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Given the strength of the winds up there it is amazing that this little tree has survived at all! Hippolyte Rock on the horizon.
People in Mexico city love to come out and enjoy there city and every sundry you can se people all over the public spaces of the city parks streets and special on Paseo de la Reforma every Sunday it is close to traffic so that people can ride there bikes walk or just take a nice stroll true one of the most beautiful avenues of the world. I have found my self fascinated by this and I can never stop photographing it.
You can se more of this photos in my album "Any given Sunday in Mexico city"
Note: any IDs given are always tentative, even when we have been provided with an ID. Fungi are not easy to identify and caution must always be taken if a person picks mushrooms for eating! Unless you are a trained specialist, never eat wild mushrooms. I wonder if this could be Violet Toothed Polypore / Trichaptum biformis.
How many fungus species are there? It depends on what you read. For example, the two comments below are extremely different!
"Currently, there are over 10,000 known types of mushrooms. That may seem like a large number, but mycologists suspect that this is only a fraction of what's out there! We can put these various species in one of 4 categories: saprotrophic, mycorrhizal, parasitic, and endophytic." From link below.
www.mushroom-appreciation.com/types-of-mushrooms.html
"Even scientists don’t currently agree on how many fungi there might be but only about 120,000 of them have been described so far." From link below.
www.lanl.gov/museum/news/newsletter/2018/01/fungi.php
Yesterday morning, 30 August 2019, I went with a small group of friends to search for fungi at West Bragg Creek, west of Calgary. I had been hoping for a bright, sunny day that would allow enough light into the forest for photography. However, that was not the case, but at least we didn't have rain, unlike today, overcast and raining.
What we did have was the joy of finding enough fungi to keep us happy. We sure had to work hard to see them, with even more bush-whacking than usual. The forest floor is treacherous there, with such a dense blanket of soft moss, that you never knew when you were going to suddenly sink. In contrast, there are a lot of fallen trees and broken branches to trip you. Unfortunately, we did have one casualty that resulted in blood, and no doubt a few bruises today. I find that every single step you take needs to be done with great caution - and with good friends who help when necessary! We got a real workout and I definitely feel painful today.
When I arrived at the parking lot first thing, a huge, lit sign said "Warning - bears in the area"! Not the first time that has happened, and I know I would never go exploring on my own. As it was, the only animals we saw were Maggie and Ben, our leader's Beagles.
Given i haven't been close to anyone the last few weeks and my lot tested negative ive no idea how i got covid
Given the location on a wharf in Rockport, where crates of lobsters are often unloaded from the boats, it may well be the ghost of a fisherman lost at sea, sadly. The sad face is one third of the way down the post.
It continues to amaze me that I can look at something, like this post, that I have see a hundred times, and see something new in it.
D24584. Given good weather, Brean Beach is a splendid place to visit.
We were unlucky with the weather, but went there anyway; it faces west and is 6½ miles long with golden sand that’s firm enough for vehicles to park on - so no need to carry all the beach gear, picnic chairs, lunch boxes, etc. from a distant car park. It’s the second longest stretch of sand in Europe and, from what I could see, the sand is ideal material for sand castles.
Brean is in Somerset, north of Burnham-on-Sea and south of Weston-super-Mare; it has the second highest tidal range in the world. So when the tide goes out it really does go out, but in the process it exposes a large expanse of dangerous soft sand and mud, so extreme care is needed at low tide.
Whilst there I also shot a few feet of video and if anyone would like to see it, it’s on my YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlMq4k5UHMc
Tuesday, 17th August, 2021. Copyright © Ron Fisher 2021.
On display at Yeovilton's 1978 open day was Grumman A-6E Intruder 160428 assigned to VA-34 squadron, known as the Blue Blasters.
The US Navy aircraft not only carry the serial number, but also the squadron number itself. The 'AB' on the fin refers to the carrier wing which at that time was assigned to USS John F Kennedy. Aircraft codes were also given by the carrier wing, so the 500 series were used for VA-34, and traditionally '00' would be the commander's aircraft. It looks like once again the boss drew the lucky ticket to fly to an air show!
The multi coloured stars on the rudder also emphasise his rank.
Yeovilton, Somerset
5th August 1978
Praktica LTL, Kodachrome
19780805 10832 160428 Yeovilton clean
I originally posted this image a year ago and the more I looked at it, the more unsatisfied I became. Sometimes reworking an image can pay off for the look one hopes to showcase. For me, I achieved the intensity that I wanted to present in this particular effort.
This was in a darkish bunker at Fort Flagler State Park on the Olympic Peninsula. There is something special about random wall artwork. These "hands" were made from fine white wall dust. Hope you all enjoy it......and as always, thanks for looking!
Given that these were taken through dirty, double-glazed train windows they give a fair idea of my view one October, as I headed west into the sunset on the line from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh.
Unleash the Armageddon
So all the children go to heaven
I sit by quiet still
With their pictures on my eyes
You'll draw the guns you're given
Write down the words as written
And never disturb the presence
Of resurrection crutch
And it's about time
It's about drawing near
Blue skies bring tears
Blue skies bring tears
Blue skies bring tears
Descend the darkened stairways
Make hate with plastic playmates
And fire out remaining traces
Of your self-esteem
Mainline the deepest secrets
Lick clean the dirty fingers
I am a stranger to you
As you are to yourself
And it's about time
It's about fear
Blue skies bring tears
Don't you want me
As I awake the city sigh
We'll watch the seasons die
Blue skies bring tears
Take me inside your body
Cover me with your soul
To the darkest recess
Is where I wish to go
You are the greatest flower
That I have ever devoured
I ask for nothing given
For nothing in return
Blue skies bring tears
Blue skies bring tears
Blue skies bring tears
Blue skies bring tears
Blue skies bring tears
Blue skies bring tears
Blue skies bring tears
Blue skies bring tears
©All photographs on this site are copyright: ©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams) 2011 – 2021 & GETTY IMAGES ®
No license is given nor granted in respect of the use of any copyrighted material on this site other than with the express written agreement of ©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams). No image may be used as source material for paintings, drawings, sculptures, or any other art form without permission and/or compensation to ©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams)
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Photograph taken at an altitude of Nine metres at 11:08am on Wednesday 9th March 2022 at 81 Central Parade, in front of Waltrop Gardens, beside the current pier looking towards the remnants of one of the original piers at Herne Bay on the Thames Estuary, CT6 5JQ, England.
