April 2009 - - - 12 of 12

It's the 12th again, credit and thanks as always to Chad Darnell, here's my day . . .

Today was the first (of the year) book and craft fair in the open market, so I went into town, parked at about 11.30am and noticed this graffiti . . .

it is near the library, so maybe that explains it.
This (next shot) is the library, and this shot is a two-fer - as I can use it in this week's photo theme challenge over at Elements Village forum.

I wanted to walk past this cafe/bar to read the menu, I keep thinking I'll go and have lunch there one day, but haven't yet.

Then it was on to the market, as you can see the vintage magazines are organic!

Chairs must come under the 'craft' section. I liked the shadow cast on the seat.

Then as my last month's 12 was a grey day in black and white, I thought I'd show you some of the colour in town, yes it really is that shade of pink . . .

Then it was a baked potato eaten sitting on a bench for lunch (sorry hands were too full to have the camera out at the same time), then back to the car park and home.

Back home . . . in the garden the horse chestnut tree is shooting nicely . . .

the daffodils are on the whole past their best, but this one is still quite pretty . . .

. . . and the pink blossom is, well . . . . pink . . .

Persia is more indoor than outdoor cat, but he likes a walk and sniff round the garden if he sees any of us out there . . .

His brother meanwhile was sleeping it off inside . . . but when he saw me at the table with the camera he has to come and see what's happening, even if he can't sit that still . . .

It's their birthday tomorrow, they will be 4, but they will have to wait for their present, unfortunately the oven died last weekend, so we are waiting for a new oven, so can't cook them any chicken just now.

And finally this is instead of an egg . . . an Easter egg that is . . . it's the Hotel Chocolat tasting club classic selection box (they had a very good promotion on when I ordered), their chocs are delicious and there are no longer two of those white chocolate with freeze dried strawberry bits on top (it contains meringue and a strawberry puree) and is my fave.

If you are celebrating Easter, then Happy Easter! Thanks for visiting my day, your visits and comments are much appreciated. I look forward to seeing your Sundays.

March 2009 - - - 12 of 12

Well, it's been a while since I did a 12 of 12, last October in fact, but credit and thanks go as always to Chad Darnell.

I didn't have anything much happening today, but thought I would share my walk round town and the Local Produce Market with you, and it's in black and white (well, mainly), honestly the sky was so grey although it did just about manage a pale blue by the time I was putting the camera away. All shots are taken around lunch time today.

While I was waiting to cross the road . . .

I like to see some old signs surviving even when the shops they belonged to are long gone . . .

and this is what day it is tomorrow . . .

We're quite lucky that the town still has a high number of independent retailers including this green grocer's.

The bread stall on the market, I got a garlic and herb twist (which got eaten at lunch time) and a cider loaf which I hadn't tried until today.

The food cooking was sausage and leek 'something-or-other', but I wasn't tempted, I don't eat pork (in fact I rarely eat red meat at all) and wish they'd do a veggie version.

Walked from the market square round by the Castle and for the first time had a proper look at the cannon. I didn't know it was from the Crimean War . . . . .

(Note - if you like historical novels/romances, The Rose of Sebastopol by Katharine McMahon is very good).

Looking towards the market . . .

and then towards the Castle . . .

then walking back to the car park . . .

Today's bonus picture is something you don't see very often nowadays . . .

Thanks for visiting my blog, your visits and comments are always appreciated. I look forward to seeing your days :).

Here's the link for more 12 of 12s this month.

October 2008 --- 12 of 12

It's the 12th again, credit and thanks to Chad Darnell as always.
Here are some of the more interesting bits of my day .....


Sunday mornings I usually head off into town for the market, the first and third Sundays of each month it's the antique/flea market and the Sundays in between have a different theme, today was the book and craft market ....

11.20 am in the car park ........ Season of mists ..... (after leaving blue skies at home)

still in the car park

however before browsing round the stalls, I had to check out whether what I had seen driving into town was true, could those really be Christmas decorations?

