I have seen Sholden described as a village between Deal and Sandwich. It is really a suburb of Deal now, as the housing is unbroken between here and St Leonard in Deal, a couple of hundred metres along the man road. Sholden also extends away from the coast into Mongeham, as I described earlier.

The church is small, built of flint, and is easily missed, this was my second visit here, and the second of the day, and as we went past I could see the door open, so after finding a place to park, we walked over and inside.

We were given a warm welcome by the volunteer, who gave us a very good history of the church, and as always I learned so much more from someone who clearly loved their parish church.

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Standing back at a queer angle from the main road, this church has been unlucky over the years. Of thirteenth century origins it had a north aisle which at some stage was demolished in favour of the single roof structure to be found today. This creates an unusually wide interior – not quite as extreme at St Mary at nearby Sandwich, but along the same lines. The chancel has recently (2009) been reordered and simplified with a free standing altar and rose pink carpet – quite a fetching scene – and luckily the nineteenth century reredos has been kept. The War Memorial on the SE corner of the nave is quite a fine construction of rubbed brickwork – almost Lutyensesque in its form. The church was damaged in the War but the stained glass windows in the chancel recording the event (by a Sussex firm) must surely over emphasise the damage as the roof is completely Victorian. All in all this is a delightful little church and one only wishes it was more accessible.

www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Sholden

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Sholden: the parish.

In 1176 this little unit of land was known as Shoueldune and since as Seueldon, Schoweldun, Shoueldon; the first form of the name being possibly due to some fancied likeness of the hill to a shovel – shovelhill. It is a topographical unit, a physical unit, a parochial unit and an historical unit. It is small in area as a parish, without a coastal strip, 1813 acres of land, with a population in 1801 of 238, in 1858 it had increased to 465, in1931 to 615 and by 1991 it was 815.

As a place, Sholden has taken little part in national affairs or even Kentish history, squeezed as it is between Sandwich and Deal. Historically it has been an ecclesiastic unit with its own priest from time immemorial, although under its richer neighbour, Northbourne, from which it could not branch out independently. Northbourne itself was only a unit, until the Reformation, of the great Abbey of St.Augustine at Canterbury. In fact Sholden was a necessary offshoot of Northbourne, as it possessed that great area of marsh with its dykes which were a valuable summer grazing ground for the Abbey cattle.

The early topographers, Leyland in Henry VIII’s reign, Lambard and William Camden, who might have been expected to mention us say nothing. First comments are in 1659, but then all that Richard Kilburne of Hawkshurst could say was that Sholden “lieth at the E. end of the County, adjoining to the sea, about 3 miles towards the SE distant from Sandwich: in the bailiwick of Eastry, hundred of Cornilo; Lath of St.Augustines”.

From 1128 the church of Northbourne, with its chapels at Cotmanton (Cottington) and Sholden, was attached to the manor of Northbourne, and so to the Abbey of St.Augustines.

In 1272-3, the first year of the reign of Edward I, the vicarage of Northbourne, the chapels was endowed with all the small tithes by the Abbey. It was also agreed that the vicar should have a house and garden with two acres of land. In Hasted’s time (1800) there was also nine acres of glebe. With these allowances, as the vicar was only a nominee of St.Augustines, the burden of the repairing and rebuilding the chancel of Northbourne church, and that of Sholden, and of finding and repairing the books, vestments and ornaments of the chapel, and of the chapel of Sholden, should be acknowledged as the duty of the Abbey forever.

Earlier references to the parish include the following:

Thornes Chronicle of St.Augustines Abbey (Davis’ Translation 1934 p18) records that Edbald, who had been a pagan, after his conversion by Archbishop Laurentinus, endowed in 618 the Abbey with the manor of Northbourne, with which went Sholden.

Letters relating to the condition of the church in Kent during the primacy of Archbishop Sandcroft were written by Dr.Henry Ullock, who had been appointed Rural Dean of Sandwich. The report on the vicar, Mr Balderson, is that he “hath Northbourne and Shoulden which is annexed to it, lives at Northbourne, officiates at both places, is Master of Arts, was bred in Emanuel College, is not married”. He died in 1702.

The sole literary reference to a Sholden family that has been unearthed is that Colonel William Wyborn, the eldest son of Daniel who altered Hull Place, was one of the subscribers in 1758 to Elizabeth Carter great quarto translation of the Greek philosopher, Epictetus.

Sholden: the church.

The church, dedicated to St.Nicholas, is an undistinguished example of the thirteenth century in its present state. It is built of flint with Caen stone dressings and Hythe stone buttresses. It shows in the flint work patches of reconstruction. Of its foundation a single fragment of moulding built in as a top stone of a putt log hole high up in the north wall might be 12th century work and so suggest that there was a small church of that date.

The original Deal to Sandwich road passed the church through what is now the present graveyard with the doorway being on the north side of the church. This doorway has been enclosed and is now the vicar’s vestry. The current road or turnpike was approved by parliament in 1795 and it was constructed shortly afterwards deviating from the old path at Jenkins Well. This is between the public entrance to Warden House School and the hairdressers.

The following is a copy of the first Quinquennial Report to be produced after the Second World War during which the building was substantially damaged on Saturday 19th April 1941 by a parachute mine which landed in what is now Five Ways Rise. Services were held in the Baptist Chapel in the village and did not begin again in the church until November 1947.

The church is built of knapped flint with stone quoins and comprises chancel, nave, western tower and vestries on the north and northwest angle. The roof is of old Kent tile. The whole of the external flintwork appears to be 19th century cladding except the recent rebuilding which is the top part only. Nearly all the quoins are 19th century. The vicar’s vestry is the old North Porch converted and now it contains a Victorian window with a 15th century label but still has the original 15th century doorway which is considered to be “very fine”. The choir vestry is a post war addition. The East end of the Nave has some Norman quoins above the buttresses. The West door to the Tower is 19th century and in good condition and the windows in the Tower are of the same period but have severely weathered. On the North side of the Tower there are two original windows, one is older than the other, but both are about 13th century and in good condition.

The window on the North side of the Chancel is 19th century and transitional in style whereas at the East end of the Chancel the window is of the same period but Early English in style. The label of the East window would seem to be 13th century and both North and South windows appear to have been lowered, maybe following the post-war rebuild. {These now depict before and after the night of the bombing}.

The windows on the South side of the Nave are1 9th century in a 15th century style and in fairly good condition.

The South door is 19th century and in quite good condition.

The Transitional window on the East side of the Tower is original.

The basin of the Font is of Kentish Rag and probably 14th century on a perpendicular stem of the 15th century but the base and step are both 19th century.

The pulpit and the pews are of pitch pine and the lectern of oak and all are 19th century.

The rerados and tilling behind the altar are Victorian.

The mid 13th century tower is divided into 3 unequal stories:-

Bellchamber

Ringing chamber

Base of tower.

The bellchamber; the walls are of flint and the windows have slate louvers. The floor is Tudor with chamfered joists borne on stone corbels.

The ringing chamber is actually no longer used as such as the bells are rung from the base of the tower. The floor was replaced in Victorian times and is in fair condition. The walls are of flint and in good condition. The whole of the East wall in this chamber is rendered with what one must call external rendering. There is the clearest evidence that the tower is later date than the Nave, since the tower is not bonded into the West wall of the Nave and therefore the church plan was at one time the simple two compartment type of Nave and Chancel. This West wall also contains a small window, which is undoubtedly very early in date and is probably early Norman or late Saxon much repaired. This window was crudely blocked on the East face of the West wall of the Nave and should be unblocked. It would then look down into the Nave.

The bells are rung from the base of the tower and it is in sound condition with its Victorian tiled floor. A blocked entry to the now removed gallery remains high above the Tower door.

NB. The bells and tower were renovated in the early 1980’s and therefore some of the foregoing is now inaccurate.

www.stleonardsdeal.co.uk/stnicholas.html

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Sholden comes from the Old English ‘scofl’ meaning a ‘shovel; shovel shaped strip’ together with ‘dūn’ as a ‘hill’; therefore, a ‘shovel-shaped hill’. The description of Sholden by Edward Hasted in 1800 notes that ‘the upland part of it forms a kind of peninsula westward, which is surrounded on three sides by the wet land and marshes’.

Sholden parish church is a Grade: II listed building, dedicated to Saint Nicholas. The Normans built the church originally, although, rebuilt it in the 13th century, with the addition of windows and a tower a century later. In 1623, Thomas Bartlett cast two bells, and John Hodson added a third in 1675. In 1800, Edward Hasted described St Nicholas’ church as consisting of a ‘nave and a chancel; it is of a good size and well built, having a square tower steeple at the west end, in which are three bells. The church is ceiled, and kept very neat’. The Victorians carried out a heavy restoration in the 19th century. Bomb damage received in 1941 resulted in the church being out of action until November 1947.

www.kentpast.co.uk/sholden.html

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After the war and the damage to the church rendering it out of use, services were held in a wooden hut in an area behind the church. It was marked by a cross, but the warden thinks this is now gone.

Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is one of the oldest universities in Texas and was one of the first educational institutions west of the Mississippi River. The university is located in the central part of the state of Texas, an hour and a half south of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and an hour and a half north of Austin, the state capital. Its main 800 plus acre campus is located to the east of the historic area of downtown Waco and the major freeway I-35 on the banks of the Brazos river. (from wikipedia)

The beach where I live at.

WORK is underway on rebuilding Hetton Silver Band Hall in its new home here at Beamish Museum.

The 100-year-old practice hall was taken down from South Market Street, in Hetton-le-Hole, and moved, brick by brick, to Beamish.

Now, as fund-raising for the project continues, visitors will see the band hall being restored to its former glory in the Museum’s Colliery Village.

Much of the heavy building work is well underway and the hall is due to open to visitors on May 11th 2013.

Click Here to find out more on the project.

From 1860-1935 the Supreme Court sat in what is now known as the "Old Senate Chamber" in the U.S. Capitol (after having met in several other spaces within that building during the first half of the nineteenth century). In 1929 Chief Justice William Howard Taft, who had served as President of the United States from 1909-1913, persuaded Congress to end that arrangement and authorize the construction of a permanent home for the Court.

Architect Cass Gilbert was directed by Chief Justice Taft to design "a building of dignity and importance suitable for its use as the permanent home of the Supreme Court of the United States." Neither Taft nor Gilbert survived to see the Supreme Court Building completed. Construction proceeded under the direction of Chief Justice Hughes and architects Cass Gilbert, Jr., and John R. Rockart. Construction proceeded from 1932-1935.

The Court Building cost less than the $9,740,000 Congress authorized for its construction. Not only was the final and complete cost of the building within the appropriation, but all furnishings were also procured, even though planners had initially expected that the project would require additional appropriations. Upon completion of the project, $94,000 was returned to the Treasury.

The general dimensions of the foundation are 385 feet from east to west, (front to back) and 304 feet from north to south. At its greatest height, the building rises four stories above the terrace or ground floor. Marble was chosen as the principal material to be used and $3 million worth was gathered from foreign and domestic quarries. Vermont marble was used for the exterior, while the four inner courtyards are of crystalline flaked, white Georgia marble. Above the basement level, the walls and floors of all corridors and entrance halls are either wholly or partially of creamy Alabama marble. The wood in offices throughout the building, such as doors, trim, paneled walls, and some floors, is American quartered white oak.

On the architrave above the entrance portico on the west side is incised the motto "Equal Justice Under Law" Above that is a sculptured group by Robert Aitken, representing Liberty Enthroned and guarded by Order and Authority. On either side are groups of three figures depicting Council and Research, which Aitken modeled after several prominent individuals concerned with the law or the creation of the Supreme Court Building: on the left are Chief Justice Taft as a youth, Secretary of State Elihu Root, and the architect Cass Gilbert; and seated on the right are Chief Justice Hughes, the sculptor Aitken, and Chief Justice Marshall as a young man.

On the east side pediment the sculpture group by Hermon A. MacNeil depicts great lawgivers: Moses, Confucius, and Solon, flanked by symbolic groups representing Means of Enforcing the Law, Tempering Justice with Mercy, Settlement of Disputes Between States, and Maritime and other functions of the Supreme Court. The architrave bears the legend: "Justice the Guardian of Liberty."

Flanking the entrance plaza on the west side are seated sculptures by James Earle Fraser: The Authority of Law (south side) and The Contemplation of Justice (north side). Since May 3rd, 2010, the public are no longer be allowed to enter the building through the large bronze doors at the west side portico. Visitors must now enter through ground-level doors located at the plaza level, which lead to a reinforced security screening area. However, visitors still exit the building from the Great Hall, through the original entrance.

Each of those large bronze doors weighs six and one-half tons, and slides into a wall recess when open. The door panels, sculpted by John Donnelly, Jr., depict historic scenes in the development of law: the trial scene from the shield of Achilles, as described in the Iliad; a Roman praetor publishing an edict; Julian and a pupil; Justinian publishing the Corpus Juris; King John sealing the Magna Carta; the Chancellor publishing the first Statute of Westminster; Lord Coke barring King James from sitting as a Judge; and Chief Justice Marshall and Justice Story.

