difficult photos on Flickr

Brothers, retouched by W. Michel Kiteley

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I knew that I could not ignore this project forever and when I saw how bad it was, I thought I'd do a Photo Set series on this difficult retouch. I'll get that started up before too long, after I get more of the steps done. As always, I scanned the original ferrotype as a .TIFF that captured the best I could achieve from the ferrotype. The sloppy term of "tintype" has hounded old images such as this. I suppose it relates to the habit of calling the old Fords, "Tin Lizzies." The fact that the image is well attracted by a magnet proves the original has to be on a ferrous backing. Tin was, of course, an entirely unsuitable material for use as a backing. It was much used for galvanizing steel and iron to prevent rust, somewhat successfully.

Different adjustments were applied before arriving here and collapsing the .PSD down to a .TIFF so that it could be retouched on one layer. The original scan was at 1200 dpi and I suspect that a thorough cleaning would not have helped the surface damages which were extensive. In close, it looked like a shotgun blast and must have punched the mouse button thousands of times even after I mitigated the specks that cover the original. That may have been particular to the mistreated ferrotype. I had to treat a load of shotgun style of defects, all of which just take time. After becoming intimately acquainted with the two brothers during my retouch I decided neither kid was a happy camper to be here and the younger has a puffy face like he was crying before the ordeal. Both seem like they were put upon mightily. Woolen stockings? Come on, Ma! That must have been a special experience for the parents to shell out this extraordinary amount of money anf yet have the kids pitch a fit. I expect that the mother's delight in the portrait was proportional to the gaudiness of the outfits. The older boy managed a scowl at best for the portrait. Neither one got a pair of their first long trousers for their first portrait in a strange land. That would be an insult to two young boys! They are probably thinking that one Christianing is enough for a feller. They would have druthered to be out sailing hand made boats down the irrigation ditch or scarfing up crawdads and snakes in muddy attire.

I think that I have arrived at the point where I will quit retouching anyway. At some point, you end up retouching the retouching and it will certainly go downhill from there if you want something closer to a photograph instead of a painting and it is more than it was. It's time to build a finished and before & after view and prep my camera for tomorrow. The bald eagle west of town was on the ground stalking a prairie dawg dinner and I was out there without my longest lens. At first glance I thought I could not have seen the scene I was seeing, or something like that. I may got out tomorrow and wait for the eagle to go to work on the bread line again but be ready with my camera propped on the closed car door. Winner, winner, prairie dog dinner. Remember there is a notch in the ecosystem and that eagle knows what it is.

I can't imagine that this is anywhere near the hardest retouch that I have done, That honor probably lies with the "Spotted Granny" shot when I finally gave up until an answer popped into my punkin' head as I mulled the problem over. Even at that, I had a hard time convincing the people of the blindingly simple answer. At this point it seems clear that a glass plate might have been used in the camera and the ferrotype was the presentation. Applying any more aggression could result in losses of the original character that I still want in the final reproduction. I don't want to create a fantasy land. I have already done some of the later steps but need to write them up one at a time. I will try to present a reasonable reproduction after all the work. I don't particularly like cartoonish colored fantasy results because I prefer the best REPRODUCTION I can make. I'd coat a ferrous plate and take it into a darkroom if it were a reasonable technique and I could pull it off. Out here in the West, they call those trout "Dolly Varden's," after Dickens' name for his Painted Ladies. That's what I think of some "paint job" portraits that are cropping up lately.

FIRST in the series:

LAST in the series:

Difficult Stairs by withUibelong

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Hacienda Mundaca

Hard to Climb Stairs

This story behind the hacienda, 4km south of town, is perhaps more intriguing than the ruins that remain. A 19th-century slave trader and reputed pirate, Fermín Antonio Mundaca de Marechaja, fell in love with a local woman known as La Trigueña (Brunette). To win her, Mundaca built a two-story mansion complete with gardens and graceful archways, as well as a small fortification.

But while Mundaca was building the house, La Trigueña married another islander. Brokenhearted, Mundaca died and his house, fortress and garden fell into disrepair. Some documents indicate that Mundaca died during a visit to Mérida and was buried there. Others say he died on the island, and indeed there’s a grave in the town cemetery that supposedly contains his remains. Despite the skull and crossbones on his headstone (a common memento mori) there’s no evidence in history books that Mundaca was ever a pirate. Instead, it is said he accumulated his wealth by transporting slaves from Africa to Cuba, where they were forced to work in mines and sugarcane fields.

Today the mostly ruined complex has some walls and foundations, a large central pond, some rusting cannons and a partially rebuilt house. At the southern end stand a gateway and a small garden. You can still make out the words Entrada de La Trigueña (La Trigueña’s Entrance) etched into the impressive stone arch of the gate.

Difficult Situation by Calgary Police Service

Hnadcuffs are used to restrain violent persons and in situations where the safety of officers or the public are put at risk.

jacht club by Harry Purwanto

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difficult to say in words on how beautiful is this.

Liubov at Saint-Petersburg - after the concert.2008 by Belotserkovskaya Liubov

She studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory (with Alexander had supposed - we interviewed him) and sings in many European countries. And on the street it is difficult to find because of the opera singers (and even on the conductors) always think they are a huge growth - those who are on the scene, always a cut above those in the audience. In fact, in art, everything is a little different than we think.

Liubov BELOTSERKOVSKAYA:

THREE "THANK YOU"

THREE "LOVE"

JUNIOR CLASSES AND ITALY

As the concert began a stormy life?

Long ago, with lessons on the piano. We went with my parents at the two international competition, and even occupied. They had the euphoria - hurray, our child will be a musician. Then it all started. Why tumultuous life? Interventions require daily activities; stormy life - it is rough work. I was five years old started practicing the piano, and won the first contest, it seems, at nine. Four years of painstaking training, and you're the first prize winner, so anything is possible.

They say that musicians do not have child ...

Of course, nothing is achieved without difficulty, but in the nine years I have visited in Italy. In the class asked me: "Well, how is it? .."

Jealous, I guess.

Respected.

