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Model: Natalia Larioshina
Photographer: Justin Bonaparte
My dear Teareasa is Irano-Amercan, born in Isfahan and now lives in Arizona, she has found the PEOPLE here so lovely and warm to foreigners, what she didn't expect and believed before.
« You see things
You keep quiet about them
And you understand. »
Anastasia is a russian girl who spent all her life in England. She recently came back to her homeland to find out about her origins, and she discovers more than she expected.
I got this dollchateau verna yesterday, she's my dreamdoll, I've never seen more beautiful than her. She reminds me a lot of Iekaterina, they must be related somehow. She looks a lot like Amy Pond from Doctor Who, she even has a tardis tattoo on her thigh ♥
I never expected to find this snowy owl today while I was out in deep farmland looking for Rough-legged hawks. But there it sat! Nobody harassing it, no crazy crowds, no one pulling up in Jeeps to take a picture with their cellphone, no hiking miles and miles for hour and hours on a cold beach... out in the middle of nowhere... what a great first bird of the year to photograph and what an awesome way to start off the new year! It's gonna be a good one! Happy New Year to all, and thanks to all that looked and commented on all my shots in 2017! (Black Dirt Region, Orange County, NY)
Connect with me...
My Website: www.MitchVanbeekum.com
Reposted from 2011 with a new scan:
Where it was postmarked is illegible, but it was mailed to an address in Hanover, Indiana. This card is embossed, with the embossing coming through the verso side. Beautiful penmanship even with the embossing.
I'm not expecting this picture to generate much interest at all here on Flickr. The reason I'm posting it is I am at heart a man who who wanted to be an actress. I wanted to play female roles. What this means is I enjoy experimenting with make-up, wigs and female outfits.
The reality is I am rubbish at acting but as I get older I fear missing out on my dream of taking on female roles. Some may cringe and squirm at my admission of wanting this and though I think I may well invite ridicule I simply had to try it out, albeit in private.
I have always liked the look of the business woman and female lawyers. Their outfits are stylish and admittedly prim and somewhat severe. I think the mix of primness with make-up, bright red lipstick and smooth shaved legs and high heel court shoes is a mix of femininity and confidence and I do find it rather sexy.
On Sunday, having had my first cross-dressing opportunity in ten months I had a desire to try out the severe lawyer appearance I enjoyed putting on the make-up, finding a suitable wig and skirt suit and felt the final touch to get the look was to adopt a less than impressed aloof haughty expression on my face and fasten up the top button on my shirt.
It is not a pretty feminine look but I felt quite the woman when I stood in front of the mirror and ruined the prim severity by smiling at my reflection. Having finally got into character and wiped the smile of my face, I took a photo. I'm going to admit I really enjoyed this look and felt quite a thrill to be portraying myself this way. If I am honest, I actually felt empowered to be this woman, the whole outfit was great to wear and I loved the shoes. I would love to go to a meeting dressed this way. I have always been attracted to the prim tailored appearance of female lawyers. I think the make-up and the skirt and heels gives their image real panache over their male counterparts.
I think it would be fun to create a theme on Flickr of prim but stylish tailored female looks. I am definitely going to explore this one further. Has anyone else ever faced exploring this type of female appearance?
“You expected to be sad in the fall. Part of you dies each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintry light. But you knew there would always be the spring, as you knew the river would flow again after it was frozen.,”
~ Ernest Hemingway
Good morning all my dear friends. I'm back, partially. It has been a very hard week for the entire family and I wanted you all to know how much we have appreciated all the kind words and prayers that you all bestowed upon my family. It is so hard to loose someone you love and to not have expected it. We really thought she would have pulled out of it and would have been back home cooking up her famous Beef'n Noodles and spending time with all her grandkids and kids. But that was not to be the case.
In addition, we also were forced to put down our dog Duke who was 16 years old. He was my favorite dog ever and he will also be missed. I'll try to hunt up a picture of him for later on. He was partially paralyzed and the vet said it was the most humane thing for us to do for him. We knew this was true, but it doesn't make it any easier to handle the loss of a great friend.
Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you and that we have really appreciated everyone keeping us in their thoughts and prayers.
Take care!
PS: On a much lighter note, today is my 20th Wedding Anniversary! WooHooo! Love that man of mine!
Large: farm4.static.flickr.com/3156/2882215050_c1d41000a0_b.jpg
Chuck- Hey, where's Crane?
Two-Face- Busy.
*The meeting took place at Elliot Heights, per Chuck's suggestion. The attendees- three of the four heads of Penguin's new Pact, and each of their lieutenants, arrived later then Brown expected, with none of them the wiser regarding the whereabouts of Deacon Blackfire. The last to arrive, Black Mask and his allies knocked on the door with an air of impatience*
Sionis- The elevator's busted.
Chuck- We know.
*Sionis grumbles, but sits down, waiting for Chuck to start talking*
Freeze- So. Talk. You said you had information.
