A Changing Life

Under an upside down boat

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Sat, 04 May 2013 16:34:42 PDT

In the centre of Bourges in France you can find the building known as Palais Jacques Coeur which was built in the mid 15th century as a "grand maison", just a larger than normal residence. The word "palais" or palace started to be used in about 1820 when the royal courts of justice moved in. Unfortunately Jacques Coeur never saw the building completed, and it passed from owner to owner until

A whole month

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:25:41 PDT

I don't believe I have a proper excuse. I had to go back to France to see to the house and that was a problem, a hurdle that seemed to grow larger with each day that passed. In the event, it wasn't as distressing as I expected, I think because the house has happy memories going back all the 10 years since we first looked at the ruin it then was and decided it was our dream home. French

Food for St Patrick's Day

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 09:04:27 PDT

When I was a child in Ireland we traditionally had colcannon and boiled bacon on 17 March, St Patrick's Day. Both could be eaten throughout the year but they were our special St Patrick's Day treat. Colcannon is a dish made from potatoes and kale or cabbage, plus a few other ingredients. For St Patrick's Day my grandmother would hide a thimble, or more usually for us, a threepenny piece (a

Footprints in my mind

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 11:05:39 PDT

I really can't believe that it was four years ago when I took this photo one morning in Monaco as the sun shone over the Mediterranean Sea. Not exactly sunrise, but close. Shortly afterwards I went for a walk along the sea front and came across the Champions Promenade. Footprints of the stars, I supposed, judging by the little logo on the right. I didn't know what it was at first

Mind the gap

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 08:45:19 PST

My path is clear again! For the last several months the footpath along this part of the sea front has been entirely closed while they finished off the seawall and resurfaced the path. I can't tell you how aggravating it is to have to cross to the other side of the road, and then cross all the little side roads that lead up to the sea. Never mind. It's all over now, nearly. When they

Recycling buildings

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:54:18 PST

So, taking Adullamite's advice (in advance so maybe I'm psychic) I visited Whistable to look at what the sea there had to offer. It must be 3 years since I last made a visit. This is the sea view towards the Isle of Sheppey. There isn't much on the Isle of Sheppey worth talking about, I'm told. I may be doing the population of Sheppey a great disservice but I was assured by students I sent

Upper class cat

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 14:11:33 PST

Some of these pictures, though not the one above, have been seen before on this blog but it was in the dim and distant past. Bertie is now 7 years old but he still maintains his position at the head of the household, always making sure he has the upper hand. He's definitely above politics, unless of course it happens to be the upper house... But he's not above trying to make his

The sound of shingle

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:04:11 PST

From Conan Doyle's poem: Her cheek was wet with North Sea spray,We walked where tide and shingle meet;The long waves rolled from far awayTo purr in ripples at our feet.And as we walked it seemed to meThat three old friends had met that day,The old, old sky, the old, old sea,And love, which is as old as they. As seen on Britishspeak In a gale I went to "where tide and shingle meet", a going

A view

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 12:23:10 PST

I've so often shown the view from my own window, out over the sea to France, that I'm becoming bored with it. So I thought I'd show the view from the place where my parents used to live. It's a view over the sea again, but across the cliff top. This is the view my parents used to be able to see from their window when they lived here. Today the sky was blue and daubed with white clouds.

Knitted architecure

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 09:08:57 PST

These themes seemed to be an impossible mission until I remembered my neighbour, the castle. Not only is it a good example of the architecture used by the 16th century builders of henry VIII's fortifications, but it also has examples of the method used to strengthen the mortar between the stones, in many cases taken from religious houses destroyed during the dissolution of the monasteries.

Before the snow

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 08:19:22 PST

... which is still with us, by the way, I decided to go in search of a cup of coffee on the pier. I made the decision when the sun was shining but that didn't last too long. The pier is long but the call of home-made cakes is strong so I set off at a goodly pace along the beach even though the sun was rapidly disappearing. There was plenty of interest to see along the way: rough seas (

Safe havens with touches of yellow

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 09:38:28 PST

You would think this yellow French letterbox would be a safe have for all your mail, but at times it isn't so safe. I took the photo because it's an old style of letterbox, one you don't see around as often these days, but later I read the black label above it. It marks the level of the flood on 5 October 1960. There must have been some very soggy post that day. Next a safe haven

Positive thought Number Two

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 00:33:34 PST

At least it's pretty. Taken early this morning, just before it started snowing again.

