Just in case anyone was in doubt that Spring is here … a couple of Primula spp. photographed yesterday growing in the lawn of my mother’s care home.
The first is probably a genuine wild primrose, Primula vulgaris, pin-eyed variety.
This second is definitely a cultivated variety or hybrid of some form.
Click the images for larger views.
Another in my occasional series documenting some of the underbelly of Britain. Britain which we wouldn’t like visitors to see and which we wish wasn’t there. The trash, abused, decaying, destitute and otherwise buggered parts of our environment. Those parts which symbolise the current economic malaise; parts which, were the country flourishing, wouldn’t be there, would be better cared for, or made less inconvenient.
Click the image for a larger view
The country is in a pretty poor shape when even the pawnbrokers can’t stay in business! But then I’ve seen quite a few dodgy businesses come and go at these premises over the years.
This is by the Petts Hill bridge, near Northolt Park Station.
The Gallery had a week off last week, hence there was no posting. This week we’re back to normal and the theme is Colour
Hmmm … there’s so much to choose from in my Flickr photostream. So maybe we’ll play it easy and pick a recent (like last week) photo:
Click the image for larger versions
This red primula was growing in the municipal flower beds about a couple of miles from home. The whole bed was a lovely splash of colour in the Spring sunshine made up of lots of shades of winter pansies and primulas — everything from pale lemons through to deep purples and bright reds.
Another in my occasional series documenting some of the underbelly of Britain. Britain which we wouldn’t like visitors to see and which we wish wasn’t there. The trash, abused, decaying, destitute and otherwise buggered parts of our environment. Those parts which symbolise the current economic malaise; parts which, were the country flourishing, wouldn’t be there, would be better cared for, or made less inconvenient.
Click the image for a larger view
This is the main street only a few hundred yards from where I live. It doesn’t paint a pretty picture does it. Overflowing recycling/rubbish bins. Poorly maintained roofs. A buggered advertising hoarding. Lamp-posts so overgrown with creeper they’re falling over. Traffic and street furniture as far as the eye can see. Downtrodden people. And what you can’t see is the scruffy parades of useless shops (Chinese medicines, nail boutiques, Polish delicatessens, empty eateries) most of which change hands every 6 months or so as their proprietors can’t make a go of it. It used to be a nice area but can’t now support even a charity shop.
This week’s request from The Gallery is for us to post a photograph of something important to all photographers: Light.
So as usual I’ve dug one out of the archives.
This was the sunset on 9 December 2010 which I took from the passenger seat of the car travelling homeward from central London; we were on the White City flyover at the time. This chimney is on a new building on the left going westward; I’ve no idea what the building is for but it seems strange to put such a conspicuous chimney on an office block and I don’t think it’s a hospital — maybe it’s something to do with the nearby BBC?
I love sunsets and sunrises. And travelling west out of London on this particular route, with its elevated sections, often gives good views of the sunset and cloudscapes.
With this shot I like the subtle pinks and greys of the sunset and the cloud patterns contrasted with the darker metallic slab of the chimney.
This week Kate’s Listography asks us to document, in five photos, what we get up to in a typical week.
So here goes with some of the things I might get up to.
Click the photos for bigger images and/or more details.
1. Food Shopping
This lovely display of sprats was on the fish counter of our local Waitrose.
2. Cooking
Noreen and I share cooking duties and I try to do my fair share.
Mostly we’re cooking just main meals; we don’t tend to do fancy stuff
although we do each have our specialities.
These are cheese and onion muffins, which were a special I did some time back.
3. Watching Birds in the Garden
I was brought up to take an interest in Natural History, and I still do.
This starling is drinking from our bird bath; snapped from my study window.
4. Researching My Family History
This is a scan of a ca. 1905 wedding photo;
my maternal grandmother was a bridesmaid to one of her friends.
Her mother is also in the photo.
5. People Watching 
This Hyacinth Bucket lady really let the side down by slumping
on a station bench and devouring a sandwich in public.
Taken at Harrow on the Hill station.
Number 2 in my occasional series documenting some of the underbelly of Britain. Britain which we wouldn’t like visitors to see and which we wish wasn’t there. The trash, abused, decaying, destitute and otherwise buggered parts of our environment. Those parts which symbolise the current economic malaise; parts which, were the country flourishing, wouldn’t be there, would be better cared for, or made less inconvenient.
This derelict factory/warehouse is in Park Royal by the A40. It’s been in this state for over 5 years, has been half demolished and then just abandoned again.
This week’s assignment over at The Gallery is Friends.
So I decided to dig one out of the archives which I’ve not uploaded before.
Click the image for a large version from Flickr
This is our friend Katy (left) with her three children and Noreen. It was taken close to the late Derek Jarman’s Prospect Cottage at Dungeness (with the hills of the Weald of Kent in the background) during our break in Rye in September 2010. We had a fun week sharing a cottage and doing a bit of exploring.
Well, we’re rolling on towards Spring anyway. And just to prove it here are some photos from our garden today.
First the snowdrops. We have only a couple of small clusters under the apple tree but they’re still looking good …
Most of the early mauve crocuses are now past their best, partly I think due to last week’s breezes knocking them over. But here are a couple that are still good.
I especially like this one …
And finally a feral pigeon enjoying the Spring sunshine between bouts of feeding and rutting.
The photo doesn’t show off the wonderful iridescent pink and green shades on their necks and breasts which are really stunning when they catch the light right. Well who wouldn’t want iridescent pink breasts?
This is the first in a new occasional series in which I photograph the underbelly of Britain which we wouldn’t like visitors to see and which we wish wasn’t there. The trash, abused, decaying, destitute and otherwise buggered parts of our environment. Those parts which symbolise the current economic malaise; parts which, were the country (poetically I just typed “country” without an “o”!) flourishing, wouldn’t be there, would be better cared for, or made less inconvenient.
So here is the first in the series …
This row of semi-derelict houses was seen in Slough. The photo is a composite of two shots taken from the (stationary) car.