Chuck- Yes, um, first of all I'm glad you all came. But before we start, do we know where Blackfire-
Two-Face- Get on with it.
Chuck- Right. We've identified the sniper. It was Black Spider.
*The assembly is silent. Then Roman groans*
Sionis- Oh, of course it is... What's the bastard even doing in Arkham?
Two-Face- It's not rocket science Sionis. He's probably a prisoner like the rest of us.
Sionis- No, I don't buy it. Didn't he get a pardon for that Society crap?
*Li, who has been staring at the uncharacteristically quiet Penguin, leans over and mutters to Sionis, gesturing at Firebug*
Li- Yes sir, he did. But, so did Mr Rigger. Clearly, the government cares little about their promises.
Sionis- Yeah. Suppose I shouldn't be surprised...
Freeze- Answer this, Kite-Man isn't it?
Chuck- Just call me Chuck...
Freeze- How on earth did you find this information?
Chuck- Ah, well this is Mitch.
*At this, Mayo, still wearing the bloodied vest from last night, and far from looking his best, stands in front of this audience of hardened killers and gangsters, and they can barely contain their laughter*
Sionis- Is this a joke?
*It didn't take long. Despite their initial... "apprehension," they all listened to Mayo's story in full. When he was done, they set out in search of Needham. Dent went to the old GCPD building, in search of Needham's arrest reports, anything that would give them any insight to his whereabouts. Sionis returned to his factory, alerting his men of the news. Cobblepot sent his assistant, Lark, away, as he talked with Zebra Man as they made their way back to the Iceberg Lounge*
Zebra- So. What are you going to do? Kill them?
*Cobblepot sighed, handing him his top hat, Zebra peers inside, and takes out a note taped inside*
Penguin- Nothing so brash. You've spent far too much time with Kobra... They'll start hunting soon enough, and they'll want you with them, for the extra manpower of course. When they find him, however long that takes, you will do whatever you can to stop him talking.
That note, is all I have on him, his family, friends, past relationships and pain. Use it, and eliminate him. You'll be the hero.
Zebra- All that talk of loyalty.
Penguin- I meant it all. Do you understand how hard I've worked to keep this hellhole together? If the Monarch had to die, so be it. If Needham must join him, very well. You of all people should understand that...
=====
*Philip lost his hands, his sight, to this man. Mr Camera. His time in Blackgate, away from photos had driven the man mad, or maybe it was Meister's voice in his ear. No matter the reason, Harry Simms severed Ten's hand over a single photograph. Now Reardon relied on mechanical limbs to hold the very gun in his hand he was pointing at his head. The same gun Blackfire offered him. "Was it even Simms?" he wondered. Without his sight, he couldn't know for sure that it *wasn't* some other captive of Blackfire, an innocent man who's life now rested in his hands. All he knew was that there was something dark creeping around inside his body, a voice telling him that the vengeance he craved was finally here. All he had to do, was pull the trigger. The worst part? He didn't know if it was Blackfire's toxins, or his own anger*
Blackfire- Christ died for *our* sins, but what of theirs? Those who commit atrocities far worse than God can forgive? That is our duty my children! Our time is now. We will slay first these common mongrels, then we will make our way to the top. Divine justice comes to all!
Simms- I didn't do anything!
Blackfire- Enough! Harold Simms, you threaten and extort innocents, you collect incriminating evidence that you lust over like a man possessed. No more!
*They cheered. They all cheered for Blackfire. Yet, while Philip was coerced by drugs, these people needed only the spoken word to jeer at Simms*
Ten- Then... it's true, you've been using the tunnels to hunt people down. Kill them.
...
Blackfire- My boy, I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about.
=======
*Cobblepot returned to the Iceberg Lounge three hours ago, just thinking in his office. Eventually, he left his sanctuary and sat down at the bar. With a flick of his wrist, the two people previously sitting there, got up and left*
Penguin- Long day Leonard?
Len- It is what it is. Those two tried to trade their socks for some beer. Socks I tell you.
Penguin- Ah, well, it can't be helped.
Len- Well what are they meant to tip? Their knickers?
*Penguin laughed in a manner not dissimilar to his namesake, producing a noise that sounded something like a "Waugh." Behind them, Magpie tapped on the microphone, on top of the stage*
Magpie- I'd like to sing a song. Perhaps you know it.
*Len muttered something under his breath that unfortunately, David Wist, Magpie's husband, happened to hear*
Len- Urgh, Moon River. It's always Moon River.
Wist- Hey, she sings it very well!
Penguin- Oh it's lovely, David, absolutely lovely, but you have to understand it gets repetitive.
Wist- Of course Mr Cobblepot, I didn't mean, I-
Len- I'm just asking, why's it always Moon River...
*Roman takes another seat up at the bar beside Oswald*
Penguin- Roman! My friend!
Sionis- If, when we get out, and I hear that song, that damn song, on the radio... Someone's dying. I hate it.