I left at 9am for the One hour journey down with the prospect of a cloudy day with scattered sunshine. At Herne Bay it was time for my usual stop at 'Makcari's Coffe Lounge & Ice Cream Parlour' for a slice of cherry and almond gateaux and a lovely latte coffee before a pleasant stroll on a mixed day.
This is all that remains of the third pier at Herne Bay, with just the steamer passengers landing stage remaining after a storm January 11th 1978 which wrecked the 3,787ft (1,154m) wooden pier, designed by Wrighton & Co which originally opened in 1899.
Nikon D850 Hand held with Tamron VC Vibration Control enabled on Normal setting 1 Focal length: 150mm Shutter speed: 1/125s Aperture f/13.0 iso64 RAW (14 bit uncompressed) Image size L 8256 x 5504 Full Frame FX Focus mode: AF-C focus AF-Area mode: 3-D tracking Exposure mode: Manual exposure Metering mode: Matrix metering White balance: Auto 1, 0, 0 (5750K) Colour Space: Adobe RGB Active D-Lighting: Low Picture control: (NL) Neutral +2 sharpening
Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2. Lee SW150 MKII filter holder. Lee SW150 95mm screw in adapter ring. Lee SW150 circular polariser glass filter.Lee SW150 Filters field pouch.Nikon EN-EL15a battery. Black Rapid curve breathe sport shoulder strap. My Memory 128GB Class 10 SDXC. Lowepro Flipside 400 AW camera bag. Nikon GP-1 GPS module. Jessops Tripod bag.
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LATITUDE: N 51d 22m 20.01s
LONGITUDE: E 1d 7m 16.19s
ALTITUDE: 7.0m
RAW (TIFF) FILE: 130.00MB NEF FILE SIZE: 91.20MB
PROCESSED (JPeg) FILE: 38.20MB
PROCESSING POWER:
Nikon D850 Firmware versions C 1.01 (16/01/2018) LD Distortion Data 2.017 (20/3/18)
HP 110-352na Desktop PC with AMD Quad-Core A6-5200 APU 64Bit processor. Radeon HD8400 graphics. 8 GB DDR3 Memory with 1TB SATA storage. 64-bit Windows 10. Verbatim USB 2.0 1TB desktop hard drive. WD My Passport Ultra 1tb USB3 Portable hard drive. Nikon ViewNX-1 64bit (Version 1.2.11 15/03/2018). Nikon Capture NX-D 64bit (Version 1.4.7 15/03/2018). Nikon Picture Control Utility 2 (Version 1.3.2 15/03/2018). Adobe photoshop Elements 8 Version 8.0 64bit.
Many thanks for the visits, faves and comments. Cheers
Brolga
Scientific Name: Grus rubicund
Description: The Brolga is a large grey crane, with a featherless red head and grey crown. The legs are grey and there is a black dewlap under the chin. Females are shorter than males. The energetic dance performed by the Brolga is a spectacular sight. Displays may be given at any time of the year and by birds of any age.
Similar species: The Sarus Crane, G. antigone, another species of crane found in Australia, can be identified by its dull pink legs and the red of its head extending down the neck.
Distribution: The Brolga is found across tropical northern Australia, southwards through north-east and east central areas, as well as central New South Wales to western Victoria.
Habitat: The Brolga inhabits large open wetlands, grassy plains, coastal mudflats and irrigated croplands and, less frequently, mangrove-studded creeks and estuaries. It is less common in arid and semi-arid regions, but will occur close to water.
Seasonal movements: Outside the breeding season, Brolgas form large family groups and flocks of up to a hundred birds. These groups may be partially nomadic or may stay in the same area. Some birds also migrate northwards.
Feeding: Brolgas are omnivorous (feeding on both vegetable and animal matter), but primarily feed upon tubers and some crops. Some insects, molluscs, amphibians and even mice are also taken.
Breeding: Brolgas probably mate for life, and pair bonds are strengthened during elaborate courtship displays, which involve much dancing, leaping, wing-flapping and loud trumpeting. An isolated territory is established, and is vigorously defended by both partners. The white (blotched with brown and purple) eggs are laid in a single clutch. The nest is a large mound of vegetation on a small island in a shallow waterway or swamp. Both adults incubate the eggs and care for the young birds. The Brolga is one of Australia's two crane species, and is known for its spectacular dance displays by both sexes during breeding season.
Calls: The Brolga's call is a loud trumpeting 'garooo' or 'kaweee-kreee-kurr-kurr-kurr-kurr-kurr-kurr', which is given in flight, at rest or during courtship.
Minimum Size: 100cm
Maximum Size: 125cm
Average size: 112cm
Breeding season: September to December in the south; February to May in the north
Clutch Size: 2 eggs
Incubation: 32 days
(Source: www.birdsinbackyards.net)
© Chris Burns 2016
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All rights reserved.
This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.
The name Hippeastrum, given to it by William Herbert, means "Knight's-star-lily". The genus is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas from Argentina north to Mexico and the Caribbean. The genus is thought to have originated in Brazil where at least 34 of the species have been found.
Wikipedia
I was given another moth a few days ago and finally got a chance to photograph it as well as one of my old books to use as the texture. Please view on black! It will make me happy. ;)
A beautiful flower with a wonderful scent.
Thank you to Plantaholic Sheila for the ID. Although she said that the scent reminded her of cat pee!! .
Better viewed large and thank you for your favourites.
Photo by Me.
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I was given the awesome opportunity of modeling in this amazing show and thought I'd share the look I wore down the runway.
