Month: March 2013

Sentimental Value

Posted on Posted in England, Exeter, PhotographyTagged , , , , , , 21 Comments

‘The personal value of an object, place or pet derived from the personal memories associated with it’ is what Jake at http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/sunday-post-sentimental-value/ has challenged us with this week.

My first school, Heavitree, was rebuilt a few years ago and the children now have a lovely modern building and more outdoor space than when I was a pupil. All that remains of the original is the house where the headmaster Mr Knowles lived and had his office. The only reason we children went inside was to see the school nurse, get told off, or like me for extra tutoring because it was decided you had a chance of getting a scholarship for one of the posh schools. It’s no longer part of the school, but a dental surgery.

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This is the old school, around the early 20th century.

From a page © M.E. Brine
From a page © M.E. Brine

I’m not going to say what year this was taken but I think I was about seven. The photo was sent to me by Lesley, two to my left. She is probably my oldest friend.

I'm very easy to find!
I’m very easy to find!

DSC_0470The school always had close ties with the church and now it’s renamed St Michaels.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Future Tense

Posted on Posted in Devon, England, Photography, TravelTagged , , , , , , , , 23 Comments

Michael Pick says, ‘We spend so much of our lives thinking back, or looking ahead, and even though a photo captures only one moment in time, with a bit of thought it can freeze the process of moving forward, or the promise of things to come. Your challenge this week is to seal one such moment in amber’ and invites us to share to join the http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/weekly-photo-challenge-future-tense/
I thought this was an impossible task at first, but then I came up with these.

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A connecting extension to a favourite walk.

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On the strip of ground between the river Exe above and the canal, out of sight on the left, Devon County Council are building a new world class outdoor education centre in Exeter. The spiral stairs to the left are the way up the abseil tower which was nearly completed when I took this photo in January and the centre is due to open in April. A real investment in the future.

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This is sadly a bit more worrying. The South West Coast Path is a 630 mile walk, one of Britains National Trails. The Devon Red Sandstone section here at Sidmouth which climbs sharply eastwards has been closed because of erosion. The path has become unstable in several places, and some homes are at risk of plunging over the cliff. Diversions are in place for walkers until more permanent plans are made.

 

Thames Barge Vigilant revisited

Posted on Posted in England, Photography, Topsham, UncategorizedTagged , , , , 17 Comments

At the very end of 2012 I told you about the restoration of the Thames barge Vigilant on Topsham quay, here https://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2012/12/29/vigilant/ I’ve been back a couple of times but just with my phone camera in fading light. In February I took these.

And just this evening some more.

Haven’t Mr McCabe and co. made good progress?

100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups Week# 81

Posted on Posted in flash fiction, WritingTagged , , 16 Comments

100WCGU (7)Julia says . . .

‘I don’t know about you but things seem very odd in the meteorological system! The weather is not behaving as it should anywhere in the world. Cue for the prompt:

…the unseasonal weather meant …’

Muddy Hindrance

The unseasonal weather meant that I could really have done with my boots, but I’d left them behind in my panic. Over and over my feet slid and at one point I nearly fell headlong into the canal. Toby wasn’t strong enough to help very much but at least he could shine the torch on the towpath for me. Every few feet there was a crunch as I stepped on a pocket of ice glazing the mud.

Finally we passed the lock.

‘You’ll never treat anyone like that again will you dad? Goodbye, you bastard.’ With one big shove his body sank into the deepest water.

Join in at http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week81/

Grand Western Canal

Posted on Posted in Devon, England, Photography, Travel, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , 28 Comments

I walked at the canal again today, starting from the Jubilee bridge this time. It does a horseshoe loop that is quiet disorientating, you feel as if you’ve turned around on yourself. It started cold but once the sun broke through it became a gorgeous day for a stroll, towards Halberton. 2013 Mar 17_3573

The tow path winds its way through the Devon countryside for eleven miles.

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With lovely views of farmland.

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Under some very old bridges, the Devon section of the canal opened in 1814 so the bridges must be roughly the same age.

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It was a muddy day and welly boots were called for – sadly I wasn’t wearing mine! Never mind, it was worth it to see this stunning tree.

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There is lots of wildlife, but I took the wrong lens. When I was there a few weeks ago I had the zoom lens and needed the the standard, this time if I had the zoom I could have got a decent shot of . . . I’m hoping the Hobbit will tell me?

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If you live in the UK you will have heard about the damage to the canal bank in November last year when many parts of the country suffered severe floods. This gallery shows some of the damage, and the temporary dams that are in place to prevent further problems until the repairs begin. Thankfully Devon County Council have budgeted three million pounds to rebuild the thirty metre breach in the embankment. The work begins in June and will take nearly a year to complete.

Now I’ll leave you with a photo from the end of today’s walk, hope you enjoyed it.

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Lunchtime

Posted on Posted in Exeter, Uncategorized, Weekly Photo Challenge, Working worldTagged , , , , , 25 Comments

Lunchtime on a weekday is about eating quickly at my desk and then going out for some fresh air to help keep myself awake for the afternoon. I always have my phone camera with me and keep my eyes open, these photos were taken at various times of the year. Sometimes I walk to the main building, the hospital, where there are often health related displays like the robotic surgery equipment I showed you recently. Below is a walk through, blow up model of the lungs to raise awareness of lung disease a couple of months ago. There are very old trees, and wide grassy areas around the campus and also a childrens park nearby as well as a lovely garden in the cancer support centre. If the weather is just too inclement I’ve been known to walk the very long corridors of the hospital to check out the constantly changing artwork on the walls, check out the shops or sit in one of several cafes. Not bad for a lunch break is it?

What does lunchtime mean to you? share at http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/03/15/photo-challenge-lunchtime/