Wist- Look, the moon is really shiny. She likes it
*And with that, Wist brushes past Li, offering a comforting smile to Mags as he heads off towards the stage*
Sionis- You. I'll have a Vodka Martini, Li here will have a, rum and coke was it?
Li- Just the Cola please. I don't drink.
Sionis- Throw in the rum anyway. I might drink it. We've got him.
Oswald- You can't have found him already surely?
Len- What's this?
*Sionis glances at Len and back at Oswald*
Sionis- Is he good?
Oswald- Certainly.
Sionis- The guy that shot this place up, your pal identified him as Black Spider.
Len- Shit...
Sionis- Exactly. Dent went to get some files from the GCPD database, the computers there are still connected to the server. Don't know what he found, but he said best bet, he's at the cemetery. Got Freeze, Zsasz and your guy down there already.
Oswald- Then, it's just a matter of waiting.
====
*The Gotham Cemetery is sprawling. One of the biggest controversies behind Arkham, was separating loved ones from those buried there. Of course, with Strange's connections, it didn't take the government long to overrule the City Council. With all of Gotham's tragedies- the breakouts, the earthquake, the crises, the Signal Man incident and the City of Fear, there's no bigger graveyard in the entire state. It's a labyrinth of headstones and crypts. It takes a lot of manpower to cover the area. The glow from Freeze's goggles, are about the only thing lighting up the area*
Freeze- Spread out. Firebug, take the east. Zsasz, cover the west. I will search the South Quadrant, leaving you, Zebra Man, with-
Zebra- The North. Da.
*Rigger lit a match so he could see. Doing so caused a flock of birds to burst out from the nearest crypt. He cursed himself as he sucked the blood from his scratch marks. Owls. Zsasz wandered around the headstones, and grinned. So many bodies... So many put there because of him. And Freeze saw the graves of those husbands and wives buried together, and his blood boiled. He would find his Nora. It was Zsasz that found him first, a bouquet in his hand. He fired a shot, startling Needham*
Zsasz- I prefer the knife Mr Needham. More personal... Guns end it quickly, and, I don't want to end this quickly after all... you know the blade too, don't you?
*He fired again, but this time Needham was quick, and he disappeared into the trees*
Zsasz- Two-Face was right. He's here.
*Freeze was the next to see him, a blast of ice firing from his gun*
Freeze- I made a promise to my wife Needham. I don't break my promises, not to her.
*The ice stream follows Spider all the way into Rigger's quarter*
Rigger- You don't have to do this Spider. You can come quietly.
Needham- I go and I'm as good as dead.
*He shoots at him, knocking Rigger off balance, and then- Blam! The shot sends him down the hill. Landing with a thud, Zebra Man follows him*
Needham- I know your kind... I know you won't stop but *Urgh* My girlfriend and my son were buried in two unmarked graves here. Her family didn't want me visiting them, her brother especially, blamed me for what happened. They overdosed you see... But I knew the truth. It was the drug business that got them killed, and I wasn't gonna rest until every last one of them was gone. When I was sent to kill Sionis... Couldn't wait. *Cough* I didn't want Penguin's money, you hear me? What's the use in this place? Nah. I just wanted to know where my family was buried. I just wanted to lay some flowers on my kid's grave.
*Pinned against a gravestone, Needham coughs up blood, placing a hand over his wound. He ought to be dead. He can't move. *
Needham- So... Go ahead. Do it. But you take these, and you put them there.
Zebra- Your family were junkies. Weak. They deserve nothing. Neither do you.
*And yet, just behind him, Zebra hears the quiet chink of a piece of metal, and as he turns back-
Blam. Blam. Two bullets to the head bring Zebra Man's life to an end. A hand grabs Needham and carries him up to the waiting group- Freeze, Zsasz and Rigger*
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/r/rainhammarshes/index.aspx
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/r/rainhammarshes/about.aspx
One of very few ancient landscapes remaining in London, these medieval marshes right next to the River Thames were closed to the public for over 100 years and used as a military firing range.
We managed to acquire the site in 2000 and set about transforming it into an important place for nature and a great place for people to visit. Now you can expect to see breeding wading birds in spring and summer, and large flocks of wild ducks in winter.
Birds of prey and rare birds are regularly seen too. There are also water voles in the ditches and rare dragonflies flit across the boardwalks.
There is an innovative visitor centre, with huge picture-windows that look out across the marshes. It is full of environmentally friendly features and already boasts a handful of prestigious architectural awards.
There is also a shop and café and a new wildlife garden and children's adventure play area too. A full events programme offers something for everyone, and while we still have several years to go to finish all the visitor features out on the reserve, it is already an incredible transformation. Boardwalks throughout the reserve give access for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
Opening times
From 1 November to 31 January, we're open from 9.30 am - 4.30 pm. From 1 February to 31 October, it's 9.30 am - 5 pm. We're closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Entrance charges
Car park: voluntary £1 donation. Reserve: Free to RSPB members and residents of Havering and Thurrock. Non-members: £3 adult, £1.50 child, £9 family (two adults and up to four children). There are extra costs for some events - please check when you book.