Inside the Great Hall are busts of each of the Chief Justices of the United States, in alcoves on either side. Within the Courtroom are the following friezes: on the south wall are figures of lawgivers from the ancient world, including Menes, Hammurabi, Moses, Solomon, Lycurgus, Solon, Draco, Confucius, and Augustus. The north wall frieze shows lawgivers since the middle ages, including Justinian, Muhammad, Charlemagne, John of England, Louis IX of France, Hugo Grotius, Sir William Blackstone, John Marshall, and Napoleon.

In 1997 a request to remove the image of Muhammad was submitted to the Court by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which is a front organization for the Muslim Brotherhood and is linked to the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas as an unindicted co-conspirator in regard to funding terrorist activity. Chief Justice William Rehnquist rejected the request, saying the artwork "was intended only to recognize [Muhammad], among many other lawgivers, as an important figure in the history of law; it is not intended as a form of idol worship."

Operation AVRO is a forcewide initiative that delivers a surge of extra resources and specialist officers to a different district within Greater Manchester each month.

This month saw the operation return to Salford.

The operation targets crimes that members of the public in that district have told us give them the most concern.

Members of the press and key partners, including local representatives, are invited to attend Operation AVRO deployments to see results first-hand and conduct important multi-agency work, such as welfare visits.

More details on AVRO can be found by visiting gmp.police.uk and following us on social media.

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

You can access many of our services online at www.gmp.police.uk

As is evident, I'm far behind in posting photos here. This batch is all from May 2022. Only almost 6 months late. But I will get caught up, some day.

Most of this batch exhibits many of my perfect shoes, perfectly or nearly perfectly worn as I like them. The warm weather also has me often wearing rubber footwear of various styles. Over the summer I added to my collection of rubber footwear of various makes. More of those photos will soon come.

The pair of Adidas slippers I bought new a couple of years ago fell apart last summer while I was wearing them one day. They are size 3, EU 35. I like the fit, my heel hangs just a little out the back, my toes just a little over the front, the way I feel slippers should fit.

But the strap came loose. I "fixed" it with a long staple pushed into the foam sole, but it would pull out with time.

I had purchased this pair used on eBay some time ago, but never wore them. Marked 7W, I thought women's but no, the detailed label says 7 US, 7 UK, 40.5 EU, so the W may mean wide, although they don't seem wide.

They are obviously older than the ones I bought new, many of the "nubs" are breaking off, but they are newer to me.

After my pair broke, I started wearing these, they are OK, just a bit longer than I like. Meanwhile, I've now again repaired "my" pair, this time with a sheetrock screw screwed into the sole, which seems to hold the strap better than the staple. It hasn't come loose.

So now I've got two pair of this style to wear.

This is a photograph from the second annual Duleek & District Athletic Club (D&DAC) "Indaver Duleek 10KM" Road Race and Fun Run which was held in Duleek, Co. Meath, Ireland on Sunday 17th August 2014 at 10:00. The road race event was the first event of the town's annual Duleek Fair Day which is held at this time every August. In 2013 Duleek & District Athletic Club decided to launch an annual road race. In 2013 over 500 runners attended which represented a very impressive achievement for a new club and a new race. The feedback was very positive from all quarters: a good route, professional approach to organisation, excellent goody-bags and post race refreshments and family entertainment. The club surpassed itself in 2014 with a superb race - with every aspect of the race professionally attended to. Just under 500 runners attended this year. Duleek & District Athletic Club (D&DAC) was founded in March 2012 with the principal aim of promoting athletics in the village and environs of Duleek. The Club’s purpose is to facilitate the enjoyment of athletics in a fun and social environment. Overall the conditions were very favourable for road racing - there was a fairly strong headwind for runners to contend with for the first 3KM along with some undulating countryside. However the final 5KM had a tail wind a good deal of downhill to make for a more enjoyable final half of the race. Everyone at Duleek & District Athletic Club and the local community must be congratulated at their work and organisation today. This race is likely to grow quickly over the next few years.

This photograph is part of a larger set of photographs which was taken today at the event - the majority of these photographs are from the finish line: Please see the full set on the Flickr album at Set from today: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157646478274516/ - This set contains shots of participants up to a finish time of 60 minutes.

Timing and event management was provided by Precision Timing. Results are available on their website at www.precisiontiming.net/result.aspx?v=2100 with additional material available on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/davidprecisiontiming?fref=ts) See their promotional video on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-7_TUVwJ6Q

Reading on a Smartphone or tablet? Don't forget to scroll down further to read more about this race and see important Internet links to other information about the race! You can also find out how to access and download these photographs.

What is the race route?

The race starts just beyond Duleek GAA Club on the Navan Duleek road (the R150). The first two KM are on this road until the course makes a right turn and heads northward through Kellystown and Rahill until just after 4KM the course turns right again and due east to begin the return to Duleek. This brings the runners through the large townland of Downstown. Up to the 9KM mark the race has been predominantly ran on scenic rural roads until the race joins the R15O Navan Road again and proceeds directly up the main street of Duleek for the finish.

Some useful Internet links associated with this race event

Google StreetView of the Finish Area on the Duleek Mainstreet: www.google.ie/maps/@53.655152,-6.416647,3a,75y,90t/data=!...

Video Flyover of the Route for the 2014 Race: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK5SvhOrP3s

Teaser trailer on Youtube for the 2014 Indaver Duleek 10KM: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq8pn0mjN0E

Video Storyboard of the Indaver Duleek 10KM 2013 www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNlmSa6X63c

Indaver Duleek 10KM 2013 RESULTS: www.precisiontiming.net/result.aspx?v=1452

2013 Photographs: www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.670094496334283.1073741... (requires Facebook logon)

Indaver Duleek 10KM Road Race Event Page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/679840455404891/694437963945140/ (requires Facebook logon)

Duleek & District Athletic Club (D&DAC) Facebook: www.facebook.com/DuleekAC

Duleek & District Athletic Club (D&DAC) Web Homepage: www.duleekac.ie/

Can I use these photographs directly from Flickr on my social media account(s)?

Yes - of course you can! Flickr provides several ways to share this and other photographs in this Flickr set. You can share to: email, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, LiveJournal, and Wordpress and Blogger blog sites. Your mobile, tablet, or desktop device will also offer you several different options for sharing this photo page on your social media outlets.

We take these photographs as a hobby and as a contribution to the running community in Ireland. Our only "cost" is our request that if you are using these images: (1) on social media sites such as Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, Twitter,LinkedIn, Google+, etc or (2) other websites, blogs, web multimedia, commercial/promotional material that you must provide a link back to our Flickr page to attribute us.

This also extends the use of these images for Facebook profile pictures. In these cases please make a separate wall or blog post with a link to our Flickr page. If you do not know how this should be done for Facebook or other social media please email us and we will be happy to help suggest how to link to us.

I want to download these pictures to my computer or device?

You can download the photographic image here direct to your computer or device. This version is the low resolution web-quality image. How to download will vary slight from device to device and from browser to browser. However - look for a symbol with three dots 'ooo' or the link to 'View/Download' all sizes. When you click on either of these you will be presented with the option to download the image. Remember just doing a right-click and "save target as" will not work on Flickr.

I want get full resolution, print-quality, copies of these photographs?

If you just need these photographs for online usage then they can be used directly once you respect their Creative Commons license and provide a link back to our Flickr set if you use them. For offline usage and printing all of the photographs posted here on this Flickr set are available free, at no cost, at full image resolution.

Please email petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com with the links to the photographs you would like to obtain a full resolution copy of. We also ask race organisers, media, etc to ask for permission before use of our images for flyers, posters, etc. We reserve the right to refuse a request.

In summary please remember when requesting photographs from us - If you are using the photographs online all we ask is for you to provide a link back to our Flickr set or Flickr pages. You will find the link above clearly outlined in the description text which accompanies this photograph. Taking these photographs and preparing them for online posting does take a significant effort and time. We are not posting photographs to Flickr for commercial reasons. If you really like what we do please spread the link around your social media, send us an email, leave a comment beside the photographs, send us a Flickr email, etc. If you are using the photographs in newspapers or magazines we ask that you mention where the original photograph came from.

I would like to contribute something for your photograph(s)?

Many people offer payment for our photographs. As stated above we do not charge for these photographs. We take these photographs as our contribution to the running community in Ireland. If you feel that the photograph(s) you request are good enough that you would consider paying for their purchase from other photographic providers or in other circumstances we would suggest that you can provide a donation to any of the great charities in Ireland who do work for Cancer Care or Cancer Research in Ireland.

We use Creative Commons Licensing for these photographs

We use the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License for all our photographs here in this photograph set. What does this mean in reality?

The explaination is very simple.

Attribution- anyone using our photographs gives us an appropriate credit for it. This ensures that people aren't taking our photographs and passing them off as their own. This usually just mean putting a link to our photographs somewhere on your website, blog, or Facebook where other people can see it.

ShareAlike – anyone can use these photographs, and make changes if they like, or incorporate them into a bigger project, but they must make those changes available back to the community under the same terms.

Creative Commons aims to encourage creative sharing. See some examples of Creative Commons photographs on Flickr: www.flickr.com/creativecommons/

I ran in the race - but my photograph doesn't appear here in your Flickr set! What gives?

As mentioned above we take these photographs as a hobby and as a voluntary contribution to the running community in Ireland. Very often we have actually ran in the same race and then switched to photographer mode after we finished the race. Consequently, we feel that we have no obligations to capture a photograph of every participant in the race. However, we do try our very best to capture as many participants as possible. But this is sometimes not possible for a variety of reasons:

     ►You were hidden behind another participant as you passed our camera

     ►Weather or lighting conditions meant that we had some photographs with blurry content which we did not upload to our Flickr set

     ►There were too many people - some races attract thousands of participants and as amateur photographs we cannot hope to capture photographs of everyone

     ►We simply missed you - sorry about that - we did our best!

You can email us petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com to enquire if we have a photograph of you which didn't make the final Flickr selection for the race. But we cannot promise that there will be photograph there. As alternatives we advise you to contact the race organisers to enquire if there were (1) other photographs taking photographs at the race event or if (2) there were professional commercial sports photographers taking photographs which might have some photographs of you available for purchase. You might find some links for further information above.

Don't like your photograph here?

That's OK! We understand!

If, for any reason, you are not happy or comfortable with your picture appearing here in this photoset on Flickr then please email us at petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com and we will remove it as soon as possible. We give careful consideration to each photograph before uploading.

I want to tell people about these great photographs!

Great! Thank you! The best link to spread the word around is probably http://www.flickr.com/peterm7/sets

*The datestone is new.

See below.

is this horrible cheesy. I think if I carve it in an interesting way I can make it work. It is part of my series of sensual, beautiful women.

Favorite is a castle on the outskirts of Rastatt-Förch in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

Built by Johann Michael Ludwig Rohrer between 1710 and 1730, it was created as a hunting lodge and pleasure palace for Margravine Sibylla Augusta, the widow of Louis William, Margrave of Baden-Baden.

It was only used for several weeks per year as a summer residence, and it is not far from Schloss Rastatt. /

Abstract from :

de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_Favorite_%28Rastatt%29

Ryde is a British seaside town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. The town grew in size as a seaside resort after the villages of Upper Ryde and Lower Ryde were merged in the 19th century. The influence of this era is still strongly visible in the town's central and seafront architecture.

As a resort, the town is noted for its expansive sands, which are revealed at low tide, making its pier necessary on the wide beach for a regular passenger service. Ryde Pier is a listed structure, and the fourth longest pier in the United Kingdom, as well as the oldest.

Orchard Beach, Pelham Bay Park, Bronx, New York City

Orchard Beach, known as "the Riviera of the Bronx," is a small. sandy oasis set alongside the quiet waterside experience within a backdrop of vast picnic lawns, sports courts and playgrounds, and surrounding forest, meadow and salt marsh.

There's a lot to do at Orchard Beach besides sunbathe, swim, and build sand castles. Twenty-six hard-surface sports courts offer opportunities for basketball, tennis, handball and volleyball. There are also two playgrounds - Pelican Playground at Section5 offer spray showers; Orchard Beach Playground ay Section 13 is on the sand. In-season, beach concessions sell food and drink, as well as beach souvenirs, toys, and necessities. Summer programming includes occasional contrast the main pavilion stage (Section 9) and Urban Park Ranger talks and walks start from the Orchard Beach Nature Center at Section 2. Nearby nature trails traverse rocky coastline, salt marsh and woodlands on Hunter and Twin Islands off the northernmost end of the promenade. Favorite fishing spots can be found along The Lagoon where you can also launch your kayak or canoe.

NYC Parks & Recreation maintains 14 miles of beaches, all of which are open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. During beach season, lifeguards are on duty daily, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Swimming is prohibited when lifeguards are not on duty and in closed sections. Closed sections are marked with signs and/or red flags.

DIRECTIONS:

Orchard Beach in Pelham Bay Park in Bronx NYC is very easy to get to, take the #6 subway to the last stop Pelham Bay Park / Bruckner Expressway then transfer to the BX29 bus and exit at Orchard Beach Circle. The beach and park are all in walking distance.

NYC Subway fare

2016 rate

$2.75 each way

$5.50 total

You get an automatic free transfer between subway and bus, or between buses.

Orchard Beach is approximatley 18 miles from The Empire State Building in Midtown Manhattan.