There are lots more items to see ~>Here<~:
Glam Affair - Mesh collection and new skin line
Hod - New piercings line
-Tableau Vivant - Mesh collection and new skin line
myhealingmoments.blogspot.com.es/2012/04/day-188.html
Annotation: I´m developing a 365 project which includes not only a daily photo, but also a daily post in my blog. This is the number 188. If you want to see all the photos: www.flickr.com/photos/healingmoments/sets/72157627759889118/
OK, here is the Tiny True Story. I was given a whole box full of seeds, new packages of all kinds, vegetables, flowers, etc. There are some beautiful packages in the box, some very plain, but some with lovely artwork illustrating what the seeds will grow. The catch is that they just about all expired in 2019.
My plan was to post some colorful pictures of some of the seed packets or of the mass amount in the whole box, or whatever. I wanted to do that partly for the fun and art of doing so, and partly to illustrate a question I planned to pose to my Flickr friends who have experience gardening. I was hoping someone could advise me whether there is any point at all in planting expired seeds. Would none grow at all, or would it be likely a percentage of them would grow? If so, approximately what percent?
Armed with that information. I planned to pick out three or so geographically close friends to give a bunch of seeds to. I have no place to even plant very many at all, but some of my friends have acreage.
I was outside, moving the seeds in the huge box all around for different photo ideas. I took a lot of shots, some horizontal, some vertical. It was kind of fun, but it was hot out, and I was getting to the point where I just wanted to be done. I wanted to go inside and decide which pictures I just took would work nicely with some painterly techniques, cropping, etc. and which ones I should toss. I sat on my bench, and grabbed a handful of seed packages out of the box, to look them over more closely. That handful of the packages slipped into my lap!
I began trying different angles and amounts of macro, or not, to finish up. They kept slipping around my short pants. My shorts have a rather wild (but kind of cool) free-form lines and circles in very bright colors on a plain black background. The nicer I tried to get shots of the seed packages in my lap, the hotter the weather got, and the more slick the packages got. I kept getting snippets of the bright colors of my short pants in my compositions. I really didn't like that, and didn't want it. Artistic composition wise, they just didn't seem to fit. I didn't have in mind anything in my photos but the seed packages. Even though I was clothed, it was a little weird to have half a dozen seed packages slipping down between my thighs. It was uncomfortable and - "I" didn't make for great composition. It was cumbersome to compose any shots at all. Finally, I decided that instead of fighting the competing colors and angles on my shorts with those of the seed packages, just to go with the flow and maybe make some intriguing photos that had nothing to do with whether expired seeds would grow, or how I got the wild colored lines mixed in with my compositions of seeds. Just art, for no other reasons.
So there you have it. THE END
For Dave C., the *soul* of this picture is that I put my heart and soul into accepting really strange and uncomfortable angles for my seed pictures, and got this painterly look art that I think is awesome.
"DSCN2596Oil15TUalotCoolMostOilofAllDUPEDtoFoolwiththenBordInitFlickr060520"
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For ABCs and 123s" "I" is for "Intriguing" use of different colored and shaped items to make "Interesting" Art.
Thank you tommy !
Tommy is my son, this photo is in your stream:
S. PAOLO - DALLA 1° LETTERA AI CORINZI: (Stralcio)
Fratelli, nessuno può dire: «Gesù è Signore!», se non sotto l'azione dello Spirito Santo.
Vi sono diversi carismi, ma uno solo è lo Spirito; vi sono diversi ministeri, ma uno solo è il Signore; vi sono diverse attività, ma uno solo è Dio, che opera tutto in tutti. A ciascuno è data una manifestazione particolare dello Spirito per il bene comune.
Come infatti il corpo è uno solo e ha molte membra, e tutte le membra del corpo, pur essendo molte, sono un corpo solo, così anche il Cristo. Infatti noi tutti siamo stati battezzati mediante un solo Spirito in un solo corpo, Giudei o Greci, schiavi o liberi; e tutti siamo stati dissetati da un solo Spirito.
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S. PAUL - from 1st Corinthians: (Excerpt)
..........., Jews or Greeks, slave or free, we were all baptized by one Spirit.
(In those "all", we like it or not, there are also Roma!)
In that regard, many do not know that the Rom have given a saint to the Church:
"A gypsy on the altars! Ceferino Jiménez Malla"El Pelé "de Benavent was born in Lleida in 1861 and shot at the cemetery Barbastro in the summer of 1936. In the early months of bloody civil war that Spain was arrested for defending a priest at the time clutching a rosary. It is the first Gypsy blessed in church history, proclaimed May 4, 1997 by John Paul II in Rome. The news has caused some surprise and revived in us the memory and the discomfort felt by the encounter with the gypsies on the street.
I reconnected S. Paul to the Rom also the recent news stories relating to the employment of the Basilica of St. Paul by the Roma that were later assisted by Caritas
YOUTUBE - VIDEO TZIGANI
At any given time, something can happen that changes your life forever. Some say that such an occurrence is just coincidental. Perhaps, but I think that more often than not it is the result of divine intervention.
Placed between tombstones, these early spring crocuses are making coloured statement of giving us a hint of things to come. Hopefully, in great contrast of “beast from the east” we had in London at this time last year. Shot last Sunday with my phone, now gardenias and daffodils in full bloom.
Given the year, I thought it would be fitting to join the Then and Now challenge, so here it is - my quick entry.
I actually started Second Life in 2008 when it was introduced to my secondary school for learning purposes. Me and a few friends were part of a test group to see if Second Life could be a viable educational resource. We were set up on special accounts that only had access to our school's sim, which featured a building that was supposed to be the design of our school's new building (we moved into the new building in early 2011 and it looked nothing like the Second Life one).
That wasn't enough for me. I jumped on a teen grid account and got busy roleplaying. And the rest, as they say, is history. I took a few breaks here and there, but I returned properly in August 2016 and am still around now as GavinIV - Fletch to friends.
Join in here: strawberrysingh.com/2019/01/06/then-and-now-secondlifecha...