If you are new to birdwatching...
Birds are easy to see year round. The reserve runs a number of regular events for birdwatchers throughout the year, from novice to expert, including weekly Wednesday guided birding walk with Howard Vaughan, dawn chorus walks, winter spectacle birding event, a new birdwatching club for children, February's flock bird event and spring walks. There are also designated open days and weekends. Please see the events pages for further information.
Information for families
There is an evolving events and walks programme specially designed for families, with activities for all. All the reserve's paths and boardwalks are family and wheelchair friendly. There are also Adventure and Toddler's Playgrounds.
Information for dog owners
No dogs allowed, except registered assistance dogs. However, dogs are allowed on the Thames riverside path - a public footpath and cycleway running adjacent to the reserve.
Star species
Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.
Avocet
The delicate forms and and piping 'kluit' calls of avocets are becoming a more and more frequent site at Rainham throughout the year.
Lapwing
Lapwings from different places visit Rainham Marshes during the year. Wintering birds are replaced by breeding birds in spring and other birds that have bred further north pass through in summer and autumn.
Little egret
Little egrets can now be seen here in large numbers right throughout the year. Dispersing juvenile birds lead to a sudden rise in numbers in late summer and autumn.
Peregrine
The large concentrations of wildfowl and waders regularly attract hunting peregrines - especially in autumn and winter.
Ringed plover
These neatly banded waders can be seen performing their 'run and stop' feeding routine here.
Seasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
Wheatears, stonechats, oystercatchers, hobbies, curlews, swifts, sand martins, house martins, warblers, marsh harriers, reed buntings, water and short-tailed voles, damselflies, marsh frogs, grass snakes, water shrews.
Summer
Black-tailed godwits, whimbrels, greenshanks, snipe, little egrets, dunlins, lapwings, teals, swifts, common sandpipers, ruffs, starlings, avocets, yellow wagtails, oystercatchers, yellow-legged gulls, bank and water voles, water shrews, marsh frogs, wasp spiders, red foxes.
Autumn
Marsh harriers, arctic terns, bearded tits, thrushes, finches, skylarks, meadow pipits, jackdaws, stonechats, hen harriers, goshawks, merlins, peregrines, short-eared owls, barn owls, avocets, black-tailed godwits, white fronted geese, pintails, wigeons, crickets, butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, stoats, weasels, red foxes.
Winter
Bullfinches, ringed plovers, oystercatchers, golden plovers, water and rock pipits, little egrets, snipe, chiffchaffs, curlews, lapwings, dunlins, redshanks, shelducks, peregrines, kingfishers, short-eared owls, red foxes, stoats, weasels.
Facilities
Visitor centre
Car park
Toilets
Disabled toilets
Baby-changing facilities
Picnic area
Group bookings accepted
Guided walks available
Good for walking
Pushchair friendly
Viewing points
Currently two bird hides, family orientated Marshland Discovery Zone and several open viewing areas.
Nature trails
There are a network of nature trails currently in place, which are utilised for specific guided walks and events. There are approximately 2.5 miles plus of nature boardwalks, all designed for wheelchair and pushchair access.
Refreshments available
Hot drinks
Cold drinks
Sandwiches
Snacks
Shop
The shop stocks:
Binoculars and telescopes
Books
Bird food
Bird feeders
Nestboxes
Outdoor clothing
Educational facilities
The Education team offer a comprehensive and exciting array of curriculum linked field study visits for all school levels. We have Woodland, Reedbed and Marshland Discovery Zones, an Environment and Education centre, fully equipped classrooms, specific study areas, pond dipping areas and lots more. It's a safe and inspiring environment to get close to nature. A selection of lifelong learning courses on a variety of topics are run throughout the year, along with a range of children's activities, including holiday clubs. Please contact us for further details.
Cafe
Our cafe gives magnificent views not only over the ancient wildlife-filled grazing marsh, but also across Old Father Thames which flows majestically past the window. It is the perfect place to relax after exploring our nature trails or as a respite stop after the hustle and bustle of shopping nearby.
We serve our own exclusive coffee that is grown, imported and roasted by us. It's Fairtrade, organic and certified bird-friendly by the Smithsonian Institute, so now you can help save nature simply by enjoying a great cup of coffee!
Whether you are after a refreshing cuppa and a slice of our fabulous home-made cake, or a filling sandwich, panini or jacket potato, you will find something to tickle your taste buds. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Opening hours
From 1 November-31 March, we're open from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. From 1 April-31 October it's 9.30 am to 5 pm. We're closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Highlights from our menu:-
Fabulous home-made cakes
Locally-made soup
Freshly-prepared jacket potatoes with a variety of fillings
Locally-baked pies and pasties
Made-to-order toasties, paninis and sandwiches
Lovely cafe with warming soup and fantastic cake. Yummy!