The Bronx marketing slogan is "All-America City"

~Enjoy

"The Riviera of the Bronx"

hashtag metadata

#Park #Orchard #Beach #OrchardBeach #OrchardBeachNY #OrchardBeachNYC #OrchardBeachNewYork #OrchardBeachNewYorkCity #OrchardBeachBronx #OrchardBeachTheBronx #OBNY #OBNYX #TheBronx #Bronx #BronxRiviera #NY #NYNY #NYC #NYS #NewYork #NewYorkNewYork #NewYorkCity #NewYorkState #outdoors #nature #Pelham #Bay #PelhamBay #PelhamBayPark #LongIslandSound #Urban #UrbanPark #RobertMoses #DaBoogieDownBronx #BoogieDownBronx #TheBigApple #summer #summerfun #summervacation #summerbeach #2016

Photo

Pelham Bay neighborhood, Bronx borough, New York City, New York state, USA United States of America country, North America continent

September 22 2016

Terra is a striking circular knit and a great easy lace project. Here Jennifer wears Terra as a layering piece for day, adding a splash of color and extra warmth to a stylish and casual winter outfit.

Terra is one of the patterns available in our Wraps Organica collection.

LATEST NEWS: Also visit our website to subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

More of Jennifer's Outfits: www.flickr.com/photos/stitchdiva/sets/72157606903485107/

Operation AVRO is a forcewide initiative that delivers a surge of extra resources and specialist officers to a different district within Greater Manchester each month.

This month saw the operation return to Wigan.

The operation targets crimes that members of the public in that district have told us give them the most concern.

Members of the press and key partners, including local representatives, are invited to attend Operation AVRO deployments to see results first-hand and conduct important multi-agency work, such as welfare visits.

More details on AVRO can be found by visiting gmp.police.uk and following us on social media.

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

You can access many of our services online at www.gmp.police.uk

The European green woodpecker is a member of the woodpecker family Picidae. There are four subspecies and it occurs in most parts of Europe and in western Asia. Wikipedia

This is a photograph from the 10th annual Longwood Village 10KM and 5KM Road Races and Fun Runs which were held in Longwood Village, Longwood, Co. Meath, Ireland on Sunday 20th October 2019 at 11:00. This photograph was taken at the 8.5KM mark on the 10KM course and the 3.5KM mark on the 5KM course. The races are held annually to support the development of the local GAA club while also supporting local charities. The race has support from Trim AC which sees the race have full AAI premit status. These races have grown steadily over the years and this year again almost 600 participants took part in the two races. This is an impressive statistic given that a very large number of local runners will be preparing for the Dublin City marathon 7 days from now. The number of entrants in both races have grown steadily over the years. Both races provide marathon runners and all other runners, joggers and walkers with an ideal opportunity to race on a very fair course in a beautiful rural setting. Barry Clarke of Longwood GAA and Trim AC and his very large group of volunteers deserve the highest of praise for the very high standard of organisation immediately apparent to anyone taking part in the race. Overall the whole day was a great success with the hard work put in by the organising committee ensuring that participants enjoyed their race experience. Both routes were accurately measured, kilometer points clearly marked, junctions well stewarded, and electronic timing provided. The event provided many local runners, joggers, fun runners and walkers with a local event to support whilst at the same time providing runners preparing for events such as the Dublin marathon with an opportunity to race a short, fast, distance in the lead up to marathon day. The GAA club provided excellent stewarding and traffic management all around the course. The race had a professional feel to it and as before it gets better year on year given the very positive feedback from many of the participants each year. The weather was reasonably good for racing with bright, crisp, sunny Sunday morning with high temperatures for this time of year of around 11 or 12c.

We have an extensive set of photographs from all of the races today in the following Flickr Album: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/albums/72157711417766687

Timing and event management was provided by PopUpRaces.ie. Results are available on their website at www.popupraces.ie/

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM and 10KM 2018: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/albums/72157702660163805

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM and 10KM 2017: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/albums/72157661720601468

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM and 10KM 2016: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/albums/72157672030705623

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM and 10KM 2015: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157660017638535

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM and 10KM 2014: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157648845224981/

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM and 10KM 2013: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157636477484093/

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM 2012: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157631820426332/

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM 2011: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157627782257481/

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM 2010: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157625058772687/

Longwood is a small village in South East Co. Meath and is close to the town of Enfield with access to the M4 Motorway.

5KM Course: The 5KM started in Longwood village. Runners then took a left turn in the Village down St. Oliver's Road. This straight section of road brings runners to a left turn onto a very well maintained boreen road for less than one kilometer. The race then emerges and joins with the 10KM at Stoneyford where the runners take a left and then another left before arriving back at the finish line in Longwood GAA club. Overall this is a very fast and flat 5KM with no hills to speak of.

10KM Course: The 10KM event begins in Longwood Village outside Dargan's Pub and proceeds westward out of the village. There are some interesting points along this part of the course. At the 2KM point the runners will run under the double bridges - an aquaduct for the Royal Canal and a bridge carrying the Dublin Sligo Railway line. The race then enters county Kildare just before the 3km and after taking a right turn at the four-cross roads known locally as Lally's Cross it returns to County Meath on top of the River Boyne Bridge (Ashfield Bridge) which forms the county boundary. The race follows a straight road for the next 2KM until runners encounter Blackshade bridge which is the toughest climb on the route. As a point of interest Blackshade bridge brings runners back over the Royal Canal and the Railway line. The race then crosses the River Boyne again at Stoneyford before taking a right which will bring runners on a testing two kilometer stretch with some short hills. The 10KM course then joins with the 5Km course for the final 1.5KM back to Longwood GAA club for the finish.

Honfleur is a commune in the Calvados department in northwestern France. It is located on the southern bank of the estuary of the Seine across from le Havre and very close to the exit of the Pont de Normandie. Its inhabitants are called Honfleurais.

It is especially known for its old, beautiful picturesque port, characterized by its houses with slate-covered frontages, painted many times by artists, including in particular Gustave Courbet, Eugène Boudin, Claude Monetand Johan Jongkind, forming the école de Honfleur (Honfleur school) which contributed to the appearance of the Impressionist movement. The Sainte-Catherine church, which has a bell tower separate from the principal building, is the largest church made out of wood in France.

This is a photograph from the start third annual running of the Renault Mullingar Half Marathon which was held on Friday 17th March 2017 St. Patrick's Day Lá Fhéile Pádraig 2017 in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland at 10:30. Following on from the incredible success of the first two years of the race this year the total numbers participating rose from just under 600 in 2015, 900 in 2016 to over 1200 in this year 2017. As was the case last year the nominated charity was Childline. The roots of the successs of the event last year was the perfect running weather, excellent organisation and a very flat and fast route. All of these characteristics were repeated this year.

Last year's weather was not repeated. Indeed the race could be described as a race of two halves in terms of weather. The first half participants had the strong, fresh westerly wind on their backs. However, turning for home along the Royal Canal this became a very strong headwind for 3 - 4 miles. Participants travelled from all over Ireland with a very large participation from runners around Mullingar and the midlands. The race has an AAI permit. The race's early start time was to facilitate the annual St. Patrick's Day parade which brings a large number of local visitors to the town on an annual basis. Parking is free in Mullingar town for the entire day. A small change to the course configuration seen the race cross the M4 Motorway at The Downs via a winding pedestrian footbridge.

The race began on Pearse Street/Austin Friar's Street in the town and proceeds North East out of the town to the N52 Delvin/Dundalk road towards Lough Sheever. The course then follows beautiful rural country roads out to The Downs at the M4. The only significant hill or rise on the course occurs here at about 7 miles when runners cross a pedestrian footbridge over the M4 near Junction 14 Thomas Flynn and Sons The Downs. The race then joins the now local access route of the old N4 road and then joins the Royal Canal at Great Down. The remainder of the race follows the Royal Canal back westward to Mullingar town. The towpath on the Canal is perfectly flat and in excellent condition. Runners will notice how the level of the canal changes dramatically along the route - at points the canal is level with the towpath. In other places the canal is at least 3 meters lower than the canal path. However the path is perfectly flat and firm the whole way. The course then leaves the Royal Canal at the Ardmore Road/Millmount area of the town and finishes in the Mullingar Town Park on Austin Friar's Street beside the Annebrook Hotel which is the Race Headquarters. The park provides a very nice setting for the finish of the race and runners and their families can mix and congregate around the finish area and the hotel.

Timing and event management was provided by http://www.myrunresults.com/. Their website is here [www.myrunresults.com/] and will contain the results to today's race.

Our Full Set of photographs from today's race is at www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/albums/72157679566202191

De Sint-Dimpnakerk is een gotische kerk te Geel. Ze wordt qua bouwstijl tot de Demergotiek gerekend. Het is een kruisbasiliek met vieringtoren en zware hoofdtoren.

De kerk is gewijd aan de heilige Dimpna, die volgens de legende hier in 600 onthoofd en begraven moet zijn: als men schreef 30 may ses hondert jaer - s. Dymphna hier onthalst is van haer eygen vaer. Het was een bedevaartskerk, waarbij vooral genezing gezocht werd voor psychiatrische patiënten. Mogelijk lag hier de oorspronkelijke kern van Geel, maar deze verplaatste zich allengs naar de huidige Markt, waar zich de Sint-Amandskerk bevindt, die als de oudste parochiekerk van Geel fungeert.

Aan de huidige kerk begon men te bouwen in 1349. Ze werd opgetrokken in witte zandsteen. In 1489 werd ze geteisterd door brand, waarna er herbouw en uitbreiding plaatsvond. Dit betreft met name de massieve toren, versierd met speklagen van witte zandsteen en bruine ijzerzandsteen. De bouw duurde tot 1585, maar de toren is nimmer voltooid.

In 1532 stichtte Jan III van Merode, heer van Geel, een college van 10 vicarissen om de kerk te bedienen en Missen op te dragen voor de bedevaartgangers. Dit werd in 1562 verheven tot een kapittel. In 1566 woedde de beeldenstorm, waarbij de beelden die het portaal sierden werden vernield. Tijdens de beloken tijd (eind 18e eeuw) werd de Sint-Dimpnakerk geconfisqueerd en openbaar verkocht, maar in 1801 kregen de katholieken de kerk weer terug. Pas in 1874 kreeg de Sint-Dimpnakerk de functie van parochiekerk en werd daarmee de tweede parochiekerk van Geel-Centrum.

De kerk liep grote schade op in 1944, maar het interieur bleef, dankzij de sterke gewelven, intact. Restauratie volgde van 1950-1952.

Het Hof ter Linden is een classicistisch kasteel, gelegen in een sterk beboomd domein in Edegem. Rond het kasteel ligt een nagenoeg rechthoekige gracht. De grote dubbele lindendreef vormt een verbinding met de Drie Eikenstraat en de kerk. Er was al sprake van het goed in het begin van de 15de eeuw. Het stond toen beschreven als een woning met brug en poort, en rond 1545 sprak men van een op een heuvel staande, omwaterde hoeve en stenen huis. In 1587-88 werd het Hof ter Linden afgebroken door Ierse soldaten en het bleef in vervallen toestand tot 1609. In 1725 werd op het domein een hof van plaisantie gebouwd. In 1724 werd een dreef aan de oostzijde van het gebouw aangelegd, de grote dubbele lindendreef tussen het kasteel en de kerk dateert van 1756. Tussen 1770 en 1773 werd het huidige classicistische kasteel opgetrokken in opdracht van S.J.de Neuf. Het interieur vertoonde meestal intacte Louis XVI-salons. Het zogenaamde "groot salon" is van de hand van de Franse beeldhouwer Clodion, de eetzaal met bas-reliëfs van beeldhouwer G.L.Godecharle. De huiskapel van het Hof ter Linden dateert van 1900. Het koetshuis en de stallingen uit de 17de eeuw werden waarschijnlijk tussen 1751 en 1770 aangepast.

In 1981 werd het Hof Ter Linden beschermd als monument. De onmiddellijke omgeving van het kasteel, met de toegangsdreef, vormt een beschermd dorpsgezicht. Na het overlijden van barones Jacqueline Ruzette kwam het domein in 2008 te koop te staan. In 2012 werd het in zijn geheel aangekocht door de vzw Kempens Landschap, het gemeentebestuur van Edegem en het Ondersteunend Centrum van het Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos. Na de herwaardering van het park zal het kasteeldomein opgengesteld worden voor het grote publiek.

Foto: Tijl Vereenooghe

Veroli (Latin: Verulae) is a town and comune in province of Frosinone, Lazio, central Italy.Veroli became a Roman municipium in 90 BCE. It became the seat of a bishopric in 743 CE, and was occupied by Spanish milices, allied to the Colonna family, in the 16th troops.Veroli retains elements of its ancient polygonal nucleus, especially near the summit of the hill, later occupied by a medieval castle. The Cathedral's treasury contains the breviary of St. Louis of Toulouse, and some interesting reliquaries, one in ivory with bas-reliefs, and two in the Gothic style, of silver gilt.Near Veroli is the Gothic Abbey of Casamari.

