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A very worn out looking E34. No surprise to see it has been scrapped, and the last time the MOT gave a reliable reading was 2015 with 173k recorded, it then went down to 81k after showing unreadable in 2016, meaning the odometer failed, a common issue with these cars.
TD models did not have intercoolers.
Car: Fisher Fury Le Mans.
Year of manufacture: 2010.
Date of first registration in the UK: 1st July 2010.
Place of registration: Swindon.
Date of last MOT: 7th September 2020.
Mileage at last MOT: Unreadable.
Last V5 issued: 19th March 2019.
Date taken: 10th April 2016.
Location: Queen Square, Bristol, UK.
inscrutable
ɪnˈskruːtəb(ə)l/Submit
adjective
impossible to understand or interpret.
"Roger Guy looked blankly inscrutable"
synonyms:enigmatic, unreadable, impenetrable, mysterious, impossible to interpret
My jade Terracotta Soldier standing guard.
The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China.
Thank you to all who have been following this tale, and the pictures...
For this is the final end of both.
Just a reminder
The pictures that accompany this Tale tell a story of their own, and not one that matches the Tale being told in words.
A Wicked Turn
Acte 29
Lilly Unmasked
She stood hovering over him, smiling happily.
She intentionally was close enough that her brooch, and breasts, were teasingly hitting his nose!
“I had Supposed my friend, that I had given you ample enough lead!
He looked up at her questioningly
She reached down and played with her bright broach, hanging from her gown, positioned between her (very) perked breasts!
“Enough opportunity that you would have had this also from me! Imagine my surprise to still feel it prickling in its place untouched !!”
She held it glittering in front of his eyes...
She could see, that and despite his predicament, he wanted it!
Smirking she reached behind the brooch and unhooked it.
Then she leaned over, and placing her hands around his head, gently moved it forwards so that his mouth was touching the brooch.
She then moved up, making his mouth pull up the brooch till it came away from her gown and landed in his lap.
She twittered as she took in in hand, and slipped it down inside his pants, brushing along a now very wilted ‘John Thomas’
“There!”
She said, rising…
“That jobs done! I’ll retrieve it later Mr. Burglar!”
She went to the side of the room, as his eyes followed, and pulling out his full leather pouch from underneath the bed, picked it up and carried it triumphantly to the table.
He swore, chastising himself under his breath…
He had been just that close to reclaiming Mariette’s Jewels! But he still harboured hopes of a second chance reclaiming them before the light of daybreak!!
“So quite nice of you to bring me poor Mariette ’s jewels, my sweet burglar.”
She ran her fingers under his chin, tickling with her long fingernails, coloured to match her gown!
She purred evilly…
“How did you leave her then?
Hopefully, you stripped her of everything, then left her tied up and struggling!”
Despite himself, his ‘John Thomas’ began to prick up at this, something Lilly noticed!
“Good, Mariette deserved for that to happen!”
Lilly shivered with delight while saying this as she opening the pouch and began to rummage through it!
She selected the silvery case that had been collected from the master bedroom from inside the leather pouch!
Opening the case in front of his nose, he saw the shimmering pile of white diamonds and red rubies twinkling from inside.
She sat the silver case down on the table and reaching again inside his leather pouch, retrieved the antique jewelled mirror.
Saying as she admired herself in its reflection.
“I’ve always admired this mirror; glad you were able to steal it away from poor Mariette!”
Using the mirror, she put in the dangling earrings of the ruby stoned set, admiring their reflection in the mirror as she did so, with a sidelong glance to make sure her prisoner was watching!
He most decidedly was!
His drooling eyes were as wide as a deer caught in headlights!
Next, she pulled out the long glittering ruby necklace and faced him, the jewels dangling daringly in her hand…
She held up the necklace of rubies…
“You like these sir? I could tell!
she said enticingly waving the jewelled piece in front of his masked face, before elegantly fastening it around her throat, where they cascaded down in a most beckoningly manner.
She admired their shimmering reflection in the ornate silver jewelled hand mirror, smirking to herself!
Yes, he thought drooling over the enticing sight, he did like them, quite a bit actually, and would take as much great pleasure in recovering them from her as he had taken them from hapless Mariette!
He squirmed in his seat at the thought, causing Lilly to giggle!
She murmured…
“Poor Mariette!” Must ‘ave been devastated when she finally realized you weren’t that prat Gaston, and discovering the ending of her fine little game altered against her!
So, she knew he thought, and pondered what was in store for him now?!
Still prattling on about poor Mariette, Lilly continued to pull out the other ruby-encrusted pieces of the matching set.
Saucily dangling each piece tauntingly in front of his masked eyes…
Before slowly, carefully adorning her svelte brown satin clad figure with the fiery red glamorous little buggers!
When she had finished, Lilly stood before him and gave him her full attention.
He in return stared at her, keeping his expression poker-faced and unreadable
“I’m so sorry Mr. Burglar, did you still want these?”
She leaned over him, teasingly playing with jewels so that they flickered in the candles basking soft light.
He most certainly did want them, and his cuffed hands moved, his fingers flexing, itching to reclaim them from that deliciously lovely soft figure!
His mind’s eye quickly played out how he would have his revenge upon that pretty figure!
If only he could get his hands free, and he did so try very hard to do so at that moment!
Sensing his frustration, and maybe realizing what tiger she had by the tail, she smiled teasingly….
And backed away, taking her quite fetching figure and frenziedly sparkling jewels vexingly out of reach...
She went on….
“But they now belong to Lilly don’t they, my sweet burglar ?… However, there is something I can give you my dear…”
Then, looking once again ever like the cat eyeing the canary in his cage, Lilly unzipped her satin gown and let it slip down liquidly down from her figure.
She was now standing before him naked, her figure clad only in her jewels!
She reached over and pulled up and lifted off the black burglar’s mask, smiled deviously into his eyes, causing him to feel more than a slight prickling discomfort from down below as his ‘john Thomas’ rose to new eclectic heights!
She spoke with a whimsically foxy look spreading along her face as she pulled her long red hair up.
“So, Mr burglar? Did you like me better as a blonde?”
He sagely shook his head no, smiling into his wife Lilly’s hazel eyes!
she whispered deliciously to her husband, tickling him under the chin with ringed fingers, ….
“Game, Set and Match.. my darling role-playing thief!”
(Mariette/Lilly ) looked with sweet innocence down upon Michael, her husband (Mari in French), costumed as the cat burglar whom she had been calling Gaston/Mr. Burglar all evening!
He found the look upon her sly smiling face with her foxy grin, to be quite most enchanting… as it was, it always was!
Then Michael, with an even wider grin, spoke aloud for only the second time thus far this evening…
“The note luv, how did you know I was going to leave you there like that, and …where did you ever come up with the silly name of Gaston for me?”
“You’re a man my love, and like most, an easy predator to read!”
She tickled under his chin, then continued
“The names Gaston and Mariette? Got them all from the same place; from that old movie, we saw some time ago, where the thief claimed to be reformed in order to steal their jewel’s! Did you forget dearest? But then, you may have had other things on your mind tonight my darling!”
Lilly twittered as she rubbed a hand alongside his face, rings and bracelet delightfully shooting out blazing sparks.
He started to rise but was held firm by the handcuffs, damn he though, forgot about them, this was her part of the role play now, toying with the captured burglar!
Regaining his composure, he smiled and retorted
“Must have forgotten luv?
She squealed happily…
“So, you don’t remember the movie!”
“So you thought from the note, that Lilly was just going to be a second jewelled victim in the game needed to be robbed by the daring burglar!?
Lilly Scolded,
“No no no my sweet”…
“Lilly in the movie was a thief also, just like Gaston! Should have paid more attention to the movie Luv, and less to what your wife was wearing tonight naughty lad!”
And she tickled him underneath the chin in playful rebuff, Before going on...
“History always repeats itself my luv, and you should have been on the lookout for a trap from Lilly!”
Still trying unsuccessfully to recall the flick, he asked…
“So Gaston was taken in by Lilly in the also movie then?”
Lilly looked down upon her husband with a sly grin…
“He certainly was! And like tonight the thief Gaston” was successfully lured to his doom! “
As his wife explained, Her eyes had taken on a lustful glaze, and she bent down to him, her necklace swinging as provocatively as the expression on her face!
Wholeheartedly she kissed her husband as he tried unsuccessfully to raise his arms to her.
Giggling, she broke off and stood back, cheekily studying the bound “burglar” before her with a quite becoming self-satisfied smirk upon her charming face!
Then, again playing with the necklace, she smugly whispered down to him…
“But unlike poor Mariette, this necklace is safe from your clutches, as are the rest of my jewels!”
Shaking his head clear, trying to focus on how the game was turning against him, wondering how he could buy time to still get his hands on his wife’s jewels and come out, ahem! on top…
Then Michael tried to buy time by asking …?
“How did you slip out of here, get the pouch, and sneak back inside without me catching you then luv? Was that part of the movie also?”
He thought to himself that he needed to find the name of the movie to watch it again, and check his wife’s story about what had transpired….
He looked up at his wife’s smug face as she appeared to be about to answer his question…
“My secret!” she purred scrunching down…
“When your Lilly does not want to be caught, she won’t be... Words to the wise ‘Mr burglar’ …..and now that I have caught you my pet…..The game is up, and the last move will be mine!”
“La reine checmates son roi “
she whispered, in French, into his ear!
