Photography

R is for “rodzina”

Rodzina is the Polish word for family, and what an important word it is.

For many years “Polish family”, to me, meant just Dad. My English mother, Nancy, has been dead for 23 years, and, having no brothers and sisters, ours was a small family unit. Then came the fateful phone call. I’ve told the story countless times, but it still fills me with wonder.

Dad (centre) reunited with his brothers and sisters after 64 years

Unknown to him, in Poland, awaited an enormous family. Following the phone call, arrangements were made for us to visit.

From his second marriage, to Laura, Dad already had inherited quite a large English family. Laura was a lovely lady, but she died on Dad’s 70th birthday, leaving him saddened and lonely. My presence and that of my stepbrother, Tony, and his family, was not enough to fill the gap. My stepsister, Lynne, though always in touch, was far distant in Canada. That phone call changed Dad’s life. It also made quite a difference in mine.

Arriving at the farm with cousin, Adam

My cousin Marysia, and neice, Kasia

Ewa in the forefront, Marysia and Jadzia on the right

Cousins, Ewa, forefront, Marysia and Jadzia on the right- Dad, centrestage!

If you’ve followed any of my Polish A-Z you’ll know that I have 26 cousins (one for each letter of the alphabet?) so it’s impossible to show them all here. Off we went to Poland, with camera crew in tow. Dad was featured on North East Tonight on 15th March 2007. Watching the webcam still has me sniffling.

After a day or so in beautiful Kraków, with my cousin Adam, we drove north to meet the family. The cacophony of tooting horns and voices as we drove in through the farmyard gates will stay with me for a very long time. Then, in good old Polish fashion, jemy i pijemy– we ate and we drank! A drive through the woods helped Dad to familiarise himself with the place he had left behind so long ago.

Lighting candles

As all Polish visits seem to do, we ended up at the cemetery. They may celebrate life in fine style, but they never forget to honour loved ones. And the bigger the family, the more the farewells. Already I have said goodbyes to my much-loved Aunt Anna, and to uncle Włodek’s wife, Janina. Cousins Gosia and Dominik were both much too young to die. But life is seldom gloomy around my Polish family.

Life is full of smiles (here with neice, Ula)

Nephew Lukasz with his sister Weronika, soon to be wedded to Wojtek (front)

Her brother, Łukasz, and sister Weronika, soon to be wedded to Wojtek

Beautiful scenery, like Wawel Cathedral

These fountains at Pałac Sztuki in Kraków

A chess piece or two

And cake!

Dad has always been kind, caring and the very definition of a gentleman, whatever life has brought his way. You can read more of his story here. I hope you’ve enjoyed sharing tales of my rodzina Polska. Many thanks to Julie Dawn Fox, who started me off on this Personal A-Z series, and to my good friend at Frizztext for welcoming me to his A-Z. Please click on the links or the logos to see more.

Six word Saturday

Time to see RED? Not really!

If you asked me what my favourite colour is, I’d probably say red. But when I look back through my photos I find that they are predominantly blues. Often the reds are a wine colour, like the leaves from my Virginia Creeper, above. Or I’ve used the red as an accent colour, like my favourite dress, which is white with deep blue and red flowers on.

Saltburn Cliff Lift is definitely red..

Doesn’t this small ladybird wear red beautifully?

My home town’s symbol, proudly red.

Hartlepool Headland with a good splash of the colour.

Is crab red when it’s cooked?

The hottest of red hibiscus!

The jewel red in a stained glass window always leaps out at me.

Got to squeeze in a battered old red Tavira door.

Our royals, resplendent in red!

I thought this rose was red, but isn’t it coral?

Striking red metalwork on this tearoom windowsill.

Romantic red at Riva del Garda.

This dahlia looked red as could be to me, but here it’s looking pink!

Icecream, anyone?

And it isn’t possible to have icecream without my red haired lady!

I can have endless arguments with my husband about colour, but it doesn’t really matter. It’s all beautiful, isn’t it? No need to see red at all!

