Still waters

Run deep, don’t they say?  Last Thursday I had you standing by the lock gates, in Hartlepool marina.  I was playing along with Paula, which I like to do.  By one of those strange serendipities of life, three days later found me back at the harbourside.  As you can see, it was an altogether different sort of day.  I sauntered around the marina, camera doing all the work.

As I approached the lock gates the alarm began to sound.  One gate was closing and the outer gate opening, to admit incoming vessels.  It’s always a captivating sight to me, and I walked out to a good vantage point.  As I watched, a procession of boats lined up before me.

Isn’t the sky a magnificent canvas?  As the boats passed beneath me, I could almost reach down and ‘high five’ them.  Well, almost!

How do you decide what to post next?  Are you driven by the numerous challenges?  I try not to be.  I would far rather post what’s in my heart.  All the better if it’s something uplifting.  There are plenty of sad days, aren’t there?  I’m not joining Thursday’s Special this week, but it still is.

101 comments

  6. it is a canvas….. that sky grabbed me from the reader – oh my.
    and I have learned to do what you say here – to post what your heart wants – or we could get caught up into “too many” challenges and then lose essence…. ahhh – guess it depends on the season – and sending good thoughts your way today…
    xxoo

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      1. Yes – but it is tough to focus and streamline – especially as some challenges are super fun and not doing them leaves a void – but maybe it is called balance and boundaries – 😉

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    1. It surely was, Cathy! 🙂 🙂 Now all I need to do is link Instagram in with the blog! Mick was at the football match while I had a wander round the marina. Pools won so we were both happy 🙂

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  8. Picture perfect location and weather and yeah, a sailing boat coming into the harbour – reminds me of Sweden! 😀 I have to feel for any posts I write and don’t stick to any schedule of ‘musts’ – enough of those in life! It usually seems to work out…I have a few ideas noted down if I get stuck! Hope you’re having a good Thursday, Jo. ❤️

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    1. As you know, Annika, most of my posts are based on my various jaunts, both near and far. If they fit with a challenge that’s fine, but once you start to join in it’s not so easy to retreat. I do sometimes look at the writing challenges but I think I prefer just being myself. I don’t think there’ll be much activity down at the lock gates today. It’s damp and squally 🙂 🙂 A housework day, and then t’ai chi.

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  9. Hartlepool! Now that is AGES since I’ve been there, with a sailing-boat, btw. Not at the marina, though, but tied up to a pier next to the RNLI station. These guys there were ever so friendly. They even took me out on their boat – an inflatable with a rigid bottom – one evening. Oh, and the police were ever so nice, too. On the evening of our arrival we had asked two policeman in their car for directions, and talked to them some, and then, the next morning, they drove up to our boat with fresh bread rolls!
    Have a great time,
    Pit

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    1. We’re such nice people, us Poolies 🙂 🙂 It’s good to hear, Pit. I don’t imagine the marina was even here then? But sailors are always made welcome. Hope you’re having a good week.

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  10. Ooh, sailboats and calm water… A beautiful sight.

    While the blogging challenges are good to get ideas for posts, or do a “quickie”, I prefer to write about what’s in my head or strikes my fancy. If I would have more time to blog, I would like to add the Wordless Wednesday and the WP photo blogs again. Maybe one day, when I’m retired. 🙂

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    1. There are some great challenges out there but I’m constantly resisting. Once I join in I feel bad if I can’t keep it up. Witness Six word Saturday! Paula has become a friend and I admire her photographic skills. She works so hard to run her challenges alongside a highly pressured full time job and I respect that. But basically, I write because I want to, and that means writing about what I want to write about, Liesbet. Retired or no, that’s just me. 🙂 🙂

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  12. Lovely to stand here and watch those boats slip by. You have captured such calmness and such a beautiful backdrop. The clouds have been spectacular here today too, great fluffy lumps against a blue sky (that is when it isn’t raining…) have a peaceful Thursday Jo 🙂

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    1. Out on the horizon we have the wind farm. It doesn’t tend to notice much in photos, but I’m always aware of its presence. And beyond that the cliffs at Saltburn. Not such a bad bit of the world, but it won’t look like that today. 🙂 🙂 Just back from t’ai chi. The house got a bit of a clean this morning. I’ve been threatening it long enough 🙂

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  13. We share the interest to watch boats passing by, and the day was simply beautiful. As you deserve.
    Good to have a challenge’s break, isn’t it? I’m not doing mine today either but just visiting blogs of friends.
    Have a beautiful Thursday! Xx

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  16. The colours in these photos are so pleasing, Jo. They remind me of crisp sailor suits. As for inspiration for my posts; they just appear. My main problem is not ideas but time. 😦 Perhaps I need a ghost writer. 😀

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  17. Beautiful scenes inspiring calm. Thank you. I used to post at the prompt. It used to be Weekly photo challenge, but with ever busier schedules and everything on my mind, I post what’s on my mind but with anticipation of a week or more i.e. all of my posts are written and schedule at least a week ahead. If that feature wasn’t possible, I would have to stop blogging. And I agree with you – there are so many things happening every day to make us worried, this is supposed to be fun or at least a bright distraction.

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  19. What a glorious day you had. The sky and water are gorgeous. I usually have a list of posts waiting to be written. The only challenge I usually do is the weekly photo challenge if the theme suits my current series. Although I did participate in Jude’s bench and garden challenges which were a lot of fun.

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