Veroli fu una delle più importanti Città Erniche ed inizialmente assieme alle altre contrastò vivacemente l’espansione di Roma nel Lazio. Divenne libero Municipio dal IV secolo a.C. Una epigrafe del IV secolo e numerosi oggetti rinvenuti in alcune tombe testimoniano il rapido propagarsi della fede cristiana nella zona. I fatti principali che caratterizzarono nel passato la Città furono: l’imprigionamento di Papa Giovanni X nella Rocca di S. Leucio nel 928, l’incontro nella basilica di S. Erasmo tra Alessandro III e gli inviati del Barbarossa nel 1170 e gli accordi che cercarono Onorio III e Federico II per organizzare la terza Crociata. Illustri cittadini verolani hanno partecipato alla storia della Città e dell’Italia: l’umanista Giovanni Sulpicio, commentatore di Vitruvio; il capo della Riforma in Italia, Aonio Paleario, arso a Roma nel 1570; Giovanni Trulli, famoso chirurgo lettore di chirurgia all’Università di Roma dal 1637 al 1643; l’archeologo Amedeo Maiuri, scopritore degli scavi di Pompei.Ma Veroli non è solo storia. Una visita alla Città ernica, ubicata nel cuore della Ciociaria ad appena 15 minuti dall’uscita di Frosinone lungo l’A1 Roma-Napoli, offre al turista svariati motivi di conoscenza sia per la scoperta di opere architettoniche ed artistiche di rilevante spessore, che in termini paesaggistici e naturalistici. Prima tappa sono i “Fasti Verulani”, una straordinaria testimonianza su lastra marmorea dell’importanza della Città, dapprima avversaria e poi fedele a Roma, dove sono incisi i primi tre mesi dell’anno del calendario romano.Si prosegue con il Duomo di S. Andrea ed il suo inestimabile “Tesoro”, eretto nel 1706, il cui storico rosone appartiene alla facciata originaria della chiesa distrutta dal terremoto del 1350. Tra gli oggetti principali del Tesoro, una grande croce in argento del 1291, un busto d’argento dorato sbalzato del XIII secolo e tantissimi reliquari d’argento e d’avorio dipinto davvero unici. Nell’archivio capitolare della Cattedrale vi sono 1200 pergamene dal IX secolo in poi, nonché pregevoli quadri d’epoca. La Basilica di Santa Maria Salome (1773), patrona della Città di Veroli, è invece dotata della “Scala Santa”, una delle tre presenti al mondo, insieme a quelle di Roma e di Gerusalemme. Privilegio elargito il 30 giugno 1751 da Papa Benedetto XIV, salendo genuflessi i dodici gradini della Scala Santa di Veroli, si lucra la medesima indulgenza plenaria della Scala Santa di San Giovanni in Laterano in Roma.Nella Basilica, oltre la Cripta dove è stata sepolta la patrona, vi sono alcune cappelle ed un presbiterio con dipinti ed affreschi notevoli. Altre rilevanti testimonianze dell’arte e della cultura, sono il convento benedettino (1580) la cui chiesa è dedicata alla Beata Fortunata Viti, in cui è possibile visitare la chiesa romanica dei Franconi, interessante per gli archetti d’epoca lombarda e la “Biblioteca Giovardiana” , monumentale testimonianza della cultura verolana donata alla Città ernica da Mons. Giovardi nel 1773 e dotata di oltre 20.000 volumi, 400 manoscritti, 42 incunaboli, 10 volumi di incisioni, bolle papali, pergamene miniate, monete antiche e numerosi documenti storici. La Basilica di Sant’Erasmo - dove tra l’altro è avvenuto il miracolo eucaristico dell’ostia incarnata, nel 1170 Papa Alessandro III unì in matrimonio il nipote Ottone Frangipane con la nipote dell’Imperatore greco Comneno - con i suoi affreschi e l’integro portico, la chiesa romana di San Leucio con l’omonima Rocca, situata nella parte alta della Città, ed il Borgo medioevale di S. Croce, cuore dell’artigianato locale con laboratori di produzione delle tipiche Ciambelle verolane e di falegnameria, sono infine l’ennesima testimonianza del contributo dato da Veroli all’arte ed alla cultura mondiale.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzJmb8NbIxk

Pontefract Castle

Pontefract (or Pomfret) Castle is a castle ruin in the town of Pontefract, in West Yorkshire, England. King Richard II is thought to have died there. It was the site of a series of famous sieges during the 17th-century English Civil War.

History

Model reconstructing Pontefract Castle

The castle, on a rock to the east of the town above All Saints' Church, was constructed in approximately 1070 by Ilbert de Lacy. on land which had been granted to him by William the Conqueror as a reward for his support during the Norman Conquest. There is, however, evidence of earlier occupation of the site. Initially the castle was a wooden structure which was replaced with stone over time. The Domesday Survey of 1086 recorded "Ilbert's Castle" which probably referred to Pontefract Castle.

Robert de Lacy failed to support King Henry I during his power struggle with his brother, and the King confiscated the castle from the family during the 12th century. Roger de Lacy paid King Richard I 3,000 marks for the Honour of Pontefract, but the King retained possession of the castle. His successor, King John gave Lacy the castle in 1199, the year he ascended the throne. Roger died in 1213 and was succeeded by his eldest son, John. However, the King took possession of Castle Donington and Pontefract Castle. The de Lacys lived in the castle until the early 14th century. It was under the tenure of the de Lacys that the magnificent multilobate donjon was built.

In 1311 the castle passed by marriage to the estates of the House of Lancaster. Thomas, Earl of Lancaster (circa 1278–1322) was beheaded outside the castle walls six days after his defeat at the Battle of Boroughbridge, a sentence placed on him by King Edward II himself in the great hall. This resulted in the earl becoming a martyr with his tomb at Pontefract Priory becoming a shrine.It next went to Henry, Duke of Lancaster and subsequently to John of Gaunt, third son of King Edward III. He made the castle his personal residence, spending vast amounts of money improving it.

Richard II

The ruins of Pontefract Castle's keep

In the closing years of the 14th century, Richard II banished John of Gaunt’s son Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford, from England. Following the death of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, in 1399, Richard II seized much of the property due to Bolingbroke. Richard then shared some of the seized property around among his favourites. The castle at Pontefract was among such properties which was under threat. These events aroused Bolingbroke to return to England to claim his rights to the Duchy of Lancaster and the properties of his father. Shakespeare's play Richard II (Act 2, scene 1, 277) relates Bolingbroke’s homecoming in the words of Northumberland in the speech of the eight tall ships:-

Richard III

Richard III had two relatives of Elizabeth Woodville beheaded at Pontefract Castle on 25 June, 1483 - her son, Sir Richard Grey, and her brother, Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers.

Tudor Era

In 1536, the castle's guardian, Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy de Darcy handed over the castle to the leaders of the Pilgrimage of Grace, a Catholic rebellion from northern England against the rule of King Henry VIII. Lord Darcy was executed for this alleged "surrender," which the king viewed as an act of treason.

In 1541, during a royal tour of the provinces, it was alleged that King Henry's fifth wife, Queen Catherine Howard, committed her first act of adultery with Sir Thomas Culpeper at Pontefract Castle, a crime for which she was apprehended and executed without trial. Mary, Queen of Scots was lodged at the castle on 28 January 1569, travelling between Wetherby and Rotherham.

Royalist stronghold

The garrison handed over the castle to John Lambert on 24 March 1649. On his way south to London, King James rode from Grimston Park to view Pontefract Castle on 19 April 1603 and stayed the night at the Bear Inn at Doncaster.

Royalists controlled Pontefract Castle at the start of the English Civil War. The first of three sieges began in December 1644 and continued until the following March when Marmaduke Langdale, 1st Baron Langdale of Holme arrived with Royalist reinforcements and the Parliamentarian army retreated. During the siege, mining and artillery caused damage and the Piper Tower collapsed as a result. The second siege began on 21 March 1645, shortly after the end of the first siege, and the garrison surrendered in July after hearing the news of Charles I's defeat at the Battle of Naseby. Parliament garrisoned the castle until June 1648 when Royalists sneaked into the castle and took control. Pontefract Castle was an important base for the Royalists, and raiding parties harried Parliamentarians in the area.

Oliver Cromwell led the final siege of Pontefract Castle in November 1648. Charles I was executed in January, and Pontefract's garrison came to an agreement and Colonel Morrice handed over the castle to Major General John Lambert on 24 March 1649. Following requests from the townspeople, the grand jury at York, and Major General Lambert, on 27 March Parliament gave orders that Pontefract Castle should be "totally demolished & levelled to the ground" and materials from the castle would be sold off. Piecemeal dismantling after the main organised activity of slighting may have further contributed to the castle's ruined state.

It is still possible to visit the castle's 11th-century cellars, which were used to store military equipment during the civil war.

Preservation

The ruins of St Clement's Chapel within the castle

Little survives of what "must have been one of the most impressive castles in Yorkshire" other than parts of the curtain wall and excavated and tidied inner walls. It had inner and outer baileys. Parts of a 12th-century wall and the Piper Tower's postern gate and the foundations of a chapel are the oldest remains. The ruins of the Round Tower or keep are on the 11th-century mound. The Great Gate flanked by 14th-century semi-circular towers had inner and outer barbicans. Chambers excavated into the rock in the inner bailey possibly indicate the site of the old hall and the North Bailey gate is marked by the remains of a rectangular tower.

The castle has several unusual features. The donjon has a rare Quatrefoil design. Other examples of this type of Keep are Clifford's Tower, York and at the Château d'Étampes in France. Pontefract also has an torre albarrana, a fortification almost unknown outside the Iberian Peninsula. Known as the Swillington Tower, the detached tower was attached to the north wall by a bridge. Its purpose was to increase the defender's range of flanking fire.

Wakefield Council, who own the site, commissioned William Anelay Ltd to begin repairs on the castle in September 2015, but work stopped in November 2016 when Anelay went into administration. The Council then engaged Heritage Building & Conservation (North) Ltd, who began work on the site in March 2017. A new visitor centre and cafe were opened in July 2017; but in April 2018 the council announced that they had terminated the contract with HB&C (North) Ltd, as no work had been done since mid-March, and they had not had any reassurances that the work would restart. On Yorkshire Day 2019, the restoration was completed, and the castle was removed from Historic England's "Heritage At Risk" list.

This is the first of 21 photos taken during the course of Monday, 26 January A.D. 2026 ... which happens to be my birthday. Hence, I've titled this photo session "I Don't Look a Day Over 75!".

(You may disagree with me, convinced I look a whole lot older than 75. But this very day being my 75th birthday, I'm able to truthfully say I'm NOT a day OVER 75 in these photos..)

_________________

NOTE: These 21 photos are the follow-up to the 6 photos I posted to my Flickr photostream yesterday.

This is the amazing church designed by world renowned Canadian architect Douglas Cardinal. It was finished in 1968 and is one of his early works. Built with undulating lines (reputed to be the most "sensuous" walls on the planet) and an unadorned austere interior it is considered to be one of the finest designs in the world. Apparently students of architecture still study this as well as his other works. When you go inside it is dark except for the huge skylight (or cannon) directing light right on the altar. Cardinal thought that it was imperative that the altar be the sole focus of God's light. This was a very interesting experience for me as I found the church to be quite unlike any that I had seen before.

The Doll Project is a series of conceptual digital photographs that uses fashion dolls to embody the negative messages the media gives to young girls. Though it would not be fair to blame it all on Barbie, there have been many instances in which she has come dangerously close. I chose to use Barbie dolls because they are miniature mannequins, emblems of the fashion world writ small, a representation of our culture's impossible standards of beauty scaled to one sixth actual size. The little pink scale and How To Lose Weight book are both real Barbie accessories from the 1960s. They are recurring motifs in the pictures in the series, symbolizing the ongoing dissatisfaction many girls and women feel about their weight and body image. The dolls' names, Ana and Mia, are taken from internet neologisms coined by anorexic and bulimic girls who have formed online communities with the unfortunate purpose of encouraging each other in their disordered eating. With each passing era, Ana and Mia are younger and younger, and the physical ideal to which they aspire becomes more unattainable. They internalize the unrealistic expectations of a society that digitally manipulates images of women in fashion and beauty advertisements and value their own bodies only as objects for others to look at and desire.

Read more about the project here:

tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2008/08/doll-project.html

Purchase prints here:

society6.com/TiffanyGholar

Buy the book on Amazon and Etsy.

The Grand Palace is a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. The palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam (and later Thailand) since 1782. The king, his court, and his royal government were based on the grounds of the palace until 1925. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), resided at the Chitralada Royal Villa and his successor King Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) at the Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall, both in the Dusit Palace, but the Grand Palace is still used for official events. Several royal ceremonies and state functions are held within the walls of the palace every year. The palace is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Thailand.

Construction of the palace began on 6 May 1782, at the order of King Phutthayotfa Chulalok (Rama I), the founder of the Chakri Dynasty, when he moved the capital city from Thonburi to Bangkok. Throughout successive reigns, many new buildings and structures were added, especially during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). By 1925, the king, the Royal Family and the government were no longer permanently settled at the palace, and had moved to other residences. After the abolition of absolute monarchy in 1932, all government agencies completely moved out of the palace.

In shape, the palace complex is roughly rectangular and has a combined area of 218,400 square metres (2,351,000 sq ft), surrounded by four walls. It is situated on the banks of the Chao Phraya River at the heart of the Rattanakosin Island, today in the Phra Nakhon District. The Grand Palace is bordered by Sanam Luang and Na Phra Lan Road to the north, Maharaj Road to the west, Sanam Chai Road to the east and Thai Wang Road to the south.