Access to the cafe
The cafe is fully wheelchair-friendly.
Children welcome
We're happy to serve smaller portions and we can also warm baby food in the microwave.
We use local ingredients
All produce is sourced locally where possible, including ham, bacon, sausages, soup and pies.
Dietary requirements
Jacket potatoes, sandwiches etc all have veggie options, as well as a veggie pastry. We have vegan meals. The soup and jacket potatoes are wheat-free; some gluten-free cakes are available.
Accessibility
8 August 2013
This is a Summary Access Statement. A full access statement is available to download from the webpage.
Before you visit
Clear print site leaflet available from our reserve reception
Free entry for RSPB members, residents of Havering and Thurrock. For other visitors admission charges apply. Carer or essential companion admitted free with disabled visitor
No dogs. Registered Assistance dogs only
Visitor Centre, car park and reserve trails are open 9.30 am to 4.30 pm from 1 November-31 March and 9.30 am to 5 pm from 1 April-31 October; closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day
Check accessibility for events and activities.
How to get here
Purfleet Railway Station is a 15 minute walk to reserve
Bus stops near the reserve entrance.
Car parking
110 spaces and seven Blue Badge spaces
Gates locked at 5 pm
Surface is loose gravel
No formal drop-off point
No height restrictions.
Visitor centre and shop
Ground floor shop, slight slope to heavy door with 10 mm lip, normally open. Assistance bell. Non-slip tiles. Reasonable lighting. Some display units tall or deep. Pen and paper available. Bird seed bins are outside the shop.
The visitor centre and cafe are on first floor, accessed by a long ramp left of Blue Badge parking. Entry by two sets of double heavy doors opening outwards. No threshold. NOTE JUNE 2012, power assistance is out of order so an alternative bell is provided.
Step-free, level access throughout and non-slip tiles. Lowered counter section. Good lighting. Pen and paper available. Binocular hire. Staff available to assist.
Nature trails
Three signposted trails, a mix of flat gravel surface paths and boardwalks. Information boards in large print. Trails start at the visitor centre across a short section of non slip grill with a short steep section. You can leave the reserve part way round and along the River Thames. Use the one way turnstile or gate (Gate key code available from reception)
Viewing facilities
Four hides on the circular walk. None on the Woodland walk. All level entry either adapted for wheelchair spaces or designed for everyone to gain the same great views. Marshland Discovery Zone has touch interpretation. Shooting Butts Hide has 14 stairs and a lift.
Toilets and baby changing facilities
Accessible toilet on ground and first floors (Baby changing in first floor)
Catering
Café on first floor. Good lighting. Non slip tile flooring. Self-service. Menus are clear print. Staff available to assist.
Picnic area
Eleven tables with wheelchair spaces, on soft and hard surfaces, level ground behind visitor centre. Alternatively, a table in the adventure playground and toddler's play area. Visitors are welcome to consume their own food and drink here.
Education facilities
Education team offer a wide and exciting array of curriculum linked field study visits at our Environment and Education centre, fully equipped classrooms, specific study areas, pond dipping areas.
Help us improve accessibility by sending feedback to the Site Manager.
For more information
Rainham Marshes
E-mail: rainham.marshes@rspb.org.uk
Telephone:01708 899840
RM19 1SZ
How to get here
By train
The nearest railway station to this reserve is Purfleet. Purfleet train station is on the C2C line from Fenchurch Street. The reserve is a 15 minute walk from the station following the brown pedestrian signs along the riverside path. Turn right out of the station and then join the path at the Royal Pub. Follow the Riverside path and then cross the Mardyke Bridge to the Visitor Centre.
By bus
The ensignbus 44 bus route which runs between Lakeside and Orsett Hospital, Grays, stops near the reserve entrance on New Tank Hill Road. This bus runs every hour and up to 30 minutes during peak periods. The service is operated by Ensignbus (01708 865656).
By road
The reserve is located off New Tank Hill Road (A1090) in Purfleet which is just off the A1306 between Rainham and Lakeside. This is accessible from the Aveley, Wennington and Purfleet junction off the A13 and J30/31 of the M25.
Cycling at Rainham Marshes
RSPB Rainham Marshes is just a stone's throw from London, easily accessible by public transport, on foot and by bike. Located on ancient marshland nestled beside the river Thames, it really is a special place to enjoy the great outdoors.
The reserve itself offers a leisurely amble in a superb setting with fantastic facilities such as an award-winning, eco-friendly visitor centre with cafe and shop.
If cycling is your thing, a brand new cycle route links the villages of Purfleet and Rainham. This runs beside the reserve, following the Thames, looping round and passing the stone barges.
Both on the reserve and along the riverside path, you will see a variety of interesting, sometimes rare, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians as well as bugs and beasties of all kinds. You will also be able to learn so much of the history and importance of this area.
Our work here
Rainham Marshes protects an ancient, low-lying grazing marsh in the Thames Estuary. Its complex of wet grassland and ditches, together with rank grassland and scrub, supports many breeding and wintering birds.
