benches

Thoughts on benches
A little meaningful conversation?

A little meaningful conversation?

Some posts seem to just glide effortlessly onto the page.  Others don’t!  They kick and bite and scratch.  You can’t find just that photo that you wanted, lost in the annals of untidy folders.  Too many thoughts collide in your head, often at silly times like 5 in the morning. And then there are those that miss the deadline by a smidgeon.  Just enough to be annoying.  I’ll leave you to work out which this is.

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Rustle and tussle

A backlit ballerina

Twirling in the wind

In breeches
With a good book
In courtly days

And whilst I have been known to cheat occasionally, in the interests of a beautiful azulejo or two- can you spot these people sitting on benches?

This one’s easy!
And simply lovely
Two on here!

I’m off out to kick a few leaves now.  You never know- I might spot somebody loitering on a bench.  If I do I may even share it with Jude.

Six word Saturday

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A Bench challenge and an orchid

A gentle day on the north east coast of England

A gentle day, on the north east coast of England.   My friends and I amble along, in search of a bench where we can sit for a while, admiring the view.

A good-looking bench but facing the wrong way

A good-looking bench, but facing the wrong way

This one might just be perfection

Ah, here it is!  Spotlit so we can’t miss it

It’s not a perfect day, but pleasant, in a very English way.  The kind of day when it’s good to be on a cliff top bench, gazing out to sea.  After a while we ease ourselves up and carry on.

The posts frame the bay beautifully

These posts frame the bay beautifully

And they tell a story
Of the rocks and shells
Which make up this coastline

At this time of year small orchids radiate out from the grass.  Careful not to tread on them, I kneel down for a closer look.  Pretty, aren’t they?

I'm astonished at the colour!

I’m astonished at the colour!

I don’t think I’ve seen this shade before
Though its paler friend is prolific
Blending with the golden trefoil around the quarry

When our walk is done I carry on down to the small marina at Seaham, looking for a sheltered spot where I can read.  There must be a bench or two?

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This one might do- no back rest, though

But this one's much more fun, though maybe not so comfortable

This one’s much more fun, but maybe not very comfortable!

Careful not to upset Judge Jude by breaking any rules, I’ve been quite subtle with my post processing of Benches.  But I just had to give Lunapic one more whirl.  What do you think?  All of the images except for the last one were done in Ulead Photo Express, in quite an old version.

It’s Saturday again so it must be time to find your six words.  Pop along and share them with Cate at Show My Face.  Have a great weekend and I’ll see you on Monday for a walk.

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A bench for all seasons
Trainspotting, anyone?

Trainspotting, anyone?

There's one!

There’s one!

Such a blue sky! Yes, it is England.

Blue skies! It’s an English Summer.

Delving deep into my archives, I’ve concluded that I don’t take many photos of benches.

But I do like to get out into the countryside

But I do like to get out into the countryside

And find quirky benches
Like these

Coastal footpaths are great places for a bench or two.

Especially if you have to climb up there

Especially if you have to climb up there

Ahhh, that's better!

Ahhh, that’s better!

In Giverny, at the Monet Garden, I tried to capture a very cute butterfly and her sister.

Got the bench, but not the butterfly!

Got the bench, but the butterfly nearly got away!

It was such a lovely place! Spot the bench?

It was such a lovely place, with just an occasional free bench

Wasn't it Patrick's Day this week?

It’s not every day you find a bench for St Patrick’s!

Spring has been quite unpredictable too this year.  Walking has brought a few surprises.

No sitting on this one!

No sitting on this one!

Or this!

Or this!

I can’t wait for those sunny days to get here so I can begin hunting for benches in earnest.  Have you joined Jude’s Bench Challenge yet?  Come with me!  You don’t want to miss it.

Six word Saturday

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Home again, with just my memories!

Flying into Faro

Flying into Faro

Can it be 3 weeks since I took this shot?  I love flying in, across the offshore islands, and looking out for landmarks. Planning what we’re going to do with all that time!  The friends we’ll meet, the walks we’ll take, nice meals and restaurants to enjoy…  Then, all too quickly, it’s gone, and I’m home again.  But at least I have the blog to share a few of my memories.

First day there, I always stroll around Tavira, looking for changes and familiarising myself with ‘old friends’.  This year I found myself fixated on benches!  They were everywhere I looked.  Jude has a lot to answer for!

Throughout the riverside gardens
There’s lots of temptation to sit
Spot the ‘deliberate’ mistake
The perfect place to look at my favourite bridge

The perfect place to look at my favourite bridge

But I really rather like this bike shot
Lots of choice today!
Even this, rather ugly duckling!

Did I hear you cry ‘enough benches!’  You have to be joking.  Loads still to come.  But for the sake of variety, I did spot a few other things, en route.

Like this face, on a door
This table decoration
And I know you love cakes!

I always like to check out any new shops, too.  Casa da Bli on Rua da Liberdade was full of goodies- toiletries, wine and lots of pretty things.

I always check out new shops too

Aren’t these lovely?

And just across the street, this handsome fellow

And just across the street, this handsome fellow

We listened to some excellent Fado too, at newly opened Fado com Historia.  A post will follow.

A wonderful performance, given daily

A wonderful performance, at Fado com Historia

Naturally, we got out and about walking in the beautiful countryside, and I hope to entertain you with some of that in my Monday walks.  But I can’t resist a snippet or two, while I’m daydreaming.

Spot any benches?
With tables too!
And awfully nice eucalyptus trees
And how about this for a view?

And how about this for a view?

And a place to just sit and stare!

And a place to just sit and stare!

Of course, what Jude really wanted to see this month was black and white benches, so I have no choice but to conform.  But not before I share a sunset seat.

But not before I share a sunset seat, for lovers

For lovers

Will this do, Jude?

Will this do, Jude?

For those of you not familiar with the Bench Challenge, please follow my link and all will be explained.  Please conform a little more than me though.  I don’t want to make Jude cross.

Meantime, have a lovely weekend.  It’s a glorious Spring day here in the north east of England so it’s not so bad to be home.  Please do find time to visit Cate at Show My Face and share your six words, won’t you?

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Benches
Boring here without the backgammon!

Anybody seen the backgammon set?

You might have noticed I’ve got my “Greek head” on at the minute.  Something to do with sunshine, or lack of.  The above photo is one that was destined for my post A tale or two : Rhodes, but it escaped.  I rather think it must have been holding back for Ailsa’s challenge this week.

A goodly knight sits on a bench in Constancia, Portugal
Bench with a view
Not so much a bench- more a chaise longue.
A silly bench livens up a wintry park
A bench facing “that” bridge, in Tavira
Almost missed this bench!
The riverside gardens in Tavira are full of shady benches

The challenges can be a lot of fun, can’t they?  With Ailsa’s permission I’m going to use this post to ask whether anyone has heard anything of Jake of Jakesprinter’s Sunday Post lately?  We all pass each other by and dash to the next challenge, but Jake has been strangely absent since his Entrance post.  He has left no hint on there of his whereabouts, and hasn’t been commenting on posts as he normally would.  Maybe he’s just busy, but I would like to be reassured if any of you know anything more?

Sorry, Ailsa, to use your post like this, but it’s been “nibbling” at me all week.  Hope you don’t mind?  There are some great bench shots over there so don’t forget to check them out.  Thanks everybody.