Thanks for humouring me this Saturday. Hope your weekend sparkles, whatever shade it is. Many thanks to Cate at Show My Face. Hope she’s feeling better this week. Do click on the logos or the link to join in.

Q is for Quinta

“Quinta” is the Portuguese word for a country home or farmhouse.

It’s something I’ve long aspired to, though I’m more likely to end up in a beach hut! This place on Armona would be fine, with bougainvilea tumbling over the walls, and a pot or two of welcoming hibiscus on the doorstep.

Isn’t it wonderfully tropical? Imagine those palms rustling in the breeze.

There’d be a lemon tree and a fig tree. Maybe a lime too, but no oranges. I’ve never liked oranges, though the blossom is very pretty. I have no idea how long it takes to produce a decent vintage of grape, but the notion of a few vines and their dangling temptation is very appealing.

A little grape trampling anyone?

A Portuguese house isn’t a home without an azulejo panel. Maybe even two!

There’s those tempting grapes again!

And a barco rabelo! What more would I need?

This view of the Douro might come at more than I can afford.

Especially with the swimming pool!

And I could live with wooden ceilings and floors! (The Vintage Hotel, Pinhao)

But I’m getting a little carried away now. It easily happens, doesn’t it? You know I’d never want to be too far from my salt marshes.

When I first visited Portugal I read my “Rough Guide” from cover to cover. One of the Algarve recommends was Quinta de Marim – a nature reserve with a tidal mill. It wasn’t far away, just 2kms east of Olhao, but finding it was a different proposition. I seem to have the ability to blatantly disregard directions in a guide book, while still being convinced that I am on the right track!

Eventually we got there, and I loved what I found. Nothing very fancy. A few nature trails. Wild flowers thriving quite happily in the salt air. The gentle lap of the water flowing through the tidal mill, itself just an old quinta. I need to go back, and soon.

Salt marshes at Fuzeta

The tidal mill at Quinta de Marim

This post hasn’t gone quite the way I thought it would, but this is my Personal A-Z Challenge, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it so far. My customary thanks go to Julie Dawn Fox for conceiving the challenge, and to Frizz who daily inspires and entertains me. This week his A-Z has reached QQQ. Follow the links and logos for a little inspiration yourself.

Travelling “My Way”

Don’t worry, I’m not about to burst into song. Well, I might, but you won’t have to listen. This is simply my entry for the Travel Your Way photography competition being hosted by Rhino Carhire. Lovely Lucy nominated me. She’s on holiday in Portugal right now, recovering from her honeymoon.

I have to post four shots (or more!) depicting travel by air, sea, road and rail.

Cloud-gazing!

I have to admit to being one of those people who sit with their nose pressed to the window on a flight. Kindles and iPads are wasted on me, though I could do with a large map upon my knee. I’m forever trying to work out which bit of coastline or land mass I’m flying over, while all around me people snore or follow the plot of the latest thriller. The balls of fluff below and the occasional snowclad peak are all the thrill I need.

The photo above is one of many taken on the journey back to the UK from the Algarve. Well- you recognised it, didn’t you? The sun was just setting, touching the lakes with flame.

Azulejo panel of traditional barcos rabelos at Peso da Regua

Impossible to capture the boating experience on Portugal’s beautiful Douro with just one photo. The traditional way of transporting the barrels of port, the winding and weaving river, the terraces of vines- all combined to give me the experience of a lifetime on board with Tomasz do Douro.

Plying a different trade now.

Yet still remembered on our dining room wall

And culminating in beautiful Porto.

Road trips for me usually mean a few days outing from our Algarve home, and always, always result in a lot of walking. One of my favourite places, ever, was the Spanish city of Cordoba. We started off on the embankment with this alluring view.

The sky was mean and moody but the sun shone

A place to rest the feet- the lovely gardens of the Alcazhar.