11.30 am What's this? ....... Someone important arriving? ....... No.

........ do they know it's Christmas time? .......

11.40 browsing round the market .... which is open air btw ....

..... quite a crowd gathered ....

... soap .......

..... and earrings ......

I have to say though that the market was better before they merged the book market with the craft market. There used to be some really good stalls on the books which sadly aren't there any more. However it's still a good way to spend an hour or so on a Sunday morning.

After getting a cup of tea and a scone, headed home to blue skies and autumn leaves ....

12.45 pm The boys kindly agreed to be in this month's 12, but didn't really want to stand still and look at the camera, too much other interesting stuff (like smells in hedgerows) going on ....

..... and this month's bonus pic ..........'See ya later mom, things to do in next door's garden.'

Thanks for visiting my day, your visit and comments are much appreciated. As always I look forward to seeing your days.

August 2008 --- 12 of 12

It's the 12th again, credit and thanks as always to Chad Darnell.
Here's my day, well at least the more scenic and sunnier part ..........

from 12.00 until some time after 3.00 pm (between the showers)

My mom and I had arranged to meet up with her cousin and her husband for lunch in Belbroughton. My gran originated from Belbroughton, a picturesque village in Worcestershire, so it's one of those places steeped in family history.

Belbroughton High Street

The Belbroughton History Society have done a great job in placing plaques on notable buildings, this is where my Gran went to school (in the 1920s), she hated it.

The Queens - my Grandad used to drink here in the 1930s. It's where we had a very nice lunch today.
I'm sure they wouldn't have been serving coffee back then

but I'm pretty sure he would've walked on this floor in the entrance hall

Next to the pub car park is a fast running brook where there used to be a water mill back in the day

So we left Belbroughton after 3pm, and headed home, as the weather seemed to be improving, we decided to pass by the Severn Valley Railway in Bewdley.

3.55 pm

My favourite shot of the day (below).

A fine example of Victorian street architecture in the guise of a urinal. Not in use these days, however.

View from the cafe next to the platform.

4.49 pm the train arriving from Bridgnorth

and when only minutes later, a train arrived from Kidderminster (the other direction), the quiet station became a veritable hive of activity.

Hanging out on a vintage railway station taking photos is a fine way to spend an hour or so on a sunny afternoon.

Bonus picture: after 5 pm on the drive back home, it wasn't just the road works causing delay, but we met these sheep too ... oddly enough they are not the sharpest flock of sheep as the camera kept focussing on the guy's behind ;0).

There you have it, my day. Thanks for visiting, your visit and comments are very much appreciated and I look forward to checking out your days :0).

July 2008 --- 12 of 12

12 of 12 is here again, thanks and credit to Chad Darnell as always, here are some photos of my day.........

Today was rather 'unplanned' (as in no agenda) but fortunately it stopped raining long enough to make it worth taking off the lens cap ....... as I hadn't been out to take any photos in 2 weeks, we were headed into mid-Wales, only to find a couple of large lorries setting up a road block to warn of an accident ahead and hence road closed. So we turned round and headed back to Knighton, a small market town.

12.20 pm Parked next to the cattle market and planned to walk over towards the church via the back streets and then back through the town centre ....


Empty cattle pens.

12.30 pm I really like some of the Victorian buildings you see in these small towns, this one is dated 1880.

The church, as you can see the sky was rather changeable today, but nicely blue for this shot.

Walking back into the town. I liked the lines.

12.45 pm in the town, the 'chalk walk' must have taken someone a long time to draw and I think it is to do with a beer festival (but I didn't see any signs of that, honest).

1.00 pm Too bad I wasn't looking for a second hand sewing machine as there were plenty on sale here, looks a good deal if that is what you are after ;0).

1.30 pm After a cup of tea and a Welsh cake, I walked out of the cafe to find the clock tower without any parked cars in the way.

Old milestone on the walk back to the car park (fortunately the car wasn't parked at Clun or it would've been a long walk ;0) ).

