Cellpic Sunday: Austerlitz Underpass

The Gare d’Austerlitz, on Paris’ rive gauche, is the terminal for the trains we need to take to get us back to Limoges.

For the past few years it has been undergoing a massive redevelopment, which is still going on. At ground level it’s pretty much a mess, but beneath what’s essentially a building site isa a little haven of (relative) calm, featuring this brightly coloured mural.

Cellpic Sunday 13 September 2026

Cellpic Sunday: Green Is The colour

Over the past week or so, I’ve been on the lookout for images of green things. It’s for a charity art expo next weekend, with the overall idea of featuring all the colours of the rainbow. Individual participants were asked to focus on one (assigned) colour.

I was given green, but in this image of a pair of (texturally interesting) gardening gloves I managed to sneak in some yellow as well.

And I couldn’t resist the chance of providing a lovely musical accompaniment for a chill-out Sunday…

Cellpic Sunday 6 September 2026

Cellpic Sunday: Volcan de Lemptegy (again)

Another example of nature fighting back. This solitary weed (for that’s what it is) looked quite dramatic against a background of almost black volcanic rock.

Cellpic Sunday 14 June 2026

Cellpic Sunday: Volcan de Lemptegy

Hot from the press this one. Only yesterday we went on a coach trip to the group of extinct volcanoes that are to be found in the Puy-de-Dome region of central France (the Massif Central, as it happens).

The Volcan de Lemptegy has long been quarried for its volcanic rock, and that has produced some dramatic landscapes inside the original crater. Despite the best efforts of man, however, nature will find a way back, and there are trees and other vegetation everywhere, making a pleasing contrast.

Cellpic Sunday 7 June 2026

Cellpic Sunday: Pond Life

In the corner of what we laughingly call our lawn we have what we laughingly call a pond – although it more frequently answers to ‘puddle’. It’s been a bit overgrown for the last couple of years, but it’s been tidied up, and it didn’t take long for the local frog population – which is legion – to establish a new outpost.

Cellpic Sunday 31 May 2026

Cellpic Sunday: The Finger

I spotted this on a shelf in the handicrafts section of our local ‘Action’ store. For the uninitiated, Action stores sell a whole variety of items that you never knew you needed: think Lidl, but without the food – and cheaper.

I can’t help wondering whether it was put in this position by a mischievous customer or a disgruntled employee.

Cellpic Sunday 24 May 2026

Cellpic Sunday: The Hostas Are Back

The hostas that were planted last year have come up again…

Cellpic Sunday 3 May 2026

Shell

A supermarket chain over here in France sells deep frozen ‘petoncles’ – small nuggets of scallop in garlic butter and parsley, presented on a small scallop shell. They are quite delicious, either on their own or with pasta.

And those little shells are worth a closer look…

Cellpic Sunday 22 March 2026

The old cart wheel

This old cart wheel is propped up against the wall of our barn, slowly and quietly surrendering to the elements – but it can still offer some interesting photographic possibilities.

Cellpic Sunday 8 March 2026

Cellpic Sunday: Rosemary

Well, spring must be on its way: the geese are returning from warmer climes and the daffodils are shooting, but the first new flowers in the garden are on the rosemary bush in our herb bed.

Cellpic Sunday 8 February 2026