Bits and pieces

World Photography Day Even though, by enlarge Covid restrictions are fully released here in Britain, lots of our population are still wary and try to protect themselves in our town centres. This taken in my own town centre of Oldham today. It also shows the enduring love and affection we have for our own species in these days of tragic events around the world caused by pandemic, climate and conflicts. www.ipernity.com/group/worldphotographyday

A rather nice and rare night showing both the waning gibbous moon and stars too. A bit of trickery had to take place here to display it like this though. Some minutes later, light cloud came again to obscure this scene. Taken from my garden. Enjoy full size,

Having passed the little rock beach (seen here to the left) we march onwards towards the village of Moelfre but before we get there I spy these sat here drawing the scenery. Each had paper, pens and pencils and where so intent on their work they hardly noticed me. You can also see our coastal path centre right, full of other intrepid walkers. The crowded beach and bay was just beyond the last outcrop seen here in the distance. PiP's Enjoy full screen.

Seen almost at the end of our round coastal walk near Moelfre in North Anglesey. There was in fact an ancient settlement near here too. See PiP. Lligwy, dating from late Neolithic (New Stone Age) times, would have originally been covered by an earthen mound. When the tomb was excavated in 1908, the bones of men, women and children were found along with animal bones, shells, flint implements, pottery and a bone pin. It has a squashed look about it, as if its supporting stones are being slowly forced into the ground by its massive capstone. That’s not the case, even though this large tomb is roofed by a formidable stone 18ft/5.5m long by 15ft/4.6m wide weighing an estimated 25 tons, one of the biggest in Britain. The PiP shows one of the dwellings from the Din Lligwy (settlement) that was a lightly fortified settlement, dating from the 3rd-4th century AD, probably inhabited by the Romano-British tribe. Despite the finds mainly from the Roman period, the beginnings of settlement in this area could go back to the Iron Age.

The poles on the right here were used t dry the nets.

Mosses and grasses cling to life atop this fence post taken with such strong side lighting that all else is thrown into darkness. Just short of an insect climbing the stalk. Have a good day.

This is another shot from the area known as little Assynt. The building you see here is actually a WC using natural and clean resources (i.e saw-dust thrown into pan after use!) etc. The plaque shows one of the messages on the wooden structure and to me rings very true. See PiPs of the same area . (Snow forecast for us today.) Have a great Sunday.

A confusing capture when first seen. In actual fact I am under a low modern canal tunnel looking across to the other side towards a straight stone vertical wall. The illusion is caused by the edge of the tunnel roof reflected from the water back onto that wall in ripples. The bottom darker row of bricks is just a few inches above the water here. Have a good day.

A funny attempt at cheering us all up in these times of continuing Covid variants and worries. Seen on the Rochdale canal path near Littleborough. Happy Advent. Enjoy full screen and keep very safe.

A very rare phone photo here from me whilst on a lightning surprise trip to our capital, London. Part of this trip enabled me to see for the first time, the inside of this most precious esteemed building with all its delights of our worlds histories. Before I got to explore (we only had couple of hours) I spot two wonderful staircases of which one is shown here. I never did get to go up it. I could write and leave millions of words of description here but I shall leave the research up to you my viewers. Only I shall say: At the centre of the British Museum sits the largest covered public square in Europe, the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court. Designed by Foster and Partners, the Great Court is a two-acre space enclosed by a spectacular glass roof with the world-famous Reading Room in the middle. December 6th 2020 marked 20 years since the redesigned Great Court was opened. In that time, 113 million people have walked under the glass roof. A place for all, free and open every day to visitors, the Great Court is one of London's most unique spaces. In the original Robert Smirke Great Court design, the courtyard was supposed to be a garden. However, from 1852 many bookstacks were built, and along with the Reading Room it became the home of the library department of the Museum. The department stayed in the Great Court until 1997, when it was relocated to the new British Library building in St Pancras. Now empty, the Museum took the opportunity to once again reopen the space to the public. See followable PiPs. More on the reading room: www.britishmuseum.org/about-us/british-museum-story/architecture/reading-room ( I did not get to see this.) BooHoo Enjoy full screen.

Those that know me from Panoramio will remember that I used to take very many beach hut scenes. Now, not so many at all, but I could not but help myself to taking this at St Ives in Cornwall. Not really the weather for beach huts but the beach bar has customers. Enjoy full screen. Herb

My Christmas and New Year’s greetings to you all. Thank you for just being my photo friends and sharing your thoughts on here, our Ipernity. Have a wonderful, healthy and peaceful day. Ich wünsche allen Ipernitys Frohe Weihnachten, Joyeux Noël , Buon Natale, Feliz Navidad - ein gutes neues Jahr - ganz viel Gesundheit

September: As Covid retains its grip here in Kendal, we see how the local population have to protect themselves even in the open-air to purchase fresh provisions. We all hoped that 2021 would be better –safer than that dreaded year of 2020 but after early hopes, all was to disintegrate into new health fears and regulations set to protect us all. As I write this three of our British nations have put more stringent precautions in place with England expected to follow suit in the New Year. Mainland Europe and indeed many areas of the world are experiencing their highest Covid cases to date with the onslaught of the new variant Omicron. Ah well, for us here at this home, we carry on regardless, taking photos and trying to enjoy our lives whilst keeping safe and seeing our family periodically. Naturally, wearing mask and being as inoculated as possible is essential for all. Enjoy full screen.

Seen in a Kendal market.

A little scene that grew on me (no pun intended) as we walked along what we call the Uppermill Canal some little time back. I liked the greenish colour cast of the wood harmonizing with the leaves to the stone and water. One for the wall and fence fans. Best full screen. HFF, enjoy the weekend. Herb

A colourful view of the famous mile here at Blackpool taken some years back. The tower has long since been restored to its former glory. It is in its ballroom that we have enjoyed a few tea dances. To the right of this fence you can see glimpses of the tramway pylons and a tiny part of the illuminations that are switched on every September. Enjoy full screen and have a great weekend.

Taken outside the little church of Parroquia De Santa Ana in the small village of Altea Le Vella on the Costa Blanca in Spain. This gentleman told me he had come to sit on here every day for the past forty years. We sat bsides him as we ate our picnic. Snapped in 2018 when the world seemed a more restful place. Best viewed full size. Have a great day.

Tanks encircle Kyiv as democracy and people die in Ukraine. The world stands and watches. ON THE CANAL SIDE Built by the Victorians to stand the test of time these steps helped the barge-men gain the height to the top of the canal lock here on the Rochdale Canal in Lancashire. There was also a ramp nearby where the dray horse could get to the top too and have a little rest before carrying on its hard pull along the next stretch of water. The fence here built with care and made to last in the days when such things were normal. Even the rocks making this wall are shaped to add beauty to a very practical structure. Enjoy the weekend. Herb