXA4ovFfu_RV8XlVAt3_bgxtXOrLs_-OkEVIMMO4di_Was28qyc5Dfwi3Iea-YQtaBUKrBlT7J6mVuBCfCpFE2xDYq-_Du6NbB_wIJ/s400/tombola2.jpg" /></a><br />
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The Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza was founded in 1986. It is staged on the town centre streets, each May Day Bank Holiday. The Llandudno Transport Festival is a sister event on Bodafon Fields run by local transport enthusiasts.<br />
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Many more of the photographs I took of the weekend can be viewed on <a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/snippet/14973" target="new">Geograph</a>.<br />
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A contribution to <a href="http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">ABC Wednesday</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-33709177684094104742016-05-18T11:30:00.000+01:002016-05-18T11:35:33.358+01:00ABC Wednesday:S is for Surf Snowdonia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSxl8TXnncy7fJ04tD5neV6_7zJh8O0sszL_yQwDrVRxO8HXbbG6r3vklhFXFQ7D5pl15mvr86y7KKTIVDV1QUTk0pEAA950d6dsAFaLY43LsNLQLPLT-ztpxBgzI-aiARR6u/s1600/geograph-4858432-by-Gerald-England.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSxl8TXnncy7fJ04tD5neV6_7zJh8O0sszL_yQwDrVRxO8HXbbG6r3vklhFXFQ7D5pl15mvr86y7KKTIVDV1QUTk0pEAA950d6dsAFaLY43LsNLQLPLT-ztpxBgzI-aiARR6u/s400/geograph-4858432-by-Gerald-England.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Surf Snowdonia, opened in August 2015, as a brand-new artificial wave facility at Dolgarrog in the Conwy Valley, North Wales. Privately funded, it cost £12m to build, on the site of a former aluminium factory – though it has been decontaminated since, and approved by Welsh environmental regulators. It is the first in the world. Surf Snowdonia uses WaveGarden technology, pioneered by a group of surfer-engineers in San Sebastián, Spain, and which is being rolled out globally from Spring 2016. The waves are created once a minute by a snow plough-like weight that moves underwater along a central pier.<br />
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The attraction is 300 metres (985ft) long and 110 metres (360ft) wide (around the size of six football pitches) containing six million gallons of water with three wave heights offering waves that are up to six feet high if you ride the whole way of 150 metres. The pool is filled with rainwater collected from Snowdonia reservoirs including Llyn Cowlyd. This water passes through the adjacent hydro-power station, originally built to power the former aluminium plant, before being pumped from the tail-race into the surfing pool. <br />
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For further information see the <a href="https://surfsnowdonia.co.uk/about/" target="new">Surf Snowdonia</a> website.<br />
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A contribution to <a href="http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">ABC Wednesday</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-92182804847284632842016-04-20T08:30:00.000+01:002016-04-20T08:33:22.336+01:00ABC Wednesday: O is for Ogofs below the Great Orme<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZQcyvF4pNInTRbncEC4RrLWv9hN3LViutj11JNz-rbSyzUsB5tj0P1hnuFpYQe9SetHA2tC9fND29HsCevPfYFOUdIVV2h0ygo8hBjyikgGgHQDLRkhael20lQZ8Hf03ofLg/s1600/geograph-4642671-by-Gerald-England.