“We accept as a given that there is a noteworthy genetic influence on ASB no matter how it is defined. In terms of behavioral research, the magnitude of that genetic influence is substantial, but so is the impact of environment, broadly defined to include pre- and post-natal, physical (e. g., anoxia, fetal, alcohol syndrome, or crack) as well as psychosocial (e.g., quality of parenting, ethnic culture, or religion elements” - Carey and Gottesman (2006)
Name: Thomas Strong
Arrested for: not given
Arrested at: North Shields Police Station
Arrested on: 1 June 1906
Tyne and Wear Archives ref: DX1388-1-89-Thomas Strong
The Shields Daily News for 1 June 1906 reports:
“A SMART OFFICER. THEFT AT CHIRTON.
At North Shields Police Court today, Thos. Strong, miner, Chirton, was charged with having stolen from Mr Sisterton’s market garden at Chirton on the 26th ult. a quantity of rhubarb, value 1s, and further with having committed a similar theft this morning.
PC R. Askew stated that on the 26th ult., in consequence of a complaint received from Mr Sisterton, he went to the market garden kept by that gentleman. He examined some footprints in the garden and traced them to the fence, where he found a quantity of rhubarb leaves and a miner’s token bearing the number ‘34’. This morning at 4.20 witness was concealed in the garden and he saw the prisoner climb over the fence, go to the rhubarb bed and cut a bunch. Witness then came out of his place of concealment, and after a chase, caught the accused.
Upon searching him at the police station he found in his possession a number of tokens bearing the same number as the one he found in the garden on the 26th. He charged him with the theft on that date and he replied “Well, I will have to take the weight of it”. Mr Sisterton having given evidence as to the value of the stolen rhubarb, the accused, who had nothing to say, was fined 5s and costs on each charge, and ordered to pay 1s 3d, the value of the rhubarb”.
These images are a selection from an album of photographs of prisoners brought before the North Shields Police Court between 1902 and 1916 in the collection of Tyne & Wear Archives (TWA ref DX1388/1).
(Copyright) We're happy for you to share this digital image within the spirit of The Commons. Please cite 'Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' when reusing. Certain restrictions on high quality reproductions and commercial use of the original physical version apply though; if you're unsure please email archives@twmuseums.org.uk.
Continuing with posting photos from my archives. Not sure when I will get out for a drive, given that our winter weather continues. November 23 2024: lots of snow and it looked like almost 10-12 inches of snow on top of my back fence. Can't complain, though, as mild, fall weather lasted well into November, which was wonderful. So thankful that I managed to get out for groceries a few days ago, so now I can hibernate for a little while.
Yesterday, 28 November 2024, I got up early, thinking of driving south to the Saskatoon Farm. However, change of plans, as our weather yesterday morning was -17°C (feels like -23°C), with freezing fog. More freezing fog today (29 November 2024), too. Another good day to stay home! Next week is forecast to be 'warmer'.
I will be adding the description that I wrote under a different, previously posted image taken on the same day.
"This photo was taken on 8 September 2015. In the morning, I joined a group of friends for a three-hour stroll at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. 38 bird species were seen, though I didn't manage to see any of the tiny, fast-moving Warblers. It was good to see 28 Wood Ducks, but they were far, far away, in an area that is still closed due to devastating flood damage. The Sanctuary had been closed for about two years for this reason and only very recently re-opened just a part of the area.
The Calgary Zoo is very close to the Sanctuary, so after our morning walk, I decided to call in at the Zoo. I hadn't been for about a year and I really missed going there. Of course, many of the garden flowers were past their prime, but I did find a few that were fit to photograph. I love photographing the Water Lilies. They always seem to glow, as if they had a light inside.
I knew I wouldn't be able to walk far, having already been walking all morning, but I really wanted to get to the ENMAX Conservatory to see what was going on. I had been longing all summer to see the tropical butterflies and plants. The butterfly season is coming to an end for these tropical beauties, but there were still plenty of them to be seen. Also, this month, the parking lot that I use will close for the winter and I don't like the drive back home from the north parking area, using Deerfoot Trail, so tend not to go to the Zoo all winter.
There was so much activity going on at the Zoo two days ago. People everywhere, carrying large animals wrapped in white, protective coverings, preparing for the upcoming ILLUMINASIA, Lantern & Garden Festival. Each animal is an individual lantern and there are so many of them. I noticed that several of the real animals in their enclosures were watching all the unaccustomed activity, which made me smile.
A good day, despite the overcast sky, and plenty of photo opportunities. Recently, I have been finding far fewer things to photograph, with fall on its way, so a day like this was more than welcome."
I was given the heads up that just one 507 unit was out on the Merseyrail circuit on this day but after spending a few hours in the Sand Hills area i didn't see her.
On a mainly dull grey day i did manage this shot of the new order Class 777 number 030 working a Ormskirk to Hunts Cross train passing over the Leeds and Liverpool canal. The virginia Creeper had turned bronze suggesting that autumn was well and truly with us.
A Prowling Affair
“A time for everything: A time to relax, and a time to be busy. A time to frolic and a time to labor. A time to give and a time to receive. A time to give, a time to begin and a time to finish.”
…Jonathon Lockwood Huie
“A time to lose and a time to gain. And for all these things, there is a first time, which is now.”
…Unknown
I’ve never cared for the rather unimaginatively given name of
“Pickpocket.”
Personally, I prefer the term “lifter” as a more adequately descriptive definition of what I was really into at the time.
Lifting as in from a pocket, purse, and beyond.
Beyond being lifting something specifically being worn by the person, such as a watch, bracelet, brooch, necklace, and even earring(s).
But then, that is just me being me.
So those statements being said, they are not really important to this story I am about to tell. For it was this occasion that “lifted” me into a whole different level of thievery.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I was at one of my favorite haunts, a wedding reception. This one is very upscale and quite richly delicious.
Almost like I had walked into the aftermath of two rooms being completely dumped onto a third one full of people. One room was full of expensive designer attire, the other full of over-the-top expensive jewellery.
Hopefully, you get the picture of what I was seeing.
I was dressed for an evening out, wearing a sexily short-skirted black satin dress with loose ruffles down the open neckline, a gold belt, and gold dangling earrings. My long red hair was straight down with a curl at the ends. I carried my long black velvet shoulder purse.
