Lake Vyrnwy

Sitting above the lake in mid Wales, the sky opened up and created this moment. The Victorian reservoir tower standing in the lake, tallies with my idea of Bluebeard's Castle. 
As Rowan would be quick to tell you, she actually  pressed the shutter on this one. As it has sold well we have had quite a few "what is my cut?" discussions ...

Tracks

Tracks

Taken on Tywyn Beach in Wales.
There are many tracks on a beach. This combination of the crude jeep track and the random stones trying to keep a foothold caught my eye.

This is one of those shots that I really like but which, I have to be honest, has never really caught other people's imagination.

Reeds

Reeds

Taken on the Humber estuary. I liked the ambiguity of scale; although these are reeds they have the look of a forest as well.

Big Garden Birdwatch 2013

I did the usual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend; counting the number of species you see in an hour. As there was thick snow on the ground it was a bit different to usual [no Collared Doves!] but I saw 16 species - a new record.

Blackbird 2

Blue Tit 3

Carrion Crow 1

Chaffinch 2

Coal Tit 1

Dunnock 2

Goldfinch 3

Great Tit 1

House Sparrow 9

Magpie 1

Robin 1

Starling 3

Woodpigeon 5

Fieldfare 1

Siskin 2

Common Gull 2

Tree Sparrow

Tuesday I saw a Tree Sparrow, Friday I saw a Goldcrest in the garden, then today I saw a Moorhen on the Moor for the first time. So plenty going on.

Last of the Snow

Garrowby Hill

As quickly as it came the snow has gone; washed away last night by the rain and the milder temperature. After Danielle had rowed and Rowan had run, we all went out to the Wolds for a last wade through the snow. Those figures are Danielle and Rowan, whereabouts of dog unknown.

Snow

We had a big dollop of snow last night - by far the most, 20cm, for a few years. However it is melting quick. This was the view on the moor as people waded through it all.

AA

Greenwich Foot Tunnel

Using my very last free ticket I went down to see the Ansel Adams exhibition at the Royal Maritime Museum in Greenwich http://www.rmg.co.uk/visit/events/ansel-adams . It was really enjoyable, not too pricey, no queues and some great photographs. His landscapes have certainly influenced me. I walked back through the foot-tunnel then up the Isle of Dogs to get the tube at Canary Wharf. The change never fails to amaze me; when I moved to London a friend lived on the Isle of Dogs, she would look out of her flat window and see a Russian ship's funnel looming from the docks. Now the office blocks are truly awe-inspiring, not necessarily in a good way either; the whole Canary Wharf area does seem ripe for a new bonfire of the vanities.

Clew Bay

Taken from the top of Cruach Phádraig in County Mayo, Ireland.
I like the confused scale on this shot. If you look at the islands some have houses on – they are quite large.

Clew Bay

The cloud at the top of the shot further confuses the context of the image.

Fairfield

Taken on the Fairfield Horseshoe ridge in the Lake District. I liked the figures in the middle distance that give a subtle focal point. The contrast between the snow on the ridge and the snow-free Windermere and hills below adds to the dynamic of the shot.


Someone who has a copy in their home told me that it has become a reference point
“Where did I put my glasses?”
“Near Fairfield”.

Fairfield

Philadelphia

It is hard not to be impressed with American city-scapes, but it is equally hard to photograph them effectively. What I tried to do with this shot was use the angles and the dappled sunlight to create a different view to how the buildings are usually portrayed.

Birthday Meal

After the various horrors of the organised birthday parties of the past it was a relief that Rowan chose to go to Wagamama with four friends for a meal for her birthday this year. It all went well, the weather fears were unjustified, Danielle and I ate in peace round the corner and the cake arrived. As we were not there [except to pick up the bill] there are no photos - this is Rowan on her return from the meal.

London

Sheenagh, a friend, colleague and client in London was having a 60^th birthday party. As it was at the end of the road where friends Paul & Coral live, and as I had one free rail ticket left I popped down through the snow on the Saturday, partied then returned on a lovely warm empty-ish train back up to York on Sunday morning. The party was great, a chance to catch up with all sorts of people I had not seen for years, I had forgotten I knew etc – a really pleasant atmosphere. Upstairs at the Victoria Stakes pub at the bottom of Muswell Hill. 
The photo is of Hannah, Paul & Coral's youngest.

