Dockside Car Show

Hi folks,
sorry for the break I have been in hospital after a fall last Thursday which really I would like to forget. Still life goes on and hear are a few I captured on the day.

BMW with wonderful paint job.

Side view of air intake.

Brings back memories of my early days in the motor trade. These Austin 1100's I used to work on most days in my youth.

One for Stan of a Ford Cosworth with a mirror in the bonnet.

Immaculate engine.

Reflection via the bonnet.

Old Austin in prime condition.

Finally just love the air conditioning in the window.

Thanks for looking, maybe a few more tomorrow before I go into hospital again.

Best regards, Mike

Over Venice

Hi Folks, I am being temporary Blogmaster while Michael is in hospital with a knee injury, I hope that I have chosen something interesting to you.
He said to just find some pictures, write some words and post, sounds simple but my problem was in choosing from the thousands of pictures from hundreds of places.  Here goes!

We visited Venice seven years ago and climbed (in the lift) to the top of this bell tower, St Mark's Basilica standing at 98.6 metres or 323 feet and situated in a corner of St Mark's Square.

St Mark's Square, our hotel was off the top of the picture and over two little bridges.

Al Fresco dining.

Gondola Parking Lot.

Below are the domes of St Mark's Basilica, a Catholic Cathedral Church.

If you haven't been there it is hard to believe that Venice is actually made up of 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges and according to Wikipedia, is located in the marshy Venetian Lagoon stretching along the shoreline between the mouths of the Rivers Po and Piave.

We enjoyed our two weeks there very much and spent a lot of time walking and riding the Public boats across the wider canals.

This bell tower was being renovated and so topped out with scaffolding. 

I hope I have not disappointed Michael's faithful followers and we  are hoping that he will be home soon.  Thanks for visiting.

Bye for now.  Sue Goodes

Mary Rose the conclusion

Hi folks,

a few more artifacts with missing parts added with frosted acrylic.

Part of a Pepper Mill Grinder.

This is unique, a Crows Nest which was a spare stored away in case of emergency.

Emblem of Tudor Rose on the Cannon.

Another angle of the drying process showing more detail of the ship. The pipes will eventually be removed once the ship is dry and stable.

Coins found on board.

Even a musical instrument.

An assortment of knives and daggers.

Finally the outside of the building which is designed to keep her safe for many years to come.

I hope you enjoyed the brief visit and I would recommend you go if you can to view the ship in all it's glory.  Thanks for visiting the blog.

Best regards, Mike

Mary Rose

Hi folks,
well the highlight of our holiday was to see the Mary Rose as she is now in the drying out stage and by 2017 she should be preserved for many future generations. She is now full of wax preservative due to many years of spraying and now has to be slowly dried.

A  grand sight but still in the drying stage hence the grey tubes along the decks

To me more interesting was the artifacts that were saved due to airtight areas with possessions locked in mud as she was partly buried in the sea bed on her side.

The ships guns were displayed well next to the ship they came from.

The artifacts are cleverly displayed by using white frosted acrylic to replace parts lost.

The lighting was very low but I am pleased with the outcome after many hours of post processing with the computer using raw files to get this result.

The Mary Rose Dog which was found by the Master Carpenters cabin and was a cross between a Whippet and a Terrier with large jaws and was used on board to catch Rats.

Some of the Surgeons tools use on the ship with the frosted acrylic used on parts that were missing.

Lastly a Spade with it's blade reproduced.

That's all today but a few more to show of this marvelous ship later and I hope this has wetted your appetite to go the visit the ship and it's artifacts in Portsmouth it is well worth the trip.

Thanks for looking.

Best regards, Mike

HMS Victory #2

Hi folks,
continuing on around the ship.

Well that's all from this ship, keep watching for a glimpse of the Mary Rose.

Best regards, Mike

HMS Victory

Hi folks,

Just a quick trip around this magnificent ship.

to be continued in next blog.

Best regards, Mike

Portsmouth Dockyard

Hi folks,

now back from our fantastic week in Portsmouth and a lot to report after the kite festival. We stayed in the area on camp sites for another week touring about the area and seeing a few attractions on our travels.
Winnie, the camper van did us proud and gave us a trouble free time and took us to lots of places around the area.

We had a day in the Dockyard and went around the Mary Rose and the Victory.

First off the HMS Warrior 1860, we did not go on board as we had little time with the other ships we visited.

Start of the Millennium trail in the dockyard by the entrance.

HMS Victory which we go on later.

Lord Nelson's figure by the Victory.

Royal Navy Gun Carriage Statue to commemorate field gun competitions in Portsmouth in front of HMS Victory.

Thanks for looking, lots more to follow.

Best regards, Mike