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.
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.
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!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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.
Do you sense a theme going on? Green has never been one of my favourite colours. I always feel it needs something else to “lift” it or to provide contrast, but that’s probably my lack of skills with a camera. In a week of not much happening, I thought I’d try to entertain you with a gallery of green.
A moment this Summer, sitting in my pergola
Green acorns
A splash of red makes all the difference
A vintage bus in Wensleydale
These berries are still green
But these are luscious pink!
Steam traction in Great Ayton village, North Yorkshire
A hint at the changing season- gorgeous Chinese lantern
It’s such an English colour, isn’t it? And the colour of that little green demon, jealousy, of which I’m often guilty. The leaves are falling at an alarming rate, so I guess this is my goodbye to Summer. Next week’s colour is sure to be Autumn.
Time to see what’s befallen my friends on Six word Saturday this week. Follow the links or click on the header to visit Cate at Show My Face.
I think I may have warned you that I still have a Whitby clifftop shot or two up my sleeve? Well, Cee is giving me the perfect opportunity to show them off.
Whitby or Robin Hood’s Bay?
Today, Whitby wins!
This whole coast is protected by the National Trust.
Nice acorns!
Tempting to drop down into the bay?
Sidling past Whitby Abbey
And down the infamous steps.
Now we’re here you may as well come and see a little more of Whitby, if you’re not bored, of course? As usual, click on a photo to see it in gallery form.
Along the pier is a good way to go.
I’ve been that way a time or two!
Over the iconic swing bridge.
100 years of history
So, let’s cross over it.
Fishing trip anybody?
This little guy’s game.
A poetic ending!
Well, I think I’ve probably got Whitby out of my system, for the time being. The Goth Festival’s taking place there at the end of this month. Now there’s a spectacle you oughtn’t to miss!
Thank you so much, Cee, for hosting Which Way? I’ve enjoyed every step of it. Click on the links or the logo to read more about the challenge.
I think, by now, most people who follow me will have a pretty good idea of how the place where I live looks. I’ve trekked you north and south of here, showing you some spectacuilar scenery, and a little industrial grunge too. What you won’t have seen much of, until now, is our neighbouring seaside “resort”, Seaton Carew.
Like such resorts throughout Britain it’s a little tacky, but in the summer months it’s a mecca for young and old alike. (and I’m not just talking bingo!) It has a decent stretch of beach, a paddling pool and, of course, amusement arcades to part you from your pennies. There’s really only one street to it, so you can’t exactly be overwhelmed.
Two fish and chip shops scowl at each other across the main street, and you can buy burgers and icecreams from the kiosks. No candy floss, though. I used to love that sugary smell and watching it whizz around the drum. These days I’m rather fond of lemon tops. I love the sharpness before you get down to the slurpy icecream. How about you? What’s your favourite seaside treat?
The Almighty Cod
With it’s almost elegant seating outdoors
Or good old fashioned Youngs.
Don’t you always forget the bucket and spade? Dad can queue at the chippie while mum nips in here.
Or there’s the “sit down” option at the Waverley Cafe.
Then there’s the arcades. You know you want to!
I don’t know that I’d book a holiday here, but there are a couple of nice hotels and some B & B’s. The Staincliffe is popular as a wedding venue, and has made a bid for notoriety by naming the Darwin Room after a local character who pretended to have died to get his hands on his insurance. He paddled off into the sea and was never seen again. (until he was spotted in South America) Don’t say we don’t have a sense of humour in the north east.
The Marine Hotel on the seafront
The notorious “Darwin Room”- fine dining, indeed!
The Nordic walkers often have a Christmas carvery there.
How about this for windows?
I thought I’d better show you these windows before the last of our hoped-for Indian Summer disappears. It’ll be too cold to linger soon and we’ll all be clutching our hot chocolates.
There’s always Red’s when you need to warm up!
Hope you enjoyed a saunter through Seaton with me. I never mind lingering at a few windows. Visit Dawn at Lingering Visions to spy out a few more.
One of my very first sights when I visited Poland for the first time was the Mariacki Church. The splendour of the Rynek Główny in Kraków, Europe’s largest market square, is crowned by this church. Later, on a guided tour given by my neice Weronika, we crept respectfully around the aisles and I looked up in awe.
The blue ceiling covered in stars was so joyous. I almost said heavenly but that sounds too corny, however true. I’d never before seen anything like it.
The showpiece of the church is the Veit Stoss Altar, depicted on these postcards. With great ceremony the altar is opened at noon each day to reveal the exquisite carvings beneath.