Rather than being a single structure, the Grand Palace is made up of numerous buildings, halls, pavilions set around open lawns, gardens and courtyards. Its asymmetry and eclectic styles are due to its organic development, with additions and rebuilding being made by successive reigning kings over 200 years of history. It is divided into several quarters: the Temple of the Emerald Buddha; the Outer Court, with many public buildings; the Middle Court, including the Phra Maha Monthien Buildings, the Phra Maha Prasat Buildings and the Chakri Maha Prasat Buildings; the Inner Court and the Siwalai Gardens quarter. The Grand Palace is currently partially open to the public as a museum, but it remains a working palace, with several royal offices still situated inside.

Canon EOS 50D with Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM at f=235mm, Av=5, Tv=1/3200 and ISO=400

and the final prize is for the orange elephant in the room. The Colossal Fossil.

Make America Colossal

The time has come to both award the Colossal Fossil and to finally call out those who deserve it the most!

While we have had some strong contenders (shout out to the Australian bullies), there seems to be only one clear choice. Only one who has been the absolute, hands-down, uncontested worst – the US administration.

Not really that much of a surprise, is it?

I am sure you all remember it well. When Donald Trump announced on June 1st that he intended to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement, he isolated himself on the global stage, turning his back on the rest of the world. Now that Syria has ratified, the Trump administration is completely, 100% alone in its rejection of this vital global agreement.

Super sad!

Let’s just remember that the US is still in the Paris Agreement for at least a few more years. But there is no doubt about the administration’s position on climate action. They’re attacking domestic climate policies such as the Clean Power Plan and fuel efficiency standards.

They’re propping up dirty energy by proposing a bailout for coal. They’re attempting to censor science, deleting any mention of climate change from documents and websites and issuing gag orders to government scientists. Last but not least, they sent fossil fuel cronies to represent the U.S. at COP. In other words, they are acting in direct opposition to the spirit of the Paris Agreement.

The Trump team tried to bring their backwards agenda to Bonn. The US administration’s only official side event was to promote fossil fuels. But the world was there to send them a message: You can’t sell coal at a conference to stop climate change!

Prompted by a journalist’s question, two of the four panelists explicitly said they disagree with Trump’s effort to pull out of the Paris Agreement. When even your fossil-fuel-funded panelists don’t agree with your decision, you know you’re on the wrong side of history. (As if there was any doubt before.)

But there is a ray of light. US mayors, governors, business leaders, university presidents, and committed individuals from all fifty states and every walk of life are standing by the Paris Agreement and with the world against the climate crisis. More than 100 of them came to Bonn and camped out in the funny looking igloos outside the Bula Zone to showcase their commitments, and many others mobilized for a Day of Action across the US to send the message that they are still in, too. They all give us hope.

Trump may have abandoned the world, but the rest of us haven’t. As young people from across the globe sang when they disrupted the US fossil fuels event on Monday: “We the people of the world unite, and we are here to stay.”

Unfortunately, this ray of hope does not replace the need for action from the U.S. federal government. All their bad behavior at home and here at COP should be widely and loudly condemned, they are truly deserving of the Colossal Fossil – the undisputed best of the worst.

Watch the Facebook Video

This is as close as I ever want to get to a buffalo. The cyanotype is a 150 year old contact printing process. These images are digital photos which are then process into negatives on a computer and printed out on transparency film on an inkjet printer. Paper is then prepared with a sensitizer solution, allowed to dry, and then printed in the sun with the negative lying on top of the sensitized paper.

Remembrance Sunday, 11 November 2018

In the United Kingdom, Remembrance Sunday is held on the second Sunday in November, which is the Sunday nearest to 11 November, Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of hostilities in the First World War at 11 a.m. on 11 November 1918. Remembrance Sunday is held to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts.

Remembrance Sunday is marked by ceremonies at local war memorials in most cities, towns and villages, attended by civic dignitaries, ex-servicemen and -women, members of local armed forces regular and reserve units, military cadet forces and uniformed youth organisations. Two minutes’ silence is observed at 11 a.m. and wreaths of remembrance poppies are then laid on the memorials.

The United Kingdom national ceremony is held in London at the Cenotaph in Whitehall. Wreaths are laid by principal members of the Royal Family, normally including the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Sussex, the Duke of York, the Princess Royal, the Earl of Wessex and the Duke of Kent, the Prime Minister, leaders of the other major political parties, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Commonwealth High Commissioners and representatives from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets and the civilian services, and veterans’ groups.

In 2017 Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, for the first time, did not lay wreaths themselves but viewed the parade from the Foreign and Commonwealth balcony. In 2018 the Queen again viewed the parade from the balcony whilst Prince Philip did not attend. Other members of the British Royal Family watched from the balcony of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

11 November 2018 marked the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. The President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier laid a German wreath at the Cenotaph for the first time. Normally wreaths are only laid by British persons and organisations and Commonwealth governments. Wreaths have been laid by leaders of Commonwealth and Allied countries when they attended as guests. In 2003 the Prime Minister of Australia, in 2006 the Prime Minister of New Zealand and in 2015 the King of the Netherlands laid wreaths.

Two minutes' silence is held at 11 a.m., before the laying of the wreaths. This silence is marked by the firing of a field gun on Horse Guards Parade by the King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, to begin and end the silence, followed by Royal Marines buglers sounding Last Post in Whitehall.

The parade consists mainly of an extensive march past by veterans, with military bands playing music following the list of the Traditional Music of Remembrance.

After the ceremony, a parade of veterans and other related groups, organised by the Royal British Legion, marches past the Cenotaph, each section of which lays a wreath as it passes. Only ticketed participants can take part in the march past. In 2018 this was followed by a "people's procession" of some 10,000 people who streamed past the Cenotaph in honour of the war dead.

From 1919 until the Second World War remembrance observance was always marked on 11 November itself. It was then moved to Remembrance Sunday, but since the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 1995, it has become usual to hold ceremonies on both Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.

Each year, the music at the National Ceremony of Remembrance remains the same, following a programme finalised in 1930:

Rule, Britannia! by Thomas Arne

Heart of Oak by William Boyce

The Minstrel Boy by Thomas Moore

Men of Harlech

The Skye Boat Song

Isle of Beauty by Thomas Haynes Bayly

David of the White Rock

Oft in the Stilly Night by John Stevenson

Flowers of the Forest

Nimrod from the Enigma Variations by Edward Elgar

Dido's lament by Henry Purcell

O Valiant Hearts by Charles Harris

Solemn Melody by Walford Davies

Last Post – a bugle call

Beethoven's Funeral March No. 1, by Johann Heinrich Walch

O God, Our Help in Ages Past – words by Isaac Watts, music by William Croft

Reveille – a bugle call

God Save The Queen

Other pieces of music are then played during the march past and wreath laying by veterans, starting with Trumpet Voluntary and followed by It's A Long Way To Tipperary, the marching song of the Connaught Rangers, a famous British Army Irish Regiment of long ago.

The following is complied from press reports on 11 November 2018:

“The Prince of Wales has led the nation in remembering those who gave their lives in the First World War as he laid the wreath at the Cenotaph.

For the first time ever he was joined the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, marking a historic act of reconciliation between the two nations.

The Queen watched from the balcony of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office along with the Duchess of Cambridge and Duchess of Cornwall.

Remembrance services have been taking place all over Britain and Europe, which is an hour ahead, to mark the Armistice that ended the hostilities 100 years ago.

It is estimated that nine million military personnel were killed between 28 July 1914 and 11 November 1918.

The armistice, which was signed by German and Allied generals at 5am GMT, came into effect six hours later at 11am. Every year since then the country has paused at 11am for two minutes to remember the men and women who lost their lives in the conflict.

The Palace announced this morning that the Duke of Edinburgh could not attend the service and a wreath was laid on his behalf by an equerry.

Later this evening, the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will attend a special service at Westminster Abbey, alongside Mr Steinmeier.

As part of event, two B-type buses which served as military vehicles between 1914 and 1918 - and are the last surviving models from the period - will be on The Mall. This will mark the contribution of bus drivers during the First World War and will be the first time they have appeared in an Armistice Day parade since the 1960s.

As well as the parade, civilians across the country will ring church bells in unison across the country on Sunday; it is expected that 1,700 people will take part in the event. Church bells across the UK remained restricted throughout the course of the war and only rang freely once Armistice was declared on November 11, 1918.

At that moment, bells erupted spontaneously across the country, as an outpouring of relief that four years of war had come to an end.

The French President, Emmanuel Macron, led the ceremony in Paris to mark the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day.

Around 70 world leaders were in attendance, including Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Jean-Claude Juncker, for a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe.

President Trump and his wife Melania arrived in the French capital yesterday, and were greeted at the Elysee Palace in Paris by the French President and his wife Brigitte.

The President of Germany made history today appearing at the Cenotaph.

Following the Prince of Wales who laid a wreath on behalf of the Queen, Frank Walter-Steinmeier laid a wreath at the foot of the Cenotaph and stood with his head bowed.

He is the first German dignitary invited to the Cenotaph and was watched by his wife Elke Budenbender who accompanied the Duchess of Sussex on the Foreign Office balcony.

The Queen was accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall and Duchess of Cambridge although the Duke of Edinburgh was absent having retired from official duties last year.

Commemorations had begun before dawn, as beach drawings and bag pipers added to the beautiful ways the centenary has been marked around the country.

In Paris, the leaders of France, Germany, Russia and the USA joined together for a special international service.”

"The Hôtel Biron is a jewel of Parisian rocaille architecture, with its park that covers nearly three hectares, adding to its immense attraction and explaining the museum’s very high attendance. In total, it welcomes over 700,000 visitors every year.

Late in 2005, the architect Pierre Louis Faloci finished the restoration of the chapel building, making possible the reopening of a temporary exhibition room.

Stretching over three hectares, the grounds are divided into a rose garden, north of the Hôtel Biron, and a large ornamental garden, to the south, while a terrace and hornbeam hedge backing onto a trellis concealed a relaxation area, at the bottom of the garden. Pierced by three openings, this trellis reflects the design and proportions of the three bay windows on the mansion’s garden façade. Two thematic walks were also laid out: in the east, plants thrive amidst the rockery in the “Garden of Orpheus”, and, in the west, water is omnipresent in the “Garden of Springs”.

Rodin started to place selected works in the overgrown garden that he liked so much in 1908, together with some of the antiques from his personal collection. Male and female torsos, copies made in the Roman or modern period, after Greek works, were presented in these natural surroundings, their contours dappled by the sunlight: “Nature and Antiquity are the two great sources of life for an artist. In any event, Antiquity implies nature. It is its truth and its smile.” (Rodin)

The first bronzes were erected in the gardens before World War I. Since 1993, they have been regularly cleaned and treated so as to preserve their original patinas."

www.musee-rodin.fr/en

"The Musée Rodin in Paris, France, is a museum that was opened in 1919, dedicated to the works of the French sculptor Auguste Rodin. It has two sites: the Hôtel Biron and surrounding grounds in central Paris and just outside Paris at Rodin's old home, the Villa des Brillants at Meudon (Hauts-de-Seine). The collection includes 6,600 sculptures, 8,000 drawings, 8,000 old photographs, and 7,000 objets d’art. The museum receives 700,000 visitors annually.

While living in the Villa des Brillants, Rodin used the Hôtel Biron as his workshop from 1908 and subsequently donated his entire collection of sculptures (along with paintings by Vincent van Gogh and Pierre-Auguste Renoir that he had acquired) to the French State on the condition that they turn the buildings into a museum dedicated to his works.

The Musée Rodin contains most of Rodin's significant creations, including The Thinker, The Kiss, and The Gates of Hell. Many of his sculptures are displayed in the museum's extensive garden. The museum is one of the most accessible museums in Paris. It is located near a Metro stop, Varenne, in a central neighborhood, and the entrance fee is very reasonable. The gardens around the museum building contain many of the famous sculptures in natural settings. Behind the museum building are a small lake and casual restaurant.

Additionally, the Metro stop, Varenne, features some of Rodin's sculptures on the platform. The building is served by Métro (line 13: Varenne or Invalides), RER (line C: Invalides), and bus (69, 82, 87, 92).

The museum has also a room dedicated to the works of Camille Claudel. Some paintings by Monet, Renoir, and Van Gogh that were in Rodin's personal collections are also presented. The Musée Rodin collections are very diverse, as Rodin used to collect besides being an artist."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musée_Rodin

.....

Al Andalus is a luxury train that operates on two routes in Spain.

The ‘Al Andalus’ itinerary travels through Andalusia in southern Spain, with visits to (amongst other places) Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Ronda and Cadiz, thus taking in a wide sweep of Southern Spain, whilst being transported through stunning scenery from the mountains of the Sierra Nevada to the Atlantic Ocean. Andalucia today is the result of cultural influences that encompasses the Carthaginians, the Romans, the Byzantines and of course the Moors, all before the Christian Spanish era that has become modern Spain.

This historical kaleidoscope has produced a number of World Heritage sites and cities, set in a varied and fascinating landscape, much of which is protected for its flora and fauna.

The ‘Ibérico’ itinerary is Madrid to Zaragoza, or Zaragoza to Madrid, with a full programme of visits to perhaps less well known cities, sites and towns.

This part of Spain is rich in military history, with many battles being fought over the centuries, not least the Peninsula War.