Bringing her jewels up close, whence they teasingly started sparkling radiantly in his eyes, like cascading rainbows of fiery colours , causing him to squint…
a zipper is heard being slowly pulled down
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Please allow me the break the fourth wall here...
Swiftly, if not modestly, the tales’ scene now cuts to the outside of the moonlit glen with the stone cottage in view. The candle is still flickering in the window… The difference is that now a pair of shadows can be seen moving about indecipherably inside the window’s view of the room…
If one moves closer, stealthy like a thief in the night, and listens in, the silence is quietly broken inside by a male voice asking,
But what was the name of the Movi….?
The last word is cut off abruptly with a heartfelt grunt and what may be described as a suckling noise can be heard!
Soon followed by male moans intertwined by the sounds of a girl’s deliciously mischievous giggling, a bit muffled like she may have something large in her mouth!
And, giving the couple inside their bit of privacy…
The story fades out here and ends!
NS train 21Z, aka 21 Zebra, 21 Zipper, or just "The Zipper" (Rutherford, PA to Chicago, 63rd St. Park Manor), with five black horses in charge of its hotshot containers and trailers flies though Brimfield, Indiana on Norfolk Southern Railway's Ex-Lake Shore & Michigan Southern mainline soaking up the very last rays of sunlight on a late summer day. The leader is looking quite battered with scrape marks, a replacement front door, and unreadable number boards. The lead axle is just getting ready to hit the equipment installed on the track for the MP 386.3 defect detector. The NYC tri-light signal and code line poles can be seen and serve as reminders of yesterdays technology.
I've got a week to turn the orange in today's sunrise into red. I'm sure something will develop and hope it does for all of you, too. If participation in the protest April 6 approaches the very successful black version previously presented, it will be equally impressive and a tribute to the sincere concern of Flickr folk. Not that there will necessarily be any reaction on the part of Flickr to the request. They have already proven they are very good at ignoring the sentiments of their paying customers. But that the membership continues to care enough to be involved is significant in itself....and should be applauded.
Ironically, I just received notice that my Pro membership is up in April and that they will be withdrawing the renewal fee automatically unless notified. I think we all know the psychology and purpose behind that little alteration in methodology. Many of you know that change for the sake of change can often be attributed to what I call "salary justification."
I also think that we who have made the noise regarding the changes over the last several years may unfortunately represent the "vocal minority"...long time members who have developed legitimate relationships and look forward to continuing those over time. Sadly, the changes continue to discourage this aspect of Flickr and further de-personalize those things important to those members. The trivialization of the title and description and the placing of small font almost unreadable comments in white have diminished those things of particular personal importance to me. They are now all tossed into the "black hole" on the right.
The reason I say minority is that we all know that this format is supposed to appeal to the "mobile" generation of which I personally am not one. However, I do see that suddenly there are thousands of views without comments. That is a decided difference from previous experience. Who are these people who are looking at our photos? Are they the target demographic? Perhaps members of what was once called under less than auspicious circumstances (to some of us) the "silent majority" which appears to be the target of the Flickr powers that be. Yet another example of further limiting any interest in indepth interaction. Just gawk at the pics and be on your way...perfectly congruent with the quickly declining interest in real communication in society, rapidly reaching the apparent goal of none at all. Not what we "protestors" have looked for or experienced in the past.
I've rambled on too long already...especially in the Beta format. Certainly no one will take the time nor risk the eye strain to read it there. But for most of us who have for the time being gone to a different language in desperation, I applaud your fervor and hope in the face of what in all probablility is a "done deal." As is often said, "It's not whether you win or lose..." I fear we have already lost, but let's concede with a flurry of red over the next week and particularly next Sunday. The one thing we can be sure of is that the "silent majority" will not be heard. And so ends my Sunday editoral...;-))
In a world where corporations own the air and trust is glitch ware, she walks the dangerous alleys at night like a corrupted file, unreadable, UNBREAKABLE.
CLOTHES
TECHNOFOLK-INT COLLAPSE
DELTA-XL ZAKET-BLANCO
HUNT-INCOGNITO SHIELD
R8TERZ-KENJI OVERSIZED TECH PANTS
GB- SYNCHRONICITY BOOTS
X-RIX FISHNET TOP
Le Dodgers stadium ⚾ et Downtown 🌇 L.A. ! 😎 On y a passé quelques semaines à l’entraînement sur le Dragon de SpaceX, mais pandémie oblige, on n'a pas vraiment pu visiter la ville... à part les aéroports, et les simulateurs donc. On a par contre tous en tête les images des films d’Hollywood, et je me rappelle aussi un peu des Jeux de 1984 et des exploits de Carl Lewis
Dodgers Stadium and downtown LA. Los Angeles is so vast is never seems to stop when approaching by aircraft from the East. We approach from the West with the Space Station, so we’re always greeted by the coast. A flight with a zoom on some of the highlights (there are so many): LAX airport, downtown LA, Universal Studios, Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood sign (it is flat and unreadable from 400 km above, but it is there somewhere!) Of course Los Angeles was one of the #OlympicCities in 1932 and in 1984 and set for a triple in 2028!
Credits: ESA/NASA–T. Pesquet
532B3339
Dark Isle Saga
Chapter 1: Grim Hollow
Part 3
After leaving Haldur's Crypt, Sarlina led Taryn through the village and towards the forest outskirts. She set a fierce pace, a look of mischief upon her face....
Taryn follwed keenly but slightly confused.
"So are you going to explain where we are headed and what this is all about" he asked?
"My dear Taryn, arn't secrets far more fun" she shot him an amused glance.
"I guess" he replyed, "But for once I'd like to be prepared for the enevitable trouble you're about to get me into!"
Sarlina stopped and turned to face him. Her face was unreadable at first but then she smiled.
"You love trouble, it shows in your face, i've seen the glow of joy you get when things turn ugly" She laughed, then put her arm through his and they walked on.
"There's so much evil in this land Taryn" she sighed. " We live in dark times but we do nothing to change it, we just accept and carry on with our lives, hoping and praying."
Taryn nodded, "Yes, but life is what it is. We make do and enjoy what special moments we can, thats all any man can do."
"No Taryn, it won't do, not for me." she retorted. " Avalonia was once a mighty realm, the first land settled in Historica and beloved by the ancient Druids. Our ansestors lived in paradise but they took it for granted and let it be overun and now its lost."
Taryn had heard this stories, all of us had. "Exactly, Avalonia WAS, not any more, those times are past, Avalonia is lost. The remaining legacy of our once great land retreated into the Dark Isle. Here we are, look at us now!" Taryn shook his head saddly. "This is all that remains, this is how it is."
"Not for long!" Sarlina pulled away and looked at him. " You know the legend of Haldur's heir...Avalonia's heir?"
"Of course, just that, a legend." replyed Taryn.
"No legend Taryn" she smiled wickedly. " I found Haldur's Scroll."
Taryn looked at her in bemusment. Legend says that the mighty Haldur kept in his possession a powerful scroll passed down by the ancient druids. It is said that the scroll contains secret knowledge on how to summon the ancient powers and restore the land.
Taryn shook his head, then looked again at Sarlina, not sure weather0 to believe her. "Even if you have found the scroll, there is no way either of us could read it."
"Very true." she smiled. "Infact, the scroll is empty, just a bare piece of parchment."
Taryn frowned "Oh well in that case I could make use of it myself, need to write a tally of my latest hunting kills." he laughed.
"Don't be stupid Taryn!" she snapped. "Just because it looks empty doesn't mean there's nothing there. We just need to reveal it and thats exactly what we're going to do."
"We are?" Taryn asked wearily.
"There's an old hermit who lives not far from here in an old abandoned cottage. He can help us, that's where we're going, to see Raven." She smiled and walked on ahead.
Taryn looked up towards the sky and smiled to himself. "Here comes trouble".
Finally Taryn and Sarlina reached a crest of a hill from where they could look down towards the old ruined cottage where Raven had taken shelter. It seemed to be an old farm house, much had collapsed and now lay twisted and overgrown. They walked on down the hill and made their way up to the cottage.
"So who is this Raven fellow anyway" enquired Taryn "And whats he doing stuck out here in this crumbling mess?"
"I know very little about him, only that he has knowledge of the old ways, or so I was told." she spoke, then stepped carefully over the debris that lay strewn about the place.
They came to a door that appeared to be locked, a tree had crashed through the roof, probably blown down during a storm and it had made the remaining roof section very unstable. Sarlina moved forward and peered through a hole in the plaster.
"What a shame, there was a time when this would have been a fine home. Now it lies in ruin like everything else." She pushed firmly on the door and it scraped open.
"Don't go in there" Taryn warned "Its not safe."
Sarlina frowned, then turned to go inside but Taryn pulled her back. "Let me, i'll check it out." he said firmly. Sarlina smiled and nodded.
The room was small and damp. Rotting wood littered the floor and birds nested amongst the remaining roof beams. In the corner lay some empty barrels but there was no sign of life.
"See, that wasn't so dangerous now was it?" Sarlina spoke sarcasticaly as Taryn ducked back out from the room.
Taryn looked at Sarlina, then kicked the door which resulted in a large roof beam come crashing down in a flurry of leaves and dirt. "Oh yes, completly safe!" he replyed, then turned and went to walk away but then stopped as he realised an old man was watching them.