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZQcyvF4pNInTRbncEC4RrLWv9hN3LViutj11JNz-rbSyzUsB5tj0P1hnuFpYQe9SetHA2tC9fND29HsCevPfYFOUdIVV2h0ygo8hBjyikgGgHQDLRkhael20lQZ8Hf03ofLg/s400/geograph-4642671-by-Gerald-England.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Ogof is the Welsh word for cave. This is Ogof Colomennod one of several found in the Great Orme. Otherwise known as "Pigeons' Cave" it is found in Porth yr Helyg where a quarry was established to produce stone for the construction of Telford's Conwy Bridge and delivered by boat c1820. The wide limestone shelf is easily accessible and is a favourite location for sea angling. Still within Porth yr Helyg are features known as Frog's Head (a natural rock resemblance to a frog seen only from the sea) and Austen's Rock. The latter is a submerged limestone shelf named after the first keeper of Llandudno lighthouse who drew attention to this dangerous underwater feature that can only be seen at low tide.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIRQnCuWzcvIUPVrRpgZtX5tYyxZFn9oAr7WhnPDl5H83tHTIHfKCo31WK0IeS6z17kMaMm-saVjls50Sn2etHZW2ZyI2pioV6d4kjTs0Iegvo3aw85TY3lN55JuaujuaHffo/s1600/geograph-4642647-by-Gerald-England.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIRQnCuWzcvIUPVrRpgZtX5tYyxZFn9oAr7WhnPDl5H83tHTIHfKCo31WK0IeS6z17kMaMm-saVjls50Sn2etHZW2ZyI2pioV6d4kjTs0Iegvo3aw85TY3lN55JuaujuaHffo/s400/geograph-4642647-by-Gerald-England.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Leftmost here is Ogof Pen Trwyn which is probably a sea cave and is only visible from the sea.<br />
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To the right of that is Ogof Haner Dydd (The Midday Cave). At 12 noon on the 21st March and the 21st September the sun shines directly into the mouth of the cave. It stretches 30m and is thought by some to be part of the Elephant Cave system. <br />
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More information on Caves of the Llandudno Area can be found on the <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/cavesofnorthwales/11-caves-of-llandudno" target="new">Caves of North Wales</a> site.<br />
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A contribution to <a href="http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">ABC Wednesday</a> and <a href="http://waterysonglines.blogspot.com.au/" target="new">Wednesday Waters</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-72736469431454161932016-04-18T07:00:00.000+01:002016-04-18T07:00:05.567+01:00Bottle Garden on a Wall at Glossop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uRxe2bIvIIevSvI5WOHm5Qum0rLSWxZY4v1oO6z_bxTIeFxtBzxAbHo94-qTBIjA7wvWCW84XOZaZnIHeuBZw7NURgesNT2xIUgBNWPu4VBhX5jf0d6OfwyhTz05n27bwNms/s1600/wallgarden1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uRxe2bIvIIevSvI5WOHm5Qum0rLSWxZY4v1oO6z_bxTIeFxtBzxAbHo94-qTBIjA7wvWCW84XOZaZnIHeuBZw7NURgesNT2xIUgBNWPu4VBhX5jf0d6OfwyhTz05n27bwNms/s400/wallgarden1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
This bottle garden on a wall is not a conventional mural but nonetheless an effective way of decorating the stonework. Plastic bottles have been used as planters.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZcVTcuH8vO5jYEFDRXrKMypEQyYDmbMoEhLmNKRq2g30kyoNX-XIn_EyNoUFIYnAkwwaMpafrvIXfPxfMrTkJ4cTcIch4_3i4mWXP2AoPrs4JBpQOif8ekCTVV5OaRGMducRJ/s1600/wallgarden2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZcVTcuH8vO5jYEFDRXrKMypEQyYDmbMoEhLmNKRq2g30kyoNX-XIn_EyNoUFIYnAkwwaMpafrvIXfPxfMrTkJ4cTcIch4_3i4mWXP2AoPrs4JBpQOif8ekCTVV5OaRGMducRJ/s400/wallgarden2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