PLAYER AND GERGIEV

The first "LOVE"

And listen to what music?

The player I have a classic. Sometimes I like listening to soundtracks to old Hollywood movies, Japanese movies and cartoons - when they are recorded with a symphony orchestra. We have a branch in St. Petersburg, directing - they love to put this music dance and other activities, and they want me and supply it. In general, modern classical authors in Russia are not enough. But we have an interesting cable channel "Mezzo", which sometimes show, for example, the modern opera productions. At the Mariinsky Theatre in "White Nights" has been modernized production of Wagner, a special interest to obtain "Tristan und Isolde." This concert was staged without costumes. Behind a screen, which aired video. It was very organic, with foreign soloists. And he knows how to be an organic Gergiev - no vulgarity, no inconsistencies: the music of Wagner, is a modern video director, they may be together.

AFTERNOON IN VENICE

SECOND "LOVE"

Tell us about the last competition.

The contest was held from 2 to 6 July in Padua ...

I really wanted to swim in the sea. We just drove by bus from Venice to Padua on a large bridge across the sea. It was a dream to go out and swim, but no one was swimming - nobody knows where they are the beaches.

Local does not disclose a secret?

No. They are tan, lying in the park, as we have in St. Petersburg, and swimming near Venice itself is prohibited, there is a company and the water is probably not very clean. And somewhere else on the beaches they are, I think, go on the weekends. And on weekends the city is empty, do not ask anyone. On Sunday, Italy dies, everything is closed, the scene of the western: noon, the streets are empty.

And how is it?

If you look at the city as a whole, and not inside the buildings - murals, paintings - you need to go back to the carnival or winter. Very hot, stagnant water in the canals. The town is small, very beautiful and very unique. He did not like Padua, bears no resemblance to Venice Mestre, which is on land.

In September I went to three concerts in Holland - this is my favorite country. I was in Harlem, in Amsterdam. The same North Sea, in St. Petersburg in St. Petersburg but if I'm sick and there, in Holland, I'm getting better.

There is a special student. People go to the festival films in small towns. They can go to another city just to listen to it a new opera production. Which one of us would go for this, for example, in St. Petersburg?

VERY HIGH CEILINGS

Those who organize the tours and help along the way and relax?

Trying to help. And sometimes it turns out to combine - some of the concerts are very beautiful. For example, we sang in Venice in the Palazzo Dzakko - a small feudal mansion, but he is built like a Venetian palace, with a through passage to the garden with fountains - you can have fun and seeing a building.

Or ancient European cathedrals - great place. And sing, and watch.

Speakers like?

Yes, there is fertile acoustics, especially for slow pieces. The church works often slow. Musicians are joking, "wrote potatoes" whole empty notes. Perhaps it sounds worse than a quick product: the sound goes, there is too much reverberation. And so - excellent acoustics, no need to give away, you can easily sing piano. The older church - the better acoustics.

In the old European cathedrals had to sing?

In the Netherlands - in Harlem, and in Germany, in a historic cathedral - it was just a charity concert to raise funds for its restoration of the frescoes. Speakers there was phenomenal.

HVOROSTOVSKY AND MICROPHONE

A popular in Europe, outdoor concerts, where artists are at ease - it's more complex form of speech?

This can be explained by the fact that people come to Europe to enjoy a classical concert, they need to show. Now all aimed at making the show, so there are artists like Hvorostovsky - and they can see and hear - artists like Netrebko.

On the other hand, a form of a concert close to the theater: you can run around the stage, gesticulating. A character embodied in the theater - it is easier than being in a concert.

Why do we have such a form of concerts are not held?

Maybe artists are afraid of themselves? We have no such equipment, as in the West. Maybe you noticed - at these concerts, singing into a microphone. But the microphone is not like our pop stars, and made especially for them, perceiving other frequencies. We have the technology there is little, only in Moscow, where, incidentally, had already arranged the speeches. For example, on the Sparrow Hills - May 9, Hvorostovsky sang it. There is, of course, were of good quality microphones. But I think that as long as the necessary equipment becomes more widespread, the practice shows such a plan even if enthusiasts will spread very slowly.

PARIS - TOKYO

THIRD "LOVE"

Plans for the far-distant future?

In Japan, the same has always been my dream to go, so heard-read about it - Ovichinnikova and other Orientalists. In short, I want to go there.

Invite?

There are clues, but let's see what time will tell.

And what promise to be the embodiment of dreams?

The biggest dream is to be realized in December - a concert in Paris.

In Paris the first time? And - what?

Of course, at Notre Dame. Walking on the Cité. Maybe even go to the cemetery. We will implement the plan, which is in the movie "Paris, je t'aime."

Maybe I'll see Paris and die.

PODVERSTKA: three "thank you"

After the interview Liubov Belotserkovskaya asked to convey my gratitude to my teacher, Tamara Novichenko. It Honored Artist of Russia and the professor. And yet - the parents and accompanists.

Text - Potap PLYUSCHSCH

Photos from the personal archives of Love BELOTSERKOVSKY

St Andrew, Wickhambreaux, Kent by Jelltex

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Thanks to the Nailbourne project, I now understand how the communities and landscape fots in along its length, though that a bubbling noisy stream can just vanish then appear miles away is very difficult to get your head round. The Nailbourne only fully flows in very wet years, but when it does, the beds that are dry now can be several feet deep.

But downstream of Littlebourne, where the Nailbourne becomes the Little Stour, it is wider, about six feet wide, clogged with reeds and weeds, but also was used to power to large mills. They both stand, one between Littlebourne and Wickhambreaux, and the other in Wickhambreaux itself, though is now just a house But is a large white clapboard building, with a large wheel.

These days, the village looks very prosperous, all grand houses or cottage conversions.

From here, the Little Stour makes its way over the marshes which centuries ago was the Wantsum Channel, so Wickhambreaux was almost a seaside town.