Gilded wood panels of the Altar in close up
St. Mary’s Church, or Kościół Mariacki, dates from the 14th century and stands 262 feet tall (80m). Today it draws the crowds largely for the appearance of the trumpeter, who performs hourly at the top of the taller of the two towers. The sad little notes die away abruptly. According to legend this commemorates the trumpeter who was pierced through the throat while sounding the alarm for an impending Mongol attack on the city. These days it’s a happy occasion and he waves to the cheering crowd below before disappearing.
I don’t often use video clips in my posts but I accidentally came across this one and loved it. The commentary is in Polish, but you get to see the trumpeter in close up.
The noon-time trumpet call, known as the Hejnał mariacki, is broadcast across the nation by Polish Radio 1. More details are on this Wikipedia link.
Mariacki Church seen from the tower of Ratusz, the town hall.
The fountains in front of the church
Looking up at the church towers from Ul. Grodska
The towers seen from the side of the church
Marysia is one of my Polish cousins. In the very early days of our reunion with the Polish family I received a lovely email from her, introducing herself and family to me. She is married to Pawel, a musician with a wicked sense of humour. They have a daughter, Kasia, and son, Michał (do you remember that the last letter is pronounced “w”?)
Marysia is another of Zygmunt and Lodzia’s daughters. (I posted about them in L is for Lusia, Lodzia and Lodz) She lives in the village of Zawady, near to Dad’s original old farmstead, but Marysia and Pawel have a beautiful modern home. Within the family there are many skills, and when it comes to home-making, these are readily shared. Piotrek, Marysia’s brother, is a fine carpenter and the polished wood floors and banisters are all his work.
Marysia at the Baltic coast
Marysia and Pawel
Marysia’s house
Kasia as bridesmaid at Ania’s (Jadzia’s daughter) wedding
Marysia with son Michał , on the right
Kasia was only 20 when we first met, and had spent the Summer working in Nottingham, to help pay for her university studies. This was an enormous coincidence as my daughter lives in Nottingham. You can imagine her astonishment when I produced a Polish cousin living virtually on her doorstep! A meetup was arranged, of course.
Lisa, Kasia, friend Paulina, me and Leo, in Nottingham
Kasia has now completed her education and, at the time of writing, is working in Germany. Her younger brother is still studying. Marysia herself runs a lovely little boutique in Bełchatów. Confused yet? I often am, too!
It just remains for me to thank Julie Dawn Fox, who began the Personal A-Z Challenge, and Frizz, who has welcomed me into his A-Z Challenge too. This week it’s “mmm”! Follow the links to find out more, and maybe join in?
It’s been a very Whitby sort of week when it comes to the blog so I may as well finish as I started. I’m often blue on grey days, but this week I didn’t have much excuse.
How’s this for a cliff top view?
The sea and sky exquisitely matched
With just a few weeds for distraction
And the rock shelves below
Walking the Cleveland Way
Add a splash of green
What a situation for a caravan park! Whitby Abbey in the background.
Saltwick Nab in all it’s glory!
And the rocks below.
Two specks on a beach
Patterns and shadows
You can just see where the caravans are perched
Turning the corner you can see Whitby pier
Can blue get any bluer?
Getting closer
And then you reach the Abbey
Don’t forget to look around St. Mary’s Church.
Down the steps! Easier than climbing up.
If you’ve still got energy there’s the old pier
Or maybe a cruise on a pirate ship
Hope you enjoyed the trip? I still have some more shots for a rainy day. Click on any photo to see the gallery.
My grateful thanks to Cate at Show My Face. Her life seems much harder than mine. Click on the link or the header to see what’s been happening in her week.
Window panel on a cottage door in Whitby, North Yorkshire
Don’t you think this is lovely? I’ve been visiting Whitby for many years and I always walk down the main pier for the lovely views back at the town and out across the bay. Picture postcard pretty though it undoubtedly is, the weather can sometimes be bleak on that North Yorkshire coast. This little window panel seemed to me to speak volumes of the nature of the place.
Out on the pier itself, in glorious weather, there are more windows to see.
The bluest of skies accentuate the lighthouse.
From top- to bottom!
The beach is overlooked by a row of holiday cottages. I’d already walked the clifftop and the pier, so time for a sit down and a bite to eat. But the cobbled Whitby streets are always full of pirate treasures.
Justin’s Chocolatier has a sumptuous window
The window in close-up
And “ye olde tea shoppes”!
Yes, please!
In the end we found an old favourite.
With it’s cosy inside, looking out to the courtyard
It was just the ending needed to our day.
Don’t you think? But I’m a coffee person, really!
I have to admit to having a naughty glass of wine, but then, the setting was so nice. If you’re in Whitby, look out for Sanders Yard.
Meantime it’s thanks to Dawn at Lingering Visions for encouraging me to look through windows. If you have some you’d like to share, follow the link and meet me there.
Whiter than white- the theme continues.
restlessjo 
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