Herb Riddle's photos

As each day here in Britain, we feel and experience the results of Russia’s war on Ukraine. This has resulted in a rapid price in energy bills due to the self-imposed lowering of Russian gas imports. So here is one of the main attempts that the whole of Europe is hoping to compensate with: wind power! These in Lincolnshire (taken with a long lens) are what are known as offshore windfarms (yes these are in the sea) and that is where most of our wind produced electric energy comes from. On-shore farms are set in our countryside. It is promised that many more of each will have to be constructed. NB - this description changed from original. Enjoy full screen.

Today I have chosen another fence taken a little while back when the leaves of the trees were still golden. We are walking along the Huddersfield canal in Greenfield when I spotted this. Maybe the owner of this building (not a house) had fears of people scrambling on top of the roof from the wall, falling off then suing. Such is life here nowadays. Enjoy the weekend.

A look down the nave of one of our finest cathedrals. The cathedral church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lincoln is the seat of the Anglian Bishop of Lincoln and work started on its construction in 1072 to be opened in 1092. It is the fourth largest in the UK. PiP shows one of the outside street view. Enjoy full screen.

Bringing home the summer of 16 we see here a snapshot of a tiny part of a vast field of wheat. This taken in our county of Lincolnshire that has quite a few fields of such. Not only did I like the shape but also the texture and sound of this crop. Enjoy full size.

We are in the village of Alford in Lincolnshire and looking at this most unusual mill. It was built in 1837 to grind local corn. It actually worked till 1955 then was idle for some years before being restored to full working order and is now only one of four working mills in Lincolnshire. Today it is a tourist attraction and is again undergoing renovations. PiP Enjoy the day in peace. Herb

Another trip down memory lane. We are here on the old pier of Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The date is May 2017 and we were lucky with the weather whilst taking a potter around this once very busy place with its fishing and ferry harbour. In a short time we will pass through here again and I wonder, seeing this, whether that blue paint will look just as fresh and attractive. Enjoy full screen and have a great week.

The Parish church of St Chadds in Uppermill has always looked most attractive standing well outside the village high up the valley. The bells still toll regularly here and I see the building often as a very nice eating pub (The Church Inn) stands in the church square seen here to the right of the church itself. This Georgian building was built c1830 but a church has sat at this site since 1215 AD. Another chance to see the lines of our dry-stone walls too, so typical of this area. Enjoy the day in peace. Herb

A look at one of our local reservoirs. This is Castleshaw, fabled as once being an area where a Roman fort was built. A five photo stitch. Enjoy full screen

A glance back to May 2016 and our trip to the Banff National Park of Alberta, Canada. Lake Agnes, described as a small mountain lake is a 3.5km hike above the famous Lake Louise (pip). A teahouse is situated along the eastern shore at an elevation of 2134 metres (but unfortunately it was closed when we got here.) The lake was so called 'Lake in the Clouds by the 'Stoney Indians'. The present name stems from two famous lady visitors: Agnes Knox -the first white woman to visit the lake and then Lady Agnes Macdonald, wife of Canada's first prime minister who visited a few days later. Oh to have had the time to traverse the path seen here on the right bank but we soon had to turn tail and dash back to our hotel by the greater Lake Louise.. HFF, enjoy the weekend.

A short time ago our local church had quite a make-over to celebrate the St Edwards Parish 150th Anniversary which is in just a few days’ time. The wall behind the alter had painted on it, an icon style mural depicting the Risen Christ with Mary Magdala and Mary , mother of James. On the sides stand the Archangel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary. This was all painted by the internationally renowned iconographer Aidan Hart. I was asked to record this for the church. Something quite different from myself which I hope you will enjoy and respect. Enjoy full screen. Ps the ceiling tiles and carpet have since been renewed. More info on Aidan Hart: aidanharticons.com

Seen in Lincolnshire on a warm summer’s day. As a moth it has grey/black forewings and hind wings of scarlet with charcoal edging. Found normally in open places during May to August. There numbers have been reported to have fallen by 83% during the last 35 years. We see again the colours of the Ukraine flag here integrating into the beauty of nature. Let’s hope for peace and happiness soon. Enjoy the day in peace. Herb

Either an imaginative view of our summers or the apocalypse of Ukraine toay. You choose!