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The interior of this very pretty church is dominated by nineteenth-century work. The whole of the chancel and baptistry is lined with dark brown encaustic tiles, hiding a straightforward fourteenth-century church. The east window is an early example of American Art Nouveau in England, and dominates the entire building. It was designed by Baron Arild Rosenkrantz in 1896. Above the window are stencilled paintings of angels ascending, which can also be seen in the nave, whilst the roof there has a charming star-spangled sky. At the south-west corner is a vestry - screened off by an eighteenth-century screen which may have formed part of the refitting of the chancel paid for by Mary Young. Her monument in the chancel records that 'infirm from her youth she protracted life to the 68th year of her age'. She left £100 for wainscotting and ornamenting the chancel. The interior viewed from the east gives an unusual appearance as the aisles flank the tower (see also Sandhurst).

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

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WICKHAM BREAUS

LIES adjoining to Littleborne north-eastward, being usally called Wickham Brook. It is likewise called Wickham by Wingham, to distinguish it from the two other parishes of the same name in this county. In Domesday it is written Wicheham, a name derived from its situation near the banks of the river, which runs close to it. There is only one borough in it, viz. the borough of Wickham, which comprehends the whole parish.

Wickham is a low, flat, and unpleasant situation, and lying so near the marshes cannot but be unhealthy, the land throughout it is in general good and sertile, especially near the village, where the fields are very large and level ground. The village, in number about twenty houses, stands at the south-east boundary of the parish, built round a green, over which the road leads to Ickham, having the church and court-lodge on one side, and the parsonage, a handsome brick house, on the other. At the further end of the green, the Lesser Stour crosses the road, and turns a corn-mill belonging to the manor, beyond it is only one house, called the Stone-house, being built of squared stones and slints in chequers, and by the arched windows and door-ways seems of some antiquity. The parish stretches a good distance northward, as far as Groveferry, the house of which is within it, and the greater Stour river, over a level of about 500 acres of marsh land, which extend from the river into a sinus, with a ridge of upland on each side, to within a quarter of a mile of the village. North eastward from which is the Saperton, formerly the property of the Beakes's, who resided here as early as king Henry the VIIIth.'s reign; it was sold by them to the Furneses, whence it came by marriage, with Copthall, in this parish, to the St. John's, viscounts Bolingbroke, who have lately sold it, but one of the family of Beake, many of whom lie buried in this church, now occupies it. A little beyond this is Newnham, once accounted a manor, formerly belonging to the Ropers, lords Teynham, afterwards to the Bartholomews, then to Joseph Brooke, esq. of Rochester, and now to his devisee the Rev. John Kenward Shaw Brooke, of Town-Malling.—Hence among the marshes is the hamlet of Grove, through which the road leads across them to the right over the lesser Stour, to Wingham, Ash, and the eastern parts of Kent, and to the left by Grove-ferry over the Greater Stour, to the northern part of the country and the Isle of Thanet. There is no other wood in the parish excepting Trendley park. There is no fair.

At the time of taking the survey of Domesday, in the year 1080, this place was part of those possessions with which that king had enriched his half-brother Odo, the great bishop of Baieux. Accordingly it is thus entered in that record, under the general title of his lands:

In Donamesford hundred, the bishop himself holds in demesne Wicheham. It was taxed at four sulings. The arable land is eleven carucates. In demesne there are two carucates, and thirty-six villeins, with thirty-two cottagers having nine carucates. There is a church, and one priest who gives forty shillings per annum. There is one park, and two mills of fifty shillings, and two saltpits of thirtytwo pence, and three fisheries of four shillings, and thirtytwo acres of meadow. Pasture for three hundred sheep and for thirty-one beasts. Wood for the pannage of eighty bogs. In the time of king Edward the Confessor it was worth twenty-five pounds, when he received it twenty pounds, now thirty pounds. There belong to this manor in Canterbury three plats of land paying six shillings and eight pence. Alured Biga held it of king Edward. Moreover there belongs to this manor half a suling of free land, which Sired held of Alured Biga, and Goisfrid, son of Badland, now holds it of the bishop of Baieux, and it is and was worth separately sixty shillings.