Snowplough

York Council have got a special snow plough/gritter for cycle tracks in the City; here it is in action on the Moor this morning. To the right is a wheelchair user proving that cycle tracks do not just benefit cyclists.
This is still some way behind Holland, where heated cycle tracks are being investigated in order to keep them snow free http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20041522

Cross Slice

Back to the photographs I exhibited at Lumen.
Cross Slice

I like the temporary nature of sand and water when the tide turns. The dog print brings another dimension into play on an otherwise pretty abstract image. This is a shot that really has to be displayed extra-large.

Bookgroup

At bookgroup last night we discussed A Month in the Country by JL Carr. For the first time ever I think, we all enjoyed it and had a lot to say about it. http://www.zyworld.com/albionmagazineonline/books1.htm

I have also read Thursdays in the Park by Hilary Boyd which I loved http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/nov/11/hilary-boyd-thursdays-in-park

The photo is another of Megdale. The contrast between the cold monochrome shaded hill side [where we were] and the colourful sun-thawed fields beyond was stark.

15

Rowan is 15 today.
We gave her this framed set of all the Olympic Gold medallist stamps; seemed to go down well.

If you look over her shoulder you can see her at 6 months old perched on her mother's back.

Bobby

Bobby Womack is in my top ten. I saw him three times in the late 80s / early 90s in London. Each time was brilliant, but each time was also at a slightly smaller venue with a slightly smaller band. I feared the worst, and indeed he drifted off the radar. His old stuff still sounded brilliant but new albums were patchy when they appeared at all. Then this year Damon Albarn produced a new album with him. It sounded very now, with good songs. But I couldn't help wondering how it would have sounded with the full soul-band treatment. New Years Eve on Jools Holland I got the answer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0K8lNkbMDo It is a brilliant performance.

The photo is another one from the Wolds walk on Sunday; this is Megdale.

Wolds Top

Danielle was rowing yesterday morning - learning to skull. Rowan and I went for a walk on the Wolds. This shot is at the highest point on the Wolds - the top of Garrowby Hill. On the right is a pre-historic tumulus [burial mound] which has been colonised with trees. On the left Rowan and Milo stride forward. It was a beautiful if cold morning with a dusting of snow [there was none in York]. On the way back we got some provisions at the Balloon Tree farm shop, including a selection of Wold Top Brewery beers  - it seemed wrong not to try them. Danielle and I have taken on this task. http://www.woldtopbrewery.co.uk/

Lightwater

Rowan ran the Yorkshire cross country last week at Lightwater Park; this is a theme park in the dales that was out of season and had the atmosphere of The Prisoner of The Avengers. Surreal and slightly spooky. This trestle big dipper was just near the start.

What's Cooking

Rowan bought both Danielle [Little French Kitchen] and me [Chilli Recipes] cook books for Christmas. So far we have managed a couple of recipes each. This is Danielle's soup.

Berwick

For Danielle's birthday we all went to Berwick upon Tweed for the day. We walked the Lowry trail, had an Indian meal for lunch and braved the weather. This is heading out to the lighthouse at the end of the pier.

Bird Log Part Three

And here is the final part of the list:

8% presence
Meadow Pippit

6% presence
Herring Gull

4% presence
Tree Sparrow
Tree Creeper
Pink Footed Goose
Pheasant
Kingfisher
Greylag Goose
Heron
Goosander
Canada Goose

2% presence
Waxwing
Tawny Owl
Snipe
Pied Wagtail
Mute Swan
Linnet
Jay
Fieldfare
Cormorant
Blackcap

Today's unrelated photo is of Rowan in front of Capital Hill.