The old man was standing by a broken cart, his hair was a dirty white and his face lacerated by time. He stooped over a short wooden pole which he used to help keep his balance. The old man stood motionless, watching the two of them. Then slowly he turned and made his way around the back of the house.
Taryn turned to Sarlina, "I'm guessing that's our guy?"
"Only one way to find out" she replyed, then jumped over the low stone wall and made after him. Taryn followed close behind and they made their way round the corner of the house to find the old man waiting for them by the doorway.
Sarlina walked slowly towards the old man. She bowed her head then brushed the hair back from her face and spoke. "My friend and I are looking for a man named Raven who is said to live here, do you know of him?" she asked softly.
The man stared inquisitively at her for a few moments then slowly nodded.
Sarlina smiled shyly "You're him arn't you? Your Raven?" she asked.
The old man once again slowly nodded. His face showed not one hint of emotion, as if he were as lifeless as a stone. He just continued to stare at the both of them, his gaze unsettling.
"I need your help" she said fervently. "I happened upon an ancient scroll which I believe to be Haldur's lost scroll of legend" she continued. "But it appears empty and so I need help to reveal what is hidden." She watched his reaction carefully.
The old man seemed unmoved by her words and Taryn rolled his eyes and shuffled restlessly. He thought it was all nonsense. Sarlina stood confused, unsure of what to do next. She was about to speak some more when suddenly the old man turned and went inside the cottage, closing the door behind him. Sarlina frowned.
"Lets just go" said Taryn quietly, "The man doesn't even speak, its a waste of time." He went to reach for Sarlina's hand but was interrupted by the sound of the door opening again. The old man reappeared clutching a red vial which he then held out towards Sarlina.
Sarlina hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took the vial from him. Taryn watched closly, a spark of surprised interest in his eye.
"So this will help.....This will reveal its secrets?" she asked. "But how, what is it I must do?"
The old man motioned with his staff towards a small pale filled with watter. He tipped the pale over and its contents spilt over the ground turning the light dusty earth a dark color.
Sarlina smiled and nodded, "I understand." she said thankfully. "Your help has been most welcome, thankyou."
The old man nodded a final time then disappeered inside the crumbling building.
Taryn moved closer to Sarlina and they both stared at the vial she held before them. "So we tip the contents of the vial onto the scroll which then reveals its secrets i'm guessing?" asked Taryn.
"Exactly!" Sarlina smiled triumphantly, then looked at Taryn amusingly. "You know you should never doubt me Taryn, I knew I was right about this."
"I don't doubt you Sarlina, I just worry about you. I want you to be safe, who knows what danger's this scroll could lead to." he said protectively.
Sarlina blushed, then embraced him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She gently looked up into his face. "I'm always safe with you Taryn, thats why I need you to help me with this. We have a chance to make a difference and restore this land to its former glory."
She pulled away from him and stood looking out towards the far distance. "Avalonia was once sacred, from here we ruled all Historica and lived in harmony. But when the Druids disappeared we abused the power they left us and were cursed with the existance of other tribes and people who came from across the seas. Now we are nothing and Historica has new lands and people, evil, pure evil. But with the knowledge from the scroll we can once again rise up and rid Historica from these other beings and have our sacred realm restored. Once again Avalonia will rule Historica" She spoke enthusiastically and laughed with happiness. "Lets go and make a change Taryn." she smiled and turned to walk.
Taryn smiled coyly back, but something wasn't right. He liked the idea of a restored happy peaceful Avalonia but not at the price of other land's lives. They wern't evil, they were just people like himself who had lives and families, the only difference being that they were from another land. Its true, Avalonia was the first land to be settled in Historica and for a time Historica was just inhabited by Avalonians. But those times had past, new lands and people had settled and they had become more powerful.
"Surely we should be trying to unite with the other lands and then together fight a common enemy." he thought to himself, "Not to rid the other lands from existance". He shook his head and looked up to watch Sarlina walking ahead clutching the vial in her hand. Taryn figured she wasn't thinking straight, her mind confused with the sudden joy of discovery. He hurried on to catch up with her and the two of them walked on, leaving the old man and the cottage behind them.
History tells us that it is Man who causes trouble, that it is Man who wages war and causes death and destruction...but reality was set to prove entirey different.
To be continued............
What a surprise seeing this was after just seeing the Granada and Scorpio a few hours ago! Looks very 90's with a odd panel too, love it! Currently taxed until the 1st of September 2022 and MOT'ed until the 20th of March 2023. No clue what is going on with the mileage, goes from 86,523 in 2008 to 67,754 in 2009. The odometer was reset somewhere between 2012 and 2013, then in 2015 it was recorded to be at 600,064 miles! Then the next year it was 8,829. Then in 2020 it was recorded to be 'unreadable'. How the hell do you get it that wrong? Current mileage sits at around 123,769, take a look at it for yourself: www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/
Last logbook change was on the 9th of December 2013.
A train of 1938 stock accelerates away from Piccaddilly Circus station as a last few passengers make for the exit. Obviously the train is un-sharp, indeed Peter did not print it, but I like this "period" scene. I also like that advert for the "Driway" weathercoat, the model has such a tiny hat on, I guess it is distorted by the curve of the tunnel. The next advert is for the London Dance ??? in which the pictured couple are in evening dress, the script suggests they are exchanging compliments, unfortunately they are unreadable. Finally we are back to raincoats with the "Weatherlux", well I suppose it is Britain...
To the left I am intrigued by the cupboard with buckets, it is not I think fire, is it perhaps first aid? Do the buckets contain disinfected water to swill the platform? Perhaps it is best not to know.
Peter attempted a number of pictures in the London Underground network, most are unsharp and usually under exposed. This was mainly because of the slow film of the day, he pushed the exposure to the limit which has resulted in grain.
I have selected a few pictures, some of which are more atmospheric than "pin sharp" record pictures.
I have no in-depth knowledge of London Underground therefore there will be errors in the captions, I have no reference books on the system apart from a 1963 Ian Allan abc and the web.
Courteous corrections are welcomed, exclamation marks are not.
Peter Shoesmith
Copyright Geoff Dowling & John Whitehouse: All rights reserved
ZE161 : Panavia Tornado F.3 : RAF, 25 Squadron, coded "FG".
The F.3 was notorious for its serial being obscured by dirty exhaust on the fin from use of reverse thrust. This example is unreadable.
#256 draws yet another Trash 9, this one with unreadable number boards. I would think that the poor condition of the number boards would constitute some sort of FRA violation. Crews can't rely on unlit cab numbers to positively identify a train at night.
NS 8913 (I think...)
I'm sorry I haven't been around. My 6 year old Mac needed some attending at the repair shop - the first time in 6 years! It took it's time - which would have been alright if it would be working right after the repair!!
The power supply died and I got a very cheep "new" (from another old Mac) installed. I also bought new much bigger hard drive, the other was almost full. BUT now the fan is so loud - it is like a helicopter taking of, at times. And a big part of my photos are unreadable and corrupt!!! ARG!
I'm going to reinstall the old hard drive myself and copy them again to the new and see if I can do it better than the guy in the shop! Hopefully I will be able to save my precious photos!!!
No this isn't my car, although mine is nearly as bad. I spotted this one in the car park at my local Supervalu supermarket. How does all that mud end up on the rear of the car? An unreadable number plate is one way to evade the speed traps I suppose HWW!
For 117 pictures in 2017 #103 Mysterious
FIAT 370. Italian coachbuilders appear to have developed a font style that is literally unreadable, rather nullifying the point of putting it on their products, although correspondent Diaspositivos has kindly pointed out that it says "Garbarini".
Credit to:
Voodoo for the the M9
Davidman for the text.
Finally got around to adding the logo to the grip, but the text is unreadable.
Car: Volkswagen Golf GTi.
Date of first registration: 11th June 1982.
Registration region: Kingston-upon-Hull.
Latest recorded mileage: unreadable (MOT 12th December 2019).
Date taken: 4th August 2019.
Location: Haynes Museum, Sparkford, Somerset, UK.
The Church is dedicated to St. Peter and consists of a tower of four stages, surmounted by a peculiar little spire, a Nave with North and South Aisles and a South Porch; and a Chancel with a North Aisle or Chapel.
From a close examination of the fabric it would appear that the Church passed through the following main changes.
The first Norman Church was built about 1150 and would have a tower of three stages (lower than the existing tower) an aisleless nave and a small Chancel, probably apsidal (i.e. semi-circular at the East end).
Barnburgh would be one of very few places in this district where the original church had a tower, the usual Norman construction was without a tower.
The first enlargement was some fifty years later in the Transitional Norman period, when a North Aisle was added to the Nave. It is invariably found that the first enlargements to our churches were made on the North side. This was done because there would be fewer graves to disturb, it being remembered that the people of those days, steeped as they were in superstition, avoided being buried on the North side where the shadow of the church would fall upon them.
The Chancel built by the Normans would, no doubt, as I have said, be small and as the ritual of the church became more elaborate the need for extension would arise. Furthermore there were two great families in the district at that time (the Cresacres and the Bella Aqua's or Bellews) and instead of founding monasteries as in earlier times, the idea had sprung up among many of these great families to institute Chantries. These usually took the form of little chapels inside the church but screened off, where a priest was maintained to pray for the soul of the founder and his family. Chantry certificates show that two chantries were founded in Barnburgh Church, of which more later.