The reception was supposed to be a private affair but had so many guests that it was not hard for strangers like myself to mingle in.
It was a late evening affair, held in the huge basement area of a five-star hotel, with an interior entrance and one large exterior front entrance. Both of which had manned security booths set up. However, in the far backside, we’re two long corridors. One had the ladies' loo and a door at the end that led to outside gardens. The other contained the gentleman’s loo with a door at the end leading to a back parking lot, not fenced in.
Neither outside door was watched, or locked. And people were going in and out of those doors regularly. Didn’t make much sense not to be watched, but that was how I gained a surprisingly easy entry.
Cautiously I entered, immediately spying a pair of sweet sixteeners coming out of the loo ahead of me. They definitely were not sisters. They were also definitely royally decked out. Both were wearing long sequined satin gowns(blue and peach)with matching gloves. The gowns were fitted, designer, made, and had obviously been bridesmaid’s dresses for a different wedding each. Both wore their long silky hair elegantly up, held by mother-of-pearl clasps. The twittering pair also were jewelled up, sporting sweet gleaming sets of real matched pearls that swayed with a mesmerizing motion to the girl’s perky gait.
They paid no heed to me, and I lazily followed them inside the main chambre.
Contemplating that if the young adults were dolled up like this, what must the legal adults be wearing?
I had my answer soon enough, and my first few minutes inside is what plopped the rooms being dumped together thought of mine which I wrote about at the beginning.
It was delicious, moving in and out as I canvassed the room,admiring the sumptuous attire of the men and ladies present, expensive jewellery beckoning, plump purses, and fat wallets invitingly everywhere. I was ever on the lookout for opportunities to use my skilled fingers over.
My first opportunity looked to come my way as I whimsically found myself following a short brunette wearing a simply lovely gown that I actually owned a non-designer version of in the same colour , which is what caught my eye.
It was a green gown with a tight velvet bodice and free-falling taffeta skirt. I wish I looked as good in my copy as she did in her fitted one.
She was handsomely sporting a dazzling teardrop emerald pendant surrounded by diamonds hanging from a solid gold braided chain. It was bouncing from her perky breasts as she walked, creating quite the taunting show.
I could well imagine myself looking into a mirror wearing my version of that gown while also wearing that emerald and diamond set pendant.
As a plus, her long hair was up, exposing the gold clasp of the necklace she wore. Since I was still getting my feet wet, I was content with just stalking and seeing if it led to something.
It did, but not for her necklace.
As I was following the brunette I spotted a gorilla of a man wearing a far too-tight tux. He was showing off by lifting a squealing lady over his head like one would lift a set of weights.
Three of the lady's girlfriends, dressed in gowns of lavender, maroon, and neon lime, formed a half circle as they all watched laughing, pushing, and pawing against one another’s well-dressed figures as they cheered the bloke on.
With a twinge of reluctance, I decided to pass on the brunette for this much easier opportunity.
So I left her to go on her hip-swaying way, then got in with the half circle of sumptuously dressed ladies and joined in with the touchy-feely fun.
As he was bending over to put her down, I saw his jacket was lifted exposing a thick wallet now protruding from his hip pocket.
The girl joined her friends and as the “gorilla” watched with a half-pleased smile, I left them and walked past him, patting him on the rear with a slight squeeze.
I easily helped his wallet out the rest of the way as I patted his rear while saying to the prat’s backside…
“That has to be more fun than working out in a gym, eh laddie?”
Ok, so that was picking a pocket. But I still prefer the phrase lifting.
As in the solid silver Cartier watch, and the loosely worn emerald gemstone cocktail ring I lifted off two of the three watchers as we giggled together, and I happily stroked my fingers along their too soft sleek gowned, giggly warm, unsuspecting bodies.
With three scores now under my belt, my fingers deliciously tingled as I continued meandering my way amongst the happily partying guests, biding my time as I enjoyed the showy glamour of the reception halls’ guests.
The first dance time for the Bride and her Consort came.
Lights dimmed.
I began pressing up from behind against the couples in front. Seeing a sea of arms wrapped around silken waistlines. I eased off a man’s Rolex from his wrist as he held it against his wife’s satin-gowned waist. Similarly, I then relieved a lady’s gloved wrist of a gold jewelled bracelet as I pressed the fingers of my free hand against the side of her delightfully tingling feeling taffeta gown. My apologies to her were accepted as my other hand pocketed the bracelet.
Then as the wedding party held the floor, another hip pocket of a male watcher was relieved of a fat billfold.
Two picks and a lift for you language police out there.
Then the dance area, with the lights still dimmed, erupted as couples swarmed onto the floor. I went with the flow. Lifting a plump wallet from a swinging purse in the process as I cut through.
I then stationed myself in the outskirts watching the dancers. A fast dance tune started up and many of the men retreated leaving mostly ladies in shiny flowing gowns and swinging long shimmery skirts gyrating and jostling to the fast beat.
I spotted a lady wearing a taffeta gown with a diamond broach holding at the side of her waist.
I started to swing to the beat myself, wading in.
I worked my way to her, passing in the process the two sweet sixteen-year-olds and their swinging ropes of pearls. Brushing alongside them I spotted my prey. I zeroed in and jostled against her sweaty figure. Managing to easily pluck off her pricey broach as I slipped past.
Love the feel of an expensive taffeta gown.
I briefly considered leaving at that point. But there was still one traditional part of the reception I was waiting for, the Bride’s Bouquet throw.
Think of the potential.
A group of jostling, well-dressed ladies all focused on one thing. With someone like myself focused on another. There is no other opportunity like this, with the possible exception of midnight on New Year’s when the lights are dimmed over a swarming sea of guests.
So I behaved myself, catching a smoke and a free drink as I waited with anticipation.
Finally, it was announced and all of us single girls went out onto the dance floor.
I watched and like a lioness in the bush, circled around in the back.
I saw a young lady of twelve coming out to take part. She was a darling, dollied and dressed up like an adult. She was wearing blue mascara, that matched the colour of the long flowing blue satin gown she adorably was wearing. A fancy Long rhinestone necklace of diamonds and sapphires, were glistening down the front of her gown as she boldly made her way in.
