A final post

It is with great sadness that I have to announce John's death on Thursday 26th August, 2021. John had been ill for some time. 

John came to social media following retirement and his interactions with people on the internet through his blog and Twitter account were a source of enormous pleasure. Thank you everyone for being there.

Skipwith Church

St. George, St. Nicholas and St. Michael in the World War II Memorial window. They represent the Army, the Navy and the Air Force respectively

A window in memory of Geoffrey Heath of the Royal Australian Air Force. The window was designed and made by Harry Stammers of York and was one of the first windows he made after establishing his own studio.

Top panel Christian walks unharmed through the Valley of the Shadow of Death

The next two pictures show Christian fighting Apollyon, a figure from Revelation - the Angel of the Bottomless Pit  from which emerge locusts as big as horses and with scorpions tales.

 

 

 

Christian in the House Beautiful being armed by Discretion, Piety Charity and Prudence

 

Saint Francis of Assisi

The remaining windows are all themed from Pilgrim's Progress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fountains Abbey (Temporary)

 

Newcastle upon Tyne - January 2020

I have visited Newcastle quite frequently over the last three years. I have been aware of the Vampire Rabbit sculpture since I acquired the book "Public Sculpture of North-East England" but never made the effort to actually find it. Yesterday walking round the back of the Cathedral I turned a corner and suddenly it was there staring down at me, hungrily.

 He sits above a rather elaborate doorway staring across at the Cathedral

  

What is rather nice is that the Buildings Management Team for Cathedral Buildings have adopted him as the symbol of their office block. So he appears on the door mats:

and above the building directory:

Cathedral Buildings also have some rather nice wall tiles presumably also dating from 1901
 

They have retained and restored the original directory of tenants

The other curiosity that I am collecting in Newcastle is Space Invaders. These are put up by a French Artist called Invader in various cities throughout the world and Newcastle has been "Invaded"
https://www.space-invaders.com/world/

 

Near the steps I also found this sign, although I didn't take the steps!

 

Scavenger Hunt - November 2019

1. Seasonal view 







Photograph taken on a walk up onto the Moors above Low Askew, heading for Ana Cross. The Bracken had gone a lovely shade of autumn brown.


2. Oops, all gone!

And it was the teacake I was talking about.


3. Seashore

A view north from North Bay in Scarborough. The white Pyramids house the sea Life Centre at Scalby Mills.


4. Card!
 

Struggled with this one. But here we have, I think, Card-uus affinis (Corymbose Thistle) taken some years ago in Switzerland


5. Stripe/d

Another one from the North Bay in Scarborough, the colourful stripes of the beach huts on a November day.



6. My own choice

Not the best picture I have taken this month. But I was surprised to see white roses of summer still in bloom on the 18th of November in York. It was even better when I realised I could include Autumn Rowan berries and Christmas Holly berries in the same shot given me 3 Seasons in one photo.


Well I shall try to be a more regular contributor to Scavenger Hunt again next year, because my contributions have been non-existent through this Autumn.

Thank you to Kate at http://livelovecraftme.blogspot.co.uk/ for again organising and providing the inspiration for this month.

Please find links to others who are taking part in the Scavenger Photo Hunt this month at:

http://livelovecraftme.blogspot.com/2019/11/novembers-link-up-party.html

Wishing you all have a Happy Christmas and a Successful New Year.

John


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17 September - Marsden, the Wessenden Valley and Pule Hill

Tuesday was a beautiful bright and sunny day to follow one of my favourite walks over the Pennine Moors from Marsden. We walked up the Wessenden Valley to the dam of the Wessenden Reservoir. Crossing over we followed the valley back to a point where you can cross the Short Grain beck and avoid a sharp descent and ascent on the Pennine Way

 

It was time for lunch, you may think Man v Barge referred to a race, but I couldn't possibly comment!

 

I do not know to what event this relates, on its own it just appears a bit random.  

After lunch we followed the paved path of the Pennine Way over flat hillsides to arrive at Black Moss Reservoir

Soon afterwards there is a view down to the former Great Western Inn on the main A62 road and the boat club on Redbrook Reservoir.

From here we began the ascent of Pule Hill, my two friends raced away, whilst I found a young Puff Ball to study and get my breath back!

From the top there is a great view to the west from above the old quarry faces over Marsden Moor.

Just past an air shaft on the Railway Tunnel there is a memorial cross to men from the Duke of Wellington's (or West Riding) Regiment who lost their lives during the Second World War.

The view on the descent of Pule Hill to Marsden in the valley below.

An old barn looking nearly as decrepit as I felt.

Map of our route 8½ miles and a little over 1,400 foot of ascent. Another fantastic day out on the Pennines.