Picture(s) of the day....

[mickthemaverick]

Thanks Neil!!

[white exec]

Thanks from this way too, Neil.
You're right, had no thought of photographing one of our trio of pencil sharpeners this morning!
Apart from not needing batteries, they also make a contribution to workout .

[myglaren]

Keep fit pencil sharpeners. You need a Jane Fonda video to go with that!

Rubbish photo. Stuck the camera out of the kitchen window - it's chucking it down out there.
First flower from the self-seeded Morning Glory, completely different colour from the originals, which were pale pink and deep blue.

Also apparently St. John's Wort, which is another self seeded thing, must have been dropped by a bird as there is none of this stuff anywhere near here.
Taken ages to flower so it could be identified.
Cures all ills, allegedly

[bobins]

Hell Razor's question about 1 legged stools prompts me to put this up. These were taken many years ago at Caerwent Royal Navy Propellant Factory where they manufactured bang

Tank room 1 - own work

Large building where large storage and mixing tanks were sited.

Tank room 2 - own work

Different large room where different large storage and mixing tanks were sited.

Small service loco - own work

Bigger shunting loco - own work

Shunting bollard - own work

The site had its own rail network and was connected to the mainline.

Magazine and Xantia - own work

Bang store and my trusty old Xantia

[white exec]

There were lots of those places across the country, most with their own railway, linked to main lines.
For an interesting read, try Wikipedia on Risley Moss.
No fewer than 40,000 were employed there on explosives, and the site, post-WW2, became HQ for atomic bomb research, and eventually UKAEA, in charge of all the other UK nuclear weapons and research sites.
The site is now a business park and leisure/nature reserve, but does include HMP Risley.

The gym on the HMP site was one of half-a-dozen almost identical WW2 theatres/cinemas/dance halls. All those munitions workers, and several thousand allied troops who passed through the area, needed entertaining! After the war, those theatre buildings became various things: one a Country Club of ill somewhat ill-repute in Glazebrook, another an exhaust-pipe factory (Lathom or Latham exhausts, who manufactured for Rover), one more a pig-farmer's animal shelter, another part of Bruche Police Training Centre, and one more - 'home' for me for four years - the Drama Studio Theatre at Padgate College of Education. That last is now the North West Media Centre, equipped as a professional television studio, and part of the University of Chester.

[NewcastleFalcon]

If I am not mistaken the orangey flower is a Crocosmia of some description. Big feature on them growing in the wild in their native South Africa in Gardeners World on Sunday morning. I'll put that down to "familiarity phenonemon" where your attention is raised for a particular thing, and subsequently you are more switched on to noticing that thing.

Watch out for it you may start noticing desk mounted pencil sharpeners you never noticed before!


Regards Neil

[bobins]

There were lots of those places across the country, most with their own railway, linked to main lines.
For an interesting read, try Wikipedia on Risley Moss.
No fewer than 40,000 were employed there on explosives, and the site, post-WW2, became HQ for atomic bomb research, and eventually UKAEA, in charge of all the other UK nuclear weapons and research sites.

Yes, it was quite a boom industry for a while.....






........ I'll get my coat

[myglaren]

If I am not mistaken the orangey flower is a Crocosmia of some description. Big feature on them growing in the wild in their native South Africa in Gardeners World on Sunday morning. I'll put that down to "familiarity phenonemon" where your attention is raised for a particular thing, and subsequently you are more switched on to noticing that thing.

Watch out for it you may start noticing desk mounted pencil sharpeners you never noticed before!


Regards Neil

Always known as Montbretia. Came from mother in law's garden in 1979 and have followed us through several moves. Grow like weeds, I am trying, without much success, to eradicate them.

[NewcastleFalcon]

You can't beat a gaping hole, or a few named bricks for a wholesome satisfying POTD
One of the largest 19th Century Limekilns in the Country according to its listing by Historic England.

nf own work

The fire bricks named Burn-Axe were produced by the Burn Fireclay Company at Stobswood Northumberland. No doubt they have made their travels to many parts.

and a former worker has even produced a 25 minute slideshow on you tube on the works. Limited interest granted but just for completeness its in the spoiler.

Spoiler: show

REgards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Not just bricks, botany, agriculture and ornithology
Botany

an orchid.

Agriculture

barley's safely gathered in ere the winter storms begin

Ornitology

its a goldfinch!

Regards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

Following the discussion about Waitangi on The Chain I thought this may be of interest. It was a gift brought back for me from SWMBO's last trip to her homeland:

Own work

[NewcastleFalcon]

I guess bringing a New Zealand Brick back might have been a bit heavy in the hand luggage

Nice little gallery here!
https://www.newzealandpottery.net/t7205 ... med-bricks

Maybe we should have a bit of a paddle around New Zealand over at "the Chain" before the chain moves on. Shame to go all the way to Waitangi and move off New Zealand without sampling its delights. I pop across and move us to a museum where amongst other things there is...an interesting brick collection!


REgards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

quite pleased with that young long tailed tit

and another one to make a nice pair

Regards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

An English country village which has featured in the OTCL recently:

Own work

[mickthemaverick]

Food for the nature club:

Own work