What colour is this bench?

Pink, actually. And although it looks metallic, it’s wooden.

However, as I was rendering the image into monochrome to meet Cee’s theme for this week, I accidentally hit on the Blue Hi-contrast filter pre-set in Lightroom and got this image. It just seemed too good to miss.

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Bench

Tuesday Photo Challenge: Wind

This coming weekend sees the annual ‘Estevol’ air show at nearby Blond. It was cancelled last year due to strong winds and thunderstorms, although the weather seems set fair this time around.

A couple of years ago I saw this drone lurking behind the windsock:

Tuesday Photo Challenge 24 July 2018

This way to the dumpster

This hand-made – and most definitely unofficial – signpost in the city of Cahors, in southern France, points the way to a number of exotic locations. And Brussels.

However, the most practical pointer is probably the one which shows the way to the nearest benne à ordures: the garbage dumpster.

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Signs

Thursday Doors: Alençon

Only one door for your delectation this time. This is for various reasons, not the least of which is my own dumbness for thinking that Norm’s summer hiatus started this week rather than next.

However, I think it’s fair to say that it’s an absolute humdinger. This is the main entrance of the now abandoned, not-quite-derelict Hotel Grand Cerf (cerf = deer) in the town of Alençon, in Normandy.

They just don’t make them like this any more.

Thursday Doors 19 July 2018

Tuesday Photo Challenge: Play

I couldn’t help but be struck by the vibrant colours of this slide in a childrens’ playground in Abu Dhabi.

Tuesday Photo Challenge: Play

Fountain

This fountain, with its abstract design, is to be found in the formal landscaped gardens of Chateau Villandry, in France’s Loire Valley.

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Fountain

Thursday Doors: Villandry

Adjacent to the mightily impressive Chateau de Villandry, in the Loire Valley, are the petrified caves (‘grottes’), which have been a local tourist attraction for many years (not recommended for claustrophobes though).

The current visitor centre is comparatively modern, but there remain a few vestiges from earlier years, including these various doors:

Thursday Doors 12 July 2018

Tuesday Photo Challenge: Treat

Last Friday, two days before our twin grandsons’ birthday, was also their last day in the prep, before moving up to senior school in September. So naturally Granma of the unlimited talents rustled up some treats fro the boys to share with their classmates.

There were even a few left over (for quality control purposes, obviously).

Tuesday Photo Challenge: Treat

The Water Pump

The French equivalent of the Fire Brigade is the Sapeurs Pompiers. At last October’s Expo in Mézières-sur-Issoire, the local Pompiers put on a display of some of their ‘veteran’ equipment, including this mobile water pump that dates from 1949.

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Fire Service

Thursday Doors: Nouic (3)

A final instalment of doors from the neighbouring village of Nouic.

One can only hazard a guess as to the original purpose of the small building with the green door:

More double doors that have seen better days:

But don’t get the impression that all the doors in Nouic are falling apart:

Even if it does seem to be the exception rather than the rule:

Door of the week? This one, probably:

Thursday Doors 5 July 2018