Four years afterwards the bishop was disgraced, and all his possessions were consiscated to the crown, of which this manor appears afterwards to have been held by the Cliffords. Walter, son of Walter de Clifford, possessed it in the reign of king John, and with Agnes de Cundy, his wife, was a good benefactor to St. Augustine's abbey, and that of St. Radigund. (fn. 1) By the marriage of Margaret, daughter and heir of Walter Clifford, with John de Brewse, it passed into that name, and William de Brewse, or de Braiosa, as they were written in Latin, was possessed of it in the 42d year of king Henry III. His descendant William de Brewse, lord of the honour of Brembre, in Sussex, and of Gower, in Wales, as he stiled himself, whose ancestor came into England with the Conqueror, who gave him the castle of Brember, and whose descendant afterwards, by the marriage with Bertha, daughter and one of the coheirs of Milo, earl of Hereford, became possessed of the castles of Brecknock and Gower likewife, and bore for his arms, Azure, a lion rampant, between twelve cross-croslets, or; though I find by the pedigrees of this family, that his ancestors bore Azure, three bars vaire, argent, and gules. He was several times summoned to parliament in king Edward I.'s reign, as was his son of the same name, both in that and Edward II.'s reign, and died possessed of this manor in the 19th year of the latter. Very soon after which it appears, with the church appendant to it, to have come into the possession of Edmund of Woodstock, earl of Kent, half brother to king Edward II. (fn. 2) After which it descended to his brother John Plantagenet, likewife earl of Kent, it being then held of the king in sergeantry. He died anno 26 Edward III. upon which Joane his sister, commonly called the Fair Maid of Kent, wife of Sir Thomas Holand, became his heir, who in her right not only possessed this manor, but became earl of Kent likewise. She afterwards married Edward the black prince, and died in the 9th year of king Richard II. being succeeded in this manor then held in capite, by Thomas Holand, earl of Kent, her son by her first husband, whose two sons, Thomas and Edward, both earls of Kent, and the former created Duke of Surry, in turn succeeded to it, and the latter dying anno 9 Henry IV. his five sisters became his coheirs, and on a partition made between them, Edmund, earl of March, son of Eleanor, late countess of March, the eldest of them became entitled to this manor in his mother's right, being the last earl of March of this family, for he died s. p. in the 3d year of king Henry VI. being then possessed of it. The year after which, Joane, wife of Sir John Gray, appears by the escheat rolls to have been entitled to it; not long after which it became the property of the family of Tibetot, or Tiptoft, as they were usually called, in whom it continued down to John Tiptost, earl of Worcester, who was attainted and beheaded in 1471, anno 10 Edward IV. king Henry being then restored to the crown. He lest an infant son Edward, who, though he was afterwards restored in blood by king Edward IV. yet I do not find that he was ever reinstated in the possession of this manor, which remained in the crown till the reign of king Henry VIII. who granted it, with the advowson of the church, to Sir Matthew Browne, of Beechworth-castle, who in the 22d year of it, passed it away to Lucy, widow of his uncle Sir Anthony Browne, standard-bearer of England, whose grandson Anthony was, anno I and 2 of Philip and Mary, created viscount Montague, and died possessed of this manor anno 34 Elizabeth, and by his will devised it to his eldest son by his second wife, Sir George Browne, who was of Wickham Breaus, and his grandson Sir George Browne, K. B. leaving two daughters his coheirs, Winifrid, married to Basil Brooks, esq. of Salop, and Eleanor, to Henry Farmer, esq. of Oxfordshire, they joined in the sale of it, at the latter end of Charles II.'s reign, to Sir H. Palmer, bart. of Wingham, who died possessed of it in 1706, s. p. and by his will devised it to his nephew Sir Thomas Palmer, bart. who died in 1723, and by his will gave it to his natural son Herbert Palmer, esq. who married Bethia, one of the daughters of Sir Thomas D'Aeth, bart. of Knowlton, who died in 1760, s. p., having devised this manor, with the advowson of the church appendant, to his widow. She afterwards married John Cosnan, esq. who in her right became possessed of it, and died in 1778, s. p. leaving her furviving, upon which she again became entitled to the possession of it, and continued owner of it till her death in 1797, on which it came to her nephew Sir Narborough D'Aeth, bart. of Knowlton, the present owner of it. A court leet and court baron is held for this manor.

Trendley park, now accounted a manor of itself, is situated at the north-west boundary of this parish, being entirely separated from the rest of it by that of Littleborne intervening. It was part of the possessions of Odo, bishop of Baieux, and is noticed in the survey of Domesday, in the description of the manor of Wickham above recited, in which it is mentioned as being then a park; and it should seem that at least part of it was then accounted as appurtenant to that manor; though in the description of the manor of Littleborne, in the same survey, which then belonged to the abbey of St. Augustine, it appears that the bishop had lands belonging to that manor too lying within his park here. Of this manor the bishop of Baieux has in his park as much land as is worth sixty shillings, says the record. In part of the recompence for which, the bishop seems to have given the abbot the manor of Garwinton, in Littleborne, and other land within the manor of Leeds, as may be seen by the entries of both these manors in the same record. Soon after which there was another exchange of land made between the bishop and archbishop Lanfranc, for some which lay within his park of Wikeham. What is remarkable in this instrument is, that it is given in two languages, in Saxon and Latin, but neither is a translation of the other, for both are originals, as was a frequent custom of that time. Appendant to it is the bishop's seal in wax, representing him on one side on horseback, with his sword and spurs, as an earl, and on the other habited as a bishop, with his pastoral staff; being perhaps the only seal of Odo at this time extant. (fn. 3) By all which it appears, that this park is much more antient than that of Woodstock, which has been accounted the first inclosed park in England. How long it continued an inclosed park, I have no where found; but in the beginning of king Henry VI.'s reign it was not so, as appears by the escheat-rolls of the 3d year of it, after the death of Edmund, earl of March, at which time there were two hundred acres of wood in it. He was lord of the manor of Wickham, and Trendley park was chiefly at that time certainly appurtenant to it, and continued so whilst in the possession of the same owners, which it did most probably till the attainder of John Tiptost, earl of Worcester, in the 10th year of king Edward IV. when they both came into the hands of the crown, and though king Henry VIII. afterwards granted the manor of Wickham to Sir Matthew Browne, yet I do not find that Trendley park was granted with it. From which time it has had separate owners. For some time it has been the property of the family of Denne, who continue at this time the owners of it. It lies in an unpleasant, lonely part of the parish, facing Westbere, and consists of three hundred acres of woodland, and a house called the Park-house. There is a high road through the middle of it from Stodmarsh to Canterbury market, which in king Edward II.'s reign, was attempted to be shut up, but the sheriff, with the posse comitatus, was ordered to open it again, as being an antient and allowed high road.

Charities.

Andrew Holness, of Seton, in Ickham, by will in 1554, gave to the poor 2s. in money and bread, to be distributed yearly; the churchwardens to take so much yearly out of his lands in Ickham and Wickham, except his house and garden at Seton, in case his executors did not give the same yearly.

Henry Sloyden, of Wickham Breaus, by will in 1568, gave for the use of the poor and Littleborne, in equal portions, a piece of land containing six acres and a half in the latter parish, called Church-close, which is distributed twice a year by the respective minister and churchwardens, and is of the annual produce of 4l.

John Smith, rector of this parish, by deed in 1656, gave a school-room, and a house and garden for a schoolmaster, in this parish, for teaching the children of it. The master to be chosen from one of his relations in preference, if any such could be found, is vested in the rector and churchwardens of this parish.

Sir Henry Palmer, of Bekesborne, by his will in 1611, gave the sum of 10s. to each of the several parishes of Wickham, Stodmarsh, Littleborne, and five others therein mentioned, to be paid into the hands of the minister and churchwardens yearly, out of his manor and lands of Well-court, at Michaelmas, towards the relief of the poor of each of them.

Thomas Belke, D. D. rector of this parish, by will in 1712, gave 501. for the putting out of five poor children of this parish apprentices.

There are about thirty poor constantly relieved, and casually seventy.

This parish is within the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Bridge.

