Ipernity Explore-Gallery

Another capture from our show day just 48 hours ago. A different look to this as the snow was still falling and the skies very grey. ~ Today all the snow is almost gone as the temperature rises to a balmy 8c. Enjoy full size.

A snowy walk to our closest reservoir brings me onto what we call the high path. Here we have a few seats but as you see, not really serviceable after heavy snow and winds. Enjoy the day.

A view from the top of Strinesdale reservoir towards the hamlet of Austerlands. As can be seen, much of our ancient drystone walls still exist up here. This is horse and sheep country. Enjoy full screen and have a great day

Yes, another look at our days of winter here in Oldham. As yesterday the temperature soared to 16c+ it is hard to think that this was only taken a couple of weeks ago. Taken on my white walk to my local Strinesdale reservoir. Have a good weekend.

A local walk on a very rare sunny spring day takes me past some conifer trees all laden with these new shoots and cones. A good time to be out and about. Best full screen.

Just a couple of weeks ago we were spending a week’s holiday at a small Welsh village called Govilon. Here we are, in that tall white house by the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal. I am stood on the road bridge just parallel to this attractive footbridge. The thing we never did was to take a boat ride on the canal but a great spot for many small adventures nevertheless. Wishing you a Peaceful Good Friday and Easter

A historical look at one of my local reservoirs here. Its Piethorne reservoir and this gate reflects its heritage connection to my local town of Oldham and the now defunct Oldham Corporation Waterworks. It had control of quite a few reservoirs for our drinking water but now all that is controlled by a conglomerate area organisation. This gate looks like it has been recently created and painted. The footpath entrance is just a meter or so to the right. Enjoy the weekend.

A good place to sit, no doubt when the sun is shining. “Built in the 13th century by Sir Grimbald Pauncefote. Once a mighty stronghold guarding this stretch of the Usk Valley and the way through the Black Mountains. Like many castles it started life originally as a Norman motte and bailey castle built of timber in the 12th century.” www.breconbeacons.org/poi/castles-crickhowell-castle See PiP for back view. Enjoy full screen. Have a great day.

As the sun sinks down here near Clitheroe in Lancashire we are treated to a moment of silence. Enjoy the weekend

Bluebells are a delightful little flower and when I see them in drifts in a blue haze they are stunning. Here is a close-up of a few of the flower heads after they have burst from their bell shape. These are in fact our garden 'Spanish Bluebells', a more hardy version than our native British ones. I liked this as they reminded me of dainty ballet dancers. Enjoy full screen.

Digging into my 2008 archives here to show another photo with a traditional stone barn and dry-stone walls from The Yorkshire Dales. This taken in the Wharfedale valley between Starbottom and Kettlewell. HWW, have a great day.

A springtime sun shot from the lane going up to my local Dovestones reservoir. I have walked over here countless times and taken photos before but this looked a little different with the shadows and new paint. Enjoy the weekend

I imagine the makers of this nice bench with the metal backrest and motifs had not thought about the English youth obsession to leave their mark on everything they can. Such are our times. Can’t say I approve, but who am I to say! Seen on our recent walk around Healey Dell. This was near the Fairies Chapel, but I cannot find any more info about it Enjoy full screen. Have a great day.

A bit of rope can come in very handy to stop people venturing too far. Here we have a view just near the old fishing harbour looking up to the ‘Faro della Rocchetta’ – old lighthouse, disguised as a fortified tower. More concrete fences awaited us but that is for a later time. Enjoy the weekend

A fine modern fence guides us up these steps towards the local church. A journey no doubt taken by many local parishioners. Taken in Propriano, Corisica Enjoy the weekend

Tuscany, Italy: A short bus ride from our ship brings us to this rather nice small town. We are near the old fishing harbour here and not too far from the town centre itself. Before we get to those places, it is hot and so let’s take a seat and contemplate this wonderful setting looking over to the Island of Elba. The Pip shows the location of these benches facing the fishing harbour wall. Enjoy full screen. Have a great day.

A trip into this Tuscany town takes us to an impressive promenade ending at the Piombino lighthouse masquerading as a small castle tower. The ‘fences’ here are of the concrete variety but they do the job and in fact look quite nice. As can be seen this is a favourite place for picture taking. The land in the background is in fact the Isola d’Elba which was where Napoleon was exiled in 1814-15. Ps The seagull PiP was taken from these walls too Enjoy the weekend.

One from our Yorkshire Dales here, not far from the village of Settle. Taken on our short break up here in 2020. I thought the monochrome brought out the stark countryside that abounds around here. These rocks are know as Limestone Pavement. Essential full screen. ps days later we were in Covid Lock-down