All appearances therefore suggest that about 1330 the church underwent what was almost a rebuilding, and practically only the bottom two stages of the tower remained of the original church. These alterations would include the addition of the South Aisle and Porch, enlargement of the North Aisle, and the rebuilding of the Chancel with the addition of the North Chapel, and also the top two stages of the tower with the little spire. With the raising of the tower the corner buttresses would be built.
At this period there was a famous church architect, Henry de Eynsham, living at Bolton-upon-Dearne and it is probably he who planned the rebuilding. The greater part of the cost would no doubt be borne by the two ruling families of the neighbourhood, and the arms of the Cresacres were placed on the South side and those of the Bella Aqua's on the East side of the tower at the rebuilding.
As the church was then, it would be rather dark in the Nave somewhat similar to what Hickleton is to this day and so it was that about 1410 the earlier 'Decorated' style windows of the Aisles, with one exception, were replaced by the larger ones of the "perpendicular" style, the roof and walls of the Nave were made higher, and the clerestory windows inserted to give extra light. The original pitch of the roof can still be seen low down in the East wall of the tower.
From that date there has been little alteration to the appearance of the church. There have, of course, been restorations, for instance in 1859 part of the top storey of the tower was taken down and rebuilt, and it will also be noted that the windows of the Chancel, including the great East window, are modern, but are no doubt careful reproductions of the originals. This work would probably be done during the restoration of 1869, the cost of which was borne by John Hartop.
Whilst looking round the exterior of the church you will notice other features; the Priest's Door in the South of the Chancel, which is of the 'Decorated period', and on the North side, two blocked up doorways. The one which gave entrance to the North Chapel is of the Perpendicular period and no doubt, was constructed during the last alterations to the Church. This entrance would be used solely by the Cresacre family and their Chantry Priest. The other built-up door near the tower was the "Devil's Door" and would be disused after the Reformation. When in existence it would be opened during baptisms and similar ceremonies, to let the Devil out.
And so we come back to the Porch, which is of 'Decorated' style, with a ribbed and slabbed room. Notice on the spring of the innermost arch on the right hand side, the Mason's mark chiselled in stone : This was his signature to his work.
Notice also the stone benches on either side which remind us of the days when the Church Porch was a very important place, used for many purposes. Here it was that official notices were published (and indeed still are), here that the Coroner held his court, and here that people found guilty of breaking the religious laws had to do penance. Porches were used for many other purposes such as the sale of merchandise, the arranging of fairs, the ratifying of bargains and deals, and sometimes a plough was kept there for Plough Monday which was the Monday after Epiphany when ploughing and rustic toil was restarted.
On entering the church we first notice the font which appears to be of the Transitional Norman period, dating to the latter half of the twelfth century, and as such is most probably the original font.
At the other side of the main entrance is the South Chapel, which, at the Reformation was bereft of its altar, but the mutilated piscina still remains to remind us of its original use for rinsing the sacred vessels at Mass in the days when this was the private Chantry Chapel of the Bella Aqua family.
Returning to the tower we quickly see the indications of the first church in the lower two storeys of the tower which are of a fine type of masonry of the late Norman era, and there is a good example of a deeply splayed Norman window, now blocked up, probably to give added strength when the tower was raised.
The Tower Arch and Chancel Arch are unmistakably the result of the great rebuilding in about 1330 and are of this period.
Looking down the church from under the tower there are a number of features which catch the eye. The fine roofs of the Nave and of the Chancel should be noticed, and although there do not seem to be any marks which give any guide to dates, I have no doubt that this was the roof installed in the fifteenth century when the walls of the Nave were made higher. The massive tie beams each with a different carved boss show unmistakable signs of great age.
Some years ago it was found that some of the ends were rotting and a kind of wall plate was inserted on the South wall and stone corbels were placed here and there without any attempt at uniformity. A piece of one of the tie beams was taken out and may now be seen in a corner of the Chancel doing duty as a table. An examination of this shows the finely moulded carving of which the earlier woodworkers were capable.
A puzzling feature to be noticed from the tower arch is the clerestory which is of perpendicular style and was made in 1410 (or thereabouts) when the roof was lifted. Although the clerestory windows on both sides were inserted at the same time it will be seen that those on the South are two light windows and those on the North three light.
Why was this unusual procedure adopted? Could it be that the two wealthy families who then owned Barnburgh and who would most likely bear most of the expense of the alterations, differed as to the style and finally decided each to have its own way on its own side. It will also be noticed (but more distinctly from the Chancel) that when the clerestory windows were put in they used as lintels, tomb slabs, probably taken from the church floor. This ruthless despoiling of graves can be seen in a number of churches. It has been suggested that they were brought here from the demolished St. Helen's chapel, but I cannot agree with this as it is more than likely that St. Helen's was still in use when the clerestory of St. Peter's was built.
The next thing which draws our attention from under the Tower Arch is the beautiful screenwork for which Barnburgh church is noted, for though it as been damaged much of it remains as it was in pre-Reformation days. In most churches such woodwork as this was utterly destroyed during the Reformation and we at Barnburgh should feel thankful that we have some that escaped this wanton destruction. The entire screenwork of the South Chapel remains and also that at the North end of the Cresacre Chapel, with its original door still doing service.
The woodwork under the Chancel Arch which now forms a screen about four feet high is all that remains of the rood screen. Try to visualise this screen as it was before it was destroyed about four hundred years ago. It would almost entirely fill the arch and high up in the screen would be the Rood Loft or gallery from which certain parts of the services would be conducted. On this Rood Loft would be the great crucifix and a number of beautifully coloured statues. The rood screen in most churches was a thing of beauty and it is little wonder that special windows were inserted and existing ones enlarged to throw more light on the screen.
Fairly high in the walls on both sides of the Chancel Arch (which, by the way, is much wider than is usual in a church such as Barnburgh) can be traced signs of stones having been cut away in order to provide support for the floor beams of the rood loft. At Barnburgh the ascent to the loft was by wooden ladder, but often a stone stairway was hollowed out in the stone pillar. A close examination of the fragment of the rood screen left to us will give some indication of its antiquity and original beauty.
And now let us commence a tour of the church. In the North Wall of the North Aisle will be found a diamond shaped hole cut out in one of the stones. It is a few inches across and has a recess of about the same depth. Four holes filled with lead show that a small iron or wooden door covered the recess at one time. This hole or recess has been the subject of much conjecture, and popular rumour has it that it is a "Lepers Squint." I do not agree with this, as if it had been intended as such it would have been placed in such a position that the lepers (who were not allowed in church) might see the high altar. I am more inclined to the opinion that it was made as a reliquary (a place for relics).
The family of Cresacres is reputed to have had more than one member taking part in the Crusades and it was a common custom when a knight died in the Holy Land to bring back his heart which was then blessed and placed in a box, or hole similar to that at Barnburgh, to be preserved for all time. Often valuable articles of gold or precious stones were placed with them. At the Reformation, however, these reliquaries were completely destroyed and their contents scattered.
The next item is the shaft of what was a cross near the first pillar of the North Aisle. This would be the original praying or preaching cross around which the people of Barnburgh would gather before they had a church. It is of Saxon origin and is older than anything else about the church in which it now stands. It was found last century, buried in the churchyard, in two pieces, one piece it is said was actually under the foundations of the church. Fortunately it was brought and re-erected in its present position some years ago by the Rev. W. R. Hartley. It lacks arms and is much decayed but it can be seen that it must have been a piece of fine workmanship for its day. The carvings show the figure of a priest with a kind of interlacing work acting as a support for the body. A very careful examination will also show pilasters with voluted capitals, and it is this that helps us to arrive at the period of its construction, which would be about a 1,000 years ago. This cross is one of few of its kind remaining in the country and is mentioned in every book I have seen on such subjects.
The bases of the pillars of the North Aisle should next be noticed. They are of late (or Transitional) Norman style and are remnants of the first enlargement which took place to the original church, about 1200. The Transitional Norman arches would be taken down and replaced, and the bases of the pillars lifted when the clerestory was built.
And now we come to the Cresacre Chapel which is of course the great attraction to many visitors to Barnburgh church. There is enough here to interest us for half a day if we examine carefully all it contains. The first thing to attract us is the Cresacre Tomb with the "Cat and Man" effigy which is the centre of one of the most remarkable legends in the land. The tomb and the legend I have dealt with fully earlier in this volume, but there is one thing to which I would draw attention. It will be noted that the two arches between the Chapel and the Chancel are modern (though to be sure they do blend well with the remainder of the church), and these replaced a single arch under which the Cresacre tomb originally stood. These alterations were probably carried out early last century, for the organ, which stands almost under one of the arches was put there in 1829, the gift of Henrietta Griffith of Barnburgh. It may be that these arches were inserted at the same time.
Of the other items of interest in the chapel I have already mentioned elsewhere the two mural tombstones to the Vincents of Barnburgh Grange, the slab tombstone of Alice Cresacre, wife of Sir Percival, and the brass to the memory of Anna Cresacre, the last of that name.
On the wall of the chapel there are three boards which record the charities of the Parish and as they are almost unreadable. Behind one of the boards, the oaken door by which the Cresacres made their entrance can be seen, still hung, the walling up of the doorway having been done on the outside only.
