I heard on the radio a few months back, about places in Britain that sound like they should be elsewhere, I can't remember the examples given. But for me, Luddenham sounds as Norfolk as it is possible to get. And yet it is a parish and small village here in Kent.

Were it not for the sat nav, I don't think I would have found Luddenham, not without someone reading the map anyway. From Burham it was a half hour blast down the M2 to Faversham, then taking roads that got ever narrower, I left Faversham, drove though a wood, then out onto the Oare Marshes.

Out over the marshes down a narrow single-track lane, winding round the edge of fields to a large farm that was once a manor house, and beside it was St Mary.

What warmth there had been in the day was now long gone, and the wind had turned to the north east and increased. As I stood inside the half-empty church, I could hear the wind whistling round the tower outside.

Highlight for me here was a fine collection of Victorian tiles, including a design each for one of the gospel saints, and a wonderful stone coffin lid depicting a face with two hands holding it.

----------------------------------------------

The familiar country scene of Norman church, medieval Court and sprawling farmyard - but the history of Luddenham is far from standard. Here we have a promontory of land which formerly provided wharves off the River Swale some way to the north. Indeed, the place name gets it origin from the Saxon `Lud` meaning a river. The church is now in the care of The Churches Conservation Trust and consists of nave, chancel and south tower. The latter dates from the early nineteenth century and replaced a tower which originally stood to the north of the nave. The west door is a rather weather-beaten twelfth century example. Following redundancy, the church lost most of its furnishings, so its vast spacious interior is something of a surprise to the visitor. There are some medieval tiles in the sanctuary, where graffiti on the glass records those who were probably too poor to have permanent memorials outside. At the back of the church is a fragment of thirteenth century coffin lid brought here from the ruined church at Stone, about a mile to the south west. Rather touchingly it has a heart clasped by two hands in its crisp carving. The church is usually open.

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

LIES the next parish north-westward from Ore, and was, in the reign of the Conqueror, called Cildresham, by which name it is described in the survey of Domesday.

IT is situated about a mile northward of the high London road from Judde-hill, the southern part of it reaching up to Bizing wood, part of which is within it. It lies very low and flat; the arable lands in it, which consist of about three hundred and ninety-six acres, and the upland, meadow, and pasture, of about two hundred acres, are very rich and fertile; near one half of it is marsh land, which reaches to the waters of the Swale, which are its northern boundary.

The church stands nearly in the middle of the upland part of it, and the parsonage-house, which has a mote round it, near half a mile southward of it, close to Bysing-wood. There is no village, and not more than ten houses in the parish, the unhealthiness of its situation occassions its being but very thinly inhabited, those who risk their lives in it seldom attaining any great age.

THERE ARE some parts of this parish which lie at some distance from the rest of it, several other parishes intervening: in Perry-field, almost opposite the 47th mile-stone on the high London road, but on the other or south side of it, there are twenty-two acres of land, and between Goodneston and Boughton under Blean, there are thirty-two acres of land belonging to this parish. There are many instances of the like in different parts of this county, and in this neighbourhood in particular there are several, for a part of the parish of Morton, near Sittingborne, lies within this parish of Luddenham, and entirely surrounded by it, several other parishes intervening between this part of Murston and the rest of it. Part of Preston parish lies near Davington-hill; Upleez farm, the property of lord Romney, which lies westward of Ore, is in Faversham parish; and part of Ospringe parish lies surrounded by the town of Faversham and its liberties.

MR. JACOB among his Plantæ a Favershamienses, has given a list of a number of scarce plants found by him in this parish, to which the reader is referred for an account of them.

THIS PLACE was part of the vast possessions of Odo, bishop of Baieux, under the general title of whose lands it is thus entered in the survey of Domesday:

Anssrid holds of the bishop of Baieux Cildresham. It was taxed at one suling. The arable land is three carucates. In demesne there is one carucate and an half. There are five servants, and two acres of meadow. There is wood, but it pays nothing.

Upon the bishop's disgrace, about four years afterwards, this estate came to the crown, among the rest of this possessions, whence it was granted by the king, among other lands, to Fulbert de Dover, for his assistance, in the defence of Dover castle. These lands were held of the king in capite by barony, the tenant being bound by his tenure to maintain a certain number of soldiers, from time to time, for the defence of the castle.

Of Fulbert de Dover and his heirs, this place was held, as one knight's fee, of the honour of Chilham, which they made the caput baroniæ, or chief seat of their barony.

THE MANOR OF LUDDENHAM came afterwards into the possession of a family who fixed their name on it. William de Luddenham, in the 13th year of king John's reign, held it as one knight's see, of the honor of Chilham, in manner as before mentioned. His heirs, in the next reign of Henry III. sold this manor to the Northwoods, one of whom, Sir Roger de Northwood, in the 41st year of that reign, procured licence to alter the tenure of his lands from gavelkind to that of knight's service, of which there is a recapitulation in the Book of Aid, and among them mention is made of ninety acres of marsh land, which lay partly in his manor of Luddenham, and partly in Iwase.

From the family of Northwood this manor passed into that of Frogenhall; John de Frogenhall, at the latter end of king Edward the IIId.'s reign, died possessed of it, with an appendage called Bishopsbush. After which it at length descended in the beginning of king Edward the IVth.'s reign to Thomas Frogenhall, who married Joane, daughter and heir of William de Apulderfield, and dying in 1576, being the 17th year of that reign, was buried with his wife in Faversham church; their daughter and sole heir Anne, carried this manor in marriage to Mr. Thomas Quadring, of London, and he in like manner leaving one sole daughter and heir Joane. she entitled her husband Richard Dryland, of Cooksditch, in Faversham, to the possession of it. He alenated the appendage of Bishopsbush above-mentioned, to Crispe, who passed it away to Mr. William Hayward, from which name it went in marriage to Mr. Thomas Southhouse, gent. who possessed it at the end of king Charles I.'s reign; but both the name and situation of the estate have been for some time so totally for gotten, that the most diligent enquiries cannot trace out either of them.

But the manor of Luddenham itself went with Katherine, the sole daughter and heir of Richard Dryland, in marriage to Reginald Norton, of Lees-court, in Sheldwich, from which name it passed by sale, in king James I.'s reign, to Francis Cripps, esq. who sold it to Kirton, from which name it passed, in king James II.'s reign, to John Briant, esq. whose heirs passed it away, in king George I.'s reign, to Mr. John Blaxland, and his heirs alienated it, about the year 1753, to Beversham Filmer, esq. of London, a younger son of Sir Robert Filmer, bart. of East Sutton, and of Lincoln's-inn, barrister-at-law. He died ununmarried, and full of years, in 1763, (fn. 1) having by his will given this manor, among the rest of his lands in this county and elsewhere, to his eldest nephew, Sir John Filmer, bart. of East Sutton, who died s. p. in 1797, and by will devised this estate to his next brother, Sir Bevertham Filmer, bart. the present owner of it. A court baron is held for his manor.

At the court held for the manor of Chilham, the tenant of this manor is constantly presented by the jury for default of service, as being held of it under the notion of one knight's fee, and he is always amerced at two shillings, the payment of which is never with-held by him.

HAM is a principal estate, adjoining to the marshes, at the eastern boundary of this parish, and partly in that part of Preston which is separated from the rest of it by Davington and Ospringe intervening, being within that appendage to the manor of Copton, called from hence Hamme marsh. This estate, for several generations, belonged to the family of Roper, lords Teynham, and was sold in 1766 by Henry Roper, lord Teynham, to Mr. William Chamberlain, of London, who sold it to Benjamin Hatley Foote, Esq. and his son George Talbot Hatley Foote, Esq. now owns it.

NASHES is an estate in this parish, which formerly belonged to the Coppingers; Ambrose Coppinger possessed it in the reign of queen Elizabeth, whence it passed to the Brewsters, who were owners of much land at Linsted, Tenham, and other parts of this neighbourhood; from them it was sold to Mr. James Tassell, of Linsted; after which it became the property of Dr. Dravid Jones, and afterwards of Mr. Anthony Ingles, gent. of Ashford, who in 1776 conveyed it be sale to Mr. James Tappenden, gent. of Faversham, the present owner of it, who is descended from those of this name, who were for several generations resident at Sittingborne, where several of them lie buried, and are said to be extracted from the Denne of Tappenden, in Smarden, and bear for their arms, Or, two lions passant, in chief, and one in base, rampant, azure.

Charities.

Thomas Streynsham, gent. of Faversham, was possessed of a farm of 16l. per annum in this parish, Out of the profits of which, by his will in 1585, he devised 3l. per annum for ever, to the use of the poor of that parish.

The poor constantly relieved are about twenty; casually twelve.

Luddenham is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Ospringe.

The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary, is a small building, consisting of one isle and one chancel, having a tower steeple on the north side of it, in which are three bells.

¶This church was formerly an appendage to the manor of Luddenham, and as such came into the possession of William de Luddenham before-men tioned, lord of it, who, as appears by the leiger-book of the abbey of Faversham, gave this church to the abbot and convent there, which he did by placing his knife on the altar in the church of their convent, and this with the consent of his daughter and heir Matilda, and of Gaysle his wife, in the presence of the convent, and many of the clergy and laity, which gift was confirmed afterwards by Sir William de Insula, who married his daughter; notwithstanding which, William de Insula their son, laid claim to it as part of his inheritance, and a suit was commenced in the beginning of king John's reign, by him, against the abbot and convent, to recover the possession of it, which seems to have been determined in his favor, and the religious were forced to be contented with the pension of 66s. 8d. to be paid to them yearly out of it. (fn. 2). This pension they continued to enjoy from it till the time of their dissolution, in the 30th year of Henry VIII. when it came, with the rest of their possessions, into the king's hands, who settled it, among other premises, in his 33d year, on his new-founded dean and chapter of Canterbury, who continue to receive it from the rector at this time.

The determination of the above-mentioned suit against the religious, did not put them out of hopes of, some time or other, recovering the possession of this church, the appropriation of which they got to be inserted in a confirmation of some of their possessions by pope Gregory X. in 1274; but this did not avail them any thing, for this church still continued unappropriated, as it does at this time, being esteemed a rectory, the patronage of which has been for a great length of time in the crown.

The church of Luddenham is valued in the king's books at 12l. 8s. 4d. and the yearly tenths at 1l. 4s. 10d. In 1578, here were communicants fifty-four. The crown patron.

In 1640 there were communicants sixty-eight. The yearly value of it one hundred pounds. It is now esteemed of the same clear yearly value.

There is a modusclaimed for five hundred and thirtyone acres of the marsh lands in this parish, almost all of which are at two-pence, though there are some few at four-pence per acre.

www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol6/pp386-393

Copyright © 2012 Lino Petito. All rights reserved. Please, do not use my photos without my written permission.

view b&w

The homeless in rural Florida have proven what I believed in all along. That they could help each other without paid staff, when given the proper resources. Homeless veterans, men, women, and children have shown that they can take a hand up, instead of a handout, and get their lives back in order. In less than three years there were five shelters; two for homeless Veterans.

We recently closed one shelter because the Mission in Citrus eliminated 75% of the homeless Veteran problem in Citrus County, and due to the slowdown in our present economy. Our shelters are geared to operate at the lowest cost, and to be moved or closed when necessary. They are located close to jobs and resources.

Close to 450 former residents still keep in contact with me through email, Facebook, or phone. I am so very proud of them, as their accomplishments are no less than a miracle. We are not faith based but live by faith. No one is forced to go to church, but over 90% attend services each week at the church of their choice. Our saying is that God runs things around here. And He does. Miracle after miracle has occurred during the past four years. A Good Samaritan to all in need. We are struggling now, as we have been denied funding because we do not have anyone who can write grants properly. But we are working on that. And all of the praise, glory, and honor, we give to God for all His blessings.

Over two thousand people were helped back into society since 2009, by using fewer dollars and more sense. Their success record is 80%, which is much higher than the national average. There are no security cameras or locked doors. Our foundation is based on that no one should lose their freedoms that so many Veterans have died for, unless they are a criminal. Since February 1st 2013, over 42 people moved into homes with jobs. That may seem small to many, but it was over 50% of our residents living at our shelters. Fourteen were children. Five were entire families.

Our 1st Veteran's shelter was opened on less than $5000, and a lot of faith. It is now approaching its fourth year of operation. Veterans have returned to society into their own homes after receiving their much deserved benefits. Similar shelters were built using millions. Formerly homeless Veterans run the shelter, after being helped themselves. All give a volunteer commitment. Fund raising is now in progress to increase their capacity. Our second shelter was designed after the John Wayne-type outposts in the old west. In rural areas, the homeless have to walk between 12-50 miles for help and services. The outpost provided meals, shelter, laundry, showers, and much more. It served many Veterans living in the woods and swamps, and those traveling around the country. The model was highly successful, before it’s closing due to lack of funds... Our next project is a mobile command center called Angels on Wheels. It will be able to help Veterans in any area with full service. The mobile vehicle will enable the Mission in Citrus to reach out to many Veterans, who are currently receiving little to no help.

“If we do not help them, who will?”

The Mission in Citrus Homeless Shelters were founded in 2008, after the Executive Director “I “became homeless. My research and personal experience showed that traditional shelters were not working, and too much of their budgets were spent on administration expenses, and not on the residents. Too many criminalized homelessness. Most of the homeless are not criminals; they just need the resources to get their lives back in order. A hand up, not a hand out. The focus is on jobs, and our Hire the Homeless program has been highly successful. The residents also help operate the shelter by paying for their upkeep with donations, once they find employment or receive disability. They volunteer thousands of hours to Habitat for Humanity, area food banks, Sertoma Club, Lion's Club, and many other nonprofits. No one is allowed to sit around. All earn their keep.

