Bits and pieces

In these days of lock-down and self-isolation for us ‘owd-uns’ (old-ones), sometimes we have to find other things to do besides taking and editing photos. Here is yours-truly messing around on his latest unfinished 'masterpiece' at his very amateur water painting hobby. And, don’t worry, I am not always as untidy as this –I am afraid the photography got in the way here :) Maybe we should start a new Ipernity group named –‘Our other hobbies’

Not one for taking or publishing many flower picture, I just had to snap these as they seem quite unusual from our normal yellow and red varieties. My wife said they were 'doubles' whatever that means! Hope you like the greeting-card type framing here. Again, essential full screen on black.

My second contribution to this months SPC, coming in fourth place. In the tradition of the Old Masters of Still Life. Enjoy large

The third of my recent SPC contributions. This came in 5th place. Another in the tradition of the old masters. Enjoy full screen on black.

As we return to the port from the fire mountains we pass through a most unusual scene of semi-circles along the base and sides of the broad valley. This is actually a vineyard were the famous Malvasía grape is cultivated resulting in excellent wines. To me, even though the wines were indeed very good I was entranced by the unique scenery. As usual best view full screen on black. The valley of La Geria, which has been declared a 'Protected Area', is Lanzarote’s main wine-growing region, occupying about 20 square miles (52 square kilometres) and stretching on both sides of the road from Masdache to Uga and right up to the volcanic slopes. This area produces most of Lanzarote’s excellent wines, of which 75 per cent are made from the Malvasía grape, one of the oldest known grape varieties. Best known as a honey-coloured, very sweet wine with a rich flavour, already praised by Shakespeare hundreds of years ago, today the Malvasía grape produces a wide variety of quality white, red or rosé wines, from very sweet to very dry. Located on the edge of the badlands and covered with black volcanic ash, the vineyards of La Geria valley look like they have been transplanted here from another planet. The Lanzaroteños found an indigenous way of cultivating vines on this arid and hostile ground. They dug more than 10,000 funnel-shaped hollows into the thick layers of picón (coarse volcanic ashes), planted the vines, only one vine per hollow, filled them with soil and poured thick layers of picón over it, as the porous volcanic granules ideally retain the night humidity to feed the plants. In order to protect them from the constant winds and drying out, they built low, semicircular walls around them. This unique cultivation method results in a prosperous wine industry, renowned for excellent wines, which can be sampled and purchased in a number of local winegrowers’ bodegas (wine shops). La Geria has become quite a popular attraction, it looks like a gigantic and spectacular piece of landscape art.

Spotted in our old ‘Bardsley Canal’. It was rather slow moving but you really don’t want to meet with these things close-up. Enjoy full screen More sightings here in Yorkshire by our friend Toz: www.ipernity.com/doc/2405228/50177870 www.ipernity.com/doc/2405228/50182148

Taken in Sóller at a local fruit and vegetable market seller. There were in fact a few sets of hanging vegetables on this outside wall, as my PiP’s demonstrate. Chillies, peppers and garlic –all essential ingredients for Spanish cooking, no wonder the local restaurants were all full. A nice mix of colours for my camera too :) Enjoy full size.

Deia – We have reached our lunchtime destination of this wonderful rustic bar/restaurant perched on the cliff side overlooking clear blue waters. (see previous photo for views from here). The ‘Restaurante Sa Foradada’ describes itself as: “being in the perfect surrounding. Its Mediterranean balcony is located high on the cliffs facing the small peninsula of Sa Foradada." See PiPs “We specialize in rice and paella cooked in wood, local fish and seafood, salads, local desserts and, in general, Mediterranean and Mallorcan cuisine, with the extra touch of flavor provided by the sea breeze.” How true, as our meal and photos of the cooking surely testify to. Enjoy full size.