¶The church, which is dedicated to St. Andrew, consists of three isles and one chancel, having at the west end a square tower, in which hang six bells. The church is not large, but is handsome and neat. In the middle isle are several memorials for the Beakes, of Saperton. In the south isle for the Larkins, who lived at Grove, in this parish. In the east window are remains of good painted glass, viz. the arms of Edward the black price and of Mortimer, quartered with Burgh, and a representation of Herod's daughter beheading John the Baptist. In the chancel, on the pavement, is the figure of a priest in brass, and inscription, for Henry Welde, rector, obt. 1420. A gravestone, and monument for Alexander Young, B D. rector of this parish, who rebuilt this parsonage-house, and repaired that of Eastchurch, of which he was vicar likewife, at the expence of 2000l. obt. March 21, 1755. A memorial for John Smith, rector, obt. Oct. 28, 1658. In the church-yard are many headstones, and a tombstone for the family of Beake. In the windows of this church there were formerly many different shields of arms, long since demolished.

This church was always an appendage to the manor, and continues so at this time, Sir Narborough D' Aeth, bart. owner of the manor of Wickham, being the present patron of it.

There was antiently both a rectory and vicarage in this church, which continued till the year 1322, when on a vacancy of the latter, Richard de Newcastle, the rector, petitioned archbishop Walter Reynolds, that they might be consolidated, which was granted, and they have continued in that state to the present time. (fn. 4)

This rectory is valued in the king's books at 29l. 12s. 6d. and the yearly tenths at 2l. 19s. 3d. In 1588 it was valued at 250l. communicants one hundred and sixty-three. In 1640 the same. There are eighteen acres of glebe-land.

The marsh-lands in this parish, within Wickham and Preston valleys, pay a modus of two-pence an acre, and those within Newnham 1½d. only, in lieu of all tithes.

www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol9/pp158-166

Dave by Julie Smith

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My cousin Dave spinning poi. He's crazy at it.

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All My People/All Mankind by Oriana Spadaro by Oriana Spadaro

(ITA below)

"All My People / All Mankind" is a series of portraits of friends in Italy and abroad, that I have been taken via webcam during the quarantine. The title is a song by Liam Gallagher and has a double interpretation. All my people are those who have been there during this difficult time, everybody in their own way. I have never felt so much empathy for people before like in this surreal and difficult time. These photos are my tribute to them. Each person has been photographed in his/her favourite corner of the house or while dedicating to a hobby or activity. The link between me and many of these people is music. My intention was to catch the empathic connection between me and them despite the distance and three devices (our webcams and my camera) dividing us.

All mankind is the second interpretation. Each person their own story and the Covid-19 emergency has had consequences on everybody's life. Some of those people in the photos have been isolated for three months trying to protect their old parents, have struggled against the virus living in complete isolation without even going out to buy food, have lost their jobs, had planned to get married and could not, could not visit their families in other regions for months, had to work from home while taking care of a child. These are universal stories in which everybody can recognize themselves. They teach us that the mankind has a great power to adapt. Some people have started teaching online, have started home radio station, have recorded music, made drawings out of my photos, have volunteered. Together we have done photo shootings, guitar and yoga lessons, birthday parties. We have not given up because life always finds the way to prevail.

(ITA)

"All My People / All Mankind" è un progetto personale di ritratti scattati ad amici italiani e stranieri tramite webcam durante la quarantena. Il titolo è una canzone di Liam Gallagher e ha una doppia chiave di lettura.

All my people, la mia gente, sono le persone che sono state presenti in questo periodo difficile, ciascuna a modo suo. Mai ho provato tanta empatia verso altri esseri umani come in questo periodo così surreale e delicato. Queste foto sono un tributo a loro. Tutti i protagonisti sono stati ritratti nei loro angoli preferiti di casa o mentre si dedicavano alle loro passioni o attività. Il legame comune tra me e quasi tutte le persone è la musica. Lo scopo di queste foto è catturare la connessione empatica tra me e i soggetti, nonostante la distanza e tre dispositivi (le rispettive webcam e la mia macchina fotografica) a separarci.

All mankind, tutta l'umanità, è la seconda chiave di lettura. Ogni persona ha la sua storia e l'emergenza sanitaria ha avuto delle conseguenza sulla propria vita, cambiandola più o meno profondamente. C'è chi ha vissuto tre mesi in isolamento con i genitori anziani cercando di proteggerli, chi ha contratto il virus e ha sofferto le difficoltà fisiche e l'isolamento totale, chi doveva sposarsi e ha dovuto rimandare, chi ha perso il lavoro e non vede prospettive, chi è lontano dalla sua famiglia senza possibilità di raggiungerla in un'altra regione, chi ha dovuto adattarsi a svolgere il proprio lavoro da casa, in alcuni casi dovendo badare contemporaneamente ad un figlio. Chiunque può riconoscersi in queste persone, perché sono storie universali che ci insegnano la grande forza di adattamento dell'umanità: chi si è riadattato ad insegnare on-line, chi ha condotto un suo programma radiofonico da casa, chi ha disegnato ispirandosi a delle mie foto, chi si è dedicato alla musica scrivendo canzoni, chi ha fatto volontariato, chi ha iniziato ad inventarsi un nuovo lavoro per la fase che verrà. Insieme abbiamo fatto shooting fotografici, lezioni di chitarra, feste di compleanno, lezioni di yoga. Via webcam, ma non ci siamo arresi o fermati. Perché la vita trova sempre il modo di prevalere.

Canadian Pacific Railway, British Columbia, Spiral Tunnels by photolibrarian

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Big Hill on the Canadian Pacific Railway main line in British Columbia, Canada, was the most difficult piece of railway track on the Canadian Pacific Railway's route.[1] It was situated in the rugged Canadian Rockies west of the Continental Divide and Kicking Horse Pass. Even though the Big Hill was replaced by the Spiral Tunnels in 1909, the area has long been a challenge to the operation of trains and remains so to this day.