When she passed me I cut her off and bumped right into her. As she wobbled on her blue leather pumps, my right hand shot up, lifting the front of her necklace as my left unsnapped the simple clasp. I pulled her necklace off with my right hand as she went off an apologetic ”Sorry miss ” like it had been her fault.
I had taken her necklace because I felt peeved that anyone not of marrying age would feel she should be allowed to take part, spoiling the tradition. Like having a cap and gown graduation for preschoolers, complete with diplomas. Kinda of ruins the meaning for those of us graduating after long years of schooling.
Sorry, but really, was a twelve-year-old going to be the one to marry next?
Oh by the by, the young girl's obviously wealthy mum was not wearing jewellery, otherwise, I would have targeted her instead to make my silent point.
So after that random encounter, I went back on the prowl, quickly choosing a likely victim and legitimately eligible participant.
I happily positioned myself.
The girl I had chosen was a tall thin blonde tightly encased in a white silk dress. Her jewels consisted mostly of 14K gold chains. Except for a gold tennis bracelet set with diamonds and rubies which is what I had my sights on.
Then, who should pop up next to the blonde? Why it was the short brunette wearing that simply lovely green velvet and taffeta gown like the one I had back in my closet at the flat.
Also wearing that delectable dazzling pendant.
I had not seen her since I had first started to follow her, and truth be told, had almost forgotten all about her.
I immediately wedged against the girl next to me(a nice lady in a silk gown with pearls) and got behind the brunette
The brunette chick's hair was still up, exposing the gold clasp of the necklace she wore, with that expensively flashy jewelled pendant at its bottom. She was short, the neckline of her gown coming up to my chin. It was now all a matter of timing.
As the bridal bouquet of roses was thrown and everyone lunged forward my fingers snaked up the backside of her soft gown and reaching the necklace I lifted the clasp and with a perfectly executed lift, opened it, slipping off her necklace almost before her high-heeled feet were firmly back on the ground.
I pulled away with my prize. And she with hers, for my victim had actually been the one catching the bouquet.
I turned, almost bumping into the pair of sweet sixteens in the satin bridesmaids' gowns who had been standing off to one side of us trying their luck at catching the bouquet.
We exchanged smiles and actually started walking off in the same direction. I pulled back and discreetly followed them.
Watching with interest as their gowns were richly fluttering along their svelte youthfully pointed figures. They then entered the same back corridor where I had first encountered them.
I saw one pulling out a pack of cigarettes as they whispered between themselves.
Happily, I overheard that they were sneaking off for a smoke.
For I saw opportunity knocking.
Following the girls I stood at the door of the loo as they slipped out the back door.
I turned and followed.
I was anticipating a chance to use their fear of being caught by me outside smoking, to allow me to chum right in and once I told them I saw no reason why they shouldn’t be smoking, receive relieved hugs from them as I left. Relieving each of them in turn by trimming off some of their pearled baubles.
At least that was the scenario that played out in my head.
One that had worked for me before. Except for that last time, three well-dressed younger ladies had been outside sneaking drinks from a flask. A pair of diamond earrings, a gold braided necklace, and a stunning diamond pin, had been my relieving picks from them.
So deciding that an opportunity for a pearl lift may be at hand I circled out and just followed the giggling and smoke signals emitting from their hidden roost.
I maneuvered up, unseen, behind them. And once again, I was that lioness hidden in the bush, waiting for the right moment to pounce.
As I waited, watching their adorably gowned and pearled figures as they giggled and gabbed on freely, I easily overheard the pair of sweet ones talking about their planned sleepover at the one girl's house.
The pretty pair were going to be alone since both parents were staying overnight at the hotel next to the reception.
I thought to myself how lovely it would be to burgle that house. To acquire all of the girl's delicious pearls, and possibly more?!
Then an epiphany as new as it was intriguing shot into my mind.
Why not try it?
I already had a nice haul for the evening. So if I could not pull it off I stood to lose nothing.
It was a gamble I was willing to take.
I stood there and watched, listened until the pair finished and swished their way back inside, none the wiser that they(and their pricy jewellery)had been watched in close proximity by a thief.
In a total bit of whimsy I went back to my sports coupe parked across an empty street from the lot. Once there I lit a cigarette of my own and stood vigil over the back parking lot.
There I could see several fancy cars parked. Including the fire-red Porsche that I had learned the one girl would be driving herself and her friend home in for their sleepover. The sports car was a sixteenth birthday gift from her parents.
All I received on my sweet sixteen was a summons to the head mistress’s office.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
It was nearly two hours before I spied the fetchingly pretty pair walking out across that parking lot, smoking cigarettes like petite geysers.
They were vulnerably alone, their shiny long gowns flowing along svelte youthful figures with an air of elegance that called out to be noticed.
And with those gorgeous pearls, they were wearing, both clueless chicks presented a pair of prettily attired targets for a thief.
Fortunately, there were no muggers around. Only me, a thief with quite different aspirations on acquiring pearls this evening.
Seeing the girls leaving I got in my coupe and followed the red Porsche as it turned the corner.
It was easy to follow them. The driver was inexperienced enough not to have a lead foot.
The Porsche finally turned into the secluded driveway leading to a large two-story gothic stone structure, with small balconies outside the upper floor windows. As was a common sight with these large houses, a metal flower trellis reached up one side in between two balconies.
I found a place to pull over and quickly got out to sneak up and scout the grounds surrounding the house.
I saw a light go on upstairs, conveniently on the trellis side. Thankful my dress was tightly form-fitting, I went over and climbed up far enough to peek inside the upper-floor window
It was a bedroom, walls painted pink. Both girls were inside, starting to undress. Totally so into themselves that the pretty things had no idea a thief was eyeing them with sinister intent.
Licking my lips I watched the pair removing thier delicious pearls and piling them up on the vanity next to an open oak jewellery case, the contents shimmering in the light.
Then they pulled off their gloves and slipped out of their gowns, wearing only long slinking silk slips. Both girls, long hair now down, slipped into fancy satin robes and giggling, headed out the door.
