When I saw that the weekly WordPress Photo Challenge this week was Frame(click to take part or see others), I realised that framing a photo was a natural past-time for me taking my routine snaps. So here are 15 from my media library (click on to enlarge or see captions) …
From outside looking inside a tentFrom inside looking outside a tent
From outside to inside a red telephone box
From inside to outside a red telephone box
Looking out from a window
Looking on to a window
Reality reflected in a frameA reflection framed with realityFrom outside looking inside a vehicle windowFrom inside looking outside a vehicle windowA frame of natureA frame of concreteA frame of a house tunnelFramed constructionFramed by a stairwell
Second from the right is my husbandYes that’s him with Emily – their boots in the air
About an hour drive from Southampton towards London on the M3 is the giant funfair Thorpe Park, making it the nearest one to London.
My husband, sporting a blue cardigan, will be 80 this year (much older than me). He spent a joyous day on location at this attraction last week, shooting its latest commercial with Emily Barker – a character who visits on a regular basis.
Seniors have campaigned against age-discrimination with regard to special offers at funfairs. So in an effort to correct this, Thorpe Park have just launched an Old Age Coasters(OAC)Pass which provides multiple discounts for the over-65s.
My husband is a retired helicopter pilot and loves the rush. He is a bit of a dare-devil – last year he went paragliding with my daughter – she takes after him.
Are you an adrenaline junkie? (No I am not getting paid for this)
Print Primary Zebra contrasts with Southampton’s freshly cleaned Bargate
While the world plays Pokemon-Go – the people in Southampton are walking around and searching for painted zebras. A few years ago it was rhinos in collaboration with Marwell Zoo. It was such a success that we now have these zebras with sponsored themes.
Judge Zebra Below Bar – with reference to when Southampton’s Bargate was once a court.
So here are some photos of a few of my favourites – I must confess I did not take the details of all of them – one of the best bloggers for these is on the WP site “I Walk Alone” so seek her out for some lovely walks.
The Wheels on the Bus Zebra en-route from West Quay shopping centreAbbey Road Zebra by Watts Park entrance
Vandals have stolen some of them; one also with a Beatles theme, named Ticket to Ride featuring buses, was found floating along the River Itchen and rescued by a youth sailing team.
A beautiful Ocean Zebra in St Michael’s SquareJigsaw Zebra. You never know who will be dropping by while you are at a Mettricks having coffee in Southampton.Sharknado Zebra outside the old town walls at Western Esplanade
This one in Southampton’s 02 Square draws the crowds
Which looks like a crowd at St Mary’s Football Stadium with “Saints” red and white socks.
Fabric World zebra in the shop window
Foxy Zebra in front of Southampton Guildhall
For more zebra photos and an interesting article from a ‘crazy’ tourist who flew to Southampton on a day trip click: here
For an avid walker who seems to be getting them all (though you might need to register on her site) – I Walk Alone– click: here
From Shamrock Quay along the River Itchen and under its bridge into Southampton Water
Regular readers will know that I am going to live on a sailing boat with my husband as we have to move soon. We are selling or giving away worldly goods and doing up an old Maxi 95 sloop.
Re-learn all the ropes
Hoisting and reefing the main sail
As it has been 15 years or so since I did any sailing, and pre-cancer/chemo, I thought it best to go on a refresher sailing course with a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) instructor.
Last weekend I got on a run as a team of five of like-minded individuals also honing their skills. We sailed from Shamrock Quay in Southampton to the Isle of Wight, where Cowes Week brought sailing boats from all over the world.
Dodging other vessels – what does that horn signal?
re-learning the knots
Plain sailing on the Solent
The severe treatment for my Hodgkin Lymphoma left my body and brain somewhat disorientated. I describe my brain as living in a town where a bomb has hit and roads have been blocked off. I have had to find detours and rebuild. I had been having terrible balance problems since the treatment, but following a number of NHS exercises I have not had any accidents for about a year now.
We anchored just off Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. This was Queen Victoria’s favourite residence and this her own private beach. It opened to the public 2 years ago.
Although I was used to sailing I had been extremely nervous about going out, especially onto the Solent, which requires strength, skill and alertness due to its tides, geographical structure and the many number of different vessels using its channel.
The marina on the Isle of Wight was busy for Cowes Week and took great skill to moor four abreast
Out of my price range – the Champagne bus at Cowes
Some revellers at Cowes
Opposition used to be ‘Morning Cloud’ Prime Minister Edward Heath’s boat that he used in the Fastnet race in the 70s.
Great learning for groups of young people on The Tall Ships Challenger boats.
This weekend course really helped me to regain my confidence and sort out what I could remember and what I needed to practice.
When I saw these vintage penny arcade machines at Portsmouth’s Historical Dockyard, it brought back so many happy childhood memories of going to the Southsea funfair with my parents. I loved the puppets so much and could remember exactly what would happen before I put my coin in. I am so happy to find that they still exist in a museum.
In response to the Weekly WordPress Photo Challenge: Fun
A coin in this machine has this “Laughing Sailor” belly-laughing so infectiously that the most grumpy person ends up chuckling to it.The machine reveals funny things that happen to “The Drunkard” (from erotic to nightmarish) in his dream as he crashes out in the beer cellarGhosts galore in “The Haunted Churchyard”An art nuevo machine with crane to attempt to catch sweets.“The Burglar” finds himself distracted by the fire cracking, the radio pipping, the victim snoring while he tries hard to listen to the clicks of the dial of the safe.
Portsmouth Harbour Heightens level of response against terrorist threats
While visiting various ports in the South of England this weekend, it was clear that recent events have lead to increased security of our coastline and of all events that take place on them.
A random attack of a crowd in London by a mentally ill ‘lone wolf’ – has reinforced that Britain is not exempt from what is happening in other parts of the world.
This together with recent cases of drug-smuggling fishermen and people-smuggling yachts that arrived at “less busy” ports and marinas, has led to increased vigilance.
Helicopter checks on boats that arrive at Gosport Marinas without the obligatory radio callProsecutors of the three men jailed in two cases of smuggling Albanians here, said Chichester Marina had no border controls