We have overcome many obstacles in the past four years, from 60 tents to 5 shelters. We had major fights with everyone from the Fire Marshal, Sheriff’s Dept., and many other agencies, including County Commissioners. We now have positive working relationships with all of them. We have earned their respect. We still have a long way to go.

Grant writing is hard because there is little time after helping so many people each day. We beg for 80% of our operating funds using collections sites, such as Wal-Mart, and County flea markets. Over 1000 people were helped last year with $120,000. The Mission in Citrus continues to fight for homeless rights. Our emails are sent to numerous government officials each day. Homelessness can decrease through more accountability of dollars. One shelter gets Federal funds, while operating at an annual cost of $38,000 a bed. It is cheaper to go to Harvard.

Our residents age from four days old to 72 years old. The new face of homelessness has become many homeless women and children. We are expecting two new babies in the next month. The days of the old homeless stereotype are over. The present economy is taking no prisoners.

Our long term goals are to share our system with others, and to increase our homeless Veterans beds by 150 by buying a motel. We soon hope to start a successful in-house drug and alcohol treatment shelter. The Mission in Citrus could easily become a movie as so many miracles have occurred there. When I turned 51 last year, over 200 former residents visited, Face booked, emailed, or called. That does not happen at normal shelters.

They take great pride as they have become a family, and lift each other up. We have two quotes. “If we do not help them…Who will? “And “We follow the parable of the good Samaritan.” We help all in need. In our history, we have never failed to feed and help anyone who has entered our gates. We even take food and water into the woods and swamps for many hard core Veterans, who have lost faith in society.

About The Mission in Citrus

Our Mission is to help all in need to the best of our ability. We follow the parable of the Good Samaritan, as there are no requirements for our services. We constantly reinvent the wheel to make it all work. The faces of homelessness can change as well as each individual’s circumstances. And there have been very few that we have not been able to help. Veterans have become our priority as we have seen their suffering the most.

To all the past and present residents of the Mission in Citrus. I am so very proud of you. You made it work. God gave us the direction and help through many. God bless you all and much Love to all of you

James M Sleighter – Founder and Executive Director of the Mission in Citrus

Givens Cemetery, near Hornitos (formerly Hornitas), Mariposa County, California, August 26, 1966. (by klk)

given anonymously to a friend of a friend

From Scandinavian Folk Patterns for Counted Thread Embroidery by Claudia Riiff Finseth. Stitched on 25 count over one.

For more information on padded ornaments see:

pinwheelponders.blogspot.com/2008/12/some-thoughts-on-pad...

Mevlana Dergahı (Dervish Lodge) which is presently used as a museum formerly the Rose Garden of the Seljuks Palace it was given as a gift to Mevlana's father Sultanü'l-Ulema Bahaaeddin Veled by Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad

When Sultanü'l-Ulema died on 12 January 1231, he was buried in the present grave which is in the mausoleum. This was the first burial ever to take place in the Rose Garden.

After the death of Sultanü'l-Ulema, his friends and disciples approached Mevlana and expressed their wish to build a maussoleum over his grave. Mevlana refused this request remarking "How could there be a better mausoleum than the sky itself?).However when he died on 17 December 1273, his son Sultan Veled accepted the request of those who wanted to build a maussoleum over Mevlana's grave.The mausoleum called "Kubbe-i Hadra" (Green mausoleum) was built by the architect Bedrettin from Tebriz for 130.000 Seljuk dirhem (currency) on four elephant feet (thick columns). After this date, the construction activities never ceased and continued in stages up to the end of the 19th century.

Mevlevi Derhgahı (Dervish Lodge) and the mausoleum started to function as a museum in 1926 under the name of Konya Museum of Historical Works. In 1954 the display pattern of the museum was once more taken up and it was renamed as the Mevlevi Museum.

While the Museum originally covered an area of 6.500m² together with its garden, with the section expropriated later and designed as a rose garden, it has today reached a size of 18.000m²

The courtyard of the museum is entered from "Dervişan Kapısı" (The gate of the Dervishes). There are dervish cells along the north and west sides of the courtyard. The south side, after Matbah and Hürrem Pasha Mausoleums, terminates with the gate of Hamuşan (Sealed Lips) which opens to Üçler cemetrey. On the eastern side of the courtyard there are mausoleums of Sinan Pasha, Fatma Hatun and Hasan Pasha, the Samahane (Ritual Prayer Hall) next to them and the small mosque (mesjidt) section and the main building where the graves of Mevlana and his family members are also housed.

The courtyard is given a special flavor with the roofed washing fountain (şadırvan) built by Sultan Yavuz Sultan Selim in 1512 and the "Şeb-i Arus" (means nuptial night or the night Mevlana passed away) pool and the fountain which is located in the northern part of the court and called Selsebil.

"Tilavet" Chamber (Quran Reading And Chanting)

"Tilavet" is an Arabic word which means reading the quran with a beautiful voice and the correct rhythm. The room takes its name from its function in the past. At present it is used as the Calligraphy Department.

The calligraphy section contains the framed works of famous calliagraphs of their time such as Mahmud Celaleddin, Mustafa Rakım, Hulusi, Yesarizade as well as a gilt relief frame done by Sultan Mahmut II. The couplet in Farsi engraved on the silver door with the calligraphy of Yesarizade Mustafa İzzet Efendi says:

Kabetü'l-uşşâk bâşed in mekam

Her ki nakıs amed incâ şod temam

(Let this be the Kaaba of the minstrels. Who ever enters here in half, finds himself whole)

Huzur-ı Pir (Mausoleum)

The hall of the mausoleum is entered from a silver door which was donated in 1599 by Hasan Pasha, who is the son of Sokollu Mehmet Pasha. Here, the oldest copies of the famous works of Mevlana the "Mesnevi" and "Divan-ı Kebir" are displayed in two glass fronted cabinets. The mausoleum hall is roofed with three small domes The third dome which is also called the skin dome joins, the green dome in the north.

The hall is bordered with a platform on its east, south and north sides. In the north where there is a two level platform, the sarcophagi of 6 Sacred horasan men are placed. Right at the feet of these, the Target Stone, made for İlhanlı King Ebu said Bahadır Khan.

There are also two framed inscriptions which are important as they reflect the thoughts and philosophy of Mevlana. The first frame is in Turkish and says:

"Either seem as you are

Or be as you seem"

Hz. Mevlâna

Second frame is a quatrain of Mevlana in Persian. In translation it reads:

"Come, Come who or whatever you are

Should you be an unbeliever, a Magian or a pagan still come

Our lodge is not a lodge of despair

With hundred repentions unheeded you may be,still, come"

Hz. Mevlana

On the high platform bordering the mausoleum hall on the east and south there are 55 graves, ten of which belong to ladies and the whole group belongs to the family members of Mevlana, and his father. There are ten other graves which belong to people such as Hüsameddin Çelebi, Selahaddin Zerkubi and Sheyh Kerimüddin who had reached high ranks in the sect of Mevlevi.

Right under the Green Dome there are the graves of Mevlana and his son Sultan Veled. The double hunched marble sarcophagus over the graves was donated in 1565 by Süleyman the Magnificent.The quilt embrodieried with gold thread placed over the sarcophagus is a Seljuk masterpiece and was made for Mevlana in 1274. When Süleyman the Magnificent had a new marble sarcophagus made over the graves of Mevlana and son, the original wood one was removed and put over the grave of Mevlana's father.

Semâ-Hâne (Ritual Hall)

The Semahane section together with the small mosque was built by Süleyman the Magnificent in the XVIth century. Semah ceromonies were continued at this ritual hall until 1926, when the Dergah (Dervish lodge) was converted to a museum. The Naat Pew in the Hall, the place where the musicians set (Mutrib cells) and the sections for men and women are preserved in their original state, while metal and glass objects and musical instruments of the Mevlevi are displayed in glassed cabinets and rugs of historical value are hung on appropriate walls of the Semahane.

Mosque

The small mosque or the mesjidt is entered from the Çerağ (apprentice) Gate. There are additional small entrances from the Semahane and the Huzur - Pir, the cemetrey. The place for the müezzin and the Mesnevihan Pew are kept in their original state.

Extremely valuable rug and wooden door samples are displayed on the south wall of the mosque and in 10 glassed cabinets put around this space, significant examples of binding, calligrapy and gilding are exhibited.

Rug And Fabric Section - Dervish Cells

There are 17 small cells, each with a small dome and chimney around the west and north sides of the front court of the Mevlana Lodge. These cells were built in 1584 by Sultan Murat III to house the dervishes.

Four cells to the right of the entrance gate are at present used as a ticket window and administration offices . The first two of the 13 cells to the left of the gate used as "Postnişin" and "Mesnevi-han" cells are kept in their origanal form and presented to the public.

The last two cells at the end are allocated to the very valuable book collections donated by Abdülbaki Gölpınarlı and Dr. Mehmed Önder, and they are used as a library.

The partition walls of the remaining 9 cells were removed providing two interconnected large corridors. In one of these corridors old rugs of historical value from regions famous for their rugs such as Kula, Gördes, Uşak and Kırşehir are displayed while the other has old rugs from districts of Konya such as Ladik, Karaman, Karapınar and Sille which are centres of rug weaving. Display windows built in the window and door sills of these cells display artefacts of Mevlevi ethnography such as "Pazarcı maşası", "Mütteka", "Nefir" which were transferred to the museum from the Lodge, and the extremely valuable Bursa fabrics from the museum collection

Matbah (Kitchen) Section

The kitchen is on the south west corner of the museum. It was built by Sultan Murat II in 1548. Until the lodge was converted to a museum in 1926 the meals were being provided from here.

This section was restored in 1990 and the display was rearranged with mannequins. Cooking, the basic function of the kitchen and the "somat" the special table routine is demonstrated with mannequins. Another such illustration was attempted, to show the other function of the kitchen which is related to the initiations of the novice, called "Nev-ni-yaz", and involves practice of Semah.

www.ktb.gov.tr/EN-113978/konya---mevlana-museum.html

This is a photograph from the annual St. Coca's AC 5KM Road Race 2013 which was held in Kilcock, Co. Kildare, Ireland at 20:00 on Friday 27th June 2013. This superb road race is now firmly established again as one of the fastest and best organised road races of it's kind in Leinster. The course is left handed and starts outside the 'Bawn Og' St. Coca's AC track. It then proceeds around a well known local walking route around Laragh and in the closing kilometer runs parallel to the Royal Canal into the finish at the railway station. The members of St. Coca's AC and the many volunteers from the local community must be given great praise for organising another fantastic night of racing for runners, joggers, and walkers. The 5KM course is very flat with the exception of short incline up a motorway overpass and makes its way along narrow country lanes sheltered on either side by hedgerows. The weather was dry and humid and this made a good evening for an enjoyable night for everyone with a large crowd gathering at the finish to cheer on participants. Over 400 people participated in the race. There was a fantastic spread of refreshments (cakes, biscuits, sandwiches and hot drinks) in the school afterwards.

We have a large set of photographs from the event today. The full set is accessible at: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157645423471903/

Timing and event management was provided by Precision Timing. Results are available on their website at www.precisiontiming.net/result/racetimer with additional material available on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/davidprecisiontiming?fref=ts) See their promotional video on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-7_TUVwJ6Q

Reading on a Smartphone or tablet? Don't forget to scroll down further to read more about this race and see important Internet links to other information about the race! You can also find out how to access and download these photographs.

Some Useful Links

2014 St. Coca's 5KM Results www.precisiontiming.net/result.aspx?v=2056

GPS Trace of the 5KM Course (course hasn't changed in a few years) connect.garmin.com/activity/194011978

St. Coca's AC Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/stcocas.ac?ref=ts&fref=ts

St. Coca's Race Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/stcocas.roadrace?ref=ts&fref=ts

Start/finish area on Google Maps [Start: www.google.ie/maps/@53.397601,-6.675909,15z Finish: goo.gl/maps/3kPKq] are all within easy access of race HQ and the local village.

Google Streetview of the Location of the Race Finish: goo.gl/maps/3kPKq

Our Flickr Photograph Set of the St. Coca's 5KM 2013: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157634382263872/

Our Flickr Photograph Set of the St. Coca's 5KM 2012: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157630347296616/

Our Flickr Photograph Set of the St. Coca's 5KM 2011: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157627042558602/

The Boards.ie Discussion Forum Thread about the Race in 2014: www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057223729

The Boards.ie Discussion Forum Thread about the Race in 2013: www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056954512

Read the Irish Heart Foundation Booklet on the "Slí na Sláinte" which the race encorporates: www.irishheart.ie/media/pub/slinaslainte/maps/kilcock.pdf

Can I use these photographs directly from Flickr on my social media account(s)?

Yes - of course you can! Flickr provides several ways to share this and other photographs in this Flickr set. You can share to: email, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, LiveJournal, and Wordpress and Blogger blog sites. Your mobile, tablet, or desktop device will also offer you several different options for sharing this photo page on your social media outlets.

We take these photographs as a hobby and as a contribution to the running community in Ireland. Our only "cost" is our request that if you are using these images: (1) on social media sites such as Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, Twitter,LinkedIn, Google+, etc or (2) other websites, blogs, web multimedia, commercial/promotional material that you must provide a link back to our Flickr page to attribute us.

