holiday

Trials,Tribulations and Happy Moments in my busy life

Friday 31 August 2012

Steam Fair continued...

Hi folks,

to continue on our steam trip.


This is Jerry, he pulled us around the site up the hill around the top to look at the views and back down to the station.



Off we go around a quite large circuit the ride was all in with the entrance ticket out into the countryside.


Arriving at the Quarry. 


This Wagon I think has been there a while looking at the amount of grass growing out of the stones.


View from the top of the hill by the Quarry as is usual nowadays the place was getting a bit overgrown and restricting the view.


Take a close look at this Peacock he will reappear later down the blogs, what he was doing up at the Quarry was anyone's guess.


back at the station, Jerry backed up to take its next load of passengers up the hill.


This tickled me, an advert showing that smoking can prevent a sore throat.


Some of the fair rides where powered by a large stationary steam engine.


This young lad, ( I'm showing my age) on his own stoking the beast, he looked  bit lonely really I think he wanted some company.

Well that's part two, all that is left are the children on the rides next blog.

Thanks for dropping by.

nite nite, luv Mike XX

Thursday 30 August 2012

Hollycombe Steam Fair.

Hi folks,

let me take you back to the beginning of the holiday. we traveled down to Portsmouth on the Thursday and stopped for lunch in the town of Liphook. We noticed one of those brown signs with a steam train on it and duly arrived at the Hollycombe Steam in the Country Museum. We thought it would break up the journey if we popped in for a visit. Well what can I say the area was full of steam driven fairground rides, here's  glimpse.


As we went to pay this majestic steam engine trundled by with a loud toot of his whistle.


We were quite early as the place was just opening and there where not many people about but I caught this little boy in one of the old fashioned cars on his own thoroughly enjoying himself.


Still not many people about and I started to take pictures of the area before anyone arrived and it was a bit eary without people on the rides. Note the steam engine in the centre used to drive the ride.


Here's a view from the side giving a better view of the power unit.


next was the hall of mirrors, I just had to have a go.


Look Trev, this is the way to get thin quick, legs are a bit short though.


The big wheel.

A bit later a few punters have started to arrive and the place started to get busy. Lots of children with there mums arrived and the place changed and had more atmosphere.


Again the big wheel had its own steam plant driving it.

Hope you like the first part , more people turn up and the place livens up in the next blog.

Thanks for dropping by.

nite nite, luv Mike XX

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Porchester Castle

Hi folks,

after the festival we made our way home via this castle, the weather was a bit bleak but I thought I would give the place a once over.


This is an English Heritage site and as we had just joined we thought, lets go for it.


Stain glass frame a bit worst for wear, bet it looked great when it was new.


Richard II built a small Palace here in 1396 for use as a hunting lodge and to stay in whilst waiting for a ship to France.


Entrance to Palace showing lights stands on either side.


Looking up where the floors once were


I actually climbed to the top and peeped over, loads of stairs.


View from the top of the Keep looking towards that Tower again.


St Mary's Church which had a lovely tea room inside run by volunteers.


Close up of the main window above the alter.


View of the alter


Memorial window with flowers.



Well as it was our 46th Wedding Anniversary and nearly 2pm I asked a passerby to take this at the church door.

Thanks for dropping by.

nite nite, luv Mike and Sue XXX

Tuesday 28 August 2012

Portsmouth at Night

hi folks,

Back home safe and sound and should be in bed really but had time to relax and put up a couple I took last night at the estuary looking towards the Spinnaker Tower. It's nice to be own my own computer after four days away.


Here she is last night and that very expensive boat in the foreground is still moored alongside.


Looking across the bay as the sun started to set giving a glorious colour at the end of the day.

Well off to bed I go after having a great weekend with friends and our Sue today on our Anniversary.

nite nite, love Mike XX

Sunday 26 August 2012

Portsmouth International Kite Festival 2

Hi folks,

well the second day of the Festival and the sky was BLUE wall to wall.  As the Internet connection is iffy  I am just going to put up pictures today.

Look at the monkey on the ground against the human and then in the air and you will get an idea of its' size.





















Then the clouds came in, sorry no text as the hotel changed the password so I am using the phone as a link.

Thanks for looking.

nite nite, luv Mike XX

Saturday 25 August 2012

Portsmouth International Kite Festival

Hi folks,

well here we are on Southsea Common, the venue of the Portsmouth Kite Festival 2012.  As we arrived at 9-15 am it started to rain but undeterred it was onwards and upwards quite literally and then the rain stopped and the sun came out. So much for the weather forecast.


Here we are in full swing with still a few clouds about. The Spinnaker Tower in the background picked out in the sunlight is by Gunwharf Quays about two miles away.


Here are a few of many images taken during the day.


A pair of Angels.


Cupid with blue wings and a heart.


Sumo Warrior in all his fierceness.


Big blue whale being chased by a small green fish.


Another inflatable held aloft by a lifter kite.


One of several Geisha Girls in attendance. 


Close up of Tom.


This is part of an exhibition held in a giant marquee, showing the detail, some are painted and others are appliqued.

This is just a taster of the many wonderful sights to be seen on Southsea Common, weather permitting more flying tomorrow and Bank Holiday Monday.

Thanks for dropping by.

nite nite, luv Mike XX