In a mad world, who knows what the new day will bring?

Time to go home again. I like how the lights change how this building appears.

This 19th century clock stands on the promenade, counting the minutes, and providing some seating, for the old, infirm, and hoody-clad ne'er-do-wells of the town.

This clock exists because way back when it was planned to open a public library in Morecambe. A councillor collected contributions from a variety of donors to build the library. The problem was the ongoing running of the place - it would require a halfpenny added to everyone's rates (local taxes) which was a step too far, apparently.

So, what to do with the accumulated donations? Easy - build a clock tower!

While cooking breakfast I took my eye off the Aeropress for a moment. Goodness knows how this happened; it just fell off the counter.

The mess on the floor is just a small part of it all. The question has to be, "is it art?" Coffee grounds and brewing coffee has spread and poured and spattered everywhere with complete abandon. I think it's a grenade from Quetzalcoatl to shock me out of this strange mood.

Having explained why a 'flattie' is meant to be served in a tulip cup, I was presented with this. It's a bit 'short' because the tulip cups in this establishment are bigger than I think they need to be. The latte art is not the company standard, by the way. The drink itself was delicious. I shall go there again.

Tiny strawberries like this burst with flavor. I left this for the snail.

Pretty, eh? It came from the Himalayas, and has settled well in England.

Life is an astonishment, and it behoves us to be astonished.

John Donne

Tēnā koutou Katoa,

Today is International Day of Multilingualism. The 27th March was chosen because 27th March 196 BC is the date mentioned on the multilingual Rosetta Stone (Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, demotic text, and Greek). By comparing the Greek date with the Egyptian text, it was eventually possible to decypher the whole stone.

Language is more than just words; it is the spirit of cultures. Learning new languages helps to communicate, as well as re-wire your brain, which is believed to help ward off cognitive decay.

Heoi anō tāku mō nāianei. Ka kite =]

Ciao, bis bald, a bientot, toodaloo =]

Whack up the colors and enjoy a trip to the seaside.

Creeping thistle spreads its seeds to the four winds.

A cloud bank to the north prepares to roll across the bay.

our first snow for nearly 2 years

I spotted this completely superfluous but delightful wood-carving in the window frame of a disused shop today. There's another one on the other frame for symmetry.

The chrysanthemum used to appear as an exotic symbol of joy and optimism. For some reason I seldom see one these days =]

An iron staple, or joggle, where the stone block in which it is seated has split and partially fallen away. It's possible to see how the joggle sits in a chiselled recess which is filled with lead.

Read the recipe book. Then ignore it and do what you can with what's in the pantry.

180 g plain flour

70 g bran

250 g strong flour

some sugar

some milk powder

1 1/4 tsp yeast

350 g water

Does anyone else hear music when looking at this? Berio or Varèse work best for me here.

You might remember a similar shot with a bee foraging on this lupin. Well the visit worked and the plant is now happily going to seed. Job done 👍

Walking to collect my mail, I spotted this under the castle lights.

The evenings are drawing in for sure.

On the morning after turning back the clocks for winter. A gloomy, grizzly day outside. An extra hour in bed to read and drink more tea. Bliss.

Still flowering. It must enjoy the chill in this room.

There's nothing quite like boiled eggs and 'soldiers' made from toast. But let's face it, smashing-in the top of the egg to gain access using a spoon is brutal, messy, and uncivilized.

But lo! I have just managed to find a nifty device from Germany: an eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher. There are several types, this being a precisely calibrated spring-loaded affair that cracks and removes the shell with the bare minimum of collateral destruction.

A device of which even the fastidious Hercule Poirot would approve!

Looking out of the window of the train; it was a stream of landscape images, like I was running headlong through an art gallery.

Victorian terraced houses in Glasgow. Many have been converted into serviced offices.

Arnside coastguard siren warns of the approaching incoming tide and tidal bore.

it's seriously loud!

A new tradition for me. Avocado toast with my Russian-style preserved tomatoes.

I have never liked the term 'brunch'; it has so much cultural baggage for me. But having spent the morning reading and drinking tea in bed, then brunch it is.

Dessert at our work Christmas lunch

Bright and breezy, and on sale. Irresistible!

A friend has not been well and his kitchen is being remodeled so I made him some soup. At least his microwave is still usable.

As I was taking this there was a sudden gust of wind. I quite like the effect.

nothing is permanent.

Black and White canal towpath

Today is Beltane, an ancient festival that marks the beginning of summer, the peak of spring, and the return of fertility to the world.

These columbines flower from late spring to mid-summer, making a bridge between the seasons.

Soften the onions, celery, garlic, add a handful of herbs, then the potatoes, carrots, and some curly kale. Cover and allow to cook in their own steam for 10 minutes or so.

When Fleetwood was a fishing town, fishing boats were easily identified by their funnels.

A lucky grab shot.

The navigation skill of migrating birds never fails to amaze me.

It took some savage cropping to get this how I wanted. Dalton Square has a number of these ornate and rather lovely lanterns.

Lit by electricity now.

from my back garden

A kind of gnarly smile from the top of the rye loaf.