This also extends the use of these images for Facebook profile pictures. In these cases please make a separate wall or blog post with a link to our Flickr page. If you do not know how this should be done for Facebook or other social media please email us and we will be happy to help suggest how to link to us.

I want to download these pictures to my computer or device?

You can download the photographic image here direct to your computer or device. This version is the low resolution web-quality image. How to download will vary slight from device to device and from browser to browser. However - look for a symbol with three dots 'ooo' or the link to 'View/Download' all sizes. When you click on either of these you will be presented with the option to download the image. Remember just doing a right-click and "save target as" will not work on Flickr.

I want get full resolution, print-quality, copies of these photographs?

If you just need these photographs for online usage then they can be used directly once you respect their Creative Commons license and provide a link back to our Flickr set if you use them. For offline usage and printing all of the photographs posted here on this Flickr set are available free, at no cost, at full image resolution.

Please email petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com with the links to the photographs you would like to obtain a full resolution copy of. We also ask race organisers, media, etc to ask for permission before use of our images for flyers, posters, etc. We reserve the right to refuse a request.

In summary please remember when requesting photographs from us - If you are using the photographs online all we ask is for you to provide a link back to our Flickr set or Flickr pages. You will find the link above clearly outlined in the description text which accompanies this photograph. Taking these photographs and preparing them for online posting does take a significant effort and time. We are not posting photographs to Flickr for commercial reasons. If you really like what we do please spread the link around your social media, send us an email, leave a comment beside the photographs, send us a Flickr email, etc. If you are using the photographs in newspapers or magazines we ask that you mention where the original photograph came from.

I would like to contribute something for your photograph(s)?

Many people offer payment for our photographs. As stated above we do not charge for these photographs. We take these photographs as our contribution to the running community in Ireland. If you feel that the photograph(s) you request are good enough that you would consider paying for their purchase from other photographic providers or in other circumstances we would suggest that you can provide a donation to any of the great charities in Ireland who do work for Cancer Care or Cancer Research in Ireland.

We use Creative Commons Licensing for these photographs

We use the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License for all our photographs here in this photograph set. What does this mean in reality?

The explaination is very simple.

Attribution- anyone using our photographs gives us an appropriate credit for it. This ensures that people aren't taking our photographs and passing them off as their own. This usually just mean putting a link to our photographs somewhere on your website, blog, or Facebook where other people can see it.

ShareAlike – anyone can use these photographs, and make changes if they like, or incorporate them into a bigger project, but they must make those changes available back to the community under the same terms.

Creative Commons aims to encourage creative sharing. See some examples of Creative Commons photographs on Flickr: www.flickr.com/creativecommons/

I ran in the race - but my photograph doesn't appear here in your Flickr set! What gives?

As mentioned above we take these photographs as a hobby and as a voluntary contribution to the running community in Ireland. Very often we have actually ran in the same race and then switched to photographer mode after we finished the race. Consequently, we feel that we have no obligations to capture a photograph of every participant in the race. However, we do try our very best to capture as many participants as possible. But this is sometimes not possible for a variety of reasons:

     ►You were hidden behind another participant as you passed our camera

     ►Weather or lighting conditions meant that we had some photographs with blurry content which we did not upload to our Flickr set

     ►There were too many people - some races attract thousands of participants and as amateur photographs we cannot hope to capture photographs of everyone

     ►We simply missed you - sorry about that - we did our best!

You can email us petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com to enquire if we have a photograph of you which didn't make the final Flickr selection for the race. But we cannot promise that there will be photograph there. As alternatives we advise you to contact the race organisers to enquire if there were (1) other photographs taking photographs at the race event or if (2) there were professional commercial sports photographers taking photographs which might have some photographs of you available for purchase. You might find some links for further information above.

Don't like your photograph here?

That's OK! We understand!

If, for any reason, you are not happy or comfortable with your picture appearing here in this photoset on Flickr then please email us at petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com and we will remove it as soon as possible. We give careful consideration to each photograph before uploading.

I want to tell people about these great photographs!

Great! Thank you! The best link to spread the word around is probably http://www.flickr.com/peterm7/sets

Detail from a painting given as a gift.

365 Days in Color 068/365

9 March 2014

Their Royal Highnesses are given a tour of Vancouver’s Immigrant Services Society during Day 2 of their visit to BC.

Learn more: news.gov.bc.ca/stories/royaltour-to-bc-dates-and-cities

Stromboli is a small island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the north coast of Sicily, containing one of the three active volcanoes in Italy. It is one of the eight Aeolian Islands, a volcanic arc north of Sicily. This name is derived from the Ancient Greek name Strongulē which was given to it because of its round swelling form. The island's population is between 400 and 850. The volcano has erupted many times and is constantly active with minor eruptions, often visible from many points on the island and from the surrounding sea, giving rise to the island's nickname "Lighthouse of the Mediterranean". The most recent major eruption was on 13 April 2009. Stromboli stands 926 m (3,034 ft) above sea level, and over 2,700 m (8,860 ft) on average above the sea floor.There are three active craters at the peak. A significant geological feature of the volcano is the Sciara del Fuoco ("Stream of fire"), a big horseshoe-shaped depression generated in the last 13,000 years by several collapses on the northwestern side of the cone. Two kilometers to the northeast lies Strombolicchio, the volcanic plug remnant of the original volcano.Mt. Stromboli has been in almost continuous eruption for the past 2,000 years. A pattern of eruption is maintained in which explosions occur at the summit craters, with mild to moderate eruptions of incandescent volcanic bombs, at intervals ranging from minutes to hours. This Strombolian eruption, as it is known, is also observed at other volcanoes worldwide. Eruptions from the summit craters typically result in a few short, mild, but energetic bursts, ranging up to a few hundred meters in height, containing ash, incandescent lava fragments and stone blocks. Mt. Stromboli's activity is almost exclusively explosive, but lava flows do occur at times when volcanic activity is high: an effusive eruption occurred in 2002, the first in 17 years, and again in 2003, 2007, and 2013-14.The two villages San Bartolo and San Vincenzo lie in the northeast while the smaller village Ginostra lies in the southwest. Administratively, they are one of the frazione of Lipari.In the early 1900s a few thousand people inhabited the island, but after several emigrations the population numbered a few hundred by the mid-1950s.

Stromboli è un'isola dell'Italia appartenente all'arcipelago delle isole Eolie, in Sicilia. Si tratta di un vulcano attivo facente parte dell'Arco Eoliano. Posta nel bacino Tirreno del mare Mediterraneo occidentale, l'isola è la più settentrionale delle Eolie e si estende su una superficie di 12,2 km².L'edificio vulcanico è alto 926 m s.l.m. e raggiunge una profondità compresa tra 1300 m e 2400 m al di sotto del livello del mare. Stromboli ha una persistente attività esplosiva ed è uno dei vulcani più attivi del mondo. A poche centinaia di metri a nord-est dell'isola di Stromboli si trova il neck di Strombolicchio, residuo di un antico camino vulcanico. L'isolotto ospita un faro della Marina, disabitato e automatizzato.Lo Stromboli è un vulcano esplosivo e le sue eruzioni avvengono con una frequenza media di circa una ogni ora. La sua attività "ordinaria" ha luogo ad una quota di 750 m s.l.m. dalle diverse bocche eruttive presenti nell'area craterica e allineate in direzione NE-SW. Tale attività consiste in esplosioni intermittenti di media energia, della durata di pochi secondi ad intervalli di 10–20 minuti, durante le quali vengono emesse piccole quantità di bombe scoriacee incandescenti, lapilli, cenere e blocchi, con velocità di uscita compresa tra 20 a 120 metri al secondo ed altezze comprese tra poche decine fino ad alcune centinaia di metri. L'attività eruttiva è associata ad un degassamento pressoché continuo dall'area craterica, il cui volume stimato è di 6000-12000 t/gi, e che consiste principalmente di H2O (3200-6300 t/g), CO2 (2900-5800 t/g), SO2 (400-800 t/g) e quantità minori di HCl e HF.Periodi di totale inattività, senza lanci di materiale, sono piuttosto rari. Il più lungo tra quelli registrati si è protratto per circa due anni, dal 1908 al 1910. Periodi di prolungata quiescenza, della durata di qualche mese, sono stati registrati più volte.

L'attività normale può essere periodicamente interrotta da esplosioni di maggiore energia, dette "esplosioni maggiori". Questi eventi consistono di brevi ma violente esplosioni, durante le quali vengono prodotti lanci balistici di blocchi e bombe di dimensioni anche metriche a distanze di alcune centinaia di metri, associati a piogge di lapilli e cenere; la distribuzione dei prodotti è solitamente confinata all'interno dell'area craterica. Sono distribuite non omogeneamente nel tempo, ma si tratta mediamente di 2,1 eventi ogni anno.

Le eruzioni stromboliane più violente mai accadute in tempi storici risalgono al 1919 e al 1930, ed entrambe (pare) furono causate da grandi infiltrazioni d'acqua marina nel camino vulcanico: il magma, a contatto con l'acqua, avrebbe causato violente esplosioni con grande emissione di vapori e scorie, accompagnate da violenti terremoti. Per la prima e finora unica volta nella storia del vulcano, delle colate laviche si riversarono anche al di fuori della Sciara del Fuoco, arrivando a lambire i centri abitati (Piscità fu sfiorata ad appena 20 metri), causando ingenti danni e numerose vittime, e causando un piccolo tsunami che generò un'onda di 2–3 m che arrivò a far danni fino a Capo Vaticano, in Calabria.I parossismi rappresentano le manifestazioni più energetiche del vulcano di Stromboli; consistono in violente ed improvvise esplosioni "tipo cannonata", durante le quali avviene l'emissione sostenuta di scorie incandescenti, ceneri, bombe e blocchi litici a distanze considerevoli, fino ad interessare le zone abitate dell'isola. Tali esplosioni possono produrre nubi convettive che raggiungono quote di 10 km. Durante i parossismi sono emessi volumi sensibilmente maggiori di materiali rispetto alle eruzioni normali e a quelle maggiori e frequentemente possono avvenire profonde modificazioni dell'area craterica. L'ultimo evento parossistico è avvenuto il 15 marzo 2007 all'interno dell'eruzione di febbraio-aprile 2007.Il 27 febbraio 2007, con un'iniziale effusione di lava dal cratere di NE, durata alcune ore e seguita dall'apertura di una bocca effusiva nella Sciara del Fuoco, a quota 400 m s.l.m. circa. Il 9 marzo 2007 si è aperta una seconda bocca sempre sulla Sciara del Fuoco, ma posizionata a circa 500 m s.l.m.; l'attività di questa bocca è stata comunque breve (circa 24 ore). Il 2 aprile 2007 è infine terminata anche l'effusione di lava dalla bocca di quota 400 m s.l.m. Il 4 maggio 2009 il vulcano ha ripreso l'attività eruttiva.

Nell'ultimo secolo sono riportati circa 26 episodi durante i quali si sono avute emissioni laviche. I prodotti emessi sono rappresentati principalmente da colate di spessore variabile; la morfologia del vulcano obbliga le colate di lava a riversarsi sul versante nord-occidentale, dove sono confinate all'interno della Sciara di Fuoco e quindi non rappresentano un pericolo per la popolazione dell'isola. Le colate fuoriescono generalmente attraverso fratture eruttive nella zona craterica o all'interno della Sciara del Fuoco, ma possono generarsi anche per tracimazione dal bordo craterico.La storia geologica dell'isola di Stromboli comincia circa 200.000 anni fa, quando un primo vulcano attivo di grandi dimensioni emerge dal mare, in posizione NE rispetto all'isola; di questo vulcano antico rimane soltanto il condotto solidificato (neck) rappresentato da Strombolicchio (vedi sotto).Il vero e proprio vulcano di Stromboli emerge dal mare circa 160.000 anni fa. Inizialmente i centri di emissione sono nella parte meridionale dell'isola, dove affiorano le unità più antiche appartenenti ai complessi del Paleostromboli I e II.Circa 35.000 anni fa il centro di emissione migra leggermente verso nord e le emissioni di lava e i depositi piroclastici legati a eruzioni esplosive danno origine ad un cono che raggiunge quota 700 m s.l.m. (Paleostromboli III).Le fasi successive della storia di Stromboli vedono la formazione ed il collasso calderico di vari edifici vulcanici. In particolare, a circa 34.600 anni fa risale il complesso eruttivo di Scari, osservabile presso Scari e a sud del paese sotto forma di spesse sequenze di bombe vulcaniche, lapilli e lahar. Mentre successivo (circa 26.000 anni fa) è il complesso del Vancori, caratterizzato da depositi piroclastici e basalti shoshonitici. In questa fase, la cima del vulcano era occupata probabilmente da una grande caldera. Il ciclo Scari-Vancori si conclude con il collasso laterale (una grande frana) del settore occidentale e nordoccidentale dell'edificio vulcanico.La fase successiva, a partire da circa 13.800 anni fa, vede la ricostruzione dell'edificio nel settore nordoccidentale. Il nuovo centro eruttivo, detto Neostromboli, è ubicato a nord del costone dei Vancori. Contemporaneamente, alcuni centri eruttivi secondari danno origine al "Timpone del Fuoco" presso Ginostra, alle lave di San Bartolo e di San Vincenzo.All'incirca tra 10000 e 5000 anni fa il settore nordoccidentale subisce nuovi collassi laterali (frane), lasciando una profonda depressione a forma di ferro di cavallo che si estende dalla cima fino ad una profondità di circa 2.000 m sotto il livello del mare: la Sciara del Fuoco. Lentamente la depressione viene riempita da materiale piroclastico e colate di lava. Il centro eruttivo attuale è rappresentato da un grande cono piroclastico che si trova nella parte sommitale della Sciara del Fuoco, a quota inferiore rispetto al Pizzo Sopra la Fossa, ed è caratterizzato, come detto sopra, dalla presenza di tre crateri allineati parallelamente alla Sciara, in direzione NE-SW.