It was originally created in 2014 by Wendy Kirby of Glossop Craft Centre on Smithy Fold off High Street East. Some photographs of it in all its colourful glory can be found on the Craft Centre's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/428325427207727/search/?query=wall%20garden" target="new">Facebook Group</a> pages.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JcIZnCcWyn0YP3EavvAAzdyT3d3_MP9nPtb4CU-7qGTlNGaYNF4dZoFcIeoevmSiZi2Zn4FEGfy1Eq2BSySdjPDP3ad1A2V4IcBlbOlM2Qb5kdAED3dCYEg3PNDKsEXzmPEV/s1600/wallgarden3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JcIZnCcWyn0YP3EavvAAzdyT3d3_MP9nPtb4CU-7qGTlNGaYNF4dZoFcIeoevmSiZi2Zn4FEGfy1Eq2BSySdjPDP3ad1A2V4IcBlbOlM2Qb5kdAED3dCYEg3PNDKsEXzmPEV/s400/wallgarden3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The wall is opposite the centre on Smithy Fold which leads to the Old Stables Photographic Studio. In the background is the Howard Town Mill development.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITkU3bj9vQz7zaZXGK8x8RlqdBX3BXQWeBmElI5Y6tnOWA0iZhXAVxdSl97FOaTKDarWyS0BG7M_7ada9CwaszEhQ-Sqft0toL5lldStXzPi9Yq5jWWJG-xlYRXI5O0lDsit8/s1600/wallgarden4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITkU3bj9vQz7zaZXGK8x8RlqdBX3BXQWeBmElI5Y6tnOWA0iZhXAVxdSl97FOaTKDarWyS0BG7M_7ada9CwaszEhQ-Sqft0toL5lldStXzPi9Yq5jWWJG-xlYRXI5O0lDsit8/s400/wallgarden4.jpg" /></a></div><br />
A contribution to <a href="http://oaklanddailyphoto.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">Monday Murals</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-58847066602574271902016-04-10T07:30:00.000+01:002016-04-10T10:33:52.394+01:00Callander Haiku<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySJ21gPdQb-JOhR4fKuGGLXNuI0ydn2CURwJIHCUM_VJSuOL_9M0UO_IpJoFprOYhwaTMDrEGL7WDtwGqFTZDqVrUB5MfIbUojpGQwdx00ymAgHd3o0sSzSUtkvMrw2kCXrnD/s1600/callanderhaikucover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySJ21gPdQb-JOhR4fKuGGLXNuI0ydn2CURwJIHCUM_VJSuOL_9M0UO_IpJoFprOYhwaTMDrEGL7WDtwGqFTZDqVrUB5MfIbUojpGQwdx00ymAgHd3o0sSzSUtkvMrw2kCXrnD/s400/callanderhaikucover.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<center>Cover photo © Angela Topping</center><br />
One of the latest publications from <b>diehard press</b> is CALLANDER HAIKU edited by Sally Evans. No it isn't a monthly <i>calender</i> but an anthology of haiku based on the Scottish town of Callander.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJLKXH4vU8AUpCviO6i9hAsNg0JIf94UJPSlfZT108uCbCZYuArdeUwO42iuPyYeVWBrF4vS4CETsz8Izy5_xChEUtQDK2hzcADUEAsOGVnTru6HQnZCIMv-IEmONh0_KwyaS/s1600/insidekingsbookshop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJLKXH4vU8AUpCviO6i9hAsNg0JIf94UJPSlfZT108uCbCZYuArdeUwO42iuPyYeVWBrF4vS4CETsz8Izy5_xChEUtQDK2hzcADUEAsOGVnTru6HQnZCIMv-IEmONh0_KwyaS/s400/insidekingsbookshop.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<center>photograph © Gerald England</center><br />
Many of the haiku are by poets who have attended the annual Callander Poetry Weekends hosted in September each year at the King's Bookshop.<br />
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<center>Light in the bookshop<br />
Sets each gilded spine aglow<br />
against jewelled colours of hide<br />
