From the castle hill you look out across Morecambe Bay to the distant Lakeland Fells.

My climbing teacher told me that a day without a mountain is wasted. I agree completely.

Across the bay from Heysham sits Black Combe, the southernmost fell. Its rocks were laid down 460 million years ago, so it is likely to sit there for a while longer.

I never met an 'Eric' whom I did not like.

Comedian Eric Morecambe was a very funny man indeed.

Evidence of a hedge that was laid and then neglected. To watch a skilled hedgelayer at work is a rare joy.

The afternoon light became quite peculiar for a few minutes.

With sea levels rising, climate changing, incompetent governments, and wars taking place on at least three continents, and a personal inability to fix any of it, I have decided to bury my head. I will not permit any of this to interrupt my celebration of World Happiness Day.

Correction: World Happiness Day is on 20 March. I'll just have a practice today!

Breakfast today consists of fresh bread and some sheep milk cheese (a very disappointingly dead cheese - I blame pasteurized milk and the bad rap that raw milk gets, and ludicrous interference by supermarket corporate buyers) with finely sliced, pickled garlic (from a previous batch that's nicely matured), and some pepper and salt. Suddenly, I can actually taste the cheese. The other half is butter and strawberry jam.

All this is making me happy. Back to angst and weltschmerz tomorrow.

So let's face the music and dance 😄

A knackered Ferguson tractor in Whangamomona. The tyres look good enough to be revived with new tubes, and some TLC for the motor and running gear should produce a workable tractor, ideal for a small holding.

Not sure what the big bolt on the ground is for, but I can see why one might keep it handy - you just never know when it might be useful!

These roof slates are old, thick, and heavy. The roof timbers must be very strong.

Sunlight reflected on the bridge. It was a good day for a walk.

📷 Google Pixel 8 Pro - Telephoto Sensor (50MP) - The Dingle, Shrewsbury - Throwback April 2025

All these little signets were cheeping along to remind mother that they were still with her. Dad was further upstream, keeping an eye on the bloke taking pictures.

This line to Carlisle hugs the coast. It's a delight to travel.

These little flowers are lovely to look at but so hard to photograph, I think. The color rarely comes out correctly for me.

These were taken in the late afternoon shade.

The undulations are a challenge to injured Achilles tendons but the walk is so rewarding.

No crowds, just sunshine filtering through the canopy and birdsong.

My favorite mannequin has gone on vacation, and the windows have been dressed with these lovely clothes. Northern Dye House now operates from this store on Brock Street.

They make 'proper good clothing'. From their website:

"The Northern Dye House is a no-nonsense hand dyed clothing company based in the heart of North West England. We design and create beautiful hand dyed, unisex streetware for everyone."

I'm reading a book about the heyday of British picture postcards. The scenes and colours remind me of times past and inspired how I edited this quiet scene of the River Lune at high tide.

Some people whom one meets are just delightful. To be in their company is like seeing these flowers in the afternoon sunshine.

youngest grandson

Porky Pig's girlfriend was called Petunia.

These are great to plant near the veggie patch to keep down predatory insects. And they're pretty!

📷 Pixel 6 Pro - Moonshot at night with clouds

Fog in the 'Fax.

Brightening up an overcast spring morning.

The rain arrived, fell and moved on. A pleasant 23 degrees and a Mediterranean sky are the consequences.

Steps made from Accrington Nori bricks.

The English call them bangers. They only 'bang' if you don't pierce the skins before cooking. Some people call them snorkers which is possibly an example of Jack Speak. In Australia and the most beloved New Zealand these are called snags.

Three might seem excessive but, after several miles of walking in the rain and a technically-challenging rehearsal, I felt this to be the requisite amount.

Striped beach hut at a jaunty angle.

Phone image.

#purple #pink #stripes #diagonal #sky #beach #hut #pattern #texture #abstract #creative #phoneography #androidography #mobilephotography #photography

#blackandwhite #bnw #monochrome #vscocam #architecture #igers #blacknwhite #street #androidography #android #androidcommunity #artsy #dhaka

Admiral Lord Cuthbert Collingwood used innovative, high-intensity gunnery drills and humane, welfare-focused leadership to train his crews during the Napoleonic Wars.

He doesn't get enough attention, I feel. He didn't like flogging and brutal punishments, which were the norm back then. Paying attention to diet, living conditions of his people, and morale made him a beloved and effective leader.

A bumble bee forages on my chives.

"[somewhere i have never travelled,gladly… | The Poetry Foundation" www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/153877/somewhere-i-have-ne...

Is this Kitsch?

It's that time of year again when the bees are out, foraging and gorging. Here's one of several bees that were busy on this clump of mint.

If you look carefully, you can make out the bee's white tail.

More information, here:

www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/be....

Flaking render will allow the ingress of water which will dissolve the original lime mortar. It might look charming in a shabby chic way, but it's irresponsible property management.