Positive thought Number One

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 08:47:50 PST

There may be snow on the beach (again!) but spring will eventually arrive.

Celebrations in my town

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 12:59:46 PST

Our town seems to celebrate at the drop of a hat. We've just finished the Christmas celebrations... ...but the Christmas parade took place after dark so the pictures were scarce. Earlier we had fireworks for Guy Fawkes' Day You can just about make out the pier in the background. It didn't burn down. There is always a summer carnival and its parade. These two little girls had

Adding (a glimpse of me)

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 15:39:05 PST

I thought I would return to photo hunting in the new year of 2013 - but not this week. I didn't think I had anything to fit the themes. I never include myself in photos but then I came across some that included a glimpse. Some gardens and parks add art, presumably to enhance the view. Sometimes they do, and this sculpture I thought did fit in fairly well, at the Salutation Gardens.

Today I met Tom

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 11:53:12 PST

Years ago when I was a little girl and my sister was even littler, I used to make her learn things out of books, and then I would test her to see how much she had remembered. She used to get very grumpy so I decided not to go into teaching. These days she is still littler than I am, as I retain a half inch advantage (in height). She is less grumpy though. The other day there was a programme

Looking back, looking forward

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 15:42:54 PST

This time last year I quoted Einstein: Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. ~ Einstein Really, I couldn't have found anything more apt for this year. The main thing I learnt in 2012 was indeed to live for today, for you never do know what tomorrow will bring. Today would have been my husband's birthday. I've learnt how good friends are. Looking back through my huge

A brief moment of sunshine

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 05:55:23 PST

People came out to take advantage, walking up and down the sea front. It was still pretty windy though not too cold. The wind brought out the Dads and kites. The butterfly was very successful and fluttered by for a long time but the others made only occasional and brief appearances. I marched by sister around the castle. I'm not sure how impressed she was. The helpful man who

Peace and goodwill

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 16:47:06 PST

Remembrance, like a candle, burns brightest at Christmas time. ~ Charles Dickens Wishing everyone peace this Christmas.

Looking through the window at the rain

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 13:33:13 PST

This was the view this morning as the rain was streaming down the windows. I could just about see the sea - rough, I believe, as I squinted between the raindrops. But I welcome rain against the windows because one of the disadvantages of living quite so close to the sea is that sea spray makes its presence known. You can see the sandblast effect looking out from the other side. They say

Google maps

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:03:08 PST

This evening my son was due to arrive at Ashford on one of those very fast trains they send under the water. I'm not especially familiar with Ashford so I resorted to Google maps. Fortunately I do know enough to realise that this picture/map doesn't show a railway station especially not one with the status of an International Station. Not too many railway lines in evidence. I looked

Christmas lights

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:52:58 PST

While I was waiting for the bus into Canterbury earlier in the day yesterday I overheard someone saying she wanted to catch a particular bus home to avoid the school children. Later on I discovered why as I attempted to get on board a very steamy number 14 after being trampled by the hordes getting off. Then I discovered there was still only standing room inside. Where had they all been? And

Walking

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 07:39:48 PST

Today I thought it was time I went out walking again so I had a quick look out of the window. Not bad, but only just above freezing. An hour later.... Now 4 degrees warmer but looking less inviting. Nevertheless I braved the elements and walked to the far end of the town, all along the sea front, to meet up with the group. I thought about 20 minutes would do it. How wrong can I be.

Brave hearts

noreply@blogger.com (A.) — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 08:14:19 PST

It was a beautiful morning when I first looked outside today but I did notice the thermometer on the outside was reading 1 degree, so I imagine it must have been down to freezing an hour or two earlier. In spite of that, there were these hardy souls cammping on the beach, fishing. The nearest ship had been there all night but the other two were just passing by. The French coast can be seen