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<b>Angela Topping</b></center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDz1Y3D3KQN-OUjQ3c0Vb76z5lEkxrHgIcr-OPO9Sck1kkH6oLb5WKCjSii-QcUsWJxUgiyeejQVdvMpAo1ruZlBN9NLYYsHg7AbLmzpe4dXmuCJbPLK8Q7soQGOUPTrRva3Sd/s1600/ginko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDz1Y3D3KQN-OUjQ3c0Vb76z5lEkxrHgIcr-OPO9Sck1kkH6oLb5WKCjSii-QcUsWJxUgiyeejQVdvMpAo1ruZlBN9NLYYsHg7AbLmzpe4dXmuCJbPLK8Q7soQGOUPTrRva3Sd/s400/ginko.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<center>L-R: Margaret Gillies Brown, Ian Blake, Andy Robson, Elizabeth Rimmer, Gerry Singh and his wife, Sally Evans, Colin Will, Christine England, Maureen Weldon, Sally James. <br />
Photo © Gerald England</center><br />
My own contributions are from the 2005 weekend and were published alongside reports of the event on the <i>Poetry Scotland</i> website. Although no longer live it can be accessed via the <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080509144621/http://www.zen39641.zen.co.uk/ps/events.htm" target="new">Internet Wayback Machine</a> archives.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJY9XpkzlLs8cDGVWJMuZQYyfK0a8KyNqQFDf26IAQmpH5k0JF1cAcyF4gMFHWuBo8XkHlyb_QfCdXNvskA9O-oEbohyphenhyphennCOty0d0schu56hmr0KRO8hFm7fQwbaxrptuJpyn3B/s1600/callandergarden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJY9XpkzlLs8cDGVWJMuZQYyfK0a8KyNqQFDf26IAQmpH5k0JF1cAcyF4gMFHWuBo8XkHlyb_QfCdXNvskA9O-oEbohyphenhyphennCOty0d0schu56hmr0KRO8hFm7fQwbaxrptuJpyn3B/s400/callandergarden.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<center>photograph © Gerald England<br />
<br />
clack clack of hens<br />
breeze through the garden<br />
a poet speaks<br />
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<b>Charlie Gracie</b></center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizExBBf8XeGz3YZVWhX-gFG95kcxk5QrQzvdgRYnYL_j15gGO2CQ_igckmVVzuZye0kFpv8kAhYTVewoKiSe5GpfuujaXYdcg-SDZWctrPuAiArmYJpsvrmJmyty9wEtLLf4mk/s1600/bowlinggreen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizExBBf8XeGz3YZVWhX-gFG95kcxk5QrQzvdgRYnYL_j15gGO2CQ_igckmVVzuZye0kFpv8kAhYTVewoKiSe5GpfuujaXYdcg-SDZWctrPuAiArmYJpsvrmJmyty9wEtLLf4mk/s400/bowlinggreen.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<center>photograph © Gerald England<br />
<br />
level bowling green<br />
a perfect square -<br />
too hot to play<br />
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<b>Colin Will</b><br />
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the pavement<br />
is at war with the trees<br />
roots are winning<br />
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<b>Christine England</b></center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincNrZGc_efLAG1JweRbpyQtPeIFvGcFwLO8RYnH6DFvvKu3SUXYNczou7SELVOd0ZYjhc6qyrwznLkFqdvHF2rMLUfEmrmmXcekOSeZPz_VejuVhnjCQCmVtlwTws0XFHV52a/s1600/kingsbookshop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincNrZGc_efLAG1JweRbpyQtPeIFvGcFwLO8RYnH6DFvvKu3SUXYNczou7SELVOd0ZYjhc6qyrwznLkFqdvHF2rMLUfEmrmmXcekOSeZPz_VejuVhnjCQCmVtlwTws0XFHV52a/s400/kingsbookshop.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<center>photograph © Gerald England</center><br />
CALLANDER HAIKU<br />
ISBN 978-0946230-93-8<br />
Price £5 (including postage) from<br />
diehard at the Callander Press<br />
Kings Bookshop<br />
91-93 Main Street<br />
Callander<br />
