Weekly Photo Challenge

Six word Saturday

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There is a season,

Turn, turn….

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In Faro old town, in the Algarve, it was mating season for storks.  Everywhere you looked, they were swooping through the sky, calling and shrieking to each other.  The cacophony had everyone riveted to the spot, staring upwards.  Try as I might, I couldn’t capture a good photo of these magnificent creatures in flight.  I was always a wing beat, if not two, behind them.

Storks

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Fortunately, the architecture almost compensates.  Have you noticed the seasons changing?  The Weekly Photo Challenge would love you to share. Me, I’ll probably be singing ‘that song’ all day!

And popping in to see Cate at Six Word Saturday, of course.  Enjoy your weekend!  Hope to see you on Monday, for a walk.

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Six word Saturday

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Heading south, to look for Spring

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Winging it, once more.

Dawn’s rays on the horizon

Above molten skies

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This was going to be my Thursday post (minus the six words header) but I got distracted.  It’s still appropriate, because I’m off to the Algarve on Monday.  I will be posting a short walk first, partly to remind you that I’ve gone, but mostly because I hate to keep my contributors to Jo’s Monday walk waiting till I get back.

Have a great weekend, and don’t forget to pop in on Cate at Show My Face with your six words.  I won’t be here next weekend.  I wonder… does this qualify as a Vibrant start to the day?

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Six word Saturday

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How many circles can you count?

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Fuzzy glasses

Just me, having a little fun and silliness with some glasses!  I hope you had a good Christmas.  It’s all a memory now, isn’t it?  Not blurred around the edges- honestly!  I only had a couple.

It’s Saturday again and time to find six words to describe your week.  Have you been going round in Circles?  I sometimes think I have!

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Six word Saturday

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What to do when seeking inspiration?

For me, it usually means a trip to my photo files

For me, it usually means a trip to my photo files

On a recent visit to Durham, I decided to seek out Old Durham Gardens.  I had known of the existence of these 350 year old gardens for a long time, but they’re a little off the beaten track. When I arrived, on a warm and sunny Wednesday morning, I discovered that the gardens only open between 2 and 4pm on Thursdays and Saturdays in Summer.  After initial disappointment (and a peer through the gates), I discovered that there was more than enough to keep me happy from the outside.

Fragments of colour were everywhere

Fragments of colour were everywhere

The old walls themselves are full of characterful whirls and sworls, causing the eye to drift from the gentle planting.  The place has a past and the walls reflect that.  In the 12th century this was a rectory.  The walls were added in the 1700s to enable the cultivation of south facing fruit trees, and in the 1750s music concerts were held within.   Glamorous times were ahead when the gardens were owned by an artist and icecream maker, Victor Mazzini Walton.  The gardens were described in 1921 as having tennis courts, putting green, running track and a tea garden, and dances were held at weekends.

After the Second World War, Mr. Walton sold up and the gardens fell into decline.  Happily, in 1985, Durham City Council purchased Old Durham and began a programme of restoration.  When this lapsed, Friends of Old Durham was born and the gardens today are run by this group of volunteers.

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After wandering the boundaries, it’s down the steps, and a gentle meander back to the river.

One last bloom!
Looking back up to the walls

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Always a source of inspiration!

Always a source of inspiration!

I hope you enjoyed my Saturday amble.  Next weekend I’ll be in Bristol for the Hot Air Balloon festival and I suspect I’ll be too busy to join you.  I hope so, anyway!

Meantime, there’s Cate at Show My Face to visit with your six words.  I was browsing my photos wondering what to show you today and looking for inspiration.  I think I found it.

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Ephemeral

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Something I always struggle to capture but can spend endless hours watching!  Sea spray flying through the air. That’s ephemeral for me.

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Ephemeral.”

Six word Saturday

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To be at peace with myself.

Like those clouds, i'm going to let it all drift away

Like those clouds, I’d like to let it all just drift away

How quickly a week passes!  After last week’s funk and all your kind wishes, I’m resolved to stop skittering about and simply enjoy what comes my way.

I love clouds!  Except, of course, when I’m bumping down through them on an aircraft, but that’s a different story. I’m only two weeks away from my next visit to the Algarve, and the tingle of excitement is there already.  Before that I have a couple of days in London, so peace will not come so easily.  The buzz of the city will surround me.