An usual sight for us as we passed this bench alongside Rochdale Canal the other day. Described as: a wooden bench, behind which are laser-cut in steel, two-dimensional, life-size images of three important local figures: Dame Gracie Fields; Harriet Ellis (world champion windsurfer) and Lynne Coxell (headteacher of St Edward's CE Primary school). We had no idea what is was supposed to be presenting at the time as an advertised plaque of description was not there. I have seen many photos of our Gracie but my photo (dictated by the lighting conditions) does not show her at her best here. The rod in her hand, I now figure as a microphone on its stand. - I would say to other photographers: "go back and try again" ! Credit were credit is due though -to the artist and company that made this and full marks for bringing art into the countryside. HBM, enjoy the day.

A look back to Summer 2016. Lincolnshire, often said to be the bread basket of England. The poppies and colours here are a poignant reminder of what is happening to our friends in the Ukraine. Our thoughts are with you! Enjoy the day in peace. Herb

The Arrow mill in Castleton, Rochdale is a massive old cotton mill. Fortunately, it is one of the few mills that have not been demolished over the last 50 years and is indeed Grade II listed. It is situated on the banks of the Rochdale Canal from where I took this shot of its most impressive chimney. Of course I was taken by the trees sprouting out at this very high part of the structure. The mill no longer spins cotton helped along by its big steam engines with its 22ft diameter flywheel, as it did when it opened in 1908 but is now a storage depot, renting out space. More info: www.simplestorage.co/history Worth looking at full screen.

A last glimpse of our epic trip to Scotland last May. We are here overnight before our onward journey home. Our hotel is just around the corner and it affords us a late walk along the bank of this famous river that we encountered at its birth near Aberfoyle in the Trossachs. The preceding photo perhaps shows the river here a little better. The river itself will flow into the sea at Edinburgh under the famous Forth bridge. The city of Stirling has a long and illustrious history. Once the capital of Scotland, Stirling is visually dominated by the medieval Stirling Castle in the heart of its old town, built on a craggy volcanic rock. On the Abbey Craig outcrop stands the National Wallace Monument, a 19th-century tower (see PiP) Enjoy full screen.

Constructed to offer access for water sports such as kayaking and rowing but it is also available for docking boats free of charge. Small pleasure cruise boats regularly ply this river. The pontoon looks like it rises and falls, steadied by these poles. We are about 22 miles away from the estuary and Forth Bridge in Edinburgh so I imagine tides still have an influence here. Enjoy full screen along with the next adjacent photo.

We have almost finished this extraordinary fortnight in Scotland covering two very different scenic areas. Many photos taken and this is our last evening. A late stroll along Stirling’s great river Forth gives us a glimpse up to this very Scottish monument. The National Wallace Monument is a 67 metre tower on the shoulder of the Abbey Craig, a hilltop overlooking Stirling in Scotland. It commemorates Sir William Wallace. Wallace was a Scottish knight who became one of the main leaders during the First War of Scottish Independence. He was born c. 1270, probably near Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland—died August 23, 1305, London, England and is one of Scotland’s greatest national heroes and the chief inspiration for Scottish resistance to the English king Edward I. He served as guardian of the kingdom of Scotland during the first years of the long and ultimately successful struggle to free his country from English rule. Along with Andrew Moray, Wallace defeated an English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in September 1297. The 1995 epic American drama, Braveheart, with Mel Gibson was based on Wallace leading the Scots against England. This taken from some distance away alongside the river. The inside is open to visitors and from the top of the very spacious tower one has fantastic panoramic views (not that we got there ~ ) ). Enjoy full screen.