Wildlife also includes scarce wetland plants and insects, and a key population of the nationally declining water vole.
The site has a history of neglect, but the RSPB is working to restore important habitats and improve their biodiversity. This will transform a former wasteland into an important natural asset, and help raise public awareness of local conservation issues.
Managing the marsh
Birdlife on the marsh includes breeding waders, such as lapwing, redshank and snipe, as well as important numbers of wintering wildfowl, waders, finches and birds of prey.
We plan to enhance the habitat for these birds by creating a mosaic of unflooded tussocky grassland, flooded short grassland and semi-permanent pools. This will also benefit important plant species, such as golden dock.
Meanwhile we will improve the ditch system for the benefit of water voles, reptiles and amphibians, invertebrates and breeding birds.
Leaving well alone
We will leave the areas of tall rank grass and scattered scrub unmanaged in order to retain their existing conservation value. Wildlife in these habitats includes small mammals, reptiles and invertebrates, and birds such as wintering short-eared owls and breeding stonechats.
We will also look after sandy areas for their specialist insect life.
Silt lagoons
Lagoons on the reserves are currently used for commercial silt dredging. We will work around this in order re-create and maintain a complex of brackish lagoons and reed-swamp for important wildlife, including breeding, wintering and passage waterfowl.
While some lagoons will remain operational, we will manage others rotationally and keep the rest permanently open.
Access for all
We aim to make the site accessible to everyone, without impinging on the dredging operation or compromising our conservation priorities. We will develop and promote the reserve as a major visitor attraction and centre for environmental education. We aim to encourage interest in local and general conservation, and create a broader understanding of the work of the RSPB.
Funding
Current work is being funded by the EU’s Interreg IVA Two Seas Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013, Homes and Communities Agency’s Parklands Funding administered by Essex County Council, and Biffa Award and Veolia Cleanaway Havering Riverside Trust, both through the Landfill Communities Fund.
Thanks to help on the reserve from employees of Goldman Sachs, Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC, Earthwatch, Barclays, Royal Mail, Family Mosaic, Ipsos Media we have been able to deliver more for wildlife and people at Rainham Marshes.
Wasn't expecting to see this in Dover this morning!, and this vehicle was parked here for most of the day though I'm not sure why, but hey I'll take it!
And be sure to check by my other acount: www.flickr.com/photos_user.gne?path=&nsid=77145939%40..., to see what else I saw Very Recently!!
Yes I'm back again.
However due to my main computer on which I edit my work being struck down with a big bad virus, this picture and all the others I am uploading, were Unedited but have now been replaced with Edited versions. So enjoy and Thanks for your patience and understanding.
I do still hate everything about this shit that is new Flickr and always will, but an inability to find another outlet for my work that is as easy for me to use as the Old BETTER Flickr was, has forced me back to Flickr, even though it goes against everything I believe in.
I don't generally have an opinion on my own work, I prefer to leave that to other people and so based on the positive responses to my work from the various friends I had made on Flickr prior to the changes I have decided to upload some more of my work as an experiment and to see what happens.
So make the most of me before they delete my acount: www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/?details=1, to stop me complaining!!
Who expects to see a dinosaur in the Giardini Pubblici in Milan? Not me. This Saltriovenator zanellai seemed harmless enough; it was just outside the natural history museum minding its own business. It was last seen alive 198 million years ago. More here: www.sci-news.com/paleontology/saltriovenator-zanellai-067...
Today the Hereios of the We're Here group are shooting dinosaurs in unexpected places.
As expected, the guy came back. After telling him that I was pretty pissed about that lame blue pill, he made me an offer that needed less choosing. Let´s see what the red one does...
I never expected to be as interested in this guy as I wound up being, but man, Starman really takes center stage in Geoff Johns's Justice Society run! Here he is with his mask off, since I currently don't have any of those black heads with white eyes (although I could finish a lot of figures if I did!). Thom is a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes with the ability to manipulate gravity. He's been jumbled around a bit by the various Crises and spent some time on Earth-22 - the Kingdom Come universe - before winding up on Earth-1 and completely insane (in the fun way, not the Arkham way).
Towards the end of 2000 and into early 2001 First attempted to rationalise its First Manchester and First Pennine operations. And, as might be expected, things went decidedly pear-shaped. It didn’t help that there seemed to be two totally different interpretations of what should have been going on from within different First management teams. And, if they had no idea, then what hope was there for the rest of us?
Now, First PMT in Stoke, who ran Pennine on their own licence, believed that First Manchester were loaning vehicles in to them to help out at Pennine, for which PMT were making internal payments, with a view to operations being fully transferred over to First Manchester control as of April 2001. However, this didn’t seem to be the view of the team at Walshaw Street, who straight away began absorbing the Pennine fleet by commencing repaints into First Manchester orange and renumbering the fleet by adding a random seven in front of the existing PMT three digit number.
