Day 204 – Not A Birthday Cake…

It was our daughter’s birthday today and she asked if she could have ‘fruit’ instead of a cake… Well, no ordinary fruit would do so we made this watermelon ‘boat’- it was carved out and shaped, just as you would a pumpkin, and then filled with a selection of fresh fruit. Needless to say, she loved it!

Watermelon ‘Boat’ – iPhone XR

Day 203 – A Gardener’s Paradise…

This is part of the Italienate Gardens at Trentham, near Stone. It has been a country estate since the 11th century, and although the fine country house that once stood here has been largely demolished over the years, the gardens, originally designed by Capability Brown, have been lovingly restored as a country park. Well worth a visit…

Trentham Gardens – SonyA7iii & 35mm f2.8

Day 201 – Killer Cat…

This is Barney. Next door’s cat. He has attitude. He’s also very efficient at keeping our garden free of rabbits, mice and other miscellaneous wildlife. There’s barely a day passes when we don’t see him trotting across our garden with his catch…

Barney – SonyA7iii & 70-200mm

Day 200 – New Addition…

I’ve been thinking for some time that I might slim down my camera equipment – it’s kind of grown somewhat over the last year or so, and there are times when I figure I could just manage with a decent compact camera. However, I’ve always hankered for a good telephoto zoom, and this nearly new Sony 70-200mm f4 lens was too good a deal to miss. Yet to test it out, but I’m sure it will be great!

Sony 70-200mm f4 – iPhone XR

Day 198 – Once Proud…

Way back in 1975 I worked at Universal Abrasives in Stafford for a few weeks as a process engineer. I hated it, and pretty soon found another job, where I was to stay for almost 35 years before I retired! The factory and machinery have long since gone and the warehouses now only used for logistics, but the office block with this imposing facade still remains, albeit empty…

Universal Abrasives, Stafford – iPhone XR

Day 197 – High & Dry…

This spot, Meols, on the Wirral Peninsula, is the closest sea to us. It’s about 75 miles away, or an hour and a quarter by car. I’d seen photos of the boats stranded there at low tide, but hadn’t realized that what looks like a sandy beach is actually rather nasty black sludge, definitely not for walking on! So the only photo I could take was from the concrete slipway, but at least the sunset was good…

Boats at low tide, Meols – SonyA7iii & 35mm

Day 196 – 1960s Family Car…

The ‘B’ registration number identifies this Austin 1100 car as being from 1964, so a mere 55 years old! I remember my father having one in 1967, and we were all so excited when he picked it up… Not much of a car by today’s standards, but pretty decent then.

1964 Austin 1100 – iPhone XR