The essential problem was that the railway had to ascend 1,070 feet (330 m) in the space of 10 miles (16 km) from Field at 4,267 feet (1,301 m) climbing to the top of the Continental Divide at 5,340 feet (1,630 m).[2] The narrow valleys and high mountains limited the space where the railway could stretch out and limit the grade (hence the later decisions to bore extra mileage under the mountains and lower the grades)

Construction

To complete the Pacific railway as quickly as possible, a decision was made to delay blasting a lengthy 1,400 feet (430 m) tunnel through Mount Stephen and instead build a temporary 8-mile (13 km) line over it. Instead of the desired 2.2% grade (116 feet to the mile) a steep 4.5% grade was built in 1884[3] (some sources say 4.4%). This was one of the steepest railway lines anywhere. It descended from Wapta Lake to the base of Mount Stephen, along the Kicking Horse River to a point just west of Field, then rose again to meet the original route.

Three safety switches were built to protect against runaway trains. These switches led to short spurs with a sharp reverse upgrade and they were kept in the uphill position until the operator was satisfied that the train descending the grade towards him was not out of control. Speed was restricted to eight miles per hour (13 km/h) for passenger trains and six (10 km/h) for freight, and elaborate brake testing was required of trains prior to descending the hill. Nevertheless, disasters occurred with dismaying frequency.

Field was created solely to accommodate the CPR’s need for additional locomotives to be added to trains about to tackle the Big Hill. Here a stone roundhouse with turntable was built at what was first known simply as Third Siding. In December 1884 the CPR renamed it Field after C.W. Field, a Chicago businessman who, the company hoped, might invest in the region after he had visited on a special train they had provided for him.

At that time, standard steam locomotives were 4-4-0s, capable enough for the prairies and elsewhere, but of little use on the Big Hill. Baldwin Locomotive Works was called upon to build two 2-8-0s for use as Field Hill pusher engines in 1884. At the time they were the most powerful locomotives built. Two more followed in June 1886. The CPR began building its own 2-8-0s in August 1887, and over the years hundreds more were built or bought.

The Spiral Tunnels

The old and the new line

Lower portal of "Number Two" tunnel, Spiral Tunnels, Field, British Columbia. The locomotives are passing under the train they are pulling.

The Big Hill "temporary" line was to remain the main line for twenty-five years, until the famous Spiral Tunnels were opened on September 1, 1909.

The improvement project was started in 1906, under the supervision of John Edward Schwitzer, the senior engineer of CPR’s western lines. The first proposal had been to extend the length of the climb, and thus reduce the gradient, by bypassing the town of Field at a higher level, on the south side of the Kicking Horse river valley. This idea had quickly been abandoned because of the severe risk of avalanches and landslips on the valley side. Also under consideration was the extension of the route in a loop northwards, using both sides of the valley of the Yoho river to increase the distance, but again the valley sides were found to be prone to avalanches. It was the experience of severe disruption and delay caused by avalanches on other parts of the line (such as at the Rogers Pass station, which was destroyed by an avalanche in 1899) that persuaded Schwitzer that the expensive solution of digging spiral tunnels was the only practical way forward.

The route decided upon called for two tunnels driven in three-quarter circles into the valley walls. The higher tunnel, "number one," was about one thousand yards in length and ran under Cathedral Mountain, to the south of the original track. When the new line emerged from this tunnel it had doubled back, running beneath itself and 50 feet (15 m) lower. It then descended the valley side in almost the opposite direction to its previous course before crossing the Kicking Horse River and entering Mount Ogden to the north. This lower tunnel, "number two," was a few yards shorter than "number one" and the descent was again about fifty feet. From the exit of this tunnel the line continued down the valley in the original direction, towards Field. The constructions and extra track would effectively double the length of the climb and reduce the ruling gradient to 2.2%. The new distance between Field and Wapta Lake, where the track levels out, is 11 1⁄2 miles (18.5 km).[4]

The contract was awarded to the Vancouver engineering firm of MacDonnell, Gzowski and Company and work started in 1907. The labor force amounted to about a thousand and the cost was about 1.5 million Canadian dollars.

Even after the opening of the spiral tunnels, Field Hill remained a significant challenge and it was necessary to retain the powerful locomotives at Field locomotive depot.[4]

Difficultés à arrêter de fumer / Difficulties to stop smoking by >Nicolas Bouton<

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Hitler Bunker in Berlin by Bob

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This location is a difficult place for historians especially in Germany. Most want to ignore or forget it. There is no sign or marker to let you know what was here.

It is the sight of [in Berlin] of Adolf Hitler's underground Bunker in 1945 during the final days of the World War 2.

Seeing modern Berlin today you can not imagine what it was like here at that time unless you study the history.

Recomended Book: "A Woman in Berlin" by Anonymous

Metropolitan Books

Bill Gates Quote by Inspirational Quotes

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"I will always choose a lazy person to do a difficult job... Because he will find an easy way to do it."

-Bill Gates

Difficult Landing by Simon Downham

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Ice on the runway

The drive to Mallaig by Jelltex

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The day almost ended in disaster before it had really begun. We booked the train tickets many months ago, but as time went on we found it was going to be difficult to hire a car and travel back home, so instead of traveling to the end of the line at Fort William, we would get off in Glasgow and get a taxi to the airport. We tried to change our official tickets, but couldn’t, so on getting on the train, we well th hostess, she makes notes and tell us that her successor would wake us up at half five with breakfast so we would be ready to get off the train at six.

It all seemed set, so we went to bed thinking it was all under control. And as the journey went on through the night, I felt for movement of the train wondering where in Britain we might be depending on whether I could feel movement or not.

I must have laid in bed for a while, wondering still where and when we were. I finally looked at the screen on my mobile to find it quarter to six! Eeek!

We had 15 minutes to get dressed and squeeze or cases close and be ready to get off. We rang for the assistant, who apologised, and it wasn’t her fault either. But we were running behind time, so we had half an hour before we got off.

The train crept through Glasgow and then headed out fo the city west alongside the river. At twenty past, we arrived at Dalmuir, heavy drizzle was falling, and as we got off the train, no taxi could be seen.