Stromboli è nota, frequentata ed abitata fin dall'antichità remota, e la sua economia si è sempre fondata sulle produzioni agricole tipicamente mediterranee: olivo, vite (malvasia coltivato basso in giardini terrazzati), fichi - e poi sulla pesca e sulla marineria. Fino al XIX secolo questa economia fu fiorente e Stromboli arrivò a contare circa 2700 abitanti, precisamente nel 1891, secondo i dati ufficiali a disposizione (fonte Mastriani e ISTAT ).Il peggioramento delle condizioni economiche seguito all'unità d'Italia, il ripetersi di eruzioni e terremoti (in particolare l'eruzione del 1930) e infine l'attacco della peronospora che negli anni trenta sterminò la più redditizia coltura locale, quella della vite, fecero sì che una grandissima maggioranza degli strombolani prendesse la via dell'emigrazione, soprattutto verso l'Australia e l'America e l'isola rischiò seriamente di restare abbandonata.Venne riscoperta dopo la guerra da Roberto Rossellini che, con il film del 1949 Stromboli terra di Dio (con protagonista femminile la giovane Ingrid Bergman), portò l'isola e la sua straordinarietà all'attenzione del pubblico.Il vulcano è chiamato dai suoi abitanti (gli stombolani) Struògnoli, o anche Iddu (Lui in siciliano), in riferimento alla natura divina che un tempo era attribuita ai fenomeni naturali incontrollabili.Il nome proviene dal greco antico Στρογγύλη (rotondo) per via della sua forma. In siciliano strummulu significa trottola.Stromboli dà il nome a un tipo di vulcani caratterizzati da un'attività vulcanica effusiva detta Stromboliana.I principali borghi abitati sono San Vincenzo (o semplicemente il paese di Stromboli, anticamente era borgo degli agricoltori) con l'approdo storico di Scari, Piscità e Ficogrande, che anticamente era il borgo degli armatori.A sudovest, raggiungibile solo via mare, c'è Ginostra dove d'inverno restano circa 30 o 40 abitanti e dove l'unico mezzo di trasporto è il mulo.A Stromboli c'è una scuola elementare e media per i pochi ragazzi abitanti dell'isola. Dopo le scuole solitamente i ragazzi vanno a Lipari dove sono presenti alcune scuole secondarie di secondo grado.Da Napoli, Lipari, Milazzo e Messina Stromboli è raggiungibile col traghetto e, d'estate, anche in aliscafo da Messina, Reggio Calabria, Vibo Valentia e Tropea.Il flusso turistico verso l'isola, che costituisce la principale risorsa economica di Stromboli, fino agli anni settanta fu rappresentato soprattutto da persone alla ricerca di un ambiente particolare, naturale ed integro e non privo di scomodità come mancanza di elettricità, scarsità d'acqua. Nei decenni successivi le scomodità sono molto diminuite e il turismo è molto cresciuto, anche se resta limitato prevalentemente ai mesi centrali estivi.L'isola è meta di turisti in cerca di tranquillità: anche per questo nei locali dell'isola è vietato diffondere musica oltre le due di notte.Giornalmente, inoltre, si organizzano escursioni al vulcano con guide esperte, che portano ad oltre 900 metri sul livello del mare. Tramite imbarcazioni è inoltre possibile raggiungere nelle ore notturne la vicina e movimentata Panarea, lo scoglio di Strombolicchio e Ginostra, caratteristica località sull'isola di Stromboli dove l'unico mezzo di trasporto sono i muli (ne sono presenti una decina in tutto) e che è irraggiungibile per via terrestre dall'altra parte abitata dell'isola.Stromboli è anche meta, seppur in misura minore, di molti giovani, che si recano nei locali e nelle feste sulla spiaggia periodicamente organizzate nella stagione estiva.Caratteristica dell'isola, oltre alle stradine strette percorribili solo dal motocarro e dai motorini elettrici, che i turisti affittano sull'isola stessa, è la mancata illuminazione notturna nelle strade, che il Comune a cui l'isola fa riferimento, ovvero quello di Lipari, vuol mantenere come importante attrattiva turistica. Dall'Osservatorio, infine, si può vedere la lava del vulcano, l'unico delle Isole Eolie perennemente in attività e il cielo stellato evidenziato dalla mancanza di illuminazione.Durante la stagione turistica partono imbarcazioni per permettere ai turisti di fare il bagno presso lo scoglio di Strombolicchio.

Font : Wikipedia

OK, wow, something truly special - probably my top pick for Hot Toys figure in 2018. Believe you me, it was a tough choice given the competition but what clinched it for me was the fact I only bought one figure this year.

Like I said, it was a very hard choice for me to make in choosing a winner of this prestigious award.

So I finally cracked it open and did a thorough evaluation like I usually do, and gathered my thoughts in written word, right here, to share with the world.

So this figure is of course Wonder Woman, specifically the one released for the Justice League line, and is the Deluxe version which comes with a pimp cloak and a scale Mother Box. While very pretty and ornate, I honesty have no idea how one would incorporate the thing into their display, and I don't have any idea as to why it's so damn heavy either.

By now, if you actually cared, I'm sure you've read all the horrible nasty things people have said on line about how her sculpt wasn't as accurate as the Training Armour version, and that this is the worst thing since sliced bread because of this fact. My response is as follows:

FUCK OFF. SERIOUSLY.

Now, don't get me wrong. This sculpt doesn't look perfectly like Gal Gadot, or even the Training Armour version. But the painstaking detail into which people went show how "bad" the thing was, and lets not forget Nosegate where people showed the nose on this sculpt was longer than the Training Armour version. All-in-all, it was witch hunt, plain and simple.

Is this the greatest Hot Toys ever made? Dear Lord no, not even close, but it doesn't fail because of the way the sculpt looks. The final release resembled the prototype very, very closely, which is what I was expecting. I honestly don't get why people thought the final product would look like Gadot, given the fact the prototype didn't look like her in the first place.

OK, enough with the rant here. Lets move on.

So Wonder Woman comes with her shield, sword, leader harness thing, two sets of bracers (normal and glowing), a single armlet, several Lasso of Truths (one coiled, two unraveled), a stand, and a variety of hands. She's also rocking a seamless body, which is somewhat of a new thing for me.

If you're unfamiliar with the concept, a seamless body is pretty much a metal skeleton with a rubber suit around it. Naturally, something like this means that articulation will be limited. Now, I'm not exactly a posing genius, but even I found that the limits imposed were a bit severe. You can't really raise her arm about her shoulders, and don't even THINK about doing her trademark arms crossed pose, which really makes the glowing bracers kind of pointless.

If you read the manual, pretty much anything fun you want to do will damage the figure, so you're pretty much limited to museum poses, or at most, re-enacting the Coincedance video.

On the plus side, the body aesthetically has improve dramatically since the days of Ada Wong from RE5, with excellent muscle definition, including some veins on her forearms. I still feel her bust line is too low, something that seems to be a problem with most of the Hot Toys female releases, though in this case I think it's also because they recycled the body from the first Wonder Woman release.

Joints in this figure are tight, probably because it's new and also because the rubber suit is providing some really strong resistance to movement.

Other than the sword and the shield, the other accessories included (except the cloak, I guess) are pretty much nice to have, but ultimately don't really add a whole lot to the figure due to the limited articulation. The various dynamic lassos can't really be pose into anything exciting, same with the bullet effects, and of course the Mother Box.

Speaking of the Mother Box, that thing is pretty, but is pretty much a paper weight. Damn heavy too.

I do like the cloak. It adds some nice character to the figure, and is very well made. It also lets me recreate an iconic look from a movie I have yet to see.

So articulation aside, what killed this figure for me was the piss poor design of attaching the shield to her back. Two little plastic hook things? Bad, bad, bad, bad idea, Hot Toys.

Try a little harder next time.

So that is my mini review of Wonder Woman. I think she looks great, but in terms of being an action figure is severely limited due to her body. Still, Wonder Woman has great shelf presence, especially since this version doesn't look like a lifeless blowup doll.

Given the nearing deadline for lightweight service buses to be fully DDA compliant the number of Mercedes-Benz minibuses still in use has declined sharply over the past few years, therefore I was quite surprised to find this elderly example parked in the back streets of Leek. K424ARW is a Wright Nimbus bodied Mercedes-Benz 811D which is owned by small operator Hamps Valley Coaches of Winkhill, nr Leek, its main duty seemingly being the 329 school service - wherever that may go, 20/09/2013.

Does anyone know whose livery it wears?

Mr T Given was a Clockmaker/Watchmaker Recorded Working in Ipswich Queensland, The Clean Up is progressing slowly but it is looking good now. The Key for this had Railway Store Ipswich cut into it. I bought it as a Longcase Movement but after delivery discovered its true purpose, A very rare Tower or Turret Clock Movement, 6 x spoke crossing out of wheels and pallets span 10 teeth, An Irish/Australian Colonial Clockmaker who

signed his work! This link to To an article in Trove Saturday March 6 1864 for Mr Given Clockmaker.

trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/123607476............

1/2 way down the page.

This is a substantial part of my proof he was a Colonial Clockmaker, I can also document via Ancestry.com that Thomas Given (AKA Givin) came from Limvady, Derry, Ireland b 1825. Arrived Australia about 1850 and settled in Ipswich where he was a Jeweler and Watchmaker, Died 5th January 1890 at his home. This will get the full treatment over the next 12 Months and be cased in a Australian Cedar and Silky Oak Case to show it off. The Movement is Dated 1865.

Given the tenuous links many published English Clockmakers/Blacksmiths have to this title, on the available evidence I am quite satisfied with awarding Mr Thomas Given the Title of Irish/Australian Clockmaker. Co-incidentally, The Railway Yard at Ipswich was commissioned in 1865, what a busy year for Thomas Given.

You will note there is a reversal of the 6 in the date (mirror image), this is repeated on the Time Setting Dial on the rear of the Movement so it is no accident, it was done purposely perhaps a quirk of his, He was Irish. You only get one "6" which is also used as the 9 in a stamp set, you have to deliberately make a mirror image 6, I did find out that his Nephew William was a Compositor (William Died in 1865 whist living in the home of Mr Given) did he make the errant mirror stamp "6" for his Uncle, he co-incidentally died at 20 years of age in 1865, only a compositor would have a use for a mirror image 6.

Thomas Given Was Also the Mayor of Ipswich Twice, both times by default, he was appointed by the Government to fill the vacant Mayoral position in Ipswich after the death of Francis North in 1864. He occupied this seat until the next election when John Pettigrew was elected as Mayor. The other time was due to a resignation, He was never Mayor Elect. Documented as Alderman of Ipswich in 1863 and 1865. “The intersection of Brisbane and Nicholas Streets was known in the early days as ‘Given’s Corner’

Co-incidentally a Penny Trading Coin Token was struck by John Pettigrew in 1865 for his Company in Ipswich.

Photos on my flickr Site are The Property of and Copyright to Graeme Power

powerclocks@hotmail.com The use of this image without my consent in writing is denied.

I am happy to converse with like minded souls on any subject but I do not give out Serial numbers for any Clocks on my site, if you ask I will not reply.

If used, credit must be given to the United Soybean Board or the Soybean Checkoff.

This magnificent huge male Sumatran Orangutan is often quite shy and stays out of sight from the often very noisy human visitors - but sometimes he will come right up close.

Here, only a pane of glass separates us.

So these shots came out quite well, given it was through glass, absolutely smeared with many handprints, and lots of kids standing right up to the glass, blocking the view for others.

The Orangutans act with far more dignity that many of the human visitors.

Once widespread throughout the forests of Asia, orang-utans are now confined to just two islands, Sumatra and Borneo. There are two genetically distinct species: the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) and the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus). The two species show slightly different physical characteristics. Sumatran orangutans have lighter hair and a longer beard than their Bornean relatives, and Sumatran males have narrower cheekpads. Both species are highly endangered due to habitat loss and poaching.

The orangutan is one of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom, sharing 96.4% of our DNA. Indigenous peoples of Indonesia and Malaysia call this ape "Orang Hutan" which literally translates as "Person of the Forest".

Orangutans are unique in many respects. They are the only Great Ape in Southeast Asia, and indeed the only Great Ape found outside Africa. They are the only "red" ape, and the only strictly arboreal ape, meaning that they spend their lives in the forest canopy, even building nests in the trees in which to sleep. The other Great Apes (chimpanzees, bonobos and gorillas) do climb and build nests in the trees, but tend to spend their lives on the ground.

Orangutans primarily eat fruit, and spend up to 60% of their time foraging and eating in order to get enough energy.

Orangutans are highly intelligent and gentle animals. They use tools in the wild and have excellent memories to make mental maps of their forest home in order to find fruiting trees throughout the seasons.

Females can grow to 1.3 metres in height and weigh about 45kg. The males are larger, growing to 1.8 metres tall and weighing up to 120kg.

