... in the rain can be very hard work!

As you walk into the station cafe, you are presented with this super example of encaustic tiling. I'm amazed to find it still in place.

To make the product a bit more versatile I blitzed with a stick blender.

Top tip ... stop the blender before lifting out of the pot. It looks like a crime scene here!

The Harris is a gallery that has been closed for the last two years for 're-imagining' inside. It should have re-opened this spring but remains shut.

These hydrangeas are called 'limelight' because of their initial color (similar to the original calcium oxide light discovered by Goldsworthy Gurney) and used in theaters for ages. Theater lights are still often called 'limes' for that reason.

Eventually these flowers will fade to cream, before turning pink in the autumn. Quite a spectacle.

Today is a state holiday, or bank holiday as they are called in England. As I'm not working today there's time for a relaxed breakfast of bacon and eggs.

Coffee and a smoothie of mango, apple, orange, and nuts complete the meal.

There's about all the protein I need here for the day to maintain reasonable health.

Neighbour's cat is visiting

Blackbirds are members of the thrush family, meaning they are quite happy to dwell on the ground. They are also quite calm about people being around. This one knows me well as I see him several times each day.

My lunch service had finished, so he had to make do with worms. Might be a good idea =]

Astratto. Abstract. Frammento urbano. Urban fragment. Effetto moirè generato fotografando con smartphone un pannello a led. Moiré effect generated by photographing a led panel with a smartphone. Bologna 2022

P.S. Nel caso dell'acquisizione di un display a LED, l'effetto moiré si verifica dalla struttura dei pixel della scheda LED in conflitto con la struttura dei pixel della fotografia o del video. Poiché le schede LED hanno una densità di pixel inferiore e dimensioni dei pixel maggiori rispetto alla risoluzione catturata dalla fotocamera, è quasi certo che si verifichi l'effetto moiré quando le si fotografa. In the case of capturing a LED display, the moire effect occurs from the pixel structure of the LED board conflicting with the pixel structure of the photograph or video. Since the LED boards have a lower pixel density and larger pixel size than the resolution captured by your camera, the moire effect is almost certain to occur when photographing them.

A beautiful dry stone wall edges the public footpath. Pretty and a great navigation aid.

My first view of the steps - I couldn't see the bottom. Having come thus far, I suppose I should see where they go.

I just noticed the clock and it's time for lunch.

Here is a very traditional English sandwich - a ploughman's, or cheese and pickle. Again, I was surprised to get a salad and some chips on the side. But it was a pleasant surprise.

Brucciani's is one of my 'happy places', being staffed by friendly and competent people, in a charming Grade II cafe which has changed little over the decades.

Mahlzeit, friends.

I went to class this morning and noticed this vertical garden in the making. A clever use or limited space.

Due to popular demand and availability of containers our soup can be taken out to be eaten later.

Cycling through a shady wood I came across a great bank of blue bells. The ground is damp and smelled of petrichor, as it should.

Bluebells are always so joyful I think.

We adopted Missy in November when she was 9 months old

Handelsbanken plc is a UK-based bank that appears to be a subsidiary of the better-known Swedish bank. It was interesting to see a branch here in Lancaster. It has the air of a 'private bank' similar to Coutts, but I believe that is not so.

They have a nice building.

The shocking state of the paving slabs is common across the rest of the city, regretably. Here, being on a hill, rainwater tends to run under the slabs, washing away the supporting sand. This leads to general weakening of the pavement/sidewalk and breakage.

The setting sun warms the forbidding walls of the castle and gilds this little tree. A nice close to the day.

My neighbor's cat sometimes goes walkabout but comes back to guard the front door. Here he is today.

youtu.be/p3afGi3REu8?si=5DN-GAdhoqnuYN75

Excellent lozenges made in Fleetwood. Originally in linctus form, the fisherman asked for something more easily carried on ship. Hence these were invented.

They are exported globally and especially popular in Japan.

The band by the same name is not related but they are too good to ignore!

It was good to see the microfoam drag on the glass. For me, it's the right texture.

Statue outside the courthouse. A mediaeval knight.

Android Instagram Altumpilum

In little gaps between the old buildings one can find artisans making furniture, leather goods, hand dying wool, And other such activities. Being Sunday there's not much happening here today.

I've just put the ingredients for this week's 'house sauce' in the slow cooker. I have a feeling it will be a cure for almost anything; there are the usual suspects (soffritto) as well as olives, tomatoes, 3 kinds of peppers, and a small marrow. A friend gave me a bag of aglione spice mix so I added some of that, too. Covered with a glass of red wine and stock.

I'm looking forward to how the kitchen will smell in the morning.

Like a ring of broken teeth the remains of an ancient oak protect it's progeny. Possibly grown from an acorn that fell into the still standing trunk of it's parent.

Using a reliable estimating tool from the Woodland Trust i would say this is about the same age as me. Which is to say not quite ancient or old enough for a bus pass but getting there 😁

I love a bit of bunting!

Apple spinach almonds cinnamon water. Whizz for 20s

Left on my kitchen counter this week. people can be so kind.

it's blowing a hooley outside. Red weather warnings for the West Coast of England. stay home if you can.

Looks well dodgy.