Somewhere to lay your head
Posted on June 1, 2019
Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge this week has the theme of ‘Any kind of house’.
Well, I suppose everyone needs somewhere to live – although probably not in such a grand edifice as this at Chateau Villandry.

Thursday Doors: Pompadour
Posted on May 30, 2019
Last week we went on a coach trip to the town of Pompadour, in the Corrèze departement of France.
Historically the name is most usually linked to Madame Pompadour, the ‘official’ (sic) chief mistress of King Louis XV in the middle of the 18th century. Nowadays, however, Pompadour is best known for its equine-related activities. It’s the home of the French National Stud and many other breeding and training stables. as well as a noted racecourse (UK readers: think Newmarket).
Many of the stables, as well as the stud, are located in grand buildings which, apart from the horses, also offer some interesting doors to look at, of which this is the first selection.
Apart from the final image, these doors are to be found in the chateau or grounds of the National Stud itself.






Thursday Doors 30 May 2019
Sixteen feet
Posted on May 29, 2019
There are sixteen feet in this image, captured last weekend at the French National Stud in Pompadour. Just as many legs, too.

Tuesday Photo Challenge: Tower
Posted on May 29, 2019
Frank’s theme for his Tuesday Photo Challenge this week is ‘Tower’. This image gives you two for the price of one.
It shows an aspect of the church in the preserved village (and national monument) of Oradour-sur-Glane.

Tuesday Photo Challenge: Vista
Posted on May 22, 2019
Frank’s theme for this week is ‘Vista’ and, inspired by the photo he used in his own post, I have gone with a seascape from the coast of New South Wales – somewhere in the Sydney area, but I can’t remeber exactly where.

Thursday Doors: Sainte Radegonde (2)
Posted on May 17, 2019
This week, another selection of doors from the nearby village of Sainte Radegonde, these a little more modern than the previous offerings.
The first two are positively pristine, as you would expect from occupied dwellings:

…although note the vestige of an older door in this image:

But decrepit doors are always the best – even comparatively modern ones:


Thursday Doors 16 May 2019
The Swan
Posted on May 16, 2019
Cee’s topic for this week is ‘feathers’, so here is a serene swan on the lake in Linlithgow.

And so to bed…..
Posted on May 10, 2019
Cee wants to see photos of chutes or ladders for her Black & White Challenge this week.
This image is a view of the rear elevation of our house in France, just after we bought it. No, I’m not sure what we were thinking either.
On the other hand, you can see why the project’s working title was ‘Brokedown Palace’. The rickety ladder on the left was, at that time, the only means of access to what is now our bedroom. To be fair, we have spruced it up a bit in the intervening years.

Thursday Doors: Sainte Radegonde
Posted on May 9, 2019
Drive halfway along the main street of St-Germain-de-Confolens (where many fine doors are to be found), turn right across the bridge over the River Vienne and you’ll find yourself in the little village of Sainte Radegonde, which has a few interesting doors of its own to offer.
The first of these is from a 15th century chapel, now deconsecrated:

Looking like it’s of a similar vintage is this grand house, just around the corner:

Not quite so ancient, but still getting on a bit, are these two weatherworn examples:


Thursday Doors 9 May 2019
Tuesday Photo Challenge: Wheel
Posted on May 8, 2019
Frank’s theme for his Tuesday Photo Challenge this week is ‘wheel’.
Here in rural France, old cartwheels that are way past their sell-by date are a common sight. This one was spotted in the nearby village of Saint-Martial-sur-Isop, during the ‘Wool Festival’, which accounts for the natty headgear.