Bird Log Part Two

Here are the next batch of sightings:

42% presence
Long Tailed Tit
Chaffinch

36%
Kestrel

34%
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush

28%
Rook
Redpoll
Greenfinch

24%
Bullfinch
Feral Pigeon

22%
Swallow
Stock Dove
Swift

20%
Sparrow Hawk

16%
Skylark

14%
Redwing

10%
Siskin
Lesser Black Backed Gull
Chiffchaff

The photo is of a Treecreeper in the garden yesterday

Bird Log Part One

For the last year I have kept a record of birds seen in the garden / on the moor. I record which birds were present each week. In the year there were 59 species seen. So here is part one of the charts which I will split into three parts.

100% presence
Blue Tit
Crow
Dunnock
Goldfinch
Great Tit
House Sparrow
Magpie
Robin
Woodpigeon

98% presence
Common Gull
Collared Dove

92% presence
Starling

78%
Jackdaw

66%
Black Headed Gull

64%
Wren

58%
Coal Tit

54%
Mallard

52%
Greater Spotted Woodpecker

The unrelated photograph is from Washington.

Nespresso

My birthday present from Danielle was a Nespresso machine; we are both using it enthusiastically for an espresso each day.

The photo is of KC in her cycle helmet - get 'em early.

Xmas Trip 8

All in all it was a really good trip to the US, great to see the family and lots of interesting places. This photo is of Rowan at the Martin Luther King memorial one evening when Ben drove us around the sights of DC; it is a really impressive monument.
Being 6'2, with a dodgy back, and being sat behind the person who always puts their seat back first on the whole plane [wherever I fly it happens], we invested $70 into an upgrade for me. This buys you about 6 inches of legroom [or put another way, this makes the seat one I can fit in]. It was worth it.
Someone asked me recently if I preferred the train to the plane? That is the ultimate no-brainer if ever I heard it.
Mind you our welcome back to Britain was a dreaded bus-replacement service from Leeds to York ...

Xmas Trip 7

For our last day in the US, Rowan made us go to a Mall. I can take them or leave them, so was happy to leave them to it. Instead I walked round the area - Pentagon City - which was interesting; there is a bicycle hire scheme in DC, similar to the London Boris Bikes. There are even bike lanes on the roads which is an amazing thing to see in the US.
The photo is of Arlington military cemetery where Kari's Mum is buried [her father was in the military to that explains the location]

Xmas Trip 6

Ben dropped the three of us off in Washington on the Mall. We walked around this pleasant European feeling area then headed into the city to meet up with Cheryl [a college friend of Danielle's from long long ago]  then Debbie [another friend who lived in London at the same time as Danielle]. In the afternoon we went to the Newseum www.newseum.org/ , a museum of the press, which was good but not as good as the aerospace one from the day before.
I like this shot which I took in the building.

Xmas Trip 5

On Boxing Day [which does not exist in the US] we went to the aerospace museum at Dulles, Washington www.visitingdc.com/virginia/dulles-air-space-museum.htm . From the outside it looks quite small. Inside you realise it is a huge space with a Concorde, a Space Shuttle, Enola Gay and a Stealth bomber all fitted in effortlessly. It is a brilliant place to go - almost as good as the National Railway Museum in York [and that is the highest praise from the Palmour household.] We all really enjoyed it. For me it was a strange dip into a forgotten childhood of Airfix model plane making; shapes of planes I had totally forgotten about were brought back into my consciousness by the real thing hanging in space before me.

This photo is of Danielle's favourite, an early airliner, taken from one of the aerial walkways.

Xmas Trip 4

Christmas day we all went to Kari's father's house for a meal. 18 people there. I cooked a beetroot and potato recipe that I first did 8 years ago in Pennsylvania; inexplicably it proved very popular in the US so now every time I go over I have to cook it.
Rowan gave me a book on cooking with chilli's [very useful with my still prolific chili crop] and a brilliant mug disguised as a totally convincing SLR lens. She really loves to give good presents.
The photo is of Liam with wering his Sporticus suit that we gave him.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportacus

Xmas Trip 3

Ben dropped us in Old Town Alexandria which is a great place to walk around [extremely rare for a US city centre]. We ended up in this bar/pizza place which was just fantastic. That is a pint of beer "with a chocolate edge provided by cocoa shells used in the brewing process"; it tasted better than it sounds [just].