I called up the company, and they sent a cab to pick us up, arriving a few minutes later, loading our luggage inot the boot, then growling at us as to where we wanted to go, and apparently unimpressed thst we had come all the way from DOver to be here.

He took no time taking us through the housing estate, onto the motorway then across the bridge over the river, turning off and arriving at the airport.

From being in a panic an hour before, we were now on time, and once at the car hire office found it to open, some 15 minutes early. We are told that no signatures were required, the keys were ready to pick up from Omar in the office in the pound.

Omar gives me the key to an Audi A4, which is a great and quick car. We put in our bags, and find that the car was already pretty much full, and we had to pick up Tiny who had stayed on the train from Fort William.

Amazingly, we were on the road at seven, driving back to the river corssing then taking the road north. Always north from now.

We go into the centre of Dumbarton to look for a place to do some shopping. We find Morrison’s, and go inside, only to find the shop almost empty, at least with more staff than customers. Back home this would already be packed with people. We go round and buy what we think we would need for the three of us.

Back out onto the main road, we descend to the banks of Loch Lomond, taking the low road as it followed the contours of the Loch. We stop at a country park overlooking the loch, not a breath of wind stirred with water below, so we ate sausage rolls surround by a cloud of midges.

The road carried on, all around the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond before the road began to climb and climb, higher and higher until the trees ran out, and on both sides the vista opened out.

We stop at a greasy spoon for a coffee and Tunnock’s Caramel slice at a parking area overlooking the valley below as it began to climb again.

Up and down the road goes, and up again until we come to the top end of Glencoe, and in front of us the vista opens out with dark ominous clouds above and valley sides that had been carved by glaciers

At the far end of the valley, the road had reached sea level, and in a few more minutes we roll into Fort William, where Tony was waiting at the station, having arrived just a few minutes ahead of us.

From there the road branched out along a sea loch, alongside the railway which also was going to Mallaig. The sea loch opened out so we could see open ocean in the distance, we join other cars in parking up beside the coast so we could all take shots.

Sadly, parking at Glenfinnan was full, but we shall return at some point. Anyway, we only had half an hour to go before we arrived at Mallaig and the ferry terminal. Sadly, we had failed to book passage beforehand, and so had to buy a standby ticket, but we were told there would be no trouble getting on as we were the first in the reserve queue.

We had an hour to kill before the boarding began, so we go for a wander round the town. Mallaig exists for fishing anf being the starting point of the Skye ferry. The railway line also ends here, but the town itself probably has less than 1o thousand people, but it picturesque enough, set around the harbour, filled wit small fishing boats.

Jools and I have lunch in the Mission Cafe, while Tony goes for an hour walk being measured on Strava.

At one everyone goes back to their cars and boarding begins. Once all the booked cars and buses go on, we are allowed to follow onto the ferry.

We get out of the car and climb to the passenger decks above, until I get to the open dicks ready to witness the casting off.

By now the day was bright, so sunshine shone off the heather on the hills of the mainline and on the island. The crossing took just half an hour, the ferry reversed into the berth and we were allowed back to our cars ready to depart.

The cottage was just a four mile drive along the coast, turning up the hill and into the driveway. Here at last.

It is a fine modern bungalow with a large picture window overlooking the sound and the mainland beyond. We unload the car of our luggage and shopping, and fill up wardrobes and cupboards, finally able t put the kettle on for a well-deserved brew.

We had forgotten to bring coffee for Jools, so Tony and I go out in the car to find a shop. Over the other side of the island we find a Co-Op, it is well stocked and we find coffee, more Coke and beer for me.

We fly back over to the cottage, over the moor along a newly tarmaced road, traveling at a little over the limit, arriving back so I could make a coffee for Jools.

We sit in the living room, not watching TV, but the scene out of the large window, as the setting sun cast wonderful light on the sound and hills beyond. Dinner was a simple pasta dish with tomato sauce, into which I put some square sausage to added flavour. Local flavour.

And that was your day, arrived and settled in.

View from Tower Bridge Wharf by James Beard

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Quite difficult finding a good vantage point from this side of the river looking back towards Tower Bridge and The Shard. Decided on a rare vertical composition to make the most of the smooth water and streaky skies enabled by the long 7 min exposure.

Zaatari Refugee Camp by onemanandhiscamera

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Zaatari refugee camp, Jordan.

( Story by Hala Al Ayoubi )

‘It is not those who can inflict the most, but those who can suffer the most who will conquer’:

These words were spoken by Irish patriot, Terence McSweeney in 1920 when his native Ireland was being ripped apart by the War of Independence. Although directly referring to the struggle faced by his countrymen some 90 years ago McSweeney’s haunting words can be applied to the thousands forced to seek sanctuary in a Jordanian refugee camp to in order to escape Syria’s on-going internal conflict. As a native Syrian, born in Damascus, I found the graphic images of my fellow countrymen and women shown on various television news channels both disturbing and upsetting. I was so moved by their plight. I wanted to see for myself the suffering and horrors of the living in limbo scenario they now faced on a daily basis. I was literally driven by an internal emotion I had never experienced before. I simply had to see what was happening to my people. Within days my photographer and I were on our way to Jordan. What we saw and witnessed on our trip is difficult to put into words. However, it is important I do record what we saw in the hope it highlights the human tragedy that is currently the plight of the Syrian refugees – my people.

Just six miles over of the Jordan-Syria border is the UN run Zaatari refugee camp. Located in the middle of a barren, windswept desert Zaatari is the temporary home of thousands of men, women and children forced to flee their homes in Syria because of the continuing conflict. At first sight Zaatari is a desolate place. It exudes an air of isolation. Its heavy wire perimeter fencing is intimidating and immediately creates the impression of a prison. This feeling is compounded by the presence of Jordanian police and soldiers who guard main entrance to the camp. As our car pulls up guards watch us intently. Our driver takes our passports and passes to a camp official. Documents approved, we are given permission to enter Zaatari.