I slipped back down the trellis and skirted the house. A light in the basement came on.
Crouching in the shadows I peeked in. The handsomely satin-wrapped pair were sitting on a couch in the furnished basement. Passing back and forth a clear bottle containing an amber-coloured liquor. Scotch I presumed.
Seeing they were becoming quickly intoxicated, I rose and with a feeling of utter confidence, went back to the trellis and climbed back up to the window.
It was conveniently left unlatched.
Piece of cake this burgling business apparently could be.
Turned out, It was a piece of cake.
Beginner’s luck, we’ll see.
I slipped over the sill and into the bedroom they had changed in.
The young lady's pearls piled on a vanity, next to the open jewellery case were my first target.
As the clueless young pair in the furnished basement was getting drunk, I put on a pair of satin evening gloves found on one of the gowns and lifted(or picked) the bedroom clean of valuables.
No persnickety housemaid could have done a more efficient job of picking clean that bedroom, or as quickly, as I did that early morning.
Then I left the room to hit the parent’s master bedroom.
It was the one on the opposite side of the hallway.
Inside I found a tall Jewelry Armoire. I opened it up and my eyes were dazzled by the display of pricy day jewelry it held. Or had held for another ten minutes until I emptied its contents into my already bulging purse.
I knew the mum would be wearing the good stuff at the wedding, the rest may be inside a safe, which was beyond my skill level in picking.
I briefly wondered if the owner of the red Porsche knew her parent's safe combination.
I thought of taking the time to find out. But shook my head no. Time to skedaddle.
Then I saw it. In my rush, I had almost missed a solitary piece of jewellery laying out on a nightstand.
It was a dazzler. An almost 7-centimeter wide bracelet, set with 7 strands of diamonds. Three strands of round stones each flanking a centre strand of pear-shaped stones. Vulgarly expensive.
But why was it out? A trap?
I edged up to the nightstand and looked around. Nothing else appeared out of place.
Except for that expensively flashy diamond bracelet.
Looking around, I carefully eased it off the nightstand. Nothing happened, not that I knew what could have happened.
I stuffed the bracelet inside my purse, still looking warily around.
I shrugged my feelings of danger off and left the room. Though perhaps a tad bit quicker than necessary.
I went back to the pink bedroom, then climbed back out the window and down the metal trellis
I stopped by the basement window for one last peek. The young shiny attired darlings were intensely hugging each other. The bottle of scotch was now almost empty.
Suddenly a naughty picture popped inside my head, with no proper rhyme, nor reason.
In that picture, I saw the pair still dressed voluptuously up in their satin gowns, tied up gagged, and sinister hands groping as the haplessly squirming sweet sixteeners were being relieved of pearls. Then long feminine fingers were tickling in the girl’s sensitive areas until a safe opening combination was coughed up.
It was a picture that would not go away. I shook my head to get them out and left.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I ruined the dress I was wearing, but I realized I had gotten away with enough small pricey valuables that gave me a profit that more than doubled my pickings combined over the previous 4 months.
As I drove home I experienced such a rush of euphoria that I decided the experience just had to be relived.
When I got back to my rooms, I changed into my satin pjs and empty my purse onto the black satin sheets of my bed.
I lifted the pearls and couldn’t stop fingering them as my euphoria overwhelmed me with sweeping hot flashes of giddiness over my accomplishments.
It was a lovely feeling. Both sensuous and a bit of hard sexual desires.
Not really sure where the bound and gagged fantasy picture came from. Or what it was foretelling if anything.
But the reality of tonight’s experience lay in glittering heaps on my black satin sheets.
I picked up the far to valuably shimmering diamond bracelet.
Pondering.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I bring that last memory up because years later I may have found out why the diamond bracelet had been left out.
For apparently some of the ultra-wealthy, as a ruse, will leave out several pieces of valuable jewels as a deterrent. Hoping the inexperienced thief will grab those and flee without searching further. Which is exactly what I did.
It also means that those two sweet sixteeners may have been the only barrier between me and a potentially small fortune in hidden jewels.
So maybe that fantasy vision I had about tickling to find a safe combination could have been an unrealized sixth sense moment?
One never knows.
Fini
Given myself an alphabet soup game. Two new photos and another two from my photostream or archives, when possible.
Taken on the Île-de-Ré in 2002. This is the old lighthouse on the island, here's a photo of the more modern one. Le Phare de Baleine.
www.flickr.com/photos/44506883@N04/12384607125/in/set-721...
Thank you for your favourites. :O)
As usual, any fungi IDs given are always tentative, not 100% confirmed. Rule is, if you are not an expert in mycology, do not pick wild mushrooms to eat! You could end up very sick, or worse.
Another gloomy day today, 13 September 2019, with a temperature of 14C just after noon. Yesterday, however, it was actually sunny, so I had to get out and make the most of it. It definitely feels and looks like fall. Snow is already being forecast for parts of Alberta. It will soon be time to get all-season tires off and winter tires put on.
Five days ago, on 8 September 2019, we had such a wonderful four and a half hours, searching for different kinds of fungi in the amazing forest on Rod Handfield's land, SW of Calgary. I believe this was our tenth visit - the first one I went on, being on 25 June 2009 - each one resulting in various different species. This last visit was so overwhelming! You didn't know which direction to face and which mushroom to photograph first. They were everywhere! Such a contrast to our visit on 6 August 2017, when basically there were no mushrooms (other than maybe three), because everywhere had been so very dry.
A day like this can be so exhausting, not just from the walking and fresh air, but also because of all the excitement. The quality of many of my photos is not the best, as the day was very overcast - the last thing one wants when trying to take photos deep in the forest. After leaving Rod's, it did rain. I had driven myself there instead of carpooling, so that I could drive some of the backroads in the area after we had finished. The forecast was for sun and cloud - and I had foolishly believed it. The rain put an end to my plans and I headed for home. I'm so glad I had checked a special little spot near Rod's first thing in the morning, when I got there a bit too early. A few years ago, there was a beautiful display of Fly Agaric / Amanita muscaria mushrooms growing there, but not since then whenever I have checked. To my absolute delight, there were maybe half a dozen, in different stages of development. Surprisingly, we didn't come across a single one in Rod's forest this year.