2.30 pm As it hadn't taken long to wander around, decided to drive home via Presteigne, another small town in Wales. Presteigne, I know a little, it has an interesting used book store and a couple of antique shops and some nice looking buildings, but one of the very interesting 'things to see' is a grave stone in the church yard,
"To the Memory of Mary Morgan," who was hanged in 1805 "for the Murder of her bastard Child."
The inscription seems to be as much a warning to the living as a memorial to the poor departed Mary. It's a sad story though which you can read here.

These sweet smelling roses were growing in the churchyard.

and a wild flower growing at the edge of the churchyard.

So those are the images of the 'more interesting' part of my day, after Presteigne I drove home and back into rain.

Thanks for visiting my day and thanks for your comments :0).

June 2008 --- 12 of 12

Credit and thanks as always to Chad Darnell, .......here's my day.......

9.30 am, starting with perrier and a pain killer, 'what a drag it is...'

11.00 am
as today is the 2nd Thursday in the month, it was the local farmers' market .......

I bought a garlic and herb twist ...

This fellow was at the market to promote Hereford Owl Rescue ....

the strawberries were looking very good ......

12.00 popped into the supermarket on the way back to the car and look what was on half price ....

12.30 back home, the boys were waiting. Farouk has a poorly eye at the moment, conjunctivitis, he has to go back to see the vet next week. He is a brave little man at the vets and even purrs. He is actually very good about having his eye medicine, I just hope the inflammation clears up soon.

Persia having a quick wash .....

Had some cherries with lunch.

Spent the afternoon getting ready for some painting (to be done tomorrow), then went for a short walk up the lane .....

6.30pm

Flowers passed on the way ...

... and wild daisies in the field next door ....

Hope you all had a good 12 of 12, and thanks for visiting my day.

April 2008 --- 12 of 12

Here's my day .........

11.15 am - King Farouk, one of my boys, sitting on the car just as we're about to go out,
"You're not going out again, are you?"
Tomorrow is his birthday, he will be 3.



Destination: Malvern (think hills).
12.30 pm - parked the car and walked through the Winter Gardens (theatre/cinema).

12.40 pm - walked into the main shopping street, liked these iron railings on the roof of a shop.

1.00 pm - I wanted to go inside the Priory (church) to look at the medieval and Victorian tiles, got there only to find a wedding party just arriving, so wandered on and was thinking about where to have lunch (and try the Priory later) when I saw Brian May (of Queen) walking along, who asked me not to take his photo (otherwise I would have one for 12 of 12). His partner, Anita Dobson (ex-Eastenders) is starring in 'Hello Dolly' at the Winter Gardens, so that would explain his being there, I think.

Anyway it looked like he is staying here .....

1.10 pm - as you can see Malvern has steep streets in the town, this street is awful to drive out of. Hills in the background.

1.20 pm - Decided to have lunch here, at the 'Great' Malvern deli ........

..... and it was delicious, I had grilled panini with goats cheese, olives and sundried tomatoes, and they made wonderfully strong coffee ....... I'd definitely recommend going there.

2.00 pm - walked back to the Priory, only to find the wedding was still going on ...... so didn't get to go inside ......

..... the only tiles I saw were these in the porch, which are probably Victorian reproduction of the medieval design. Oh well, will visit again and get to go to the deli for lunch again.

There are some beautiful buildings in Malvern ......

4.00 pm - home, dramatic clouds ...... I think we did well to miss the rain today.

7.30 pm - my planned viewing for this evening ....

My bonus picture for this month .....

while I was at the pc this morning, I had a look at the astrological chart for that time (approx 10.25 am). Moon in Cancer, I hoped this meant that at least the food would be good (it was), Moon square Mercury suggested obstacles in travel, which was true as the usual road was closed, so had to drive quite a detour to get to Malvern. Moon applying to trine Uranus, suggested something unexpected or change - well both happened, didn't expect to see anyone famous and couldn't do what I intended to do. Moon opposite Jupiter could also indicate being unable to go into the church.

Easy with hindsight, but it does make sense even so.