Windows
I have to admit that I have an aversion to plastic windows with net curtains. I find them quite depressing.
I always notice windows when I’m abroad, mainly because they often tell a story about who lives behind them. Here are a few I’ve collected on my recent travels:
This is telling me that there’s something special inside. Something expensive.
I love round windows. The glass in this was polished and gleaming
The clue here was what was on the notice. It was the window of an art gallery………yes it was art!
Lovely old glass. The street light was part of it for me
There was an afternoon sleep happening inside as it was a steaming hot afternoon in France. What else to do!
A tiny bedroom perhaps. Or maybe just a storeroom. Up to the imagination, I’ll go for the bedroom.
Wait a minute……… what’s going on here?
Beach Combing in Nova Scotia
The beaches are rocky and wild. Some have ice and snow still on the sand. There are many lovely things to see for those who look.
These muscles are extra large and a brilliant blue colour
This rock has another embedded in its centre
Huge glossy rocks are deadly slippery underfoot
Hummm, someone’s got something to tell us
Inside a sea urchin’s ‘mouth’
There is Always Colour out There
Even though the snow has dumped itself on us again. Even though everything has stopped. There is still much colour out side.
If you look for it!
Five Seaside Sights
There are aspects of the British seaside that you either love:
Or you don’t:
There’s no getting away from the pervasive smell of fish and chips, which you might love, or you might not:
Whatever you feel about the British seaside:
It is the British seaside……..and that’s just how it is!
Five Boats
This is the time to be on the water. I don’t have a boat but am always attracted to them. They just seem to want to be photographed.
These little boats were in Pokhara in Nepal. I came across them after I returned from a long and aching trek to the Annapurna Sanctuary. They were inviting me on a restful float…
Tinking sailing boats at Whistable standing to attention. I love the sound of boat yards.
This old chap rests in peace in Bosham harbour. He hasn’t hit the high seas for years but is still quite lovely.
A Cornish fishing boat was bobbing past as I trekked the coastal path. Supper perhaps?
Cumbrian posers. Lovely!
Five Mall Scenes
The shopping malls in San Diego facilitate easy spending. Especially when it’s warm and sunny. This one was most appealing:
Very cheerful, not the least garish
Five San Diego Delights
Sunday morning market in San Diego. Bright sunshine. The produce is local. Californian fruit taste better. .
Strawberries so full of flavour they erupt in my mouth
No tomatoes ever taste like these from Sainsbury’s.
Californian Zuccini
These flowers can be deep-fried in batter and downed in one
No trouble in getting through five-a-day. I plan to eat 15
Five Close Looks
If you look closely, there are patterns and colours in just about everything. If you zoom in, they become more interesting. These are some close looks I have taken:
1. 
Rain water collected in the bottom of an old boat. Unfortunate for the moth, but the results are pleasing to me.
2.
A varnished and cherished rowing boat, with its green oars just painted. Some oak leaves conveniently and artistically settled for me in just the right spot.
3.
Some wasps wanted to set up home in a bike shed. Sadly their build had to be interrupted. What a lovely plan they had.
4.
Seaside colours washed clean and glistening are worth getting close to.
5.
A snail travelling across a litchen covered church wall is a thing of beauty I feel.
Five Splendid Chimneys
I met my good friend Marek for a spot of camera work in Godalming. On my way home I came across some remarkable chimneys. I wondered why? Why would someone decide to build such extraordinary chimneys in an otherwise ordinary village. Answers on a post card please.
What ever the reasons, I’m awfully glad someone decided to go a little overboard with the chimneys in this little village.
Five Beach Items
Scavenging on the beach provides hidden beauties. I could spend weeks pottering around the shore looking for shapes and colours created by the sea. Here are five such items found on Scottish beaches:
I want to be there all the time now we have so much sun. Shame I have to work instead…….
Final Day
It rained so hard we couldn’t go out. It rains in Wales. A lot. So, you look at things inside. Here are some things inside a slate museum. Not what you might expect
Neatly stacked up slates after the rain had brought out their colours
Here are various bits of kit that were used at some stage of processing. I just enjoyed the look of them, rather than what they did..
Five More Good Things
Once you start to look, there is much more detail in the smallest spaces. Anything near natural water sources has plenty on offer for those who have time to look:
I love this photography lark.
Five Derelict Things
Today was spent exploring Cwm Orthin and Quarries. Remnants of a mining village. It was cold and the wind whipped round the hills providing some atmosphere. The sun put in an appearance from time to time lighting up the slate. Howard told us to have a spirit of enquiry as we clicked our shutters. Here are some of my enquiries:
More enquiries tomorrow….
Sausalito Day
1. Clear and sunny day, so it was off to Sausalito, just over the Golden Gate Bridge. An excuse to get on that bridge again. Cols as it was, it did not disappoint.
2. Sausalito is lovely and calm with quirky shops, all requiring inspection, and one or two purchases were necessary
3. There’s something about sitting outside in the sun, in January, drinking coffee and eating chocolate biscuits that does it for me
4. There were stork like birds floating and flying around the yacht basin, plus plenty of $$
5. Lunch did not fail me, with berry pie a la mode to die for
Tomorrow is our last day, then it’s low calorie time, but it was worth every ounce of fat we may have gained. What a way to do it!