As always, thank you so much, Rod, for so generously allowing us to explore your property. This has been my favourite place to visit for quite a number of years now. We greatly appreciate your kindness - you are always so welcoming, and we learn so much and discover so many beautiful things. Thank you, Karel, for leading the group and helping with identifications. I'm sure at least some of us are anxiously waiting for you to have time, in between leading botany walks, to post some of your photos along with their IDs. Meanwhile, "fungus" has to be sufficient.
Given the high infectiousness of the Omicron variant currently doing the rounds, I’ve been very careful about going out much, but people like me exhibitionism is a need.
Accordingly, I’ve been going out to bars that are not too crowded and that are strict about sighting verifying the authenticity of vaccination credentials.
I’m due for my booster shot soon and look forward to the days I can again tart about in the way I’m used to.
Given that she is me I assume I'm allowed to be a sexist pig in my attitudes towards her. 'While you're down there, darling....'
I think I had heard of Heathfield, but never really given the place any thought nor been there as far as I can recall.
A couple of sportscars present, with a Spitfire and MGA.
Interesting to see the K-reg Viva HC on a black plate, I'd have thought most garages would have switched over to reflective plates by that time.
Streetview image: goo.gl/maps/QfxPGRH2TS3LXLDe8 The buildings look much the same and the clock is still present. It looks like P.W. Major (a jewellery shop) was there until 2011 at least, although they've since gone.
Unsent card published by John Tyrell of Heathfield, printed by Dennis Productions, ref. H.1401.
©All photographs on this site are copyright: ©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams) 2011 – 2021 & GETTY IMAGES ®
No license is given nor granted in respect of the use of any copyrighted material on this site other than with the express written agreement of ©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams). No image may be used as source material for paintings, drawings, sculptures, or any other art form without permission and/or compensation to ©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams)
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Photograph taken at an altitude of Three metres, at 06:47am on Sunday 1st September 2019 around sunrise off 1st Street and Bevan Avenue, between the boat jetty and Bevan Avenue Fishing Pier in beautiful Sidney by the sea on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Here we look over to Sidney Island, one of the Southern Gulf islands between the southwest coast of BC. It has an elevation of seventy seven metres above sea level at it's highest point. Ferry trips from Sidney to Sidney spit on Sidney Island operate for certain parts of the year.
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Nikon D850 Focal Length: 300mm Shutter Speed: 1/25s (Mechanical Shutter) Aperture: f/16.0 iso125 RAW (14 bit uncompressed) Image size L 8256 x 5504 FX Full Frame Colour space: Adobe RGB Focus Mode: Manual focus AF-Area Mode: Normal-area AF Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority exposure Metering Mode: Matrix metering White Balance: Natural light auto, 0, 0 (8220K) Nikon Distortion control: On Vignette control: Normal High ISO: NR: On (Normal) Picture Control: (FL) Flat Sharpening +1.00
Nikkor AF-P 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E.Lee SW150 MKII filter holder. Lee SW150Con adapter for Lee 100 rings.Lee 100 67mm screw in adapter ring. Lee SW150 0.9 (3 stops) Neutral density graduated soft resin filter. Lee SW150 Filters field pouch. Nikon EN-EL15a battery.Mcoplus professional MB-D850 multi function battery grip 6960. Matin quick release neckstrap. My Memory 128GB Class 10 SDXC 80MB/s card. Lowepro Flipside 400 AW camera bag. Nikon GP-1 GPS module. Hoodman HEYENRG round eyepiece oversized eyecup.Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod 3 Sections (Payload: 5.6kgs). Manfrotto 327RC2 Light Duty Grip Ball Magnesium Tripod Head (Payload: 5.5kgs). Manfrotto quick release plate 200PL-14. Jessops Tripod bag.Nikon MC-DC2 remote shutter release cable.
LATITUDE: N 48d 38m 51.90s
LONGITUDE: W 123d 23m 29.50s
ALTITUDE: 3.0m
RAW (TIFF) FILE: 130.00MB NEF FILE: 89.1MB
PROCESSED (JPeg) FILE: 34.00MB
PROCESSING POWER:
Nikon D850 Firmware versions C 1.10 (9/05/2019) LD Distortion Data 2.017 (20/3/18) LF 1.00
HP 110-352na Desktop PC with AMD Quad-Core A6-5200 APU 64Bit processor. Radeon HD8400 graphics. 8 GB DDR3 Memory with 1TB Data storage. 64-bit Windows 10. Verbatim USB 2.0 1TB desktop hard drive. WD My Passport Ultra 1tb USB3 Portable hard drive. Nikon ViewNX-1 64bit (Version 1.3.1 11/07/2019). Nikon Capture NX-D 64bit (Version 1.4.7 15/03/2018). Nikon Picture Control Utility 2 (Version 1.3.2 15/03/2018). Adobe photoshop Elements 8 Version 8.0 64bit.
As America takes pause to spend time with family and give thanks for the fact that we can over-eat in this country, Mr Hendricks and Mr Patchett would like to give thanks for all those who work to preserve our cultural heritage.
Thanks to all who bring important buildings like the Bosler House back to life. Thanks to those who restore furniture and early appliances. Thanks to those folks who keep “retro” fashions of all kinds in the public imagination. Thanks to those who keep the memory of orphan car brands alive and the people who still know how to keep them running. Thanks to the skillful Chinese craftsmen who made the models we photograph in order to take you on our nostalgic time travel adventures.
Thanks to all of you for the kind comments and views you have given us over the past couple of years.
Happy Thanksgiving from one24thscale!
This is a forced perspective photograph of 1/24 scale die-cast model cars and truck in front of a real background.
Crown Premiums 1935 Chevrolet Panel Truck - United Van Lines
Franklin Mint 1935 Auburn 851 Speedster
Danbury Mint 1936 Ford Deluxe Coupe