Physical description

Sumatran orang-utans have a long red/ginger coat. They have long facial hair, unlike their Bornean counterparts. Orang-utans are the largest arboreal (tree-living) mammals. Males may not develop cheek pouches and throat sacks until they are 20 years old and even then it may not happen at all.

Orangutans breed more slowly than any other primate, with the female producing a baby on average only once every 7-8 years. Infants are dependent on their mothers for at least five years, learning about survival in the forest. Orangutans live for around 45 years in the wild, and a female will usually have no more than 3 offspring in her lifetime. This means that orangutan populations grow very slowly, and take a long time to recover from habitat disturbance and hunting.Melbourne Zoo has set up a forest of poles for the orangutans and gibbons to use, simulating a real wooded forest. This sort of forest has been pioneered for use in Sumatra in special reserves set up as rehabilitation centres for injured, sick or orphaned orang-utans to build up survival skills before being released back into the wild.

Sumatran orang-utans are more sociable than their Bornean relatives, due in part to the mast fruiting of the fig trees, where large groups come together to feed. Orang-utans are long-lived and females tend to only give birth after they reach 15 years of age. The infant spends its first two to three years being carried constantly and will still remain close to the mother for at least another three years. The interval between births is the longest for any mammal and may be as long as eight years. Orang-utans move slowly through the trees, and will sway trees in order to cross larger gaps. Nights are spent in nests built high up in the canopy, constructed from branches and leaves.

The main threat to the Orangutan is habitat loss, as rainforest is cut down for timber logging or cleared for human settlement.

Because of increased availability, the diet of Sumatran orang-utans has a higher percentage of pulpy fruit and figs compared to that of Bornean orang-utans.

Royal Melbourne Zoo, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

12/07/2023. Ladies European Tour 2023. Aramco Team Series Presented by PIF, London, Centurion Club, St Albans, England . 14-16 July. Ellie Givens of England during a practice round. Credit: Tristan Jones/ LET

Given away by the huge ears

Begining a search.

More than 40 Special Constables have today (17/5/13) given up their day job to help Greater Manchester Police as part of Give & Gain Day 2013.

The national day will see more than 11,000 employees across the UK donate their time to help out the communities they live or work in.

Specials taking part in the day have been given a day’s paid annual leave to support the day of action and their bosses have been invited to see what they do first hand.

Businesses supporting the national day include Tesco, Inspire 2 Independence (i2i) Ltd, Willmott Dixon Construction, AKW, Trafford Park, Lloyds Banking Group, NHS Blood & Transplant Service, Ofsted, Dept of Work Pensions, Bury Council, Asda Pilsworth and BT.

Specials working on the day are taking part in a variety of different tasks including warrants, an ANPR operation and burglary initiative.

Chief Superintendent Nick Adderley, programme director for the Special Constabulary, said: “Every day I’m blown away by the dedication, commitment and good work being done by our Special Constables to keep communities safe.

“These are people who want to make a real difference to the area which is commendable in itself but when you add to this the fact that they are giving up their spare time and aren’t being paid, I have nothing but the uttermost respect for them.

“Being a Special Constable enables individuals to gain hands on experience in dealing with challenging situations that they might not encounter in any other career. This helps to improve confidence, develop communication skills and manage conflict, which can help them in both their personal and professional lives.

“I’m delighted to take part in Give & Gain Day 2013 and would like to extend a personal thank you to the organisations that have allowed their staff to take a day off to help make Greater Manchester a safer place to live, work and visit.”

Simon Butcher, Director of Operations of Willmott Dixon Construction Northern said: “As an organisation we recognise the significant contribution that specials make in the policing of Greater Manchester and the significant personal risks it brings in protecting the public and serving the community.

“At Willmott Dixon we are always happy to support whether that be at an event like today or time off work for duties and training. Furthermore we recognise the significant benefits it brings to both individuals and company. Chief Inspector Mike Walmsley is one of our ‘Top Flight’ Project Managers and I have no doubts that Mike’s career with Willmott Dixon has benefited by the experience and training he has received in his voluntary role with the Specials.

“I am very much looking forward to spending a day in the life of a Special Constable and witnessing with my own eyes the marvellous work that these people carry out.”

Special Constable Oliver Mayall, who is being supported by his employer Inspire 2 Independence (i2i), said: "I joined the Special Constabulary because I wanted to give something back to my community. However, my experiences in the challenging role of a volunteer police officer have also enabled me to further develop my own skills and abilities.

"My paid employer is supporting me in this day of action by giving me the day off to undertake policing duties within the communities of Manchester. This makes me feel fulfilled as an employee, as it shows that I work for an organisation that is not only supportive of my own personal development, but also keen to contribute towards increasing public safety and confidence within Greater Manchester.”

To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website.

www.gmp.police.uk

You should call 101, the new national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

Given the Mayan's have decreed today to be the end of the world, the boys decided a feathered headdress in their honor would be appropriate.

It does give Zachary...

Daily Dog Challenge 416. "A Sense of Grandeur"

Our Daily Challenge - Dec 20, 2012 - "Apotheosis"

… don't you think?

Stop on by Zachary and Henry's blog: bztraining.blogspot.com

In 2003 Nismo was given the approval from Nissan to build Z-tune models for the Nismo anniversary. Nismo then purchased 20 used R34 GT-R V.specs, each with less than 18,000 miles (29,000 km) on the clock, they were then completely stripped and were resprayed to a "Z-tune Silver," a special color exclusively for the Z-tune. For each of the 20 production models, the 2.8 L engine was revised to allow it to reach 8000 rpm. The turbochargers were supplied by IHI in Japan. The engine is advertised as making as much as 370 kW (500 hp) (for warranty reasons). This second revision of the Z-tune engine is called the 'Z2'. The bodywork is designed with the same functional components used in Nismo's GT500 racing cars, such as engine bay vents on the hood and fenders, as well as wider fenders for wider wheels. The Z-tune is also improved with an aggressive suspension setup from Sachs, and a specially designed Brembo hand brake system.

The entire car is essentially handmade, with the car being completely stripped and re-built from the chassis up. Engineers reinforced and stiffened the chassis seam welding in key areas such as the door seams and door frames and added carbon fiber to the strut towers and transmission tunnel and the engine bay, completely redesigning the suspension, drivetrain, engine, gearbox and other components so as to work at maximum efficiency and reliability as is expected of a road-going vehicle. Although Nismo planned on building 20 cars, they ceased production on only 19 (including 2 prototypes). The Z-tune is often regarded as the most expensive (prices for some have been known to exceed US$180,000) street legal GT-R ever built.

This is the 1/18 scale diecast model by AUTOart finished in Bayside Blue Metallic.

"And you can see them there, on Sunday morning. Stand up and sing about what it's like up there. They call it paradise ... I don't know why".

The Eagles "The Last Resort".

-30-

Best viewed with Full Screen option. Press 'F' key if you like this photo. © All rights reserved. Please do not use or repost images, sole property of Thuncher Photography.

Asian Heritage Foundation's Jiyo is organizing a 4-day long handicraft and designer’s exhibition at The Ashok, Chanakyapuri. It is also hosting South Asia's first food exhibition named Sanjha Chulha, curated by Dr. Pushpesh Panth to promote the incredible variety of local and regional cuisines of South Asia showcasing the diversity of culinary art.

After hovering around the Lotus Bazaar (the handicraft market) for 10-15 minutes, we landed up at the nicely decorated interior of The Audh, one of the best restaurants of The Ashok, for an interaction session with chef Rajan Loomba.

Rajan Loomba, senior executive chef of The Ashok, who has been attached to the hotel for a very long time, explained how culinary arts have evolved rapidly in recent years. "Eating out was a rare thing in our boyhood. Wedding parties were perhaps the only means of eating out at that time", Chef Loomba continued, "Now a days the growing usage of mobile phones and internet has given a boom to this industry. Growing number of foodies and food blogging websites are also playing a enormous role here." Then moving on to the concept of Sanjha Chulha, which literarily means Community Kitchen, Chef clarified that despite political barriers how people from SAARC countries are trying to connect through art and culture. This festival is another step towards that. Chef mentioned that once you leave Asia, people hardly recognize cuisine of these 9 countries separately as the basic flavor and spices used are very similar in these places. "Look how people from Bangladesh are selling food in the street using Indian names", Mr. Loomba cited. "Diversity is there, but somehow we are connected somewhere" and this food festival is an attempt to explore that connection. When we asked how they select a few dishes given such a wide range of dishes available in these countries, Chef told that they made a selection from the dishes they can make using the available resources on the basis of feedback received over several buffet parties. They got a huge help from embassies to stitch together recipes and make them even better. Here Mr. Loomba shared a beautiful memory about how they got one of their very special dishes Irani Raita, a usual Raita with raisins, honey and peeled cucumber skin from Late Usha Narayanan, wife of 10th President of India, Late K.R. Narayanan.

Meantime we got to taste a few dishes: Mutton Kebab, Momo, Murg Rihana, Anda Keema Kaleji, Afgani Shorba, Coconut Naan, Rice, Haleem etc. Items were light and tasted good. Chef specially mentioned two dishes: Murg Rihana and Haleem. "Murg Rihanna is a different take on Butter Chicken ", Mr. Loomba continued "and spices of Halim are bought by one delegate from Pakistan". Specialty of the Halim is that they put chicken instead of mutton in it, which is a new concept to me. Coconut Naan along with juicy Shorba (light mutton stew) melted in our mouth. Spice level of all dishes are kept at the minimum level as their usual visitors are very health conscious. As an example Chef mentioned health consciousness of our PM Mr. Modi who wanted cookies without butter and how team of Chefs had a brainstorming session to solve it.

Given to us by someone claiming she had already cleaned it.

Given a boat we might've bagged that pot of gold!

I’d deliberately given myself about an hour between trains at the Gare du Nord this evening, hoping that I’d be able to pop across to Montmartre and catch the Paris skyline at golden hour before check-in for the Eurostar closed. I made it, but with so little time to explore before having to hurry back that I couldn’t find a position from where the Eiffel Tower was visible; as a result, the picture is perhaps not so obviously of Paris (at least to the outsider). Also, not only does the image lack that most distinctive landmark of the Paris skyline, but those others that it does contain aren’t particularly well-composed, either... I should’ve given myself longer for this.

22nd October 2011 — FRA, Île-de-France

Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Afternoon Tea - The name given to the British meal taken mid-afternoon, comprising finger sandwiches, scones, cakes and pastries accompanied by tea.

Assam - A region in northeastern India, known for its robust, high quality teas characterized by their smooth round, malty flavor.

Black Tea - Tea that has been fired or dried after the fermentation or oxidization period of manufacture.

Ceylon - Blends of teas grown on the island of Sri Lanka which take their name from the colonial name of the island. The traditional name of Sri Lanka was readopted by the island when it became a sovereign republic in the British Commonwealth in 1972.

Darjeeling - A tea growing area in north India on the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains. Teas grown here take their name from the area and are said to be the 'champagne' of Indian teas. Grown at altitudes up to 7,000 ft. above sea level, Darjeeling tea is known as a high-grown tea and is light in coloring with a delicate, muscatel flavor and aroma. The original tea planted in this area was grown from seeds and plants imported from China.

Earl Grey - A black China tea treated with the oil of bergamot which gives the tea a slightly orange aroma and taste. It was said to have been blended for and named after the second Earl Grey (1764-1845) while he was prime minister of Britain (1830-1834) by a Chinese mandarin following the success of a British diplomatic mission to China.

English Breakfast Tea - A name for the tea blend which originally applied to China Congou tea in the United States of America; in Britain it was a name applied to a blend of teas from India and Sri Lanka. Today this tea is a blend of black teas producing a full-bodied strong flavored colorful tea.

Grade - Term used to describe a tea leaf or particle size of leaf.

Gunpowder - Normally a China tea, but today this could be any young tea, which is rolled into a small pellet-size ball then dried. The finished tea has a greyish appearance not unlike gunpowder in color, which is how the tea got its name.

High Tea - The name given to a meal served late afternoon/early evening, which is a mixture of afternoon tea and dinner. The meal comprises a main dish, sometimes a pudding or dessert served with bread and butter, and cakes and tea. High Tea was the main meal for farming and working classes in Britain in the past.

Hoochow - A China green tea.

Lapsang Souchong - A black tea from China (and today also from Formosa), which is smoked to give it a smoky or tarry flavor and aroma.

Oolong - A semi-fermented or semi-green tea produced in China and Formosa.

Pan-fired - A kind of Japan tea that is steamed then rolled in iron pans over charcoal fires.

Russian Tea - The name given to a glass of hot tea liquor which is poured into the glass over a slice of lemon. Sometimes sugar or honey is added. In some countries, this type of tea drink is known as lemon tea. The name comes from the Russian way of taking tea.

Scented Tea - Green semi-fermented or black teas that have been flavored by the additions of flowers, flower petals, fruits, spices or natural oils. Examples of these are Jasmine Tea, Rose Puchong, Orange Tea, Cinnamon Tea or Earl Grey.

Smoky Tea - Black tea from China or Formosa that has been smoked over a wood fire such as in the case of Lapsang Souchong.

Specialty Tea - A blend of teas that takes its name from the area in which it is grown; a blend of teas blended for a particular person or event, or a blend of teas for a particular time of day.

Tannin - The name the tea trade worldwide gives to polyphenols contained in tea. Polyphenols are responsible for the pungency of tea and gives it its taste.