The screen which now encloses the East end of the chapel to form a vestry for the clergy, is part of a much older one than the rest of the screen work in the church and may have been part of the screen which stood in the original arch dividing the chapel and the chancel. It is of excellent though rather crude workmanship and of a design peculiar to South Yorkshire.
This North Chapel is now almost filled by the Organ, the Cresacre Tomb and the Choir and Priest's Vestries so that it is not easy to try to see it as it was when it functioned as the Cresacre Chapel with its own altar under the East window. However, the piscina remains, although its front edge has been shorn off. It is probable that this Chapel continued as a private place of worship to a much later date than the South Chapel.
It is a surprising thing that the North Chapel, which was undoubtedly in the possession of the Cresacre family for several centuries before, was, apparently, not founded as a Chantry Chapel until 1507.
In the Chancel there is a seat for about three persons which, though restored, is extremely old and is of the same workmanship as the small screen at the East End of the North Chapel. Indeed the Rev. E. P. Cook suggests it is part of that screen reconstructed to form a seat.
In the Chancel also may be noted the piece of a roof beam end (now serving as a small table) which I have mentioned earlier, and a number of brasses and tombstones of interest, all of which I also covered in parts of this little book.
Before the Reformation many of the windows of the church would be filled with beautiful stained glass, but unfortunately all was destroyed, with the exception of a few fragments which still remain in the small upper lights of the East window of the South Chapel, during Oliver Cromwell's time when his soldiers even used the churches as stables for their horses.
For two or three centuries after that the windows were filled with plain glass, but to-day there are several windows which once again fill the church with many colours. These are :
Part of the Great East window, given in memory of the Rector who built the present Rectory and gave us our greens the Rev. T, C. Percival and his wife.
In the South wall of the Chancel there is a window given in 1904 to the memory of John Hartop of Barnburgh Hall by his nephews and nieces. He was a great lover and benefactor of Barnburgh Church.
The window behind the font was given in the year 1906 to the memory of her sister by Mrs. Mary Hartop, and the window on the other side of the Tower Arch, in the North Aisle, was given in 1914 to the memory of this same Mary Hartop.
The latest coloured window to be inserted was that in the East end of the South Chapel which was given in 1946 by Archdeacon Clarke in memory of his wife, nee Christabel Marie Lockwood, formerly headmistress of Becket Road Infant School at Doncaster.
Barnburgh Church has a peal of three very fine bells, and although they are of no outstanding historical interest (none of them are pre-Reformation and none have inscriptions apart from being dated) they are of excellent workmanship and have a fine mellow tone. They were cast in the early part of the seventeenth century.
An old photograph of a Blackpool Corporation Tramways (BCT) open top 'Balloon' tram going along the Promenade. Unfortunately the destination blinds are unreadable. On the photo left is what looks like the 'Bay' guesthouse/hotel, far right is the tower.
The photo reverse has no details on it but is printed onto an old divided back postcard.
An excellent history of the Balloons up to modern day is here:-
blackpool-trams.yolasite.com/balloon-trams.php
The open top 'Balloons' were built by English Electric (EE) and delivered during 1934, seated 40/54, ran on EE bogies, and were numbered 237–249. As they were fitted with stair head doors the open topped cars could run as single deck cars during the winter months.
During WWII the need for the open-top cars fell significantly and cars 237–249 had their tops enclosed to look similar to enclosed cars 250–263. 249 was the first to be converted to enclosed in Aug 1941, the rest being converted in reverse number order, with 237 being the last to be done in Jun 1942. In 1968 the fleet was renumbered, 237-249 becoming 700-712.
The livery is pre war, during WWII a predominantly green wartime livery (to make them less visible to the Luftwaffe) was used.
No. 249 is a static exhibit at Crich:-
www.tramway.co.uk/trams/blackpool-corporation-no-249/#:~:....
If there are any errors in the above description please let me know. Thanks.
📷 Any photograph I post on Flickr is an original in my possession, nothing is ever copied/downloaded from another location. 📷
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoiiFsJ1DKM
The California sun blazed overhead, casting golden rays onto the shimmering water of a lavish backyard pool. What should have been a lazy summer day of laughter and relaxation was now teetering on the edge of violence. Two nameless girls stood facing each other, the tension between them thicker than the heat in the air.
He had drawn them together—one man who had promised everything to both of them, and in return, given nothing but heartache. They had spent months vying for his affection, but now, standing by the pool, there was no room for words, no chance of reconciliation. Only rage.
The first girl, with a wild look in her eyes, had lost her patience. She wasn’t the type to wait around for anyone, and the betrayal cut deeper than she could have imagined. The second girl, calm on the surface but boiling with anger beneath, had tried to play it cool, but her restraint was slipping. The water between them reflected their broken reflections, as if the pool could feel the storm brewing.
And then it happened.
Without warning, the first girl let out a scream—a guttural, primal sound that shattered the peaceful illusion of the day. She stormed toward the pool house, returning with something no one could have expected: a chainsaw. The buzz of the engine roared to life, slicing through the air like a war cry.
The second girl’s eyes widened, her calm facade evaporating as reality sunk in. This wasn’t just about love anymore—this was survival.
In a heartbeat, the first girl lunged, the chainsaw raised high. The struggle was brief but brutal. The pristine pool, once sparkling under the sun, was now a chaotic reflection of violence. Water splashed, screams echoed, and soon, silence fell.
The pool, stained red by the aftermath, glistened under the relentless summer sun. One girl stood victorious, the chainsaw humming in her hand, her face unreadable. She stared down at the water, the weight of her actions sinking in.
He was never worth it. But now, it was far too late to turn back.
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Oliver could not sleep. For the past month he was tormented by inexplicable insomnia, for which there was no reason. And now he, as usual, was walking on the deck and admired the survey of the planet. Nibiru was beautiful. On the dark side was clearly visible shining of the White Monolith, where not so long ago crashed Trickster's corvette. Oliver laughed - yes, flying over the area of electromagnetic distortions on civilian ship, which not equipped with an electromagnetic system of protection - it's just in the spirit of Nathan.
Back in the sleeping compartment, Oliver heard the whistle, faint whisper and fake singing from the cabin of Trickster. Once inside, he saw Nathan's not near the bench, as usual. He sat on the floor, and beside him was laying a bright thingy, even remotely reminiscent of nothing.A little further, layed disassembled Monk's SMG, entangled with similar glowing wires.
-Hey? - asked Oliver.
Trickster abruptly stopped singing and twitched as if stung.
-What the hell are you doing here?! Completely lost conscience, to break in my room in the middle of the night?
-Well, as I can see, you sorta not sleep, - Oliver said.
-That;s not a reason, - grumbled Nathan.
-So,,, wtf is this? - asked Oliver, pointing at the glowing thing.
-I slightly modified my rifle after that accident. Now it looks like a GUN!
-Huh, and bots now can see you from kilometers away, - laughed Zanmer.
-It's not a whole rifle, it's only a guts of it, idiot. Do you think I would run near the bots with a damn lighthouse in my hands?
-Yeah, it's in your style.
-Just let me finish, and I'll show you at what this thing can do.
-Okay, do it.
-Are you really want to sit here and look on my work?
-Yep, why not?
-Minded for spying? The less you know - sleeping tight. So get out of my cabin.
-Whaa..?
-GET OUT
With these words, the Trickster pushed Zanmer out of his cabin and locked the door. After a few seconds, then back came the unreadable fake singing.
Shrugging his shoulders, Oliver moved back to the bridge.
Dawn was breaking over Nibiru.
HUGE credit for SPW team and Xanatos.
Feedback is welcome.
Car: Renault 6 TL.
Year of manufacture: 1972.
Date of first registration in the UK: 1st January 1980.
Region of registration: Isle of Wight.
Latest recorded mileage: Unreadable (MOT 2nd April 2011).
Date taken: 20th July 2019.
Location: Middle Claydon, Buckinghamshire, UK.
Mystique is a mutant shapeshifter who can mimic the appearance and voice of any person with exquisite precision.
Her natural appearance includes blue skin, red hair and yellow eyes.
Though at times she has acted in alliance with heroes such as the X-Men, Mystique is very much a villain, often operating in conjunction with teams such as the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants or independently as a hired killer.
Mystique's origin is unknown. Her current name is Raven Darkhölme but it is doubtful that is her birthname. There is some evidence that Mystique is over a century in age which is most likely another benefit of her unusual mutant physiology.
Mystique's mutant shapeshifting ability specifically involves psionically shifting the formation of her biological cells at will to change her appearance and thereby assume the form of other humans and animals.
She can also alter her voice to duplicate exactly that of another person. Originally, it was apparent that Mystique's powers were limited to appearances only and she could not assume the powers of the people she morphed into or alter her body to adapt to different situations.
Additionally she could not change her overall body mass when taking on the appearance of a person larger or smaller, but due to subsequent enhancements she has stated that her body mass is not fixed and can change when she does.
Her body is not limited to purely organic appearances: She also has the ability to create the appearance of clothes and other materials out of her own body, including items such as glasses, zippers, identity cards, handbags and even test tubes.
Mystique is shown in at least one instance transforming a metallic part of her costume into a functioning blaster pistol. Whether this was a function of her powers or the costume piece itself, is unclear.
As a shape-shifter, Mystique is able to constantly alter and rejuvenate her body's cells and thereby retain her youthful appearance, explaining her long lifespan.
Mystique received her first power enhancement when she was exposed to dangerous levels of radiation in order to save the life of Toad.