I love everything about travelling by rail, from the clickety-clack of the tracks to a belch of steam on the North York Moors. I thought that I would probably post a shot of the wonderfully restored and nurtured steam engines, idling on the platform at Grosmont or Goathland. But in the end I opted for a tram shot. Nothing quite beats the thrill of these sleek beauties, chugging up and down inclines in Lisbon, and probably my favourite ride- along the shoreline of the Foz do Douro in Porto.

The tram trundles past Foz do Douro

Fortunately for me the deadline on this competition was extended to 31st October or I would never have made the cut, so many thanks to Rhino Carhire for that. It just remains for me to nominate 5 people who could use a spare £1000 for travel. And quickly!

Bespoke Traveler has some great tales to tell, and some great shots to go with them.

Hope, the happy hugger – how lovely a name is that? I’ve just been looking at some stunning bougainvilea shots on her page.

My guilty pleasures Viveka? Well you ALL know what a treasure she is. She’s already got me singing on this grey English day.

Dear Bliary has been one of my favourite blogs for a long time. Innovation is Gemma’s middle name. Or was it Marie?

Janalines world journey is a terrific read. I just hope she has time to take part.

You don’t need a nomination to join in, so if I’ve missed anyone who was desperate to be there, please don’t hesitate.

Hope you enjoyed travelling along with me. Did you sing?

Six word Saturday

Uplifting YELLOW – the colour of sunshine.

Autumn colour in Richmond, North Yorkshire

Even a sunshine bird like me can’t help but thrill to the colours of Autumn. Crispy days, with the water running dark and the sun shining bright…

And glinting through the leaves.

Here is my gallery of yellow for this week. Click on a photo to roll with me.

Got to love this smack of yellow!

The Carmo Church, Tavira- just a subtle tinge of yellow

Crazy yellow at the seaside!

Beautiful stained glass yellow in the Ratusz in Krakow

Old gold gently washes medieval architecture in Wroclaw

Sunflower yellow rules this display!

My stepdad, Joe, hated the colour yellow, but Mam loved her roses

Here’s a bold statement for a door!

Livingstone daisies light up the beaches on the Algarve

More craziness- Carnival time in Loule

How delicately pretty is this?

And this is simply exquisite!

My kaleidoscopes of colour have brightened my Saturdays over the last few weeks. I can’t resist the opportunity to add this one to the Weekly Photo Challenge, the hue of you.

Join Cheri’s challenge, or simply stay here, nice and comfy with Cate at Show My Face. The world’s your oyster!

Boats, and more boats!

I always wanted a houseboat!

Do you know, I think I know what it must feel like to have your name up in lights on Broadway! Or, maybe Shaftesbury Avenue? Not once, but twice this week I have found my name in a blog! Fame, notoriety, or just really lovely friends? I think you know the answer.

First I’m invited to go Split-toning with Sonel. Now you know, and I know, and even Sonel knows that technique and me are strangers when it comes to photography. But I have been known to mess about a bit.

Whilst I was thinking how best to approach this, I suddenly found myself a sparkling diamond on Paula’s beautiful Thursday’s Special. What’s a girl to do but slap on some powder and paint, add a few spangles, and step onto the landing stage. Ahoy there!

The marina transformed!

Of course, I have no idea what I’m doing. I’m like a child with a paintbox- a splash of this, a dash of that! I only know what I like, and am limited to Ulead Photo Express 4.0 to effect the changes.

I like a working boat too, don’t you?

I could have sketched this myself? Maybe not!

I’m not at all sure that this is appropriate but I really like the effect. I used a variation of “Oilpaint” in Ulead Photo Express. I think it looks a bit like a negative, or a picture in a child’s colouring book.

I don’t mind a boatyard, now and then

And Sonel knows I like sepia. It’s kind of my era!

Such an exotic name for a tiny boat!

This is a watercolour effect- unsure if it’s appropriate, but I really like it.

I rather like the reflection on this one

This blue effect seems to bring the photo alive to me

But, for me, it comes alive with the blue effect.

Talking of reflections, this one I really like

Talking of reflections, this one I really love

And with a pink tint, too.