The lounge, bar and restaurant carriages were built in France between 1929 and 1930 by the Wagon-Lits Company, and have now been restored to their original splendour, which is matched by on-board service, attentive without being obsequious. This is the epitome of romantic travel; Belle Epoque charm mingles with the comfort of the modern age, allowing the traveller to revel in the pleasure of the journey.

It is worthwhile noting that the sleeper carriages have private bathing facilities for all suites – shower, toilet and wash basin.

"Annapolis (/əˈnæpəlɪs/ (listen) ə-NAP-ə-lis) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland as well as the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Anne Arundel County. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, 25 miles (40 km) south of Baltimore and about 30 miles (50 km) east of Washington, D.C., Annapolis forms part of the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area. The 2020 census recorded its population as 40,812, an increase of 6.3% since 2010.

This city served as the seat of the Confederation Congress (former Second Continental Congress) and temporary national capital of the United States in 1783–1784. At that time, General George Washington came before the body convened in the new Maryland State House and resigned his commission as commander of the Continental Army. A month later, the Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris of 1783, ending the American Revolutionary War, with Great Britain recognizing the independence of the United States. The city and state capitol was also the site of the 1786 Annapolis Convention, which issued a call to the states to send delegates for the Constitutional Convention to be held the following year in Philadelphia. Over 220 years later, the Annapolis Peace Conference took place in 2007.

Annapolis is the home of St. John's College, founded 1696; the United States Naval Academy, established 1845, is adjacent to the city limits." - info from Wikipedia.

The fall of 2022 I did my 3rd major cycling tour. I began my adventure in Montreal, Canada and finished in Savannah, GA. This tour took me through the oldest parts of Quebec and the 13 original US states. During this adventure I cycled 7,126 km over the course of 2.5 months and took more than 68,000 photos. As with my previous tours, a major focus was to photograph historic architecture.

Now on Instagram.

Become a patron to my photography on Patreon or donate.

#FastFoodTurfWar

www.redbubble.com/people/timconstable/works/11725428-wher...

This variegated row of rectangles is part of Nehemiah Spring Creek, a development within Gateway Estates, which itself is a new neighborhood of affordable housing, decades in the making, that is finally being built on a formerly empty expanse of landfill in East New York. Designed by the renowned architect Alexander Gorlin, these homes consist of prefabricated modules that are assembled in a factory at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and then trucked across the borough to Spring Creek.

The non-profit group putting up these houses, Nehemiah, is named after the biblical leader who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. It is backed by East Brooklyn Congregations, a consortium of local churches that banded together in 1980 to revitalize the blighted neighborhoods of Brownsville and East New York, places where other developers wouldn't even think about building. Nehemiah's focus has always been on keeping costs as low as possible by erecting large batches of houses at once, in the hope that a concentrated influx of new homeowners could provide stability to a formerly deteriorated area. They have been largely successful in this approach, but, as a result, their architecture typically lacks much in the way of character.

Spring Creek, however, offers a striking departure from the blandness of previous Nehemiah projects. The facades are still quite minimalistic, but their irregularly alternating patterns and colors are anything but boring. Walking around here on a foggy Sunday afternoon was a surreal experience; I felt at times like I was stuck inside an endless alien suburb, but I was simultaneously captivated by the arresting visual landscape. It's unlike any other place I've seen in NYC. Adding to the strange vibe was the fact that there weren't any stores or restaurants to be found — there is a gigantic mall on the south side of the Gateway development, but it's not accessible to pedestrians in the residential area — but apparently that's going to change soon.

This is in the album 'Eighty-one Years of Ageing' www.flickr.com/photos/libbyhalldogs/albums/72157714715592251

I certainly didn't expect to make it to EIGHTY!

This is from an album 'Still Housebound, Still Here. 2021'

www.flickr.com/photos/libbyhalldogs/albums/72157719636608205

Kim Kardashian is ultra-glam in tight demure dress as she drags beau Kanye to awards in London… but he skips the red carpet

www.weddingdressdreamuk.com/kim-kardashian-is-ultra-glam-...

This is a photograph from finish of the fourth annual running of the AON Mullingar Half Marathon which was held on Saturday 17th March 2019 (St. Patrick's Day Lá Fhéile Pádraig 2018) in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland at 10:30. This photograph was taken at at the 13 mile mark in the home straight within Mullingar Town Park. Following on from the incredible success of the first three years of the race this year the total numbers participating rose from just under 600 in 2015, 900 in 2016, over 1200 in 2017 and yet again over 1200 this year. Proceeds raised by the AON Mullingar Half Marathon will go directly to T.E.A.M (Temporary Emergency Accommodation Midlands) finding safe & secure accommodation for homeless women and children. The roots of the successs of the event last year was the excellent organisation and a very flat and fast route. All of these characteristics were repeated this year except for the weather. This was a bitterly cold day with air temperatures struggling to get above 4C and a severe wind chill from an easterly breeze making it for very difficult running conditions. Indeed the race could be described as a race of two halves in terms of weather. The first half participants had the strong, cold easterly wind at their faces. However, turning for home along the Royal Canal this became a very strong tailwind for 4 - 5 miles from around Flynn's Machinery/Junction 14 M4. Participants travelled from all over Ireland with a very large participation from runners around Mullingar and the midlands. The race has an AAI permit. The course reverted to its original route this year. Last year saw a small change to the course configuration when the race crossed the M4 Motorway at The Downs via a winding pedestrian footbridge. This was not included this year.

The race began on Pearse Street/Austin Friar's Street in the town and proceeds North East out of the town to the N52 Delvin/Dundalk road towards Lough Sheever. The course then follows beautiful rural country roads out to The Downs at the M4. The only significant hill or rise on the course occurs here at about 7 miles when runners cross a pedestrian footbridge over the M4 near Junction 14 Thomas Flynn and Sons The Downs. The race then joins the now local access route of the old N4 road and then joins the Royal Canal at Great Down. The remainder of the race follows the Royal Canal back westward to Mullingar town. The towpath on the Canal is perfectly flat and in excellent condition. Runners will notice how the level of the canal changes dramatically along the route - at points the canal is level with the towpath. In other places the canal is at least 3 meters lower than the canal path. However the path is perfectly flat and firm the whole way. The course then leaves the Royal Canal at the Ardmore Road/Millmount area of the town and finishes in the Mullingar Town Park on Austin Friar's Street beside the Annebrook Hotel. The park provides a very nice setting for the finish of the race and runners and their families can mix and congregate around the finish area and the hotel.

Timing and event management was provided by www.myrunresults.com/. Their website is here [www.myrunresults.com/] and will contain the results to today's race.

Our full set of photographs are available at: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/albums/72157664768562807

Nandi (Sanskrit: नन्दी, Tamil: நந்தி, Telugu: న౦ది) is the name for the bull which serves as the mount (Sanskrit: Vahana) of the god Shiva and as the gatekeeper of Shiva and Parvati. In Hindu Religion, he is the chief guru of eighteen masters (18 siddhas) including Patanjali and Thirumular. Temples venerating Shiva display stone images of a seated Nandi, generally facing the main shrine. There are also a number of temples dedicated solely to Nandi.

The application of the name Nandi to the bull (Sanskrit: vṛṣabha) is in fact a development of recent centuries, as Gouriswar Bhattacharya has documented in an illustrated article entitled "Nandin and Vṛṣabha". The name Nandi was earlier widely used instead for an anthropomorphic deity who was one of Shiva’s two door-keepers, the other being Mahākāla. The doorways of pre-tenth-century North Indian temples are frequently flanked by images of Mahākāla and Nandi, and it is in this role of Shiva’s watchman that Nandi figures in Kālidāsa’s poem the Kumārasambhava.

ETYMOLOGY

The word “Nandi” is believed to be derived from the ancient word “Pandi” meaning bull or its has origins in the Sanskrit language where it means 'of Shiva', 'attendant of Shiva', or happy.

BIRTH OF NANDI

There was a Sage named Shilada who underwent severe penance to have a boon - A child with immortality. Lord Indra pleased of the austerities of Shilada appeared in front of him to offer a boon. After hearing the request of Shilada and his desire to have an immortal child, Lord Indra suggested him to pray to Lord Shiva who could provide the boon; nobody else could provide such a boon. Sage Shilada continued his penance for thousand years. He was totally immovable for many years, so the termites settled on his body and slowly started to build up their nest. Finally, his whole body was covered up by them. The insects started to eat his flesh and imbibed his blood. At last, only bones remained. Lord Shiva appeared in front of him and provided the boon for an immortal child. Moreover, Lord Shiva provided Sage Shilada his old form with a single touch. Sage Shilada performed Yagna and a child appeared from the sacrificial fire. His body was clad in armour made out of diamonds. The celestial dancers and singers performed on this auspicious occasion and the deities showered flowers on the child. The boy was named ’Nandi’ - who brings joy. Shilada brought the child home, immediately the boy lost his divine appearance to an ordinary child. The child completely forgot all about his birth. Sage Shilada was worried about the sudden change. He devoted his time for the bringing up the child, his education etc. By the age of seven the boy was well versed in Veda and all sacred texts. One day the two deities - Mitra and Varuna visited Sage Shilada. At the first sight of the boy, they commented: Though the boy had all auspicious signs, he would have a very short life. The boy would not live after the age of eight. Sage Shilada was mortified at this remark. Nandi could not bear his father's sorrow, he began to pray to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva appeared before him and blessed him. Lord Shiva adorned the boy with a necklace around his neck which he was wearing, and made him immortal. Lord Shiva blessed the child and declared that he would be worshiped along with Him and become his vahana(vehicle). Immediately the boy got all the divine powers and transformed into half bull-half human. Then he and Shilada went to Lord Shiva 's abode to live.

IN HINDUISM

Bulls appear on the Indus Valley seals, including the 'Pasupati Seal', which depicts a seated figure, and according to some scholars is similar to Shiva. However, most scholars agree that the horned bull on the Indus Valley seals is not identical to Nandi.

The various descriptions on Nandi in the Hindu Religion texts include:

Some Puranas describe Nandi or Nandikeshvara as bull faced with a human body that resembles that of Shiva- in proportion and aspect, although with four hands, two hands holding the Parasu (the axe) and Mruga (the antelope) and the other two hands joined together in the Anjali(obeisance). Brahma Vaivarta Purana mentions Krishna himself to have taken the form of a bull as no one else in the Universe can bear Shiva.

Vehicle of Shiva: The bull Nandi is Shiva's primary vehicle and is the principal gana (follower) of Shiva.

Gate keeper of Shiva's abode: The close association of Shiva and Nandi explains the presence of a statue of Nandi at the gate of many temples dedicated to Shiva. It also explains why the word "nandi" in the Kannada, Telugu and Tamil languages is used as a metaphor for a person blocking the way. In Sanskrit, a bull is called "vrisha", which has another connotation - that of righteousness or Dharma. It is important to seek the blessings of Nandi before proceeding to worship Lord Shiva.

Chief in Shiva's army: Some Puranas mention that Nandi lead the Shiva Ganas, Shiva's attendants.

A Guru of Saivism: In addition to being his mount, Nandi is Shiva's foremost disciple. In the Natha/Siddhar tradition, Nandi is one of the primal gurus. He was the guru to Siddhar Thirumulanathar, Patanjalinathar and others.

From the yogic perspective, Nandi/Nandhi/ Nandikeshvara is the mind dedicated to Lord Siva, the Absolute. In other words, to understand and absorb Light, the 'experience and the wisdom' is Nandi which is the Guru within.

Spiritually, Nandi represents an individual jiva (soul) and the message that the jiva should always be focussed on the Atman (Paramatman).

LEGENDS

According to some puranas, Nandi was born to sage Shilada who got him by the grace of Shiva.

It was Nandi who cursed Ravana (the demon King of Lanka) that his kingdom would be burnt by a monkey (Vanara). And later Hanuman burnt Lanka when he went in search of Sita, who was kept prisoner by Ravana in Ashok Vatika. In one puranic story, it is stated that once Siva and Parvathi were playing a game of dice. For any game there has to be an umpire, who has to declare who is the winner. Siva and Parvathi agreed to have Nandi (the divine bull) as the umpire. Nandi is a favorite of Siva, as he is Siva's vehicle. Although Siva lost the game, Nandi declared him the winner. It is stated that Parvathi was indignant over Nandi's partiality for Siva and cursed him that he should die from an incurable disease. Thereupon Nandi fell at the feet of Parvathi and pleaded for forgiveness. "Mother forgive me. Should I not show at least this amount of gratitude to one who is my master? Is it not humiliating for me to declare that my master has lost the game? To uphold his honor I no doubt uttered a lie. But am I to be punished with such severity for so small an offence?" Nandi prayed for forgiveness in this manner. Parvathi forgave Nandi and taught him the means to atone for his lapse. She told him. "The Chaturdasi day in the month of Bhadrapada is the day when my son's birthday is celebrated. On that day you have to offer to my son what pleases you most (green grass)". This means that one atones for one's sins when one offers to the Lord what is most pleasing and enjoyable to him. For Nandi the most enjoyable and relishing food is green grass. As directed by Parvathi Nandi worshipped Ganapathi by offering green grass. Nandi was then relieved of his dreaded disease. His health improved and by the grace of Parvathi he was redeemed.