The process boosted her powers so that she can now morph her body into taking certain desired physical traits depending on her situation at the time. Examples of these new abilities include night vision, wings on her back, talons in her fingers, and natural body armor.
She can compress into nearly two-dimensions (like a sheet of paper) to glide on air currents in a fashion similar to that of Mister Fantastic.
She has moved her vital organs out of place in order to survive gunshots to her torso and head, and can make herself virtually invisible via camouflage. She has even, with strain, given herself two heads and four arms to facilitate a gun fight on two fronts, as well as shapeshifted into herself as a small child.
She is also now able to hold a shape when knocked unconscious and can conceal items in shapeshifted pouches under her skin.
Following her near death experience when fighting the Hand, her powers were further enhanced. She can now alter and conceal her scent from those with enhanced senses, and is capable of changing her shape to a greater degree, including altering her limbs to form tentacles and bladed weapons, and compressing herself further, taking the form of a small dog.
Damage to her biological tissue is known to heal at a relatively fast rate and she can form a resistance to poisons upon contacting them. Her enhancements have allowed her to rapidly regrow severed limbs, and rapidly recover from near fatal injury. Her powers grant her immunity to diseases, enhanced agility and strength, and near agelessness.
Mystique is a cunning strategist in terrorist and commando operations, and adept at martial arts and information technology.
She has a talent for finding, stealing, and understanding cutting edge weaponry. She is a talented actress and a polyglot, being fluent in over fourteen languages.
Her mind is naturally unreadable owing to changing grey matter and she wears devices to prevent telepathic intrusion. Furthermore, with over a century's experience in posing as other people she has picked up the unusual skill of being able to identify people posing as others based on body language and changes in behavioral cues.
Having lived for at least a century, Mystique has built up considerable resources, one of her aliases being the billionaire B Byron Biggs who owns a number of safehouses around the world which are often protected by sophisticated security systems.
She also controls a variety of weaponry and gadgets, including the Changeling, a highly advanced stealth ship capable of cloaking and flying at very high speed. The ship had sophisticated weapons and surveillance systems, with an on-board analysis computer and power-suppressing containment cells.
Mystique had concealed her superhuman powers and criminal intentions so well over the years that, as Raven Darkholme, she was able to rise rapidly through the United States Civil Service to the trusted position of Deputy Director of the Defense Advanced Research Planning Agency (DARPA) in the United States Department of Defense, giving her access to military secrets and advanced weaponry, both of which she used for her own criminal and subversive purposes.
Mystique organized the third incarnation of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, which originally consisted of herself, Avalanche, the Blob, Destiny, and Pyro. Mystique named her group after the original Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, an organization founded by Magneto.
This Brotherhood first became known when it attempted to intimidate the public by assassinating Senator Robert Kelly, who was investigating what he perceived was the possible danger posed by the existence of any superhuman beings. The X-Men thwarted the assassination attempt, and the Brotherhood later clashed with the X-Men on other occasions, as well as the Avengers and other heroes. Rogue was a member of the Brotherhood for a time but finally left to join the X-Men in order to find help in learning how to deal with her superhuman powers.
If the circumstances occur that Mystique will work alongside heroes, they must operate carefully alongside her. Mystique shifts alliances as smoothly as her appearance and she is not to be trusted. She has consistently betrayed trusts and it has always been revealed that she had her own endgame at work each time.
⚡ Happy 🎯 Heroclix 💫 Friday! 👽
_____________________________
A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.
Secret Identity: Raven Darkhölme
Publisher: Marvel
First appearance: Ms. Marvel #16 (May 1978)
Created by: Chris Claremont (writer)
Dave Cockrum (artist)
A lot of music. Little of it known today. Solo. Violin. Mostly. Word, frequently used here: dilettante.
The guilt. Of a musician. Is not if composes bad music. Not at all. It is still music. Someone would listen to it, someone else would get a nice day out of it. No. It is not the quality. It is the existence. The guilt of the musician is to stop to compose. At all. Why is that a guilt? Because of the very nature of music. The thing is, it is not simply a music. It takes something, it changes it, makes it invisible, sends it through the air, makes thousands of atoms to jiggle around in a playful way, and reaches somebody. The one that gets the message. And all messages have but one distinctive feature. They carry information.
If you are a musician you are destined to compose. Actually, you can't stop doing it. It is not a matter of choice. It is like with the painter. The painter sees. He might not even paint. But he sees. Like the writer. She reads. She does not need to write. Musicians. They listen. All they hear is music. So to stop to compose means to stop to listen. To stop to listen means you are dead. Or, you are not a musician. But you are. So, you are dead.
There was a small girl that lived on the street, right next to the corner where the old musician lived. She had light brown skirt and lively eyes. Not brown. Every evening she looked up the window of the musician and listened to the music.
The musician had difficult moments. Ever musician does. So, after once he wrote a sad song, the girl felt unhappy and thought that the musician would never write another song for her. Somehow the old man sensed this and because he could not stand the girl to be unhappy he decided to continue. In other words he did not want to die. Yet.
Evening. Night. Time. Girl. Woman.
Another night. The woman climbs the stairs. For a first time. Ever. The music never stopped for all these years. The wooden steps squeaked funny. Door. Unlocked. The woman opens the door. Table. Note. Yellow paper. Whitened ink. Almost unreadable. Still. The musician was long gone. The music never stopped.
Continued in this very squeaky moment.
No guilt.
-Boris Grozdanoff
View Large | Personal Faves Set | Explore, Interestingness Set
(Explore #131 March 18, 2009)
Twin Peaks has been on my list of places to photograph for awhile now, so last Sunday I headed up there to check things out. When I arrived there were a couple of things I was disappointed with, for one thing because it was late Sunday evening there are not near as many lights on in the city as there is on a week day. Another problem was the fact that it was very very windy, which was going to make it difficult for any kind of long exposures. I tried to make the best of the situation and found a few places where I could set up the tripod nice and low and used a beanbag on top of the camera to help stabilize it. When I got back in the car I flipped through the pictures I had taken and had a few that I was pretty happy with so I headed for home.
After I got all my stuff loaded into the house I pulled the memory card out of the camera and plugged it into the card reader and a big box opens on the screen that says "CARD UNREADABLE"! I thought, That can't be! So I rebooted the computer and tried putting the card in the reader again, and again "CARD UNREADABLE"!
When I tried putting the card back in the camera it said "CF Card Not Formatted", so after a few choice words and no pictures to show for the evening I went to bed very disappointed.
After work on Monday I decided to head up there and give it another try. The weather wasn't looking very promising when I first arrived, there was a light drizzle and very low clouds so there was virtually no view of the city at all, but I decided to wait it out and hope for the best, and I am really glad I did! As the sun began to set, the rain stopped, the low clouds lifted and there was no wind! The view was so amazing I almost forgot what I was there for!
In this shot I was trying to get as many light trails on the road as I could with one exposure and unfortunately it left me with a few hot spots in the city, Market street looks like a lava flow and across the bay, Oakland looks like it is on fire! Other than that I was pretty happy with this shot. It was an amazing show!
Canon 5D Markll
EF 24-70 mm L @ 32mm
f/18 ISO 100
120 sec exposure
Car: Fisher Fury Le Mans.
Year of manufacture: 2010.
Date of first registration in the UK: 1st July 2010.
Place of registration: Swindon.
Date of last MOT: 6th September 2021.
Mileage at last MOT: Unreadable.
Last V5 issued: 19th March 2019.
Date taken: 12th February 2017.
Location: Queen Square, Bristol, UK.
Another billboard is removed to reveal advertising from the past.
I have no idea who dispensed insurance, & I assume it was dispensed from this address in Colliers Wood.
15 years ago this was "Mr. Clearance", I think you can guess what he did, but has been a local store for at least the last 10 years.
There is a faded & mainly painted over sign on the side of the building, but its unreadable.
The Church is dedicated to St. Peter and consists of a tower of four stages, surmounted by a peculiar little spire, a Nave with North and South Aisles and a South Porch; and a Chancel with a North Aisle or Chapel.
From a close examination of the fabric it would appear that the Church passed through the following main changes.
The first Norman Church was built about 1150 and would have a tower of three stages (lower than the existing tower) an aisleless nave and a small Chancel, probably apsidal (i.e. semi-circular at the East end).
Barnburgh would be one of very few places in this district where the original church had a tower, the usual Norman construction was without a tower.
The first enlargement was some fifty years later in the Transitional Norman period, when a North Aisle was added to the Nave. It is invariably found that the first enlargements to our churches were made on the North side. This was done because there would be fewer graves to disturb, it being remembered that the people of those days, steeped as they were in superstition, avoided being buried on the North side where the shadow of the church would fall upon them.
The Chancel built by the Normans would, no doubt, as I have said, be small and as the ritual of the church became more elaborate the need for extension would arise. Furthermore there were two great families in the district at that time (the Cresacres and the Bella Aqua's or Bellews) and instead of founding monasteries as in earlier times, the idea had sprung up among many of these great families to institute Chantries. These usually took the form of little chapels inside the church but screened off, where a priest was maintained to pray for the soul of the founder and his family. Chantry certificates show that two chantries were founded in Barnburgh Church, of which more later.