This little wooden craft is a favourite of mine

Do you like the blue tint?

And in the harbour mighty PSS Wingfield Castle

And finally, in the harbour, mighty paddlesteamer PSS Wingfield Castle

Sepia takes it right back in time, don’t you think?

I have to humbly apologise to Sonel if this wasn’t quite what she intended. Do, please, visit Sonel’s Corner to see how it really should be done, and maybe try it yourself. She is an expert in my eyes, and also the loveliest friend.

Meantime, the star of the show is Hartlepool marina. I have spent many happy hours there taking photographs of boats. Paula knows I love them. I’d like to say thank you to her for making my Thursday very special. Do you have something special you’d like to share? Thursday’s Special is the place to do it.

Six word Saturday

Whiter than white- the theme continues.

Will I ever tire of seeing this frock?

Lisa tells me that she’s worn it three times so far, including once at Carnival in Venice. That’s not bad going for a wedding dress, is it? I’ve been dusting off a few white memories myself.

How lovely is this dahlia? It’s a huge bloom!

If you click on a photo below it will start the gallery rolling.

Symi 1 in Rhodes harbour

The simple beauty of wild cistus on the hillsides of Portugal.

Beautifully framed white doors.

Who’s whiter than Snoopy? (and do you remember Flat Ruthie?)

A handsome caballero on his white stead

The blue and white of the azulejo

Pretty Guimaraes, European City of Culture 2012

The white village of Sanlucar de Guadiana, on the River Guadiana

Keeping watch over the Guadiana from the opposite shore

Side saddle and elegant whites.

A small boy in Greece

Speaking of elegance, I did love Chania in Crete

Wall niches in the Algarve.

My delicate white hellebore

Our garden last Winter (I hear there’s going to be lots more soon?) Dreading it!

Can anything beat a rose for loveliness- even a fading one? (like my memories)

I’ve become a person of few words on Saturdays. Have you noticed? My husband loves the peace and quiet, but more than that, it seems to fit better with Cate’s challenge. Thanks for indulging me.

Visit Show My Face to share your six words and read a few others. It won’t take long! Just click on the header or the link.

Thursday : Lingering look at Windows- week 39

A blurred view of the Tyne Bridge, through the bus window!

Not a promising start, as we drove across the Tyne Bridge into Newcastle-on-Tyne. Only minutes before, the sky was bright blue. I was meeting my lovely friend, Pam, for coffee so I didn’t really mind. As usual, we had a good catch up, then strolled through the shopping centre. Looking up, I observed that blue had been restored.

"Windows" in the ceiling reveal the blue beyond

Ceiling windows reveal the blue sky beyond

Pam was wonderfully tolerant of me happy-snapping random things. (I won’t tell you what she said about the glass in the ceiling!) This phone store window display caught my eye.

iPhones? Yes, please!

Glad to know the Berlin temperature is no better than here!

Seems that the Berlin temperature is no better than here!

When it was time to go our separate ways, I planned to do a little shopping. It was cold outside, but so clear and bright I couldn’t resist having a little more fun with the camera. Newcastle is a beautiful city.

See what I mean? Check out the gallery below.

Some of Grainger Street’s many windows

This is the Northern Goldsmith’s building

The sombre grey is lit by tiny fairy lights

Nothing sombre about Moss outfitters

Amazing what you see when you look up!

In sometimes rather incongruous surrounds!

Thought you'd like to see the splendid Angel of the North on the side of the bus

I really like the splendid Angel of the North on the side of the bus!

But my favourite view is still the reflected one.

Thank you for accompanying me on my lingering look at windows this week. Hope all’s well with you? Please visit Dawn at Lingering Visions to see the other entries and maybe show us a few windows of your own. It can be fun!

N is for “Nie rozumiem”

I’m having great fun trying to keep pace with both of my A-Z challenges, at Frizz’s weekly pace! On Tuesdays the new letter comes out, so yet again I find myself leaping from Portugal to Poland. It’s quite a stretch!