FK17 8BQ<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-12431723623411243322016-04-09T07:00:00.000+01:002016-04-09T07:00:21.461+01:00Three Little Fishes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPYGoh8EQEsS95DBrFmTihzH9y7ltNK7WJMNy-MWwGgqH7zaXpXB8ESAmtxHa5GutzhDnm_ga9EH-ySrterHMgG_GPAT7Jo767qxrqy_uB0D4ojXO5_0jL4jOnqDxwqhnbV1F/s1600/llan694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPYGoh8EQEsS95DBrFmTihzH9y7ltNK7WJMNy-MWwGgqH7zaXpXB8ESAmtxHa5GutzhDnm_ga9EH-ySrterHMgG_GPAT7Jo767qxrqy_uB0D4ojXO5_0jL4jOnqDxwqhnbV1F/s400/llan694.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Lionfish (<i>Pterois volitans</i>) are covered in orange, brown, black and white stripes and have large feather-like spines at the ends of their fins which hide their venom tipped dorsal spines.<br />
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Found in the Indian and west Pacific oceans they feed on small fish, shrimps and crabs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM097CElgPSoFwJu5a0LYT8LbUI1x8I7bA3tkDr3aZkuPNqvw0OA9zNNgs4azWptZKH3drTXmgr7ffpJunCq7okN_afPR9oqcGA2QIfz5W0OQMPGnrCOa3ItT5nJQvMbf7fduK/s1600/llan695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM097CElgPSoFwJu5a0LYT8LbUI1x8I7bA3tkDr3aZkuPNqvw0OA9zNNgs4azWptZKH3drTXmgr7ffpJunCq7okN_afPR9oqcGA2QIfz5W0OQMPGnrCOa3ItT5nJQvMbf7fduK/s400/llan695.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Longfin Bannerfish (<i>Heniochus acuminatus</i>) is a type of butterflyfish and can grow up to 25cm long. Its body is covered in white and black bands and it has bright yellow fins and tail. <br />
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Found in the tropical waters of the Indo Pacific and the Coasts of Africa, it feeds on zooplankton, small krill and other invertebrates and is known for eating the parasites off larger sea creatures.<br />
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Spotted Grunt (<i>Plectorhincus chaetodonoides</i>) is white with small brown spots along its body. They move to mimic a poisonous flat worm as a predatory response.<br />
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I discovered these last September on a visit to <a href="http://www.seaquarium.co.uk/" target="new">Rhyl SeaQuarium</a>.<br />
<br />
A contribution to <a href="http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">Saturday Critters</a> and <a href="http://camera-critters.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">Camera Critters</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-38105377420713899412016-04-02T09:50:00.000+01:002016-04-02T09:54:05.476+01:00Coot at Lapwing Lake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dsdhMiSSVkCAK1ESqSnwlcO11ZaK4KXBYqIC2hpI8kZx6pcM6tyXRGJqZiX1Z5PCcsEn7kP5sn-nB9ul70sAd3jZv6aNw5rb3hqlP5lo6Yxi6J0ja7Rsm6VrzaJcikci58UV/s1600/16mar074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dsdhMiSSVkCAK1ESqSnwlcO11ZaK4KXBYqIC2hpI8kZx6pcM6tyXRGJqZiX1Z5PCcsEn7kP5sn-nB9ul70sAd3jZv6aNw5rb3hqlP5lo6Yxi6J0ja7Rsm6VrzaJcikci58UV/s400/16mar074.jpg" /></a></div><br />
On Wednesday I showed you <a href="http://ackworthborn.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/lapwing-lake.html" target="new">Lapwing Lake</a> at Moore Nature Reserve. Here is what I found swimming across the lake.<br />
<br />
The Coot (Fulica atra) is a common bird in British waters. It is all black with a distinctive white beak which distinguishes it from its smaller cousin, the moorhen, which has a red beak. Coots feed on aquatic plants, like duckweed and grasses, and animals such as snails and larvae brought up from the bottom of the pond or river. <br />
<br />
A contribution to <br />
<a href="http://weekendreflection.blogspot.com/" target="new">Weekend Reflections</a>;<br />
