I spotted this at the A21 road-widening scheme on the way back from Rye a few weeks ago and we were travelling so slowly that I was able to grab a photo (no I wasn’t driving). I couldn’t quite work out whether it was construction site pole vault of tossing the caber.
Pole Vault or Tossing the Caber? September 2015; A21 near Tonbridge
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This week another from our recent short break in Rye. On the way hope we detoured via Dungeness — such a wonderful expanse of shingle and environmentally hugely important. As might be expected there was a lot of sea kale growing; this is one particularly splendid example. But, yes, I’ve tinkered with the photo to make it even more dramatic!
Sea Kale at Dungeness Dungeness; September 2015
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This week’s photograph is one I took last week. We were in Rye for a few days and perusing the showroom of Rye Pottery. I looked in a large bowl and couldn’t help but see this enormous Tegenaria spider — probably Tegenaria parietina but there are several very similar species. The body was around 1.5 to 2cm long and the whole thing, as seen, about 10-12cm across.
Tegenaria parietina? Rye; September 2015
These spiders live in buildings — especially old buildings — and walls. Females can live for up to eight years, while males die shortly after mating. They are actually quite harmless to humans.
I know many people don’t like spiders, but how can you not be impressed by a stunning creature such as this.
For lots of reasons this week and next we’ll be taking our weekly photographs from the archive. First off here’s one from almost exactly five years ago. Eeek! Is it really that long? It seems like only a few weeks ago.
Holy Stone Rye Harbour; August 2010
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I’ve just realised that I have neglected my duty to post this week’s photograph — basically because I spent most of Monday engrossed in family history and discovering that one of my gg-grandfathers was tried in 1864 for fraud against his employer, the South Eastern Railway. I may write more about this in due course as he then seems to have disappeared from the radar and we’re still searching for the wreckage.
Anyway to this week’s photograph, a very old one from the archives, of the reflections in the Manchester office block where I was running a project.
Exchange Quay Manchester; March 2004
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This week another photograph from the archive. I took this Horse Chestnut blossom from the car while waiting at the traffic lights on the North Circular (A406) at Ealing Common.
Horse Chestnut Ealing; April 2014
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A week or so ago when we met up with our friend Katy and her children for lunch in Ealing we also took a stroll in Walpole Park, where I spotted these magnificent Agapanthus.
Agapanthus Ealing; August 2015
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This young lady was accosting motorists to wash their windscreens on the A40 westbound at Savoy Circus lights. She was not impressed with being photographed — I wonder if she is doing something illegal? I always try photographing these people, partly to try to deter them and partly because I do so enjoy pissing them off.
Windscreen Washer Bottle 1 Acton; June 2015
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Eccentric looks at life through the thoughts of a retired working thinker