Topsy Turvy
Posted on December 23, 2023
Here, I’m taking advantage of Cee’s rule that signs are always acceptable for her CWWC challenge.
This is the road that leads into the nearby village of Blond, on the morning of this year’s Christmas Fair.
Note that the sign is upside down. That’s because of an ongoing national campaign by young farmers, who are protesting that the profits from agriculture are too heavily skewed towards the conglomerates at the apex of the pyramid, rather than the actual producers themselves. Sounds legit.
Lens-Artists Challenge – Last Chance
Posted on December 18, 2023
Since I’m fairly new to the Lens-Artists Challenge, finding an image that I haven’t already used for it this year wasn’t really a problem. In fact, I haven’t posted this image anywhere before, although since I took it in August I’ve been itching for an excuse to put it in a post.
It was taken at a kiddies’ playground near my son’s home in Oxfordshire. Our two-year old grand-daughter gets taken there quite often. so will definitely have crawled through this tunnel many times.
The blue mural
Posted on December 17, 2023
This mural, made up of characteristically blue Portuguese tiles, is to be found in the Chateau de la Mercerie.
Cellpic Sunday: A room without a view
Posted on December 17, 2023
A few weeks ago, my entry for Cellpic Sunday was a rather attractive view from a hotel room.
This is also a view from a (different) hotel room. Rather less prepossessing, but with a little judicious cropping and straightening in Lightroom it’s possible to produce a rather more interesting image.
Shelter from the storm
Posted on December 17, 2023
Usually, we’re quite lucky with the weather when we go on one of the voyages (coach trips) that are arranged by various local associations. However, on this particular occasion we struck out and it rained - really rained – for the whole day.
Fortunately, on the visit to the safari park we were able to take shelter in this little train.
Lens-Artists Challenge – Magical
Posted on December 12, 2023
This is a view of the pond that lies in the middle of our little hamlet. By the way, the reflection is at the top of the image. And that’s magic.
A warm glow
Posted on December 10, 2023
Even though the candles are battery-operated, they do produce a lovely warm glow when set in front of this decorative plate.
Grasshopper
Posted on December 6, 2023
This (deceased) grasshopper came to rest on the decking of our swimming pool. Even I had time to focus on it properly.
(Apologies to Cee for the creepy-crawly, but I don’t make a habit of it)
Shovel
Posted on December 5, 2023
Earlier this year we visited a vineyard in the Loire region. One of its interesting characteristics is that its ‘cellar’ is actually at, rather than below, ground level. The wine matures in vats (about the size of an old telephone box, for those of you old enough to remember such things), which are sunk into the floor.
Okay, it wasn’t exactly first-growth grand cru classé, but the rosé was perfectly quaffable.
As you’d hope, though, it was scrupulously clean, a condition no doubt aided by frequent applications of this well-worn shovel and brush.
Lens-Artists Challenge: Unique
Posted on December 3, 2023
Clouds are like snowflakes: no two are ever the same.
This one was floating above The Corniche in Abu Dhabi when I snapped it from the terrace of our apartment as the sun went down. Until I pulled it out of my files for this challenge, I’d never even noticed the aeroplane. I guess that makes this particular scene really unique.
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