For those of you who have watched my photos from the Panoramio days, you will know that I used to have a passion for taking photos of beach huts. Nowadays, sadly the chances do not come as often. However on this recent trip to the North Yorkshire coast I spied a few and here is a high view down to the large beach of Whitby town and its row of colourful beach huts. I must admit to enjoying the soft shades of wet sand lighting too. More of my beach-huts in PiPs Enjoy full screen

Seen overlooking the beach at Runswick Bay. Some years back there used to be a lot more fishing boats around here, now there are mainly memories and a few pleasure boats but this old winch survives to pull the odd boat up out of the water as seen. Enjoy full screen.

As we continue this hike around this reservoir, we come across a Spanish Refugio. This shelter for hikers to stay the night has obviously been recently renovated but manages to keep its charm. Enjoy full size.

Two photos here of a typical farm complex showing ‘gable ends’. This is the vertical triangular wall between sloping ends of the roof (also called a gable roof). Here (in pip1) we see also the array of chimney pots leading from the open fires of old into almost every room. This is the farm too, that the red farming implement on the preceding photo stems from. (Pip2) PiPs Enjoy full screen

As since Thursday midnight, our second Covid National lock-down starts to take hold, we see here a refreshing view of life before all that. In reality this was taken some eight or so weeks ago and so restrictive meetings of groups was still in place. I presume these people were then in one family or in one of our now famous ‘bubbles’! - I for one, was certainly not going to break up their little bit of freedom. HFF. Have a very safe and enjoyable weekend. Essential full screen

Taken at The Church of Saint Anne, Lydgate, on our morning isolation walk today. This was after yesterdays very quite remembrance day celebrations. All the poppies here were hand made, mostly knitted and made from wool, no doubt by their own parishioners. Enjoy full screen.

There is something going on here at Oldham’s Alexandra Park Conservatory. The whole inside almost pulsates with light as though some link to another world is taking place… And…someone or something has transported all the beautiful hot-house plants to …where? - Only to replace them with bits of wood in a most haphazard, even explosive fashion! It’s perhaps just as well that a high well-locked fence protects us on this side, as there is no telling what might happen to us if we should try to pass through that door! HFF. Have a safe and enjoyable weekend.

Alexandra Park in Autumn and a photo just a few days after Halloween when pumpkins dominated. Here is someone’s idea of a joke and brings a smile to me. This statue has history: it replaces an earlier one of the very same nature that was placed in the park in 1865 but was damaged beyond repair in 1956. In 2004 Sculpture Andrew Sinclair created this replica, he only had a fuzzy photo of the original and so enlisted the help of a young 23yr old model called Naomi. It is said that this original statue was based on the biblical character of Rebecca, in which two references come to light: 1) “Before he had finished speaking, there was Rebecca…. Coming out with her water jar on her shoulder. The girl was very fair to look upon, a young girl, whom no man had known. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up.’ Genesis 24:1-27.” 2) The Betrothal and Marriage of Rebecca Rebecca was the young woman who became the wife of Isaac, Sarah’s son. She came from a well-to-do family in upper Mesopotamia, now north eastern Syria. She was a relative of Abraham; her family background is given in Genesis 22:20-23. Rebecca was beautiful, shrewd, energetic, physically robust and strong-willed. We first meet her at the well of Aram-naharaim, where she showed that she was willing to work, and confident enough to speak without fear to the strangers who had been sent by Abraham to find a wife for Isaac. This moment, with its symbolism of the well and water, has been popular with artists through the ages. Of course 'Halloween' is also derived from the bible: 'All Hallows' Eve', (The eve of 'All Saints Day' As is usual with my photos, best viewed full screen

Another isolation walk on our local linear railway walk, now in the Winter time. This was taken just a week or so ago now and although it has snowed quite heavy in some area’s yesterday, we have none here. No children on this photo but as we passed here again a day or so back, there were a few braving the cold with their mums. HFF to one and all and have a fine safe weekend.

A prize to the first person that comes up with the right answer :) Enjoy full screen. OK -the prize of a trip to Mars on the next available space ship goes to Jaap. It is a children's slide, taken in a local park. I have seen and heard shouts of delight as kids dived into this top end to shoot our at the bottom. I have not seen children in this park since last March! Thanks for enjoying the quizz.