When the positive forces, the devas, and the negative forces, the asuras, joined together on a rare occasion to churn the ocean with a mountain to obtain the nectar of immortality they utilized Vasuki, the serpent, as the rope. The devas pulled from one end and the asuras from the other. Lots of precious herbs and gems were produced during the Churning and one of them was a poison (halāhala) which became human karma. This "poison" was so dangerous that none of the devas or asuras wanted to go near it. It was extremely sticky and coming into contact with this poison, i.e., human karma, would drag the divinity down to the realms of human suffering and ego. As everyone else ran away, Lord Siva, followed by Nandi, came forward to help as he was the only one who could counteract this deadly poison. Siva took the poison into his hand and drank it, the descent of the poison was in turn stopped at His throat, by His divine consort. Siva is therefore also known as Nīlakaṇṭha (the blue-throated one) and Viṣakaṇṭha (the poison-throated one). Nandi saw some of the poison spill out of Siva's mouth and immediately drank if off the ground. The devas and asuras watching were shocked and wondered aloud what would happen to Nandi. Lord Siva calmed their fears saying, "Nandi has surrendered into me so completely that he has all my powers and my protection".

LARGEST NANDIS IN INDIA

1. Lepakshi, Andhra Pradesh

2. Brahadishwara Temple, Tamil Nadu

3. Chamundi Hills, Mysore, Karnataka

4. Bull Temple, Bangalore, Karnataka

5. Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu

6. Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebidu, Karnataka

7. Shanthaleswara Temple, Halebidu, Karnataka

8. Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur, Kerala

9. Virupaksha Temple, Hampi, Karnataka

10. Nandi Temple, Western Group of Temples, Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

11. Kedareshvara Temple at Balligavi (Karnataka)

12. Doddabasaveshvara temple, Kurugodu Bellary dist

WIKIPEDIA

debbie is hot@slainte irish pub. por mariah daher.

Students learn proper paddling techniques and prepare for their first kayak trip.

It is a little bit better to view LARGE. (recommended)

This is Haleakala Crater and located more than 10,000 ft above sea level on the Island of Maui. For additional info please click the link.

Click here for long exposure.

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This can be view, was selected and featured in my Pentax Photo Gallery

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Name: Reede

Species: English Muntjac

Sex: Male

Location from: England

Other: A young adult that was evidently sourced from roadkill. Has some minor post mortem tooth damage.

Species Info: Muntjacs, AKA Barking Deer, are small portly deer with striking red coats. Their most notable feature are their long canines which are used for fighting. They have no seasonal rut- instead mating year-round due to being a tropical animal.

These deer are native to Asian regions but have been introduced to England, where they have become one of the most common deer species.

Evening walk with my friend Pam

Madeley is recorded in the Domesday Book, having been founded before the 8th century. Historically, Madeley's industrial activity has largely been in mining, and later, manufacturing, which is still a large employer in the town, along with service industries. Parts of the parish fall within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ironbridge Gorge, the site of The Iron Bridge, and a key area in the development of Industry.

The settlement of Madeley is recorded as far back as the Domesday Book. The town was founded prior to the 8th century, and subsequently became a market town in the 13th century.

Sigward, a local ruler in the time of King Ethelbald of Mercia, is said to have held 3 hides of land at Madeley.[2] Between 727 and 736 he sold his holdings to Mildburh, daughter of Merewalh, sub-king of the Magonsæte. She was the founder and first head of Wenlock Abbey. The monastery was refounded as a Cluniac priory after the Norman conquest but the manor of Madeley belonged to the church of Wenlock, throughout the Middle Ages, until the Dissolution of the monasteries. It passed to the Crown in 1540 and in 1544 was sold to Robert Broke, a prominent lawyer and politician from Claverley.

Mining of coal began before 1322, and the extraction of ironstone had begun by 1540.[3]

The town played a role in the English Civil War, as it was home to a garrison of Royalist soldiers in 1645, although this post was abandoned after the fall of Shrewsbury. Two months later, Paliamentary forces occupied the parish church.[3] Madeley is also home to a barn in which King Charles II hid after the Battle of Worcester in 1651.[4]

In the 17th century, Madeley was a small market town, but local tradesmen began to specialise, working in the river trade and in mining. In the 18th century, The Iron Bridge was built between Madeley Wood and Coalbrookdale and the settlement of Ironbridge grew by it, which took some of the commercial trade away from the old town of Madeley, including its market.

Residents of the town of Madeley have included Sir Basil Brooke of Madeley Court, who was instrumental in the Industrial Revolution. He was born in the local manor (which he later inherited) in 1576. His grandfather, Robert Brooke, was a former Speaker of the House of Commons.[19] John William Fletcher, an English divine, originally from Switzerland, was the vicar of the parish of Madeley in the 18th century.[20] Major Charles Allix Lavington Yate VC, is another former resident of the town, who earned the Victoria Cross in the First World War.[21] He was kinsman of Colonel Sir Charles Yate, 1st Baronet, (1849-1940) British soldier and administrator in India, who retired to Madeley Hall and is buried in the parish churchyard.

Billy Wright, the former captain of Wolves and the England football team, attended Madeley Senior School (which is now the Abraham Darby Academy).[22] Rob Edwards a current Wolves and Wales full-back, was born in the town, in 1982.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeley,_Shropshire

The Black Ferns is New Zealand's national women's rugby union team.

The team's nickname combines the colour black and the silver fern, which are iconic New Zealand sporting symbols. For example, the All Blacks is New Zealand's famous men's rugby team, the Black Caps is the men's cricket team, the White Ferns is the women's cricket team, while the Silver Ferns is the national women's netball team.

The Black Ferns are the current Women's Rugby World Cup champions. They have won four consecutive World Cups, winning the first International Rugby Board (IRB)-sponsored Cup in 1998, the 2002 World Cup in Barcelona, the 2006 World Cup in Edmonton, Canada, and the 2010 World Cup in London, England. The Black Ferns have participated in most WRWC events since its inauguration in 1991, only missing the 1994 championship in Scotland. They also won the Canada Cup in 1996, 2000, and 2005, and the Churchill Cup in 2004.

Farah Palmer, who had been captain since 1997, lost her captaincy in 2005 due to a shoulder injury. However, she was honoured as International Women's (Rugby) Personality of the Year at the IRB Awards. During that year, Rochelle Martin and Anna Richards led the team in the 2005 test series against England, which the Black Ferns won 2-0. For the 5th Women's Rugby World Cup in Canada, Farah Palmer fought her way back into the Black Ferns team. After again leading the team to World Cup victory, Palmer announced her retirement from the Black Ferns in September 2006.[1]

While rugby is the most popular spectator game in New Zealand, the Black Ferns have suffered in the past from similar problems to any women's sport—under-funding, lack of support and lack of publicity. The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) and IRB have been criticised for not doing more to promote women's rugby, although support is beginning to build in those organisations. The NZRU started funding the Black Ferns in 1995, thus giving a great boost to their game. Accordingly the Black Ferns have benefitted from being included in NZRU High Performance initiatives. Along with professional coaches the team has had access to professional development resources such as analysis. The Black Ferns have used Verusco Technologies TryMaker video analysis system, as used by the All Blacks. In more recent times, the team's profile has risen greatly at a grassroots level, due in great part to their string of successes, and it is increasingly seen to be a national team on the same basis as any other.

In January 2010 NZRU announced that the National Provincial Competition (NPC) will have to go due to budget cuts. This has been a shock for many women players especially since it is a World Cup year. Former captain Farah Palmer was one of the women who commented on that.[2] NZRU said women's domestic rugby is one of many victims of the tight financial times. They have faced a barrage of criticism for their decision. General manager of provincial rugby Neil Sorenson said NZRU is going to replace the competition with camps and trials for the Black Ferns.

After the Black Ferns won the World Cup in 2010 and due to efforts of many rugby players in New Zealand the NPC was re-installed. The Auckland Storm with Emma Jensen captaining the side, won the final against Canterbury 38-12 in Christchurch. It was the Auckland Storm 5th consecutive title.

Les Néo-Zélandaises se présentent comme les favorites naturelles du Mondial dames de rugby qui s'ouvre vendredi près de Paris, après avoir remporté les quatre dernières éditions, mais les hôtes françaises et les grandes rivales anglaises se tiennent en embuscade.

Les "Black Ferns" (Fougères noires) règnent sans partage sur le monde depuis 1998 et ont pris l'habitude, lors des trois dernières éditions, de contrarier les rêves anglais en finale. Victorieuses de leurs quatre matches de préparation contre l'Australie, les Samoa et le Canada (deux fois), les Néo-Zélandaises, dont les meilleures sont sous contrat fédéral et sont également championnes du monde à VII, semblent posséder un temps d'avance sur le plan technique et physique. Versées dans une poule B plutôt facile (avec l'Irlande, les États-Unis et le Kazakhstan), les Black Ferns devraient se roder lors de leurs trois premières rencontres disputées à Marcoussis, siège de la Fédération française de rugby à une trentaine de kilomètres au sud de Paris.

Parmi les douze équipes en lice pour cette septième édition, les Françaises font figure de sérieuses prétendantes après avoir remporté le Grand Chelem dans le Tournoi des six nations. Invaincues en 2014, les Bleues ont l'avantage du terrain, à condition de gérer la pression de l'événement. Elles devraient en théorie franchir l'obstacle d'une poule C comprenant le pays de Galles, l'Afrique du Sud et l'Australie. Les Wallaroost; et les ;Bleues; n'ont guère de repères les unes contre les autres, leur dernière opposition remontant au Mondial-2010 et au match pour la 3e place perdu par la France.

Les Anglaises (poule A) voudront, elles, chasser l'amertume du dernier Mondial: elles s'étaient inclinées au Twickenham Stoop d'un cheveu contre les Néo-Zélandaises (13-10) au terme d'une finale à fort suspense. Mais leurs Tournois des six nations 2013 (3e place).

Patan (Sanskrit: पाटन Pātan, Newar: यल Yala), officially Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City, is the third largest city of Nepal after Kathmandu and Pokhara and it is located in the south-central part of Kathmandu Valley. Patan is also known as Manigal. It is best known for its rich cultural heritage, particularly its tradition of arts and crafts. It is called city of festival and feast, fine ancient art, making of metallic and stone carving statue. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census it had a population of 226,728 in 54,748 individual households. The city received extensive damage from an earthquake on 25 April 2015.

GEOGRAPHY

Patan is on the elevated tract of land in Kathmandu Valley on the south side of the Bagmati River, which separates it from the city of Kathmandu on the northern and western side. The Nakkhu Khola acts as the boundary on the southern side. It was developed on relatively thin layers of deposited clay and gravel in the central part of a dried ancient lake known as the Nagdaha.

It is the third largest city of the country, after Kathmandu, and Pokhara.

The city has an area of 15.43 square kilometres and is divided into 22 municipal wards. It is bounded by:

East: Imadol VDC and Harisiddhi VDC

West: Kirtipur Municipality and Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC)

North: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC)

South: Saibu VDC, Sunakothi VDC and Dhapakhel VDC

CLIMATE

Climate is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Cfa" (Humid Subtropical Climate).

HISTORY

Lalitpur is believed to have been founded in the third century BC by the Kirat dynasty and later expanded by Licchavis in the sixth century. It was further expanded by the Mallas during the medieval period.

There are many legends about its name. The most popular one is the legend of the God Rato Machhindranath, who was brought to the valley from Kamaru Kamachhya, located in Assam, India, by a group of three people representing the three kingdoms centered in the Kathmandu Valley.

One of them was called Lalit, a farmer who carried God Rato Machhindranath to the valley all the way from Assam, India. The purpose of bringing the God Rato Machhindranath to the valley was to overcome the worst drought there. There was a strong belief that the God Rato Machhindranath would bring rain in the valley. It was due to Lalit's effort that the God Rato Machhindranath was settled in Lalitpur. Many believe that the name of the town is kept after his name Lalit and pur meaning township.

In May, a chariot festival honoring the deity known as Bunga Dyah Jatra is held in Patan. It is the longest and one of the most important religious celebrations in Patan.

During the month-long festival, an image of Rato Machhendanath is placed on a tall chariot and pulled through the city streets in stages.

Lalitpur said to have been founded by King Veer Deva in 299 AD, but there is unanimity among scholars that Patan was a well established and developed town since ancient times. Several historical records including many other legends indicate that Patan is the oldest of all the cities of Kathmandu Valley. According to a very old Kirat chronicle, Patan was founded by Kirat rulers long before the Licchavi rulers came into the political scene in Kathmandu Valley. According to that chronicle, the earliest known capital of Kirat rulers was Thankot. Kathmandu, the present capital was most possibly removed from Thankot to Patan after the Kirati King Yalamber came into power sometimes around second century AD.

One of the most used and typical Newar names of Patan is Yala. It is said that King Yalamber or Yellung Hang named this city after himself, and ever since this ancient city was known as Yala.

In 1768, Lalitpur was annexed to the Gorkha Kingdom by Prithvi Narayan Shah in the Battle of Lalitpur.

HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

The city was initially designed in the shape of the Buddhist Dharma-Chakra (Wheel of Righteousness). The four thurs or mounds on the perimeter of Patan are ascribed around, one at each corner of its cardinal points, which are popularly known as Asoka Stupas. Legend has it that Emperor Asoka (the legendary King of India) visited with his daughter Charumati to Kathmandu in 250 BC and erected five Asoka Stupas, four in the surrounding and one at the middle of the Patan. The size and shape of these stupas seem to breathe their antiquity in a real sense. There are more than 1,200 Buddhist monuments of various shapes and sizes scattered in and around the city.