All appearances therefore suggest that about 1330 the church underwent what was almost a rebuilding, and practically only the bottom two stages of the tower remained of the original church. These alterations would include the addition of the South Aisle and Porch, enlargement of the North Aisle, and the rebuilding of the Chancel with the addition of the North Chapel, and also the top two stages of the tower with the little spire. With the raising of the tower the corner buttresses would be built.
At this period there was a famous church architect, Henry de Eynsham, living at Bolton-upon-Dearne and it is probably he who planned the rebuilding. The greater part of the cost would no doubt be borne by the two ruling families of the neighbourhood, and the arms of the Cresacres were placed on the South side and those of the Bella Aqua's on the East side of the tower at the rebuilding.
As the church was then, it would be rather dark in the Nave somewhat similar to what Hickleton is to this day and so it was that about 1410 the earlier 'Decorated' style windows of the Aisles, with one exception, were replaced by the larger ones of the "perpendicular" style, the roof and walls of the Nave were made higher, and the clerestory windows inserted to give extra light. The original pitch of the roof can still be seen low down in the East wall of the tower.
From that date there has been little alteration to the appearance of the church. There have, of course, been restorations, for instance in 1859 part of the top storey of the tower was taken down and rebuilt, and it will also be noted that the windows of the Chancel, including the great East window, are modern, but are no doubt careful reproductions of the originals. This work would probably be done during the restoration of 1869, the cost of which was borne by John Hartop.
Whilst looking round the exterior of the church you will notice other features; the Priest's Door in the South of the Chancel, which is of the 'Decorated period', and on the North side, two blocked up doorways. The one which gave entrance to the North Chapel is of the Perpendicular period and no doubt, was constructed during the last alterations to the Church. This entrance would be used solely by the Cresacre family and their Chantry Priest. The other built-up door near the tower was the "Devil's Door" and would be disused after the Reformation. When in existence it would be opened during baptisms and similar ceremonies, to let the Devil out.
And so we come back to the Porch, which is of 'Decorated' style, with a ribbed and slabbed room. Notice on the spring of the innermost arch on the right hand side, the Mason's mark chiselled in stone : This was his signature to his work.
Notice also the stone benches on either side which remind us of the days when the Church Porch was a very important place, used for many purposes. Here it was that official notices were published (and indeed still are), here that the Coroner held his court, and here that people found guilty of breaking the religious laws had to do penance. Porches were used for many other purposes such as the sale of merchandise, the arranging of fairs, the ratifying of bargains and deals, and sometimes a plough was kept there for Plough Monday which was the Monday after Epiphany when ploughing and rustic toil was restarted.
On entering the church we first notice the font which appears to be of the Transitional Norman period, dating to the latter half of the twelfth century, and as such is most probably the original font.
At the other side of the main entrance is the South Chapel, which, at the Reformation was bereft of its altar, but the mutilated piscina still remains to remind us of its original use for rinsing the sacred vessels at Mass in the days when this was the private Chantry Chapel of the Bella Aqua family.
Returning to the tower we quickly see the indications of the first church in the lower two storeys of the tower which are of a fine type of masonry of the late Norman era, and there is a good example of a deeply splayed Norman window, now blocked up, probably to give added strength when the tower was raised.
The Tower Arch and Chancel Arch are unmistakably the result of the great rebuilding in about 1330 and are of this period.
Looking down the church from under the tower there are a number of features which catch the eye. The fine roofs of the Nave and of the Chancel should be noticed, and although there do not seem to be any marks which give any guide to dates, I have no doubt that this was the roof installed in the fifteenth century when the walls of the Nave were made higher. The massive tie beams each with a different carved boss show unmistakable signs of great age.
Some years ago it was found that some of the ends were rotting and a kind of wall plate was inserted on the South wall and stone corbels were placed here and there without any attempt at uniformity. A piece of one of the tie beams was taken out and may now be seen in a corner of the Chancel doing duty as a table. An examination of this shows the finely moulded carving of which the earlier woodworkers were capable.
A puzzling feature to be noticed from the tower arch is the clerestory which is of perpendicular style and was made in 1410 (or thereabouts) when the roof was lifted. Although the clerestory windows on both sides were inserted at the same time it will be seen that those on the South are two light windows and those on the North three light.
Why was this unusual procedure adopted? Could it be that the two wealthy families who then owned Barnburgh and who would most likely bear most of the expense of the alterations, differed as to the style and finally decided each to have its own way on its own side. It will also be noticed (but more distinctly from the Chancel) that when the clerestory windows were put in they used as lintels, tomb slabs, probably taken from the church floor. This ruthless despoiling of graves can be seen in a number of churches. It has been suggested that they were brought here from the demolished St. Helen's chapel, but I cannot agree with this as it is more than likely that St. Helen's was still in use when the clerestory of St. Peter's was built.
The next thing which draws our attention from under the Tower Arch is the beautiful screenwork for which Barnburgh church is noted, for though it as been damaged much of it remains as it was in pre-Reformation days. In most churches such woodwork as this was utterly destroyed during the Reformation and we at Barnburgh should feel thankful that we have some that escaped this wanton destruction. The entire screenwork of the South Chapel remains and also that at the North end of the Cresacre Chapel, with its original door still doing service.
The woodwork under the Chancel Arch which now forms a screen about four feet high is all that remains of the rood screen. Try to visualise this screen as it was before it was destroyed about four hundred years ago. It would almost entirely fill the arch and high up in the screen would be the Rood Loft or gallery from which certain parts of the services would be conducted. On this Rood Loft would be the great crucifix and a number of beautifully coloured statues. The rood screen in most churches was a thing of beauty and it is little wonder that special windows were inserted and existing ones enlarged to throw more light on the screen.
Fairly high in the walls on both sides of the Chancel Arch (which, by the way, is much wider than is usual in a church such as Barnburgh) can be traced signs of stones having been cut away in order to provide support for the floor beams of the rood loft. At Barnburgh the ascent to the loft was by wooden ladder, but often a stone stairway was hollowed out in the stone pillar. A close examination of the fragment of the rood screen left to us will give some indication of its antiquity and original beauty.
And now let us commence a tour of the church. In the North Wall of the North Aisle will be found a diamond shaped hole cut out in one of the stones. It is a few inches across and has a recess of about the same depth. Four holes filled with lead show that a small iron or wooden door covered the recess at one time. This hole or recess has been the subject of much conjecture, and popular rumour has it that it is a "Lepers Squint." I do not agree with this, as if it had been intended as such it would have been placed in such a position that the lepers (who were not allowed in church) might see the high altar. I am more inclined to the opinion that it was made as a reliquary (a place for relics).
The family of Cresacres is reputed to have had more than one member taking part in the Crusades and it was a common custom when a knight died in the Holy Land to bring back his heart which was then blessed and placed in a box, or hole similar to that at Barnburgh, to be preserved for all time. Often valuable articles of gold or precious stones were placed with them. At the Reformation, however, these reliquaries were completely destroyed and their contents scattered.
The next item is the shaft of what was a cross near the first pillar of the North Aisle. This would be the original praying or preaching cross around which the people of Barnburgh would gather before they had a church. It is of Saxon origin and is older than anything else about the church in which it now stands. It was found last century, buried in the churchyard, in two pieces, one piece it is said was actually under the foundations of the church. Fortunately it was brought and re-erected in its present position some years ago by the Rev. W. R. Hartley. It lacks arms and is much decayed but it can be seen that it must have been a piece of fine workmanship for its day. The carvings show the figure of a priest with a kind of interlacing work acting as a support for the body. A very careful examination will also show pilasters with voluted capitals, and it is this that helps us to arrive at the period of its construction, which would be about a 1,000 years ago. This cross is one of few of its kind remaining in the country and is mentioned in every book I have seen on such subjects.
The bases of the pillars of the North Aisle should next be noticed. They are of late (or Transitional) Norman style and are remnants of the first enlargement which took place to the original church, about 1200. The Transitional Norman arches would be taken down and replaced, and the bases of the pillars lifted when the clerestory was built.
And now we come to the Cresacre Chapel which is of course the great attraction to many visitors to Barnburgh church. There is enough here to interest us for half a day if we examine carefully all it contains. The first thing to attract us is the Cresacre Tomb with the "Cat and Man" effigy which is the centre of one of the most remarkable legends in the land. The tomb and the legend I have dealt with fully earlier in this volume, but there is one thing to which I would draw attention. It will be noted that the two arches between the Chapel and the Chancel are modern (though to be sure they do blend well with the remainder of the church), and these replaced a single arch under which the Cresacre tomb originally stood. These alterations were probably carried out early last century, for the organ, which stands almost under one of the arches was put there in 1829, the gift of Henrietta Griffith of Barnburgh. It may be that these arches were inserted at the same time.
Of the other items of interest in the chapel I have already mentioned elsewhere the two mural tombstones to the Vincents of Barnburgh Grange, the slab tombstone of Alice Cresacre, wife of Sir Percival, and the brass to the memory of Anna Cresacre, the last of that name.
On the wall of the chapel there are three boards which record the charities of the Parish and as they are almost unreadable. Behind one of the boards, the oaken door by which the Cresacres made their entrance can be seen, still hung, the walling up of the doorway having been done on the outside only.
The screen which now encloses the East end of the chapel to form a vestry for the clergy, is part of a much older one than the rest of the screen work in the church and may have been part of the screen which stood in the original arch dividing the chapel and the chancel. It is of excellent though rather crude workmanship and of a design peculiar to South Yorkshire.