As we drive through the second gate the reality of Zaatari looms before us. To the left the French and Italian international field hospitals. On the right the countless rows of dust shrouded tents, home for the refugees, are draped across the harsh desert landscape. Despite the dust the letters UNHCR are clearly visible on each of the tents. As we begin to walk around the camp it is obvious the situation is really difficult. Living conditions are very basic. There is a lack of proper sanitation with people often standing in line to use toilets and bathrooms. There is barely enough water and electricity is almost non-existent. Clothing is at a premium. Food is mundane and repetitive. Dust is everywhere. Blasts of sand ravage the simple, thin tents and their occupants The swirls of suffocating sand ensure everyone in Zaatari carries a powdering of dust and grim. Residents are told on a daily basis ‘things will get better’. They never do.

As a Mum I was particularly moved by the plight of Mothers and their children living in Zaatari camp. This is not a ‘Child friendly Zone’ despite the presence of a tiny and very basic kids play area. The provision of a slide and a see-saw do little to resolve the suffering and trauma of kids who have witnessed horrendous scenes of brutality and violence in the on-going Syrian conflict. Many of these children are now mentally scarred for life! Their drawn and dusty faces say it all. Disease is also rife within the child population of Zaatari – measles and cholera top the list. Although officials plan to introduce a measles immunisation programme shortly it will do little, if anything, to relive a problem which is fast becoming a humanitarian catastrophe. The plight of Zaatari’s child population is particularly heart-breaking. They are the innocent victims of a situation they did not create. However, there is a faint glimmer of hope on the horizon for the refugee children. A hope their future will not be as desolate as their past. That hope is education. There are approximately some 4,000 children of school-age within Zaatari. The task of educating them is a considerable challenge. The majority of children have lost out on months of schooling through the violence in Syria. However, many have lost their entire families. They are totally alone and are cared for by organisations such as UNICEF and Save the Children.

When I visited Zaatari classes were held in temporary makeshift tented accommodation. The authorities plan to supply a more permanent type of classroom shortly but, in the interim kids simply have to make do with what is available. A retired teacher, now working in Zaatari told me education was vital for the refugee children. The routine of the classroom, he said, gave the children something to do on a regular basis. It also removed the biggest problem facing the kids – one of boredom. “We are not just educating these children”, he said “we are attempting to save a complete generation and give it a future”. As a Syrian and a Mother I hope that objective is achieved sooner rather than later.

As I toured the Zaatari camp it became obvious many people were too scared to talk. Despite the fact I was a fellow Syrian very few wanted to speak on camera or have their identities revealed. Although they have fled their homeland many refugees – should they return to Syria – are frightened they will be the targeted in revenge attacks by supporters of President Bashar al-Assad. There is also the very real fear members of the Syrian secret police – the Mukhabarat – are active within the Zaatari refugee camp. Fear of the Mukhabarat pervades the atmosphere of the camp. It intimidates the residents and stops the majority of them speaking out.

However, there are those who are prepared to speak on the condition their identity is protected. A mother of four told me she and her children fled Syria fearing they would be killed if they remained in the home. Although now living in the relative safety of Zaatari she told me she how longed to return to her own country: ‘Life in the camp is killing us. It’s unbearable. Dirt and dust are everywhere. We live, sleep and eat the dust. This is not life. It’s barely an existence’.

‘I just want to go back. Go back to my home, that’s all I want but, there is nothing there now. They destroyed everything in my town. What can we do? We have to stay here. We have nowhere else to go’.

Abdul and his family have been in Zataari for 27 days. He told me they fled their home in Syria to escape the constant bomb attacks and killings: ‘All my family is here, my wife and children. We had to leave. To stay in our home was too dangerous. People I knew were killed in the bomb attacks. If we had stayed we would have died’.

‘Getting to Jordan was difficult. But we had to get away from Bashar’s bombs. My wife and I just ran, we ran with our kids. We just took them and ran’.

‘But we are living like animals now. Conditions are really bad here. We have no clothes, food is always the same and we have very little water. Just look at us, look at my children. They are living in a tent and sleeping on the ground.’

With winter looming large on the horizon Zaatari’s residents will face additional problems in their struggle to survive. The desert is already very cold at night. With temperatures due drop to around freezing point in the next few weeks there is now a race against time to ensure the camp is properly prepared for the colder weather. Prime objectives for the Camp authorities are the distribution of heaters, thermal, blankets and the insulation of the refugees tented accommodation.

Abdul fear the arrival of the freezing winter weather: ‘We don’t know what it will be like in the winter. Will we get blankets and heaters – we just don’t know. How can little children survive the winter living in a tent. This is no way for them to live. When it gets cold and rains then it will be miserable here ’.

There is clearly a growing feeling within Zaatari’s refugee population that ‘Nobody cares about us’. A belief exists that until the world recognises and helps those interned behind the wire and barriers the suffering will continue and get worse. Actions do speak louder than words. However, words are cheap but human aid expensive!

Zaatari is meant to be a place of refuge for the countless displaced Syrians. However, the camp is quickly becoming the venue for escalating tensions between the refugees and their hosts, the Jordanians. Tensions which have already exploded into violence which has seen tents set on fire and property damaged in protests over living condition. Those tensions will increase and the prospect of further violence remains strong if living conditions do not improve drastically.

Refugees living in Zaatari are human beings. They are individuals with names, personalities and unique personal stories to tell. They are also my fellow countrymen and women. Until recently they were able to work, earn a living and support their families. Now their lives have been changed irrevocably through the violence in Syria. All these people want is to have their voices heard. To be acknowledge and accepted as people and not to be portrayed as parasites living off the Jordanian system. Above all they just want to go back to their homes in Syria and live their lives. Sadly, at this time and for the foreseeable future that is impossible.

As I left Zaatari Terrence McSweeney’s words: ‘It is not those who can inflict the most, but those who can suffer the most who will conquer’ flooded through my mind. Those words proved correct in respect of the people of Ireland. I believe these very same words do and will apply to the Syrian refugees in Zaatari. My hope is it the suffering they now endure on a daily basis will be short lived. Unlike my fellow countrymen and women I have been able to escape the suffering that is Zaatari refugee camp.

Hala Al Ayoubi.