<a href="http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">Saturday Critters</a>;<br />
<a href="http://camera-critters.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">Camera Critters</a>.<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-68868587636217717182016-03-30T00:00:00.000+01:002016-03-29T22:57:47.639+01:00Lapwing Lake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP41MfAGkiKGkeb0UJSIJftvoB0cYfcGNF019axcqpka6bHNkFblbe3qxOxiG2D1ewaADQZx65BXWE9atwG2MjRBu-Xj3YaS6QAASuJ5wnQY0fDrM6zP3bihPMUEgWooiWbW4Q/s1600/16mar070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP41MfAGkiKGkeb0UJSIJftvoB0cYfcGNF019axcqpka6bHNkFblbe3qxOxiG2D1ewaADQZx65BXWE9atwG2MjRBu-Xj3YaS6QAASuJ5wnQY0fDrM6zP3bihPMUEgWooiWbW4Q/s400/16mar070.jpg" /></a></div><br />
One of the lakes at Moore Nature Reserve which comprises almost 200 acres of woodland, meadows, lakes and ponds. It has been managed as a nature reserve since 1991, after being used as farmland and for sand quarrying. It is managed by wardens employed by FCC Environment, operators of the nearby Arpley Landfill site. Arpley Landfill began operating in 1988 and covers more than 500 acres. The landfill is being restored to a mix of woodland and grassland and, together with Moore Nature Reserve, should eventually provide an important public amenity and area of rich biodiversity on the edge of what is a busy, and growing urban area.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgL4qXWkRU8bz6bvhMhtzs7V5aezO6N_f1A-_s7HEKewJgtsaZPZITMvwLGk2qAqK5-bNgsFXPb9SSglY1W4XLQ1uOOZ5b17SFr8wLP9SarC2-M77agcPmw3Hpc3XDzqIM0yR/s1600/16mar072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgL4qXWkRU8bz6bvhMhtzs7V5aezO6N_f1A-_s7HEKewJgtsaZPZITMvwLGk2qAqK5-bNgsFXPb9SSglY1W4XLQ1uOOZ5b17SFr8wLP9SarC2-M77agcPmw3Hpc3XDzqIM0yR/s400/16mar072.jpg" /></a></div><br />
More information about the nature reserve can be found on <a href="http://www.fccenvironment.co.uk/moorenaturereserve.html" target="new">its website</a>.<br />
<br />
All of my photographs taken that day can be found at <a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/geotrips/1105" target="new">Geo-trips</a> plotted on a map and available as a slideshow.<br />
<br />
A contribution to <br />
<a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">Our World Tuesday</a>;<br />
<a href="http://nfmacro.blogspot.se/" target="new">NF Trees and Bushes</a>;<br />
<a href="http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">ABC Wednesday</a>;<br />
<a href="http://waterysonglines.blogspot.com.au/" target="new">Wednesday Waters</a>.<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-91187447136395529492016-03-24T07:00:00.000+00:002016-03-24T07:00:29.924+00:00Ye Olde Bull Inn, Llanbedr-y-cennin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFohIC1Dfxn9WvPA2lC-Ar3BMeTJyFaRxgdFIo66IuMULxgfE4d-rRqjZ0ZTvXeU5L0Zg5VXUDpm0JaaW0Zkclhlif7c702yiN3Yp3jaUzIfQmbOu7qd_Iu4Ow_53izW304d6H/s1600/yeoldebull01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFohIC1Dfxn9WvPA2lC-Ar3BMeTJyFaRxgdFIo66IuMULxgfE4d-rRqjZ0ZTvXeU5L0Zg5VXUDpm0JaaW0Zkclhlif7c702yiN3Yp3jaUzIfQmbOu7qd_Iu4Ow_53izW304d6H/s400/yeoldebull01.jpg" /></a></div><br />