What can only be described as chaos reigned for several months. Recording exactly which company was running what became virtually impossible, as both operators’ discs were passed around vehicles on an increasingly haphazard basis. In the end, the full takeover finally took place - with the PSV Circle recording the official date as 01/03/2001 to coincide with the final service registration transfers over from PMT to First Manchester. What had been happening in the interim could hardly be described as complying with the law.
Here we see First's one-off ex-Singapore Olympian, recently painted in orange and with interim fleet-number 7700. Sadly, she looks in a bit a state, with a missing destination blind and wayward wipers. Further identity crisis was also caused, as this particular vehicle retained Pennine branding under the driver's cab window at repaint.
Ashton, Wellington Road, 31/12/2000.
Greece had a huge amount of commercial vehicles available over the years, stuff that you'd never expect to see is actually perhaps the most numerous, this oddball Courier for example is something I've never seen before, but is no surprise given the years of Ford use of Mazda products.
Interesting colour, and how legal is that numberplate?!
Hey everyone! It’s been a while since my last review. This month will be a little bit slow as the dolls that will be coming in are a bit spread out. It’s almost Convention time and I’m trying not to go crazy on my purchases. But what can we do? Every doll that has been revealed from Integrity Toys so far has been amazing. Finally I am doing my review of one of the 2017 W Club Upgrade Dolls Majesty Giselle Diefendorf. I have to say she is one solid doll. I think she is a good starter if you’re new to Integrity Toys and new to the world of Fashion Royalty and NU.Face. I did not expect too much from this doll but she is a nice surprise.
I am sold with her face and with her make-up palette. There are paint details in her promo pics that appear to be flat but the paint application is much more beautiful on the actual doll. Her lips are this shimmery nude color and her magenta eyeshadows have this metallic hint to them. She has the same Dark Romance Giselle face design which had airbrushed eye make-up and rightfully so Majesty has that same airbrushed quality that we have seen recently with the 2016 NU.Face Reckless Collection. It’s a new technique that Integrity Toys developed replacing the costly airbrush paint application and the result is just as good.
This year NU.Face is delving in to their softer more feminine side. We’ve seen this sort of turn-of-the-century inspired fashions from the NU.Face Heirloom Collection like this Alexander McQueen Resort 2017 inspired dress on Majesty. There are Filigree details on the jewelry as well and some of the accessories like Majesty’s cuff double ring bracelet which I think is my new favorite jewelry piece. The shoes are similar to Poetic Beauty Lilith and Eden’s Louis Vuitton boots with the lacing detail on the sides but from my research these are not LVs. I love that they remind me of boots worn by women from the Victorian era, a different take on the ubiquitous toe-capped pumps. She also comes with a Faberge egg purse which could be her heirloom aside from the cuff bracelet. We’ve seen this purse before from Grand Gesture Dominique but what I love about this version is that it’s a little bit smaller. The Filigree details on both purses are very similar but I love that they are different in size and the straps are not the same. These are inspired by Alexander McQueen from about seven years ago but the thing is they’re more decorative and not functional. I was imagining that these egg purses open at the top but they don’t. These are made of solid metal so they’re a little bit heavy.
Majesty Giselle could officially be the last doll with the NF 2.0 body that has the waist articulation as this was a decision made at the factory as I am assuming they’re trying to get rid of the older bodies but the rest of Heirloom Collection will have the new NF 3.0 body without the waist articulation. Another thing to point out is that the color of her head matches the color of her body very well which was unfortunately an issue with some of the dolls from the Reckless Collection with the FR White skin tone like Mad Love Rayna and AKA Gigi Giselle where their heads appear to be yellowish different from the body which usually has a pinkish undertone. We might have seen elements that were recycled like the Dark Romance Giselle face design, Grand Gesture egg purse and the sheer fabric of her dress that was used from Starlet Elyse but so far this has been one of the best dolls to come out from the 2017 Integrity Toys line-up. Overall Majesty Giselle is styled to perfection. I do recommend getting her at this time as the prices are not ridiculously marked up.
Youghal, Cork
Fuji GW670III camera
(after repair of the shutter)
Ilford Delta 3200 film
Red25 filter attached, but not too sure
Developed in TMAX (20%, 20 C, 8.5')
Not strictly a boat train although the cross London services operated by Inter-City Cross Country to Dover were marketed with European Rail-Ship connections. The introduction of 3 Inter-City services to and from Dover on this day in 1986 also heralded a major alteration to the BR GBTT (Great Britain Time Table) with the splitting up of of the former Inter-City cross country timetable (Table 51). From 12/05/1986 a new table 50 appeared which separated off destinations on the former Southern Region from those on the Western Region so every train destined for locations east of Weymouth were in the new table 50 which encompassed all the Channel port destinations like Portsmouth, Newhaven, Folkestone and Dover. The timetable revamp was extended to the BRIPT (International Passenger Timetable) where a new table 6 covered Liverpool, Manchester & Birmingham to Dover with rail and ship connections to Oostende (Belgium) and Boulogne (France).