This North Chapel is now almost filled by the Organ, the Cresacre Tomb and the Choir and Priest's Vestries so that it is not easy to try to see it as it was when it functioned as the Cresacre Chapel with its own altar under the East window. However, the piscina remains, although its front edge has been shorn off. It is probable that this Chapel continued as a private place of worship to a much later date than the South Chapel.
It is a surprising thing that the North Chapel, which was undoubtedly in the possession of the Cresacre family for several centuries before, was, apparently, not founded as a Chantry Chapel until 1507.
In the Chancel there is a seat for about three persons which, though restored, is extremely old and is of the same workmanship as the small screen at the East End of the North Chapel. Indeed the Rev. E. P. Cook suggests it is part of that screen reconstructed to form a seat.
In the Chancel also may be noted the piece of a roof beam end (now serving as a small table) which I have mentioned earlier, and a number of brasses and tombstones of interest, all of which I also covered in parts of this little book.
Before the Reformation many of the windows of the church would be filled with beautiful stained glass, but unfortunately all was destroyed, with the exception of a few fragments which still remain in the small upper lights of the East window of the South Chapel, during Oliver Cromwell's time when his soldiers even used the churches as stables for their horses.
For two or three centuries after that the windows were filled with plain glass, but to-day there are several windows which once again fill the church with many colours. These are :
Part of the Great East window, given in memory of the Rector who built the present Rectory and gave us our greens the Rev. T, C. Percival and his wife.
In the South wall of the Chancel there is a window given in 1904 to the memory of John Hartop of Barnburgh Hall by his nephews and nieces. He was a great lover and benefactor of Barnburgh Church.
The window behind the font was given in the year 1906 to the memory of her sister by Mrs. Mary Hartop, and the window on the other side of the Tower Arch, in the North Aisle, was given in 1914 to the memory of this same Mary Hartop.
The latest coloured window to be inserted was that in the East end of the South Chapel which was given in 1946 by Archdeacon Clarke in memory of his wife, nee Christabel Marie Lockwood, formerly headmistress of Becket Road Infant School at Doncaster.
Barnburgh Church has a peal of three very fine bells, and although they are of no outstanding historical interest (none of them are pre-Reformation and none have inscriptions apart from being dated) they are of excellent workmanship and have a fine mellow tone. They were cast in the early part of the seventeenth century.
VT-ALT - Boeing B-777-337/ER - Air India
at Toronto Lester B. Pearson Airport (YYZ)
c/n 36.318 - built in 2010
with sticker (unreadable)
Car: Vauxhall Astra GTE.
Date of first registration: 12th January 1990.
Registration region: Dudley.
Latest recorded mileage: Unreadable (MOT 31st January 2020), untaxed since 31st December 2019.
Last V5 issued: 30th July 2014.
Date taken: 24th May 2018.
Album: Carspotting
Gravestone detail at the Church of St Mary, Whitby. Only the amendment survives, the rest of the inscription is unreadable. 27th June 2022.
Taken with a pinhole in a piece of black electrical tape placed over a 1/16 inch hole in the center of a lens cap. Unfortunately the elasticity of the tape prevented repeat photos as the hole closed up.
Camera: Nikon D7000
Exposure 1/15 second.
ISO 100
Handheld
Original image was dark, almost unreadable. Lightened in post processing.
Running out of ideas for your 365 project? Join We're Here!
Located in a rural area four miles south of Half Moon Bay, Purissima was one of the earliest settlements on the San Mateo County coast. Spanish soldiers founded the little hamlet before 1820 as an outpost for Mission Dolores in San Francisco, about twenty-five miles to the north. The lush land, ample water, and sunny climate supported the farms that supplied the mission with food. The town grew and, from the late 1840's, after the American annexation of California, continued to prosper as an agricultural community for many years. The first lumber mill was built here and the area noted for its climate and beautiful scenery eventually became somewhat of a resort for pleasure seekers. As competition from the nearby town of San Benito (now Half Moon Bay) increased, the once-thriving village of Purissima began to fade into obscurity. The town's structures were destroyed by winter storms or salvaged for building materials used elsewhere on the coast. Today, nothing remains of the town except the foundation of a one-story schoolhouse and this old overgrown pioneer cemetery marked by crumbling tombstones with nearly unreadable epitaphs.
A fine Blackpool transport scene taken in Circa 1956. A pair of Balloon cars are crossing on the Promenade, the one nearest the camera is stationary, behind the other Balloon a single deck car can be seen. To the right is a Lytham St Annes Corporation Leyland bus, the fleet number could be 25 but being on the edge of the frame it is unreadable, I am intrigued by the roof line.
The picture is at the point where Talbot Square meets the Promenade, on the corner is the impressively large Midland Bank, next to the bank is Nutbrown makers of kitchen utensils (I have one of their graters).
In the distance between the trams a Ford E83W is being pursued by an Austin Seven, passing over the Belisha crossing is a Ford Consul, and a Ford Angia is emerging from behind the bus.
Peter Shoesmith Circa 1956
Copyright John Whitehouse & Geoff Dowling: All rights reserved
Joseph & Co, on Uxbridge Road, Ealing Common, had this signage put up about 5 years ago, but for the last year or so its become partially unreadable & a bit of an eyesore.
EXPLORE: Highest position: 474 on Sunday, February 1, 2009
Thanks for the various guesses and suggestions.
Yes, it's sand. More precisely, Sandymount strand, at low tide.
Dedicated to omnishots for reminding me of the following lines from James Joyce's classic and almost unreadable 'Ulysses':
"God! he said quietly.
Isn’t the sea what Algy calls it:
a great sweet mother?
The snotgreen sea.
The scrotumtightening sea."
This is another picture from the collection of glass negatives I salvaged from the skip. This was taken by a professional photographer at work in the early 20th century just before the outbreak of World War 1. Few of the plates have any form of identification, they were taken with the intention of producing postcards, some were commissioned, others speculative.
This is a rather splendid "Arts and Crafts" style police station, over the door is a roundel with "Constabulary Station" cast into it
The next block of buildings seem to be a couple of shops and private houses. As ever with this author he has posed some additional interest, a couple of horse drawn vehicles, the one nearest the camera is a farm waggon, the second is an open coach, the lad holding the horse has a white shirt and tie, he has appeared before in pictures therefore it is probably the photographers assistant.
The location is Lapworth, the photographer is standing in the middle of (old) Warwick Road with his back to the railway bridge, The road direction sign by the waggon is unreadable. but it is pointing towards the railway station in Station Road. .
Unknown photographer circa 1910
Collection Geoff Dowling
After squashing a couple of obstinate bugs, here it is: the updated version of the network of groups. Here we see the main cluster and several smaller clusters surrounding it. The tiny clusters I posted earlier.
This graph depicts the interconnections between 3629 groups (7211 links, in case anyone cares). All these groups have at least 400 members, and share public content with other groups. There is an additional, esoteric cutoff leaving out groups with too little shared content, mostly to make this graph vaguely close to something one can try to interpret. I'm not sure how well it does in that respect - in my opinion, it's quite ugly...
The September 2005 version had a tightly connected core, and many "tendrils" radiating from it. There were no obvious "loops" connecting the tendrils. This has changed a bit. The "core" is much larger this time, too. I guess I should have used a slightly stricter parameter to make it "open up" a bit more.
One of the most interesting things I observed in this graph is that there is a big "hole", or rather there is a continuum of related concepts coming out of the main cluster and looping around, back to the main cluster. Let's follow this trail.
I start from a subcluster of groups about dogs, quite interconnected among themselves. The "Dogs!" group links to "Cats & Dogs", a bridge into the cats subcluster. We pass by several cat groups and link from "Cat world on flickr" to "The Living World", which in turn links us to "Creatures", the gateway into the reptilian subcluster. From there we move on to the "Critters" group, in the spider neighborhood. Then we move up to the insects subcluster, and we follow the trail from "Flying Insects" to "Dragonflies", we fly on to "Odonata" and splash into the "Pond Life" group. "Ponds" naturally links us to "Ducks and Geese", and we realize that "Waterfowl" are "Water Birds". Still too specific? We move on to "Unlimited Birds", and discover that there are many birds in "Tennessee". Apparently not only birds - we see there are caves there, and trains. "All aboard! Trains - Real and Surreal" will bring you via "Public Transit" and "subway" to a variety of destinations, including Buenos Aires and Athens, deep into the main cluster.
But let's not forget the dogs! Their "PetPics" show them chasing "squirrels", which as we all know are "Backyard Wildlife". Several wildlife groups await, including "Jeff Corwin - Animal Planet", for Portuguese-speaking wildlife - naturally bringing us to a host of brazilian groups, and back into the main, tightly-interconnected cluster.
Oh yes, you'll notice plenty of subclusters that include almost only groups devoted to the important industry of producing views and comments, and the crucial duty of tallying views and favorites. From "5 faves and less", the group trails converge on various redundant groups singing the praises of the pinnacles of photographic creation. I couldn't fail to notice that the groups devoted to "views" are tightly connected to the Red Light District groups, while those devoted to favorites and interestingness are pretty much in limbo.
An unfortunate technical detail: all special characters are rendered as ".", making some group names (particularly those in Arabic) rather unreadable. Sorry about that. In any case, you'll need the original size to be able to read the text.
Update: the Groups Browser now reflects the updated data.