According to <a href="http://historypoints.org/index.php?page=ye-olde-bull-inn-llanbedr" target="new">HistoryPoints</a> this country pub dates from the late 17th century or early 18th. It may have replaced an even earlier hostelry on the site.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHljXv7UcuTVoJlSrB8TFJNmaDaZRJ11q4XF_9obyy_Xe1KxpT6SphqSwKSFI6ip1nMX2mnQlmolEUNU2QIo_Z-O0Kc9Lun2t7YTyWk0Lm3XSwOPDz0tmm5KQyRaRmiqC00nTo/s1600/yeoldebull02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHljXv7UcuTVoJlSrB8TFJNmaDaZRJ11q4XF_9obyy_Xe1KxpT6SphqSwKSFI6ip1nMX2mnQlmolEUNU2QIo_Z-O0Kc9Lun2t7YTyWk0Lm3XSwOPDz0tmm5KQyRaRmiqC00nTo/s400/yeoldebull02.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The road which climbs past it was used by drovers to take livestock from the mountains to markets further east. The name is thought to relate to the bullocks which hauled carts over the upland tracks. Some were kept at a farm a little further uphill from the pub. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsDfK6bGbky6NaYDs7BsO2V142mU1_TSgmjJ17nft4DlK_DnJan4HglAE6m3woaUFifoK1QKSQN4Zlg3KRfXUIRChyyM6V0pqm7SMaZ_wXcyjiS6pzUubY_yzU4QQuHMioKZu/s1600/yeoldebull04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsDfK6bGbky6NaYDs7BsO2V142mU1_TSgmjJ17nft4DlK_DnJan4HglAE6m3woaUFifoK1QKSQN4Zlg3KRfXUIRChyyM6V0pqm7SMaZ_wXcyjiS6pzUubY_yzU4QQuHMioKZu/s400/yeoldebull04.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The fields behind the Bull Inn hosted annual sheepdog trials on New Year's Day. Competitors came from as far away as Cumbria and North Yorkshire, until entries grew so large that the competition was restricted, in 1905, to North Wales.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieviE0-eVAUkicKU7Oq9glepkhkrjpvCNm12zCHu4oKpTewBAugyt07pKOQeFnbcxNh2xs1Bebuu82yOzrKDM3z5_gaAJPifKneJOdZbTPoMrOCkwpJwjT8ycUcTPVROiG0zvg/s1600/yeoldebull03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieviE0-eVAUkicKU7Oq9glepkhkrjpvCNm12zCHu4oKpTewBAugyt07pKOQeFnbcxNh2xs1Bebuu82yOzrKDM3z5_gaAJPifKneJOdZbTPoMrOCkwpJwjT8ycUcTPVROiG0zvg/s400/yeoldebull03.jpg" /></a></div><br />
It is a J.W.Lees pub. For current information see its <a href="https://www.facebook.com/YeOldeBullInn/" target="new">Facebook page</a>.<br />
<br />
A contribution to <br />
<a href="http://signs2.blogspot.com/" target="new">signs, signs</a>;<br />
<a href="http://skyley.blogspot.com/" target="new">Skywatch Friday</a>;<br />
<a href="http://scenicweekends.blogspot.com.au/" target="new">Scenic Weekends</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-4621882020865352692016-03-22T08:00:00.000+00:002016-03-22T08:00:14.863+00:00Bench and gorse tree at Moore Nature Reserve<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaEjLjYJxjpmTAp5aToVDVfCUp7PP6PdSoHNbOD3HNxlP1pbikczMinXhvCeBwNPua0qNK-JQgvjNovgVdqtQCrwFe29iO-O75KFKmxBPlR9d2Lt-8R8dh9FxopoUt8mQKB6y/s1600/benchatmooregordon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaEjLjYJxjpmTAp5aToVDVfCUp7PP6PdSoHNbOD3HNxlP1pbikczMinXhvCeBwNPua0qNK-JQgvjNovgVdqtQCrwFe29iO-O75KFKmxBPlR9d2Lt-8R8dh9FxopoUt8mQKB6y/s400/benchatmooregordon.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Last week my friend Gordon White took me on a visit to Moore Nature Reserve near Warrington. It comprises almost 200 acres of woodland, meadows, lakes and ponds and is home to many diverse species of plants, animals, birds and other wildlife. Here am I sitting on a bench underneath a gorse tree.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQTpaf8kC3Baia11syNU11NcbuDYaGCTyLg3DpUktgqj-TVYea_pydf6YZve8D7vv2vlZMTd1osWRqiEfDQ92f5BwEX1aISaCXoX1eBNazyflAgoV4RPFSnsdtnMAFMb9D4Sg/s1600/benchatmooregerald.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQTpaf8kC3Baia11syNU11NcbuDYaGCTyLg3DpUktgqj-TVYea_pydf6YZve8D7vv2vlZMTd1osWRqiEfDQ92f5BwEX1aISaCXoX1eBNazyflAgoV4RPFSnsdtnMAFMb9D4Sg/s400/benchatmooregerald.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Here is my own photo of the same bench and tree a few moments after Gordon had walked on by.<br />
