Rose for Chris

Hi folks,

well we are off today for hopefully a nice weekend in Winnie the camper van so wish us luck.

Poor Chris is waiting patently for a blog but I have really shown all, so to cheer her up here's a rose especially for her.

Have a nice Easter one and all. I hope to get a few from the weekend to show.

Best regards, Mike

Few more to keep you all going

Hi folks,
well it goes on and on, so a few more from Portsmouth remembering the good sunny summer days.

There, I hope that helped to keep you going.

Best regards, Mike

Harping Back to Last Summer!

Hi folks,

Well what can you say, one week goes into the next with cold and snow with little sign of winter letting go.

So lets all cheer up and go back to last August and the bank holiday in Portsmouth. Just checked through and found these, enjoy.

Cant go on much longer, can it??

Best regards Mike

Spring is Just Around the Corner

Hi folks,

Actually got out today as I went to Sittingbourne with Sue who while she was working I was trying to play and went to the Gunpowder Factory in Ore near Faversham. The Park was well laid out and it would be great in the spring and the sunshine but with yet another grey English day on the cards I just had to take it in my stride.
The Gunpowder making side of the day was scuppered by it only being opened at weekends and the main exhibit, the grinding wheels were locked away and only visible through a mess door.

Still I was there so buck yourself up Michael and go for a walk around the lake and see what I could find.

 First off were the Swans

The green you can see is weed as they swam along and it got on their white feathers.

Trying to get a shot of birds on the wing was a bit tricky in this light but hey ho, I had to try.

I then turned to static objects, this bud was just starting to show the first signs of spring

Nature always throws something at you when you least expect it, this bit of twig had Lichen on it and with the droplets from the early morning dew (11.30 am). Note the end of the car key for scale

Lastly  a couple of Tufted Ducks across the lake.

Well it's the first day of SPRING today so things can only get better, I hope.

                                                                                                                                                             

Thanks for looking.

Best regards, Mike.

St Margaret's and it's surroundings.

Hi Folks,
we continue in the church for a while showing the Pulpit and the Pews which were cut down in 1907 work, previously they were called "Horse box" design with high backs. If you were small you would have been really closed in.

Original illumination used in the church, lifted and lowered by a chain.

Another view of the pews with the North aisle used as a memorial chapel.

Back outside in the car park, the Edith May, a renovated Thames Barge use for trips and races, St Margaret's and of course "Winnie" our Camper Van.

The Edith May being used as a cafe and a venue for musical groups.

Across the Estuary lies Kings North Power station due to be decommissioned and the chimney removed later, I will be there to see it come down.

After the very strong winds this boat is a bit worst for wear.

Finally, photography is a bit like fishing, every once in a while an opportunity presents itself that you are not prepared for. This Grebe decided to make an appearance just as I was about to take a shot of the Church from the river, a quick lens change and I got this. Best catch of the day.

Thanks for joining me on our journey to Lower Halstow and thanks to my regulars for your lovely comments.

Best regards, Mike, sorry for the delay had and still have internet troubles, engineer coming tomorrow.

St. Margaret's, Lower Halstow, Kent

Hi folks,
Back again after a little catch up with other important things going on plus the atrocious weather did not help.

Today after a bit of work we trundled off to walk along the Medway by the Edith May Barge at Lower Halstow.  We found that this charming church was "Open" for lunch, we had looked at the exterior many times before when it was closed.  Today we were very pleased to be able to go inside and have lunch, which I must add was very good and served by a happy throng of volunteers.

A small village church which has been altered and added to over the centuries.

The font is really unusual and I haven't seen anything like it in my travels dates fro 1160/1180.  It has a wooden cover which is raised using a chain and counterweight system.

Revealing a beautifully decorated lead font, the leaflet told me it was one of only 30 lead fonts in the country and one of only four in Kent.  It had been plastered over at some time during the 16th or 17th century possibly to protect it from being melted down or a cheap way of repairing damage.  The plaster began to crack away until the real form of the font became evident in the 1920's.

It is really pleasing to see all the work in the casting and something that the Church treasures.

Another look at the inside of St Margaret's tomorrow.

Thanks for looking.

Best regards Mike.

Battle of Britain Memorial 2

Hi folks, as you know yesterday we visited the Battle of Britain Memorial and just to complete the days visit here are the concluding images. First up a poem on a plaque by the wall called Our Wall by William Walker.

The Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial wall. we all found it very moving.

Below a bunch of flower laid by the fallen names.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park's bust.

Back at the Hunting Lodge I looked up at the weather vane as we entered for a cup of tea.

Lastly the famous writing on the Beaverbrook wall that symbolizes the second word war.

" Never in the field of human conflict was much so owed by so many to so few"  Winston Churchill

Sorry the images were a bit dull due to the overcast day, the next day it snowed heavy

We all left a bit sad on this gloomy day mindful of all the lives sacrificed during the war so that we can walk free.

Thanks for looking.

Best regards, Mike, Sue and Margaret.

Battle of Britain Memorial

Hi folks,

after the Travel Show we took a trip to the Battle of Britain Memorial on the top of Capel-le-Ferne, a wonderful spot overlooking the sea high up on the cliffs. The first thing that greets you is the figure of the young pilot looking out to sea on a misty cold March day.

Wider angle with the squadron shields marked out on the stone plinth with the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall behind.

Close up of a rose prominently laid on the memorial.

Sculpture of Bob the Squadron dog

 Hawker Hurricane, actually a model of the full sized plane.

Super Marine Spitfire.

Lastly one of the other 1940 Memorials by the South Kent College

Another look at this fantastic Memorial tomorrow.

Thanks for looking.

Best regards Mike.

Folkestone Travel Exhibition

Hi folks,
Spring is nearly upon us so today a crowd of us went to Folkestone to see what deals were to be had at the Travel Exhibition down there and came away with a few ideas for the summer.
First off was the War and Peace Revival which this year is in Folkestone Race Course and should be a spectacular event, The camera will be going so look out for some pictures of this in the summer.

Inside were various organizations  and a display of dancing by re-enactors who will be at the show in the summer. Don't know how Hodges got in there "put that light out".

Having a tea break in the dancing interval.

Tonbridge Castle hosts were there in full costume, telling people about events laid on.

Finally a look out of a window to show what we were missing outside, not a lot.

There, well worth a visit and lots of ideas for the summer, let's hope it is a good one weather wise.

Thanks for looking.

Best regards Mike.

Just to brighten you all up.

Hi folks,
as it was such a bad wet day, I thought I would cheer you all up with this one and only image left from Wakehurst.

Hope the weather didn't get you all down too much.

Best regards, Mike