Tea Factory - Factory where the plucked leaf is made or manufactured into black or green tea.

Tea Taster - An expert judge of leaf and cup quality tea at all stages of production, brokerage blending and final packaging.

Tip - The bud leaves on a tea bush.

Twankay - A low grade China green tea. This word was corrupted Twanky, which was applied to the men manning the ships bringing tea back from China. These ships often foundered on reaching the British coast and the bodies of Twankys would be washed ashore to be found by their widows - hence the name given to the Aladdin character 'Widow Twanky' by a Victorian impresario.

Wikipedia says:

Kuntur Wasi (Quechua kuntur condor, wasi house, "condor house") is the name given to the ruins of a religious center with complex architecture and stone sculptures, located in the Andean highlands of Peru.

It is believed the inhabitants had a link with the Chavín culture.

Kuntur Wasi is located in the Northern Mountain Range of Peru, specifically at the headwaters of the Jequetepeque River, in the region of the city of Cajamarca near the small town of San Pablo. The Jequetepeque valley provided a transportation corridor between the coastal region and the highlands.

Kuntur Wasi was a center where people congregated.

It is thought to have been constructed around 1000-700 BCE, during the Initial Period. The architecture consists of a hill-top temple, quadrangular platforms, a sunken courtyard, and series of rooms.

In the floor of one room there is an anthropomorphic figure made of clay, about 30 inches (75 cm) in height. It is painted with cinnabar red, malachite green, and black, yellow, and pink. Its face has big square eyes and a wide mouth with prominent canine teeth. There are also stepped platforms and funeral structures.

Lithosculptures have been found, similar to the Chavín style.

Kuntur Wasi was occupied between the years 1200-50 BC.

It was first discovered in 1945 by Julio C. Tello. In 1989, scientists from the University of Tokyo excavated four tombs at Kuntur Wasi. Valuable items, such as pectoral necklaces (decorative breastplates), gold crowns, ornamental stone beads, earrings, sets of dishes and iconographies of people were discovered in the burial area.

Since the beginning of the University of Tokyo's archaeological mission, eight tombs have been found in the area.

The Kuntur Wasi Museum, managed by local citizens, opened in 1994.

---------------

Según Wikipedia:

Kuntur Wasi es un sitio arqueológico que data del Formativo Inferior, se encuentra ubicado en el centro poblado del mismo nombre, en la provincia de San Pablo, en el departamento de Cajamarca, en el Perú.

En la lengua quechua Kuntur Wasi significa "Casa del Cóndor". Según el arqueológo japonés, Yoshio Onuki, estudioso principal de este sitio arqueológico, Kuntur Wasi es una expresión prechavín pero que posteriormente posee una gran influencia no solo de Chavín sino también de Cupisnique especialmente en la orfebrería y la cerámica.

Kuntur Wasi pasó por los siguientes periodos:

Fase Ídolo: Construcción del centro ceremonial con pisos enlucidos con cal de color blanco. En esta fase hay una cierta relación con Huacaloma y Pacopampa.

Fase Kuntur: Construcción de un nuevo complejo ceremonial en forma de U. Se desarrolla la cerámica fina y la orfebrería.

Fase Copa: Modificación del complejo arquitectónico ceremonial y la renovación del sistema de canales de drenaje.

Fase Sotera: Existe una relación con la Fase Layzón del valle de Cajamarca. Corresponde a la decadencia de Kuntur Wasi.

06/05/2014 Ladies European Tour. Turkish Airlines Ladies Open 2014. National Golf Club, Belek Antalya. Turkey May 8-11 2014. Chole Leurquin Lucy Williams, Ellie GIvens and Patricia Sanz during the welcome party at the National Golf Club. Credit: LET/Tristan Jones

Ive just given in and changed my Facebook page to the new timeline layout, seems everyone else is, so I thought id better catch up! Its taken me ages to figure it out, and even longer to decide on a 'cover photo', but this is the one I finally decided on, so as I havnt been out shooting for what seems like an eternity, I thought id post it again on here, just so you all know im still alive :o)

This sunset was captured on our way back from our incredible outback adventure....we were virtually out of petrol, and bloody miles from anywhere, but still we stopped, and actually turned round at one point, to go back and capture this....we knew we shouldnt, and running out of petrol was a REAL possibility....something you just dont want to do in the outback, in the middle of nowhere, especially in an area where some touritst murdering nutter had been on the loose...but being the pair of 'addicts' that we are, we threw caution to the wind, felt the fear, and did it anyway :o)

These colours are as were, and SO worth the risk, and it has to be said, also worth the moodiness and the ever so slightly cross words in the car on the way home, due to the over tiredness of such a long non stop drive, him muttering those 3 little words " ITS A RABBIT!" (you had to be there) and the stress in general of the whole situation lol

Given to me by my sister Julia, from a museum.

The cubes flip around, to show various scenes when in cube or rectangle form.

The white bit in front is part of a nude bathing Geisha

We were given an old girls Ross bike from the 70s and it was trashed. I wanted to get rid of it, but Chloë had a vision.

We stripped it down to the frame and cleaned it up. Replaced the crank with a BMX one, used a mustache bar I had, replaced the chain, bought a freewheel cog for the rear.

The wheels were from a similar vintage Schwinn, cleaned up with some steel wool - White-Wall tires. We reused the front brake and replaced the lever (the old lever was too small for the mustache bar) - A little blue Cinelli wrap for the handlebars and this this is ready to roll.

mike tyson not upset that brad pitt slept with robin givens.ray sipe

The XR4Ti was the trim level given to the sportiest of the original release Ford Sierras. The XR4Ti differed from the other Sierra models principally in the adoption of the small side rear window of the 5-door liftback, in the 3-door bodyshell.

Apart from this excentricity, the XR4Ti displayed the usual go-faster styling of the period - big wheels, deep bumpers, red stripes and spoilers. One feature taken from the 'Probe' series of Ford concept cars was the use of a 'bi-plane' rear wing, the top section which biseced the rear window.

If all these styling diversions were not enough of a shock, the 1982 Ford Sierra range replaced the conservative, three-box, square-cut styling of the best selling Ford Cortina Mk V, with the new aerodynamic, slippery form, as pioneered by the Audi 100 of the same year. The media dubbed the styling 'jellymold' and were critical of the grille-less nose. This bold gamble would stand the Sierra on good stead toward the end of its product cycle, when it still looked modern, whilst many of its principle competitors were starting to look dated. At the time, however, it was widely reported (falsely) that Frd was readying to put the conservative Cortina back into production. The Sierra lost the Cortina's position as the top selling car in the UK to the Escort, but enabled Ford to be perceived as an innovative and contemporary company. The Sierra was replaced in 1993 by the dynamic handling Ford Mondeo, which returned Ford to a more conservative styling template for family cars in Europe.

This Lego Ford Sierra model has been created in Lego Difital Designer for Flickr LUGNuts 43rd Build Challenge - 'Plus or Minus Ten' - celebrating vehicles built ten years before or after the birth year of the modeller - in this case the 1982 Ford Sierra.

St Margaret of Antioch, Cowlinge, Suffolk

Given its proximity to the Cambridgeshire border, some people would argue that this Suffolk church is closer to civilisation than most, and yet St Margaret of Antioch, Cowlinge, has a decidedly remote feel to it. Gentle hills enfold these pretty villages, and St Margaret stands distant from the houses it serves. Cowlinge, pronounced coo-linj, stands about a mile north of the Haverhill to Bury road, not far from the better-known Denston. You approach it up a track from the north, where it is rather hemmed in, but the graveyard opens up widely beyond on the other side.

The first impression is one of redness. From the outside, Cowlinge seems a rather pretty accretion of centuries' work, its tower a typical red brick 18th century rebuilding - there are similar ones across the county at Grundisburgh and Layham. The chancel and nave appear to have met each other by chance as much as intention, and all is pleasantly patched up, with solid red-brick buttressing and just about every kind of window you can think of. There are aisles, there is a clerestory, but this is not a grand church. Rather, it is the kind of building a DIY enthusiast might put together if he wanted a late medieval one in his back garden.

And somehow, this makes it beautiful, especially if seen from the south-east or north-east. You might expect the interior to be similarly ramshackle, but you step through the north door into cool whiteness, and as you walk through this treasure chest of a church, unusual vistas open up at each turn. This is a complex church.

Facing east to start with, the first impression is of the wall-painting above the chancel arch, and the gated rood screen beneath. There are gates in the screens at nearby Withersfield and Denston, but unlike those these doors rise to the full height of the screen. The screen itself is perhaps not as beautiful as the parclose screen enclosing the chapel in the south aisle. Mortlock points out how similar it is to the one up the road at Dalham. The paleness of the wood is very pleasing.I thought it compared very well with the parclose at Dennington, which has been repainted gaudily. Another good parclose of the same age is at Westhorpe. A memorial window contains 1920s glass by Christopher Webb of Christ with the fishermen at Galilee.

One the wall beside the parclose in the south aisle is a small exposed area of wall painting. It appears to be an unbearded male saint holding something that may well be a chalice, in which case it is St John the Evangelist. The better-known wall painting here is the one I mentioned earlier, above the chancel arch. It is often referred to as a doom, but it is organised rather differently to others of its kind. Instead of the day of judgement, with God in Majesty overseeing the parting of the ways into hell on his right and heaven on his left, it depicts St Michael, to the south of the arch, balancing a set of scales in which a sinner is being weighed against his sins.

St Michael is a common feature of doom paintings - he appears nearby at Stoke by Clare and on the famous doom at Wenhaston. The unusual aspect of this one, however, is to the north of the arch, where the Virgin Mother of God stands. She reaches out with a wand, and tips the balance of the scales. Simon Jenkins, in his England's Thousand Best Churches, suggests that she is tipping the balance in the favour of the virtuous. This is, of course, exactly what she is not doing. The virtuous had no need of intervention; the good in them would outweigh their sins in any case. Mary is intervening on behalf of sinners who have prayed to her for her help, and she is tipping the scales in the favour of those sinners. It represents the efficacy of intercessions to Our Blessed Lady, and as such it was anathema to the 16th century reformers.

In common with other wall paintings, this priceless art treasure was whitewashed over rather than destroyed. It would be interesting to know when this happened. We know that during William Dowsing's iconoclastic progress through Suffolk and Cambridgeshire in 1644, he found no wall paintings still in existence. It has always been assumed that they were covered by the Anglicans when the new Church of England took possession of our parish churches a century earlier. But I do wonder if they might have been done away with a century before even that, perhaps around the middle of the 15th century, when the ruling classes were enforcing orthodox Catholic dogma in the face of the superstitions of the ordinary people. Part of this process involved setting up larger roods at the east end of the nave, and I think this wall-painting may have been covered before that happened here.

The chancel arch beneath the doom is also extensively painted, and also of interest on all of the pillars a large amount of medieval graffiti, some of which is described as being consecration crosses. This, of course, cannot be so, for the medieval church ordered its liturgical needs rather better than this, and these are no doubt the work of some bored 17th century vandal.

Stepping through into the chancel, it is at once one of the loveliest in Suffolk, and one of the most dominated, since Peter Scheemakers' ugly 18th century memorial for Francis Dickins glowers against the north wall. Dickins was responsible for the building of the tower. The figures are life size, and the monument is wholly secular, even pagan. They look like nothing so much as two well-pleased fans posing with the FA Cup.

Near the north door, a plaque on the wall records the visitation of 1618 when permission was given for the local house of correction to set up seating here for its inmates. There are still banked benches below, but these are later, and were probably intended for the village schoolchildren. Seating on a similar scale can be seen at nearby Kedington, divided there into boys' and girls' sections. On a somewhat larger scale they can also be seen at Laxfield.

A fine view of this church can be had by climbing to the spacious gallery beneath Dickins' tower. Once up here, the space is dominated by another huge classical memorial to Dickins and above it a George II royal arms, which also records that George Finton and Henry Seabrook were the churchwardens who set it up in 1731.

St Margaret is everything a historic church should be. Well-ordered, welcoming, suited to its Protestant present and mindful of its Catholic past. It used to be left open all the time, but a traumatic assault on the building some five years ago by a mentally ill man suffering from a religious mania, during which both screens and the altar were set fire to, means that it is now kept locked, but with a very cheerful churchwarden who was most happy to come and open up.

This is a photograph from the annual BHAA Government Services/Social Protection Group's 5 Mile Road Race took place on Tuesday 27th May 2013 at 20:00 in Dunboyne, Co. Meath, Ireland. The course is a fast flat course which begins on the Dunboyne-Maynooth Road between the two entrances to Dunboyne Castle Estate. The race then proceeds in an anti-clockwise direction back to the Dunboyne Athletic Club on the Rooske Road in Dunboyne. The race reaches higher standards with every passing year. Paul Gorey and his team of volunteers must be given great credit for putting on such a wonderful race event. Thanks are also extended to Dunboyne Athletic Club, the BHAA, and the local community who all make this possible.

This photograph is part of a large set of photographs taken at the finish line area of the race. There are also some races of the buildup and the start of the race. The full set is available at www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157644466844507/

Overall Race Summary

Participants: There were approximately 500 participants .

Weather: A bright sunny evening with little breeze

Course: This course is fully left handed with very little in the way of inclines. Good road surface. These are nice narrow country roads with shelter provided by mature hedgerows. This year the race finished with 3/4 of a lap of the Dunboyne AC track.

Refreshments: Lots and lots as is the tradition with BHAA Events - served outside the scouts hall at the track.