Can you guess what “nie rozumiem” means? “I don’t understand”.

It’s probably the expression I have used the most in my visits to Poland. Despite the best of intentions I struggle to get my ear attuned to Polish, and you can’t really say “please will you write it down so I can understand”. It doesn’t seem polite somehow, and rather impedes the flow of conversation!

Another thing I’m not great at understanding is feats of engineering, but even I could see the type of industry that was going on when the family took me to inspect the nearby mine at Bełchatów. This is Europe’s largest coal-fuelled thermal power station. There are huge viewing platforms from which you can observe most of the process. It’s the chief employer in the area and many of my family have worked there. The technology looks impressive.

Seldom have I been photographed at an opencast mine

It’s a monster!

Imagine having a lovely home like this right next door!

I rather like the Polish style of fencing (but not the view!)

We drove all around the enormous site to a lakeside location with sports facilities, and, you’ve guessed it, a cracking view of the power station! Apparently it’s very popular in Summer. Bełchatów is far from the seaside.

Lakeside chalets

The view across the lake

But the family were happy and smiling!

Left to right they are- Uncle Jakub, cousins Adam and Bożena, Kuba in the background (Bożena’s younger son), cousin Marta, who is also married to Adam, and Czesława, Jakub’s wife. I hope you are paying close attention. There may be a test!

It was a warm day and afterwards Adam took us all for icecream. There was one more treat in store. Back at Jakub’s, Czescia cooked “ziemniaki z smażony tłuszcz”- potatoes with fried pork scratchings. It was explained that the dish was very popular in the days when people had nothing in Poland. Potatoes were an important staple and I have tasted some of the best potatoes ever, homegrown from Aunt Lusia’s garden. I have to say that today’s dish was not much to my taste, but Dad and the family made short work of it.

Enjoying “old style” Polish cuisine

I hope you’ve enjoyed my little venture into Polish culture today. I have to thank Julie Dawn Fox for starting the Personal A-Z Challenge, a long time ago, and Frizz at Flickr Comments for helping me to catch up. The links and logos give more information.

I can breathe a sigh of relief now because I have already posted the letter “O” for both Poland and Portugal. You can read them from my A-Z pages.

N is for “não faz mal”

It seems ages since I was in Portugal, though in fact it was only in July. In the words of a little Portuguese phrase, “não faz mal”- it doesn’t really matter. Não faz mal is a bit like de nada in Spanish, but said with a Portuguese shrug of the shoulders, meaning “It’s ok!”

Portugal will still be there waiting for me, but I can’t help feeling a bit regretful. Autumn is a lovely time to be there. My walking group will be back in action after the Summer heat. So many things I miss.

Like the liquid gold skies on our rooftop

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My mind drifts back over times and places I’ve shared with you, and maybe some I haven’t. Like my favourite island Armona.

A pretty beach house on Armona

And another!

The caraval “Bom Sucesso” which sails from Olhao

The beautiful brickwork in the town gate, Faro

Displays in the Maritime museum

The tidal mill at Quinta de Marim

Columbus Bar- a cool place to chill in F aro

Não faz mal! It really doesn’t matter. Click on a photo to see the gallery. I’m nostalgic today but who knows what tomorrow might bring?

Fabrica as the evening falls

Grateful thanks to Julie Dawn Fox for inspiring my Personal A-Z series, and to Frizz, who always welcomes people to his world. The links will take you there.

restlessjo

Roaming, at home and abroad

Photography

R is for “rodzina”

Six word Saturday

Time to see RED? Not really!

Q is for Quinta

Travelling “My Way”

Six word Saturday

Uplifting YELLOW – the colour of sunshine.

Boats, and more boats!

Six word Saturday

Whiter than white- the theme continues.

Thursday : Lingering look at Windows- week 39

N is for “Nie rozumiem”

N is for “não faz mal”

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Time to see RED? Not really!

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Uplifting YELLOW – the colour of sunshine.

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Whiter than white- the theme continues.

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