<br />
More information about Moore Nature Reserve can be found on <a href="http://www.fccenvironment.co.uk/moorenaturereserve.html" target="new">its website</a>.<br />
<br />
A contribution to <a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.co.uk/" target="new">Our World Tuesday</a> and <a href="http://nfmacro.blogspot.se/" target="new">NF Trees and Bushes</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36028654.post-76198384444293516442016-03-17T07:00:00.000+00:002016-03-17T07:42:28.602+00:00The Haiku 100 new edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKU4SqROvD65PQvDYm0mpJch7yK4rJhl7xXdWxNalDskBRiUycQydqOxNnblf1sR_FNuNzPVTkL0zCy5KMa6OWpG6ezzoql745Lr1-5qn94_xWpJkXp_uRkxhVv9iYo3NzFLG/s1600/haikuhun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKU4SqROvD65PQvDYm0mpJch7yK4rJhl7xXdWxNalDskBRiUycQydqOxNnblf1sR_FNuNzPVTkL0zCy5KMa6OWpG6ezzoql745Lr1-5qn94_xWpJkXp_uRkxhVv9iYo3NzFLG/s400/haikuhun.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote>sunday-morning sex<br />
lasts only as long as the<br />
children's video<br />
<br />
© Gerald England.</blockquote><br />
was my contribution to THE HAIKU HUNDRED.<br />
<br />
The Haiku Hundred represented the outcome of the largest haiku event ever staged in the UK. IRON Press, in collaboration with the British Haiku Society, received more than 5,500 submissions when they invited work for this small anthology. <br />
<br />
videos are now yesterday's technology and my contribution isn't the only one to reference pre-millennium technology:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>On the VDU,<br />
a bright ray of sunshine falls,<br />
and the message fades.<br />
<br />
© John Light.</blockquote><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbUT63RR3aDT5Xus7_CsSbJtyFBf0LKEzsKRVfxvwP1DMKFgsOorzK7Iloix2UpVxISrNe6VcbQhF1yNC9FhwmI1ZRfPhuhfDEkXcurrlZ3-VF5a5oEjLnC84WCPWJfz4TIsz/s1600/new100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbUT63RR3aDT5Xus7_CsSbJtyFBf0LKEzsKRVfxvwP1DMKFgsOorzK7Iloix2UpVxISrNe6VcbQhF1yNC9FhwmI1ZRfPhuhfDEkXcurrlZ3-VF5a5oEjLnC84WCPWJfz4TIsz/s400/new100.jpg" /></a></div><br />
This historic little book was published initially in 1992 and ran to six prints. It sold more than 10,000 copies making it the biggest selling book of English language haiku in the UK. It has been out of print for many years but is now published in a new format with every one of the 100 haiku intact.<br />
<br />
Most of the haiku are timeless and some of the authors are no longer with us. One of my favourites is:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>drawing a home<br />
with a fenced in yard<br />
the deaf boy<br />
<br />
© Francine Porad</blockquote><br />
ISBN: 978-0-9931245-0-1<br />
Price £5.00<br />
Published in October 2015 by <a href="http://www.ironpress.co.uk/books/theHaikuHundred.html" target="new">Iron Press</a><br />
Edited by Peter Mortimer<br />
Cover design by Kate Jones.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Unless otherwise indicated all work Copyright © Gerald England http://www.geraldengland.co.uk All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.</div>Gerald (SK14)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18308693910074268386noreply@blogger.com2