Viewing this on a smartphone device?

If you are viewing this Flickr set on a smartphone and you want to see the larger version(s) of this photograph then: scroll down to the bottom of this description under the photograph and click the "View info about this photo..." link. You will be brought to a new page and you should click the link "View All Sizes".

Some Useful Links

Results of the 2014 race will appear here: bhaa.ie/results/

Our photographs from the BHAA Dunboyne Race 2011: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157626730168603/

Our photographs from the BHAA Dunboyne Race 2012: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157629959245726/

Our photographs from the BHAA Dunboyne Race 2013: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157633772077781/

Tom Healy BHAA usually photographs these BHAA events - his Flickr set is at www.flickr.com/photos/tomhealy/sets/

Can I use these photographs directly from Flickr on my social media account(s)?

Yes - of course you can! Flickr provides several ways to share this and other photographs in this Flickr set. You can share to: email, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, LiveJournal, and Wordpress and Blogger blog sites. Your mobile, tablet, or desktop device will also offer you several different options for sharing this photo page on your social media outlets.

We take these photographs as a hobby and as a contribution to the running community in Ireland. Our only "cost" is our request that if you are using these images: (1) on social media sites such as Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, Twitter,LinkedIn, Google+, etc or (2) other websites, blogs, web multimedia, commercial/promotional material that you must provide a link back to our Flickr page to attribute us.

This also extends the use of these images for Facebook profile pictures. In these cases please make a separate wall or blog post with a link to our Flickr page. If you do not know how this should be done for Facebook or other social media please email us and we will be happy to help suggest how to link to us.

I want to download these pictures to my computer or device?

You can download the photographic image here direct to your computer or device. This version is the low resolution web-quality image. How to download will vary slight from device to device and from browser to browser. However - look for a symbol with three dots 'ooo' or the link to 'View/Download' all sizes. When you click on either of these you will be presented with the option to download the image. Remember just doing a right-click and "save target as" will not work on Flickr.

I want get full resolution, print-quality, copies of these photographs?

If you just need these photographs for online usage then they can be used directly once you respect their Creative Commons license and provide a link back to our Flickr set if you use them. For offline usage and printing all of the photographs posted here on this Flickr set are available free, at no cost, at full image resolution.

Please email petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com with the links to the photographs you would like to obtain a full resolution copy of. We also ask race organisers, media, etc to ask for permission before use of our images for flyers, posters, etc. We reserve the right to refuse a request.

In summary please remember when requesting photographs from us - If you are using the photographs online all we ask is for you to provide a link back to our Flickr set or Flickr pages. You will find the link above clearly outlined in the description text which accompanies this photograph. Taking these photographs and preparing them for online posting does take a significant effort and time. We are not posting photographs to Flickr for commercial reasons. If you really like what we do please spread the link around your social media, send us an email, leave a comment beside the photographs, send us a Flickr email, etc. If you are using the photographs in newspapers or magazines we ask that you mention where the original photograph came from.

I would like to contribute something for your photograph(s)?

Many people offer payment for our photographs. As stated above we do not charge for these photographs. We take these photographs as our contribution to the running community in Ireland. If you feel that the photograph(s) you request are good enough that you would consider paying for their purchase from other photographic providers or in other circumstances we would suggest that you can provide a donation to any of the great charities in Ireland who do work for Cancer Care or Cancer Research in Ireland.

We use Creative Commons Licensing for these photographs

We use the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License for all our photographs here in this photograph set. What does this mean in reality?

The explaination is very simple.

Attribution- anyone using our photographs gives us an appropriate credit for it. This ensures that people aren't taking our photographs and passing them off as their own. This usually just mean putting a link to our photographs somewhere on your website, blog, or Facebook where other people can see it.

ShareAlike – anyone can use these photographs, and make changes if they like, or incorporate them into a bigger project, but they must make those changes available back to the community under the same terms.

Creative Commons aims to encourage creative sharing. See some examples of Creative Commons photographs on Flickr: www.flickr.com/creativecommons/

I ran in the race - but my photograph doesn't appear here in your Flickr set! What gives?

As mentioned above we take these photographs as a hobby and as a voluntary contribution to the running community in Ireland. Very often we have actually ran in the same race and then switched to photographer mode after we finished the race. Consequently, we feel that we have no obligations to capture a photograph of every participant in the race. However, we do try our very best to capture as many participants as possible. But this is sometimes not possible for a variety of reasons:

     ►You were hidden behind another participant as you passed our camera

     ►Weather or lighting conditions meant that we had some photographs with blurry content which we did not upload to our Flickr set

     ►There were too many people - some races attract thousands of participants and as amateur photographs we cannot hope to capture photographs of everyone

     ►We simply missed you - sorry about that - we did our best!

You can email us petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com to enquire if we have a photograph of you which didn't make the final Flickr selection for the race. But we cannot promise that there will be photograph there. As alternatives we advise you to contact the race organisers to enquire if there were (1) other photographs taking photographs at the race event or if (2) there were professional commercial sports photographers taking photographs which might have some photographs of you available for purchase. You might find some links for further information above.

Don't like your photograph here?

That's OK! We understand!

If, for any reason, you are not happy or comfortable with your picture appearing here in this photoset on Flickr then please email us at petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com and we will remove it as soon as possible. We give careful consideration to each photograph before uploading.

I want to tell people about these great photographs!

Great! Thank you! The best link to spread the word around is probably http://www.flickr.com/peterm7/sets

Given the engaging lessons created by our text's authors, I could picture our students looking a little something like this. Students would work as detectives during their evidence-based investigations together. How exciting!

27/08/2020. Ladies European Tour 2020. Tipsport Czech Ladies Open. Golf Club Beroun, Czech Republic. August 20-30 2020 Eleanor Givens of England during a practice round. Credit: Tristan Jones.

Hackers are given RFID bracelets to identify them and gain acccess to hacking areas during the registration process of the MHacks Hackathon 2013 on September 20, 2013 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Photo: Joseph Xu, Michigan Engineering Communications & Marketing

www.engin.umich.edu

1940s WW II French advertisement for Camus "La Grande Marque" Cognac given out to American soliders of the United States Army Air Forces - USAAF - Paris, France

Over 30 volunteers from multiple organizations like Wells Fargo, Nationwide, U.S. Bank, Weingarten Realty and Meguiar's gathered together to create thank you packages that will be given to people experiencing homelessness during the 2017 Point-In Time count. The packages contained items that help make life outside a little more bearable: beanies, batteries and rain ponchos.

The Point-in-Time (PIT) Count is a biennial tally of people without a home on a particular night. The results of the PIT Count shape the county’s approach to ending homelessness. It consists of 3 components:

1. Counting unsheltered homeless

2. Interviewing unsheltered homeless,

3. Counting sheltered homeless

Orange County United Way is proud to be working with 211 Orange County to ensure the 2017 Point-In Time Count is successful. Orange County, CA receives over $20 million in Housing and Urban Development funding to provide services for homeless individuals and families; in order to continue receiving the funds Orange County must provide the Point-In-Time information every two years. The information is also used by elected officials, non-profit organizations and private funders to help guide the provision of services for homeless individuals and families.

And sometimes is seen a strange spot in the sky

A human being that was given to fly

High.. flying

-Pearl Jam- / -Given to Fly-

The pictures here are given at 600x400 pixel if you wish see that size use the download facility there is an icon on the lower right of the Flickr webpage. If you have any problems with the pictures please contact me. If you would like any other views of this war memorial please do ask. These pictures have been copyrighted to protect them, but I want them to be used to continue the commemoration of the sacrifice and futility of war. If you wish to use them then please do ask.

PHH Sykes ©2020

phhsykes@gmail.com

Here is a transcription of the memorial and some information gathered relating to it. Please do send details of any corrections that can be made.

OUR GLORIOUS DEAD

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN THE LOVING MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH

WHO DIED IN THE GREAT WAR, 1918-1919

ERECTED BY THE THEIR FRIENDS 1920

NEIL PRIMROSE , M.C.ROYAL BUCKS, HUSSARS

GEORGE ALVES, CAMERON HDRS.

WILLIAM ALVES, CAMERON HDRS.

GEORGE BEATTIE,BLACK WATCH.

JAMES W. BLAKE,R. G. ARTILERY.

JOHN A. TEMPLE BLAKE, CAN. MTD. RIFLES.

THOMAS FULLERTON,ROYAL ENGINEERS.

GEORGE JOHNSON,ROYAL SCOTS.

MARTIN JOYCE,47TH. BAT. CAN.

ROBERT LEES,K.O.S.B.

JAMES McDOUGALL,A. & S. HDRS.

DONALD McGLASHAN,R.F. ARTILLERY.

ANDREW NEILL,SCOTS GUARDS.

THOMAS RAMAGE,A. & S. HDRS.

ARCHIBALD YOUNG,BLACK WATCH.

JAMES YOUNG,CAMERON HDRS.

GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.

THOMAS ALVES, R.N. 1939-1945 IAN KERR, R.A.C.

Monument Abbreviations Extended

Cameron Highlanders

Royal Garrison Artillery

Canadian Mounted Rifles, Canadian Expeditionary Force

47th Battalion (British Columbia) Canadian Expeditionary Force

King's Own Scottish Borderers

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)

Royal Field Artillery

Royal Navy

Royal Armoured Corps

Below is a list of information found at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, www.cwgc.org/ and St. Giles High Kirk and other websites. I have tried to confirm and collect it together here.

CAPTAIN The Rt. Hon. NEIL JAMES ARCHIBALD PRIMROSE

Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars 1st/1st

Died 15 November 1917

Age 34 years old

Buried or commemorated at RAMLEH WAR CEMETERY D. 49.

Israel and Palestine (including Gaza)

Personal Inscription HE LIVES BY LOVE

Awards Military Cross, Mentioned in Despatches

Second son of 5th Earl of Rosebery (the former Prime Minister) and Countess of Rosebery; husband of Lady Victoria Primrose (now Lady Victoria Bullock), of Swynford Paddocks, Six Mile Bottom, Newmarket. Privy Councillor and Member of Parliament for Wisbech Division, Cambs. Since 1910.

He has a memorial in St Giles High Kirk on the High Street Edinburgh which reads as follows,

IN MEMORY OF

CAPTAIN THE RIGHT HON

NEIL JAMES ARCHIBALD

PRIMROSE M.P. M.C.

WHO WAS BORN AT DALMENY

DECEMBER 14TH 1889

WAS KILLED IN ACTION

NOVEMBER 15TH 1917

AT THE HILL OF GEZER

IN PALESTINE AND LIES BURIED

AT RAMLEH

THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY

HIS PROUD & AFFLICTED FATHER

HIS LIFE WAS LOVELY AND

PLEASANT & HE DIED IN GLORY

THEY GO FROM STRENGTH TO

STRENGTH EVERY ONE OF THEM

IN ZION APPEARING BEFORE GOD

PRIVATE GEORGE ALVES Service Number: S/13290

Cameron Highlanders 7th Bn.

Died 25 September 1915

Buried or commemorated at LOOS MEMORIAL

Panel 119 to 124.

France

PRIVATE W B ALVES Service Number: S/13281

Cameron Highlanders 1st Bn.

Died 23 September 1918

Age 25 years old

Buried or commemorated at BRIE BRITISH CEMETERY

III. B. 1.

France

PRIVATE GEORGE BEATTIE Service Number: S/11800

Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) 2nd Bn.

Died 22 April 1916

Buried or commemorated at BASRA MEMORIAL Panel 25 and 63.

Iraq

PRIVATE JOHN ARCHIBALD TEMPLE BLAKE Service Number: 117150

2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion

Died 16 June 1916

Age 24 years old

Buried or commemorated at BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY

VIII. B. 96.

France

SAPPER T FULLERTON Service Number: 414779

Royal Engineers

"B.W." Cable Sect.

Died 11 October 1917

Age 34 years old

Buried or commemorated at LONGUENESSE (ST. OMER) SOUVENIR CEMETERY

IV. E. 36.

France

PRIVATE MARTIN JOYCE Service Number: 227705

Canadian Infantry 47th Bn.

Died 28 October 1917

Age 43 years old

Buried or commemorated at YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

Panel 10 - 26 - 28.

Belgium

SECOND LIEUTENANT ROBERT WALLACE LEES

King's Own Scottish Borderers 7th Bn. attd. 2nd Bn.

Died 03 September 1916

Age 23 years old

Buried or commemorated at THIEPVAL MEMORIAL Pier and Face 4 A and 4 D.

France

PRIVATE JAMES McDOUGALL

Service Number: S/11915

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1st Bn.

Died 29 September 1918

Buried or commemorated at MIKRA BRITISH CEMETERY, KALAMARIA 420.

Greece

SHOEING SMITH CORPORAL D McGLASHAN

Service Number: 635500

Royal Field Artillery "A" Bty. 256th Bde.

Died 12 October 1917

Age 40 years old

Buried or commemorated at VLAMERTINGHE NEW MILITARY CEMETERY

X. F. 1.

Belgium

CORPORAL T RAMAGE Service Number: S/9821

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1st/7th Bn.

Died 20 July 1918

Buried or commemorated at MARFAUX BRITISH CEMETERY

VI. A. 7.

France

PRIVATE JOHN ARCHIBALD YOUNG Service Number: 27256

Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) 9th Bn.

Died 16 September 1918

Age 38 years old

Buried or commemorated at ST. MARY'S A.D.S. CEMETERY, HAISNES V. F. 1.