I have lots of cloud photos! These were snatched from the car

I have so many cloud photos!  These were snatched from the car

These too!

These too!

So many times I’ve watched the sun come up through my front window and set again in the evening, behind my home.  The peace and wonder of it all envelopes me, and I love it.

That first glimmer of sunlight

That first glimmer of sunlight

And the last curtain fall

Till the last curtain fall

And set behind the house

Just beautiful, isn’t it?

Wishing you all peace this weekend.  I may post for Six Word Saturday next week, but I’ll be in transit so my response will be slow.  In any case, the world will keep on turning.  I hadn’t seen the Daily Post challenge when I posted this, but really- what could be more serene?

Please don’t forget to share your week with Cate at Show My Face, and maybe join me for a walk on Monday?  I’ll look forward to it.

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Shadowed
Not so much shadowed as dwarfed!

Not so much shadowed as dwarfed!

Lost him!

Lost him!

I had little intention of clambering to the heights of Penshaw Monument when I set out for my walk on Monday.  It was blowing a gale, for one thing!  But blue sky and the temptation to ‘see for miles’ got the better of me.

You can even climb to the top, in Summer!

You can even climb to the very top, by a hidden staircase, in Summer

It didn’t last long before the rain gusted in, but it was good while it lasted.  And how else would I meet the weekly challenge?

A new exhibition
Magdalene Odundo exhibit, National Glass Centre

Magdalene Odundo exhibit,  National Glass Centre, Sunderland

Last week I suggested that it was a great time of year to visit museums.  One of my very favourites in the North East of England is the National Glass Centre at Sunderland.  I’m always excited to see the new creations and exhibitions.

The shot above is of Magdalene Odundo’s Transition II and you can see a video of its creation on the link.  It was captivating seen from any angle.

I love the shadows, rippling across the floor

I love the shadows, rippling across the floor

With the occasional flare of colour

With the occasional flare of colour

Of course, I couldn’t resist the lure of the display cabinets and the new items in there.

Isn't this a lovely piece?

Isn’t this a lovely piece?

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And, naturally. there were owls!

And joyful elephants- why not?

And joyful elephants- why not?

I imagine you can see just why I love going there.  Maybe we’ll pop in again on my Monday walk, next week.

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “New.”

In search of threes
Looking out to the platform
Waiting for the train
Poster detail- the good old days!

For those of you who think I spend my life languishing in the Algarve sunshine, here’s a look at Restlessjo’s everyday world.  Let’s start at the railway station, shall we?

A blue sky day!
But what’s on the horizon?
Another platform being towed into place

If the weather’s good, I don’t need to travel far.  Many of my shots are taken on Hartlepool Headland.  There are always boats, or some form of activity.  Now we have a fleet of windmills out at sea.  Look closely at the middle photo.

Can you see the pier in the far distance?
Here it is, much closer
And now, very close!

The promenade wraps around Old Hartlepool, as the Headland used to be known.  A brisk walk along it will surely blow the cobwebs away.  In the distance, signs of former industry.

The Fish Sands- well known in Hartlepool
On the town wall
And looking through it!

The town wall is probably the nicest part of the Headland, and certainly the warmest.  These were taken on a warm but strangely foggy day last Summer.  The fog disappeared as rapidly as it came.

Not such a bad old place, is it?  This is my entry for the Weekly Photo Challenge.  Did I tell my story in threes?

An object of great beauty
The Infinity Bridge, Stockton-on-Tees

The Infinity Bridge, Stockton-on-Tees

An object that tells a story was what Cheri asked for on the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge.  I hadn’t intended to take part this week but, returning from a flying visit to a retail park this afternoon, I caught a glimpse of one of my favourite bridges, silhouetted against a wonderful sky.  “Can we stop for just a minute?”  I asked, and was off like a whirlwind, clutching the camera.

The “story” for me is always what is on the opposite shore.  I love the “invitation to cross” that a bridge always provides.  How about you?

And again

Again

And again!

And again!

Have you entered yet?  I’m off to read some of the other “stories”.