The most important monument of the city is Patan Durbar Square, which has been listed by UNESCO as one of seven Monument Zones that make up the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site. The seven monument zones were included in the World Heritage List in 1979 as one integrated site. The monument zones are declared as protected and preserved according to the Monuments Preservation Act of 1956. The Square was heavily damaged on 25 April 2015 by an earthquake.

Patan City was planned in Vihars and Bahils. Out of 295 Vihars and Bahils of the valley 56% of them are in Patan. The water conduits, stone spouts, Jaladroni (water tanks), artistic gate ways, Hindu temples and Buddhist Vihars adorn the city. The in built cultural heritage like the royal palace, with intricately carved doors and windows and beautiful courtyards adorned with exquisite icons enhance the beauty of the city. Such art pieces are found in stone, metal, terracotta ivory and other objects. All these artifacts exhibit artistic excellence of the craftsmen and the whole city looks like an open museum.

ECONOMY

A substantial portion of the population is engaged in trades, notably in traditional handicrafts and small scale cottage industries, and some residents work in agriculture. Lalitpur has produced the highest number of renowned artists and finest craftsmen ever recorded in the history of Nepali art.

Patan has maintained a culture of craftwork even in the face of rapid urbanization and many social and political upheavals.

The city is less urbanized than Kathmandu, north of the Bagmati river, but is home to many workshops, stores, restaurants, hotels, schools, embassies and other important sectors of the Kathmandu Valley economy.

Buddha Air has its headquarters in Jawalakhel, near Patan.

EDUCATION

POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

Patan is home to Pulchowk Engineering Campus, one of the oldest and most reputed colleges affiliated with the Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University. Patan Academy of Health Sciences is the only medical university in the city with Patan Hospital as its primary teaching hospital, and there is another medical school - KIST Medical College in Lalitpur. Other instituitions of higher learning in Patan include Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM) and Patan Multiple Campus.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

The city is served by a number of private and public instituitions providing education from primary until secondary level. Among all, the largest and reputed schools are Adarsha Vidya Mandir, St. Xavier's School, St. Mary's, Little Angels School, Graded English Medium School, Rato Bangala School, DAV Sushil Kedia, Adarsha Kanya Niketan, The British School, Adarsha Saral Madhyamik Vidyalay and Gyanodaya Bal Batika School.

LIBRARIES

Nepal National Library which was established in 1957 AD was moved to Patan from Singha Durbar in 2061 AD. It is at Harihar Bhawan. Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya which awards the Madan Puraskar and Jagadamba Shree Puraskar literary prizes is in the city.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Patan is renowned as a very artistic city. Most of the Nepalese art is devoted to Gods, and there are an abundance of temples and viharas. Notable places of interest include:

Patan Durbar Square: The palace square and residence of the Malla rulers of Patan state which now houses a museum.

Patan Dhoka: One of the historical entrances to the old city.

Bhaskerdev Samskarita Hiranyabarna Mahavihara: A Buddhist temple known locally as Golden Temple.

Mahabouddha Temple: Also known as 1000 Buddha Temple modeled liked the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya.

Kumbheswor Temple: A Shiva temple with two ponds whose water is believed to come from Gosaikunda.

Ratnakar Mahavihar: Also known as Ha Baha, the viahara complex is the official residence of the Kumari of Patan.

Krishna Mandir: One of the most beautiful stone temples of Nepal built by King Siddhinarsingh Malla in the 16th century.

Park Gallery: an artist run space founded in 1970.

TRANSPORTATION

AIRPORTS

ROADS

Walking is the easiest method of transportation within the city as the core is densely populated. In terms of motor transport, Kathmandu Valley Ring Road which encircles the central part of the valley is a strategic road in the city. Connection to Kathmandu over the Bagmati River is provided by a host of road and pedestrian bridges. The most trafficked and important bridge connecting to the centre of Kathmandu is Thapathali Bridge. Since pedestrians and vehicles often have to share the same road, traffic congestion is a major problem in Patan. Efforts are being made to widen roads to make them more suitable to vehicular traffic.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Private companies operate a number of routes connecting Patan with other places in the valley. Buses, micro-buses and electric tempos are the most common forms of public transport seen in the city. Lalitpur Yatayat buses connects the touristic Thamel area of Kathmandu with buses stopping at Patan Dhoka, a five-minute walk to Patan Durbar Square. Lagankhel Bus Park is the central transport hub.

MEDIA

To Promote local culture Patan has one FM radio station Radio Sagarmatha - 102.4 MHz which is a Community radio station.

LANGUAGE

The original native language of Patan is Nepal Bhasa's Lalitpur dialect. Though due to the migration form other places to Patan, other languages like Nepali, Tamang, etc. are also spoken.

WIKIPEDIA

This is a photograph from the Longwood GAA 10KM and 5KM Road Races and Fun Runs 2014 which were held in Longwood Village, Co. Meath, Ireland on Sunday 19th October 2014 at 11:00. This is the fifth year which Longwood GAA have hosted race events. This year's event was an outstanding success with the number of participants doubling over last year's final numbers. There were almost 400 participants in both events with 224 in the 10KM and 166 in the 5KM. In the first three previous years the club had organised a 5KM road race. The events were organised as fundraisers for both the adult and juvenille teams at Longwood GAA club. The event also provided a fundraising opportunity for the local St. Vincent de Paul charity. Overall the whole day was a great success with the hard work put in by the organising committee ensuring that participants enjoyed their race experience. Both routes were accurately measured, kilometer points clearly marked, junctions well stewarded, and electronic timing provided. The event provided many local runners, joggers, fun runners and walkers with a local event to support whilst at the same time providing runners preparing for events such as the Dublin marathon with an opportunity to race a short, fast, distance in the lead up to marathon day. The GAA club provided excellent stewarding and traffic management all around the course. The race had a professional feel to it and it is sure to grow next year given the very positive feedback from many of the participants today.

This is a photograph which is part of a larger set of photographs taken at the event. There were photographs taken at the start of the races and the finishes of both races in Longwood GAA. The full set is available at this link www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157648845224981/

Longwood is a small village in South East Co. Meath and is close to the town of Enfield with access to the M4 Motorway.

Timing and event management was provided by Precision Timing. Results are available on their website at www.precisiontiming.net/result.aspx?v=2100 with additional material available on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/davidprecisiontiming?fref=ts) See their promotional video on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-7_TUVwJ6Q

Overall Race Summary

Participants: There were about 400 participants over the two events.

Weather: The weather was very breezy but dry. The temperatures around 10C.

5KM Course: The 5KM started in Longwood village. Runners then took a left turn in the Village down St. Oliver's Road. This straight section of road brings runners to a left turn onto a very well maintained boreen road for less than one kilometer. The race then emerges and joins with the 10KM at Stoneyford where the runners take a left and then another left before arriving back at the finish line in Longwood GAA club. Overall this is a very fast and flat 5KM with no hills to speak of.

10KM Course: The 10KM event begins in Longwood Village outside Stoney's Pub (goo.gl/maps/Of4fW) and proceeds westward out of the village. There are some interesting points along this part of the course. At the 2KM point the runners will run under the double bridges - an aquaduct for the Royal Canal and a bridge carrying the Dublin Sligo Railway line. The race then enters county Kildare just before the 3km and after taking a right turn at the four-cross roads known locally as Lally's Cross it returns to County Meath on top of the River Boyne Bridge (Ashfield Bridge) which forms the county boundary. The race follows a straight road for the next 2KM until runners encounter Blackshade bridge which is the toughest climb on the route. As a point of interest Blackshade bridge brings runners back over the Royal Canal and the Railway line. The race then crosses the River Boyne again at Stoneyford before taking a right which will bring runners on a testing two kilometer stretch with some short hills. The 10KM course then joins with the 5Km course for the final 1.5KM back to Longwood GAA club for the finish.

Location Map: Longwood GAA club (Race Finish and Race Head Quarters - goo.gl/maps/4a8iQ Google StreetView)

Joining point of the two courses (Google Streetview goo.gl/maps/ICUvs)

Some Useful Links

RESULTS 2014: www.precisiontiming.net/result.aspx?v=2253

www.facebook.com/longwoodroadrace?fref=ts (may require Facebook logon)

Longwood GAA Facebook: www.facebook.com/longwoodgaa (may require Facebook logon)

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM 2013: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157636477484093/

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM 2012: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157631820426332/

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM 2011: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157627782257481/

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM 2010: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157625058772687/

Garmin GPS Trace for the 5KM Event in 2013: connect.garmin.com/player/238527691

Garmin GPS Trace for the 10KM Event in 2013: connect.garmin.com/activity/387453099

Can I use these photographs directly from Flickr on my social media account(s)?

Yes - of course you can! Flickr provides several ways to share this and other photographs in this Flickr set. You can share to: email, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, LiveJournal, and Wordpress and Blogger blog sites. Your mobile, tablet, or desktop device will also offer you several different options for sharing this photo page on your social media outlets.

We take these photographs as a hobby and as a contribution to the running community in Ireland. Our only "cost" is our request that if you are using these images: (1) on social media sites such as Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, Twitter,LinkedIn, Google+, etc or (2) other websites, blogs, web multimedia, commercial/promotional material that you must provide a link back to our Flickr page to attribute us.

This also extends the use of these images for Facebook profile pictures. In these cases please make a separate wall or blog post with a link to our Flickr page. If you do not know how this should be done for Facebook or other social media please email us and we will be happy to help suggest how to link to us.

I want to download these pictures to my computer or device?

You can download the photographic image here direct to your computer or device. This version is the low resolution web-quality image. How to download will vary slight from device to device and from browser to browser. However - look for a symbol with three dots 'ooo' or the link to 'View/Download' all sizes. When you click on either of these you will be presented with the option to download the image. Remember just doing a right-click and "save target as" will not work on Flickr.

I want get full resolution, print-quality, copies of these photographs?

If you just need these photographs for online usage then they can be used directly once you respect their Creative Commons license and provide a link back to our Flickr set if you use them. For offline usage and printing all of the photographs posted here on this Flickr set are available free, at no cost, at full image resolution.

Please email petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com with the links to the photographs you would like to obtain a full resolution copy of. We also ask race organisers, media, etc to ask for permission before use of our images for flyers, posters, etc. We reserve the right to refuse a request.

In summary please remember when requesting photographs from us - If you are using the photographs online all we ask is for you to provide a link back to our Flickr set or Flickr pages. You will find the link above clearly outlined in the description text which accompanies this photograph. Taking these photographs and preparing them for online posting does take a significant effort and time. We are not posting photographs to Flickr for commercial reasons. If you really like what we do please spread the link around your social media, send us an email, leave a comment beside the photographs, send us a Flickr email, etc. If you are using the photographs in newspapers or magazines we ask that you mention where the original photograph came from.

I would like to contribute something for your photograph(s)?

Many people offer payment for our photographs. As stated above we do not charge for these photographs. We take these photographs as our contribution to the running community in Ireland. If you feel that the photograph(s) you request are good enough that you would consider paying for their purchase from other photographic providers or in other circumstances we would suggest that you can provide a donation to any of the great charities in Ireland who do work for Cancer Care or Cancer Research in Ireland.

We use Creative Commons Licensing for these photographs

We use the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License for all our photographs here in this photograph set. What does this mean in reality?

The explaination is very simple.

Attribution- anyone using our photographs gives us an appropriate credit for it. This ensures that people aren't taking our photographs and passing them off as their own. This usually just mean putting a link to our photographs somewhere on your website, blog, or Facebook where other people can see it.

ShareAlike – anyone can use these photographs, and make changes if they like, or incorporate them into a bigger project, but they must make those changes available back to the community under the same terms.

Creative Commons aims to encourage creative sharing. See some examples of Creative Commons photographs on Flickr: www.flickr.com/creativecommons/

I ran in the race - but my photograph doesn't appear here in your Flickr set! What gives?

As mentioned above we take these photographs as a hobby and as a voluntary contribution to the running community in Ireland. Very often we have actually ran in the same race and then switched to photographer mode after we finished the race. Consequently, we feel that we have no obligations to capture a photograph of every participant in the race. However, we do try our very best to capture as many participants as possible. But this is sometimes not possible for a variety of reasons:

     ►You were hidden behind another participant as you passed our camera

     ►Weather or lighting conditions meant that we had some photographs with blurry content which we did not upload to our Flickr set

     ►There were too many people - some races attract thousands of participants and as amateur photographs we cannot hope to capture photographs of everyone

     ►We simply missed you - sorry about that - we did our best!

You can email us petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com to enquire if we have a photograph of you which didn't make the final Flickr selection for the race. But we cannot promise that there will be photograph there. As alternatives we advise you to contact the race organisers to enquire if there were (1) other photographs taking photographs at the race event or if (2) there were professional commercial sports photographers taking photographs which might have some photographs of you available for purchase. You might find some links for further information above.

Don't like your photograph here?

That's OK! We understand!

If, for any reason, you are not happy or comfortable with your picture appearing here in this photoset on Flickr then please email us at petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com and we will remove it as soon as possible. We give careful consideration to each photograph before uploading.

I want to tell people about these great photographs!

Great! Thank you! The best link to spread the word around is probably http://www.flickr.com/peterm7/sets