France

PETTY OFFICER STOKER THOMAS ALVES Service Number: P/K 59736

Royal Navy H.M.S. Vortigern

Died 15 March 1942

Age 47 years old

Buried or commemorated at PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL

Panel 67, Column 3.

United Kingdom

Son of John and Mary Alves; husband of Alice Alves, of Hornsey, London.

CAPTAIN IAN KERR Service Number: 151541

Died 26 June 1944

Age 26 years old

Son of John and Margaret Kerr; husband of Diana Joan Kerr, of Gorebridge, Midlothian.

JERUSALEM WAR CEMETERY, CHOUAIN, Calvados, France.

The Human Habitat or microcity was also given special consideration to prevent the scientists from experiencing "cabin fever" or any feeling of being trapped. Windows look out over all other parts of the Biosphere, and each Biospherian had a private apartment with an upstairs bedroom and a downstairs sitting room. The bathrooms were equipped with showers and toilets; but shower time was limited to conserve water, and toilet paper was forbidden. Drinking water was collected from moisture produced by the plants in the Biosphere. The Habitat also includes laboratory space, a medical clinic, an exercise room, recreation facilities, and a communications center. Kitchen, cooking, and cleanup duties were all shared. -From Science Encyclopedia, Biosphere Project - Designing Biosphere 2 Read More

Biosphere 2 designed as completely closed ecological system to research interactions within ecosystems and possibility of colonization of space • $200 million for project provided by financial partner Edward Bass • remains largest closed system ever created • original mission was 4 female and 4 male scientists were to seal themselves inside for 2 years • numerous issues during experiment, including animosity among members of group and repeated need for replenishment from outside world • expose by Marc Cooper in Village Voice among many stories critical of Biosphere crew • now functions as department of U. of Arizona College of Science with mission, "To serve as a center for research, outreach, teaching and life-long learning about Earth, its living systems, and its place in the universe."

Wikipedia • TED video of crew-member Jane Poynter's story of her "2 years and 20 minutes" living in Biosphere 2 (15:57) • Rise and Fall of the Biosphere Project pdf • excerpt from Jayne Poynter's book, The Human Experiment: Two Years and Twenty Minutes Inside Biosphere 2

I have seen Sholden described as a village between Deal and Sandwich. It is really a suburb of Deal now, as the housing is unbroken between here and St Leonard in Deal, a couple of hundred metres along the man road. Sholden also extends away from the coast into Mongeham, as I described earlier.

The church is small, built of flint, and is easily missed, this was my second visit here, and the second of the day, and as we went past I could see the door open, so after finding a place to park, we walked over and inside.

We were given a warm welcome by the volunteer, who gave us a very good history of the church, and as always I learned so much more from someone who clearly loved their parish church.

-----------------------------------------------

Standing back at a queer angle from the main road, this church has been unlucky over the years. Of thirteenth century origins it had a north aisle which at some stage was demolished in favour of the single roof structure to be found today. This creates an unusually wide interior – not quite as extreme at St Mary at nearby Sandwich, but along the same lines. The chancel has recently (2009) been reordered and simplified with a free standing altar and rose pink carpet – quite a fetching scene – and luckily the nineteenth century reredos has been kept. The War Memorial on the SE corner of the nave is quite a fine construction of rubbed brickwork – almost Lutyensesque in its form. The church was damaged in the War but the stained glass windows in the chancel recording the event (by a Sussex firm) must surely over emphasise the damage as the roof is completely Victorian. All in all this is a delightful little church and one only wishes it was more accessible.

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

--------------------------------------------------

Sholden: the parish.

In 1176 this little unit of land was known as Shoueldune and since as Seueldon, Schoweldun, Shoueldon; the first form of the name being possibly due to some fancied likeness of the hill to a shovel – shovelhill. It is a topographical unit, a physical unit, a parochial unit and an historical unit. It is small in area as a parish, without a coastal strip, 1813 acres of land, with a population in 1801 of 238, in 1858 it had increased to 465, in1931 to 615 and by 1991 it was 815.

As a place, Sholden has taken little part in national affairs or even Kentish history, squeezed as it is between Sandwich and Deal. Historically it has been an ecclesiastic unit with its own priest from time immemorial, although under its richer neighbour, Northbourne, from which it could not branch out independently. Northbourne itself was only a unit, until the Reformation, of the great Abbey of St.Augustine at Canterbury. In fact Sholden was a necessary offshoot of Northbourne, as it possessed that great area of marsh with its dykes which were a valuable summer grazing ground for the Abbey cattle.

The early topographers, Leyland in Henry VIII’s reign, Lambard and William Camden, who might have been expected to mention us say nothing. First comments are in 1659, but then all that Richard Kilburne of Hawkshurst could say was that Sholden “lieth at the E. end of the County, adjoining to the sea, about 3 miles towards the SE distant from Sandwich: in the bailiwick of Eastry, hundred of Cornilo; Lath of St.Augustines”.

From 1128 the church of Northbourne, with its chapels at Cotmanton (Cottington) and Sholden, was attached to the manor of Northbourne, and so to the Abbey of St.Augustines.

In 1272-3, the first year of the reign of Edward I, the vicarage of Northbourne, the chapels was endowed with all the small tithes by the Abbey. It was also agreed that the vicar should have a house and garden with two acres of land. In Hasted’s time (1800) there was also nine acres of glebe. With these allowances, as the vicar was only a nominee of St.Augustines, the burden of the repairing and rebuilding the chancel of Northbourne church, and that of Sholden, and of finding and repairing the books, vestments and ornaments of the chapel, and of the chapel of Sholden, should be acknowledged as the duty of the Abbey forever.

Earlier references to the parish include the following:

Thornes Chronicle of St.Augustines Abbey (Davis’ Translation 1934 p18) records that Edbald, who had been a pagan, after his conversion by Archbishop Laurentinus, endowed in 618 the Abbey with the manor of Northbourne, with which went Sholden.

Letters relating to the condition of the church in Kent during the primacy of Archbishop Sandcroft were written by Dr.Henry Ullock, who had been appointed Rural Dean of Sandwich. The report on the vicar, Mr Balderson, is that he “hath Northbourne and Shoulden which is annexed to it, lives at Northbourne, officiates at both places, is Master of Arts, was bred in Emanuel College, is not married”. He died in 1702.

The sole literary reference to a Sholden family that has been unearthed is that Colonel William Wyborn, the eldest son of Daniel who altered Hull Place, was one of the subscribers in 1758 to Elizabeth Carter great quarto translation of the Greek philosopher, Epictetus.

Sholden: the church.

The church, dedicated to St.Nicholas, is an undistinguished example of the thirteenth century in its present state. It is built of flint with Caen stone dressings and Hythe stone buttresses. It shows in the flint work patches of reconstruction. Of its foundation a single fragment of moulding built in as a top stone of a putt log hole high up in the north wall might be 12th century work and so suggest that there was a small church of that date.

The original Deal to Sandwich road passed the church through what is now the present graveyard with the doorway being on the north side of the church. This doorway has been enclosed and is now the vicar’s vestry. The current road or turnpike was approved by parliament in 1795 and it was constructed shortly afterwards deviating from the old path at Jenkins Well. This is between the public entrance to Warden House School and the hairdressers.

The following is a copy of the first Quinquennial Report to be produced after the Second World War during which the building was substantially damaged on Saturday 19th April 1941 by a parachute mine which landed in what is now Five Ways Rise. Services were held in the Baptist Chapel in the village and did not begin again in the church until November 1947.

The church is built of knapped flint with stone quoins and comprises chancel, nave, western tower and vestries on the north and northwest angle. The roof is of old Kent tile. The whole of the external flintwork appears to be 19th century cladding except the recent rebuilding which is the top part only. Nearly all the quoins are 19th century. The vicar’s vestry is the old North Porch converted and now it contains a Victorian window with a 15th century label but still has the original 15th century doorway which is considered to be “very fine”. The choir vestry is a post war addition. The East end of the Nave has some Norman quoins above the buttresses. The West door to the Tower is 19th century and in good condition and the windows in the Tower are of the same period but have severely weathered. On the North side of the Tower there are two original windows, one is older than the other, but both are about 13th century and in good condition.

The window on the North side of the Chancel is 19th century and transitional in style whereas at the East end of the Chancel the window is of the same period but Early English in style. The label of the East window would seem to be 13th century and both North and South windows appear to have been lowered, maybe following the post-war rebuild. {These now depict before and after the night of the bombing}.

The windows on the South side of the Nave are1 9th century in a 15th century style and in fairly good condition.

The South door is 19th century and in quite good condition.

The Transitional window on the East side of the Tower is original.

The basin of the Font is of Kentish Rag and probably 14th century on a perpendicular stem of the 15th century but the base and step are both 19th century.

The pulpit and the pews are of pitch pine and the lectern of oak and all are 19th century.

The rerados and tilling behind the altar are Victorian.

The mid 13th century tower is divided into 3 unequal stories:-

Bellchamber

Ringing chamber

Base of tower.

The bellchamber; the walls are of flint and the windows have slate louvers. The floor is Tudor with chamfered joists borne on stone corbels.

The ringing chamber is actually no longer used as such as the bells are rung from the base of the tower. The floor was replaced in Victorian times and is in fair condition. The walls are of flint and in good condition. The whole of the East wall in this chamber is rendered with what one must call external rendering. There is the clearest evidence that the tower is later date than the Nave, since the tower is not bonded into the West wall of the Nave and therefore the church plan was at one time the simple two compartment type of Nave and Chancel. This West wall also contains a small window, which is undoubtedly very early in date and is probably early Norman or late Saxon much repaired. This window was crudely blocked on the East face of the West wall of the Nave and should be unblocked. It would then look down into the Nave.

The bells are rung from the base of the tower and it is in sound condition with its Victorian tiled floor. A blocked entry to the now removed gallery remains high above the Tower door.

NB. The bells and tower were renovated in the early 1980’s and therefore some of the foregoing is now inaccurate.

www.stleonardsdeal.co.uk/stnicholas.html

----------------------------------------------

Sholden comes from the Old English ‘scofl’ meaning a ‘shovel; shovel shaped strip’ together with ‘dūn’ as a ‘hill’; therefore, a ‘shovel-shaped hill’. The description of Sholden by Edward Hasted in 1800 notes that ‘the upland part of it forms a kind of peninsula westward, which is surrounded on three sides by the wet land and marshes’.

Sholden parish church is a Grade: II listed building, dedicated to Saint Nicholas. The Normans built the church originally, although, rebuilt it in the 13th century, with the addition of windows and a tower a century later. In 1623, Thomas Bartlett cast two bells, and John Hodson added a third in 1675. In 1800, Edward Hasted described St Nicholas’ church as consisting of a ‘nave and a chancel; it is of a good size and well built, having a square tower steeple at the west end, in which are three bells. The church is ceiled, and kept very neat’. The Victorians carried out a heavy restoration in the 19th century. Bomb damage received in 1941 resulted in the church being out of action until November 1947.

www.kentpast.co.uk/sholden.html

----------------------------------------------

After the war and the damage to the church rendering it out of use, services were held in a wooden hut in an area behind the church. It was marked by a cross, but the warden thinks this is now gone.

Given them a lift towards Turin, and had a nice conversation en route.

Photoshop compilation of four pictures taken at the Dubai Air Show 2011.

Large Size View:-

www.flickr.com/photos/gordoncalder/4833735693/sizes/o/

ALL of the works and content on my photostream are protected under copyright law (2000-2010)

These images CANNOT BE COPIED, DISTRIBUITED or PUBLISHED for any media, electronic or otherwise unless permission is granted by the owner of the original image.

The utilization in other web pages without the express written consent is prohibited, but permission will most likely be given if you ask.

Please respect copyrights.

via John Currin (JC - Ex RNZN) - Google+ Public Posts ift.tt/1VLTfMd

New post (Britons given a final chance to see an icon of the skies as the Vulcan fighter jet begins its farewell tour of the nation Read more: ift.tt/1K1lcZJ.) has been published on Naval, Military, and Marine Life The last flying Vulcan fighter jet has begun its farewell tour of the UK after it was decided to permanently ground it

Members of the public have today been tweeting pictures of the four-engine bomber as it flies over their homes

Today’s flight is heading north from Doncaster while tomorrow’s will cover large areas of the south of England

Following its £75,000 tour of Britain the Cold War veteran jet will take to the sky for the final time later this month.

Today’s flight headed north from Doncaster while tomorrow’s will cover large areas of the south of England.

The Avro Vulcan, which saw action in the Falklands, took off at 1pm and flew towards Scotland before looping back round in the direction of where its flight began.

It was pild flew again in October 2007.

Under the original plan, the aircraft was due to fly a further 250 hours before permanent retirement. The project’s engineers were able to extend its life slightly, but it was decided that it will fly for the last time this weekend in a £75,000 tour of Britain.

According to Chief Pilot Withers ‘both flights are now amongst the longest she has undertaken since the restoration’.

The aircraft is operated by the Vulcan to the Sky Trust.

Dr Robert Pleming, chief executive of the Trust said there has been tremendous public interest in the aircraft’s final flights.

He added: ‘The situation we find ourselves in is a tremendous complement to the passion and energy of XH558’s supporters, many of whom have donated time and money to allow her to fly.

‘As someone who has devoted a significant portion of his life to this aircraft, I fully understand.’

Posted by - David Arkwright

View full size (962x709)

given to a birthday child filled with paintings made by the kindergarten kids.