In typically dreadful summer weather 47 628 named 'Sir Daniel Gooch' is seen running into Tonbridge on the inaugural day of table 50 passenger service with train 1M02 10.45 Dover Western Docks to Liverpool Lime Street. Of the three IC departures from Dover this one didn't offer connections from the continent, only 1M04 13.45 ex Dover and 1M31 17.45 ex Dover appeared in BRIPT table 6. In the background 4-CEP EMU no.1532 in 'Jaffa' livery is running in with the 11.00 London Charing Cross to Ashford.
A nice touch on the inaugural day was the fact all three workings were diagrammed for Old Oak Common depot prestige liveried class 47/4's so the the three locos in GWR green livery were used, 47 484 'Isambard Kingdom Brunel', 47 500 'Great Western' and as above 47 628 'Sir Daniel Gooch' for the three trains. Old Oak provided the locos for this service for a number of years but unfortunately it was never a great success and loadings during the week never reached expected demand. BR eventually cut the service back to a weekend summer only service and by privatisation Virgin Cross Country inherited the route but cut it back further to just serve the Kent coast holiday destinations terminating at Ramsgate, withdrawal of loco hauled trains by Virgin spelt the end of through workings across London to Kent.
In this hobby, I love how the most breathtaking scene can suddenly emerge from the most run down building or harsh industrial environment. This stairwell was shot in the basement area of a huge derelict power station. I love how the light picked it out but everything else fades so quickly into darkness.
Apparently this is a replica of Noah's Ark, though I' m not sure how they know what the original looked like. It's a floating museum that is full of models depicting bible stories. The entry fee is incredibly steep so these two photos are all you'll get to see of it on my photo stream
CN L516 rolls through Griffith, Indiana with a surprise lash up of classic EMD power, with an ex-MoPac SD40-2 in charge.
It was not forecast but the feeling of an imminent summer storm was shared by everyone on the beach and an early lunch seemed an excellent idea simultaneously occurring to hundreds. Except for us two, we stayed and 30 minutes later the threat had evaporated and blue skies returned.
This is my impression of the atmosphere when the beach belonged to us for a short while.
"1850–55. Artist: Severin Roesen. Medium: Oil on canvas. This exceptionally large still life represents Roesen at his best. It is undated but was probably painted between 1850 and 1855, when the artist was living in New York. The elaborate and crowded composition is characteristic, as are the brilliant color, technical virtuosity, and meticulous attention to detail expected of someone who was trained as a porcelain painter. The picture is a fine example of the excess that underlies much of Victorian design." - info from the Met.
"The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City, colloquially "the Met", is the largest art museum in the Americas. Its permanent collection contains over two million works, divided among 17 curatorial departments. The main building at 1000 Fifth Avenue, along the Museum Mile on the eastern edge of Central Park on Manhattan's Upper East Side, is by area one of the world's largest art museums. A much smaller second location, The Cloisters at Fort Tryon Park in Upper Manhattan, contains an extensive collection of art, architecture, and artifacts from medieval Europe.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art was founded in 1870 with its mission to bring art and art education to the American people. The museum's permanent collection consists of works of art from classical antiquity and ancient Egypt, paintings, and sculptures from nearly all the European masters, and an extensive collection of American and modern art. The Met maintains extensive holdings of African, Asian, Oceanian, Byzantine, and Islamic art. The museum is home to encyclopedic collections of musical instruments, costumes, and accessories, as well as antique weapons and armor from around the world. Several notable interiors, ranging from 1st-century Rome through modern American design, are installed in its galleries.
The Fifth Avenue building opened on March 30, 1880. In 2021, despite the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, the museum attracted 1,958,000 visitors, ranking fourth on the list of most-visited art museums in the world.
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over 300.46 square miles (778.2 km2), New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the United States. The city is within the southern tip of New York State, and constitutes the geographical and demographic center of both the Northeast megalopolis and the New York metropolitan area – the largest metropolitan area in the world by urban landmass. With over 20.1 million people in its metropolitan statistical area and 23.5 million in its combined statistical area as of 2020, New York is one of the world's most populous megacities, and over 58 million people live within 250 mi (400 km) of the city. New York City is a global cultural, financial, and media center with a significant influence on commerce, health care and life sciences, entertainment, research, technology, education, politics, tourism, dining, art, fashion, and sports. New York is the most photographed city in the world. Home to the headquarters of the United Nations, New York is an important center for international diplomacy, an established safe haven for global investors, and is sometimes described as the capital of the world." - info from Wikipedia.
The fall of 2022 I did my 3rd major cycling tour. I began my adventure in Montreal, Canada and finished in Savannah, GA. This tour took me through the oldest parts of Quebec and the 13 original US states. During this adventure I cycled 7,126 km over the course of 2.5 months and took more than 68,000 photos. As with my previous tours, a major focus was to photograph historic architecture.
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