Old radio abstract

When I took this photo it was dark and underexposed. I decided to change it with a black and white filter but was going to delete it from my phone. Then I decided to put it through a texture filter, still not satisfied I added a lens flare to the handle. I’ve decided not to do any more to it.

The question is if you had to do something with the original what would you do? Here’s the plain black and white version.

Which do you prefer?

Snapdragons 1st November 2020

On my walk yesterday I saw two lots of snapdragon still flowering the and some pale pink ones next to them. These are summer flowers, usually gone by now. Thus was up a high hill, at the side of the pavement next to the road. Impressive survival skills.

My hanging baskets are still surviving and if they haven’t flopped after the cold tonight I will take some more photos of them. They can’t last much longer. Soon the leaves will be gone and the flowers will be dead. Let’s hope they last a while longer.

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What place is furthest from the sea in Britain?

Coton in the ElmsThe village that is further from the sea than any other human settlement in the UK is Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire. One kilometre south-east is Church Flatts Farm, which is 113km (70 miles) from the nearest point on the coast, or 72km (45 miles) from the nearest tidal water.

This came up in conversation so I googled it. I’m not sure if anyone’s interested but I thought I would share it.

Conkers

Still llife photo of conkers. Photo taken last year at Bodnant Garden in North Wales last year. What a great trip out that was. We walked round the large garden grounds. Down into the river valley, past huge and ancient trees. Late flowering perennials and bushes. Its a charming place to visit, but be aware it is hilly. Its a National Trust site so its very well maintained. There are small shops trading there, a garden centre and a cafe/restaurant.

Great for a visit when the garden is in full bloom, especially the laburnum walk. You can join the National Trust or pay when you visit. BUT check opening times, it does close in the winter and with the lockdown for the pandemic there will be changes to visiting and probably closures.

Following on from my last post

Each of these photos was put through the photodirector app I use and also Instagram. I do like the effects but only use a few of them. Some of the filters in Photodirector have to be paid for so I limit my use.

What am I trying for? A pleasant abstract distortion. Perhaps a feeling of movement. I might use a couple of filters, and cancel some of them if they are not working. I just enjoy being creative.

Filled up with ⛽

I’m not convinced getting a motorbike was a good idea for my hubby. He doesn’t use it very often. He’s done 160 miles in…….. Two years! His tank was on red so he went down the garage. It cost £2.65 to fill the tank. When I think how much it costs to fill my car. No comparison. But I have only filled my tank up five or six times since March so its cost considerably less than before. Plus we are walking more.. Win win.

Breakfast (not vegetarian sorry)

I wanted breakfast but we have no milk or eggs, so I had a rummage in the fridge. I found corned beef, cheddar cheese and some pickled beetroot. I toasted a couple of slices of brown bread then buttered it. Placed a slice of corned beef on both slices (I could have done just one and made a sandwich but I was hungry) added cheddar cheese and microwaved it till the cheese had melted. Then added the beetroot to spice it up a bit. I have to say I enjoyed it. Probably far too much fat, but sometimes you have to go for it. Other options would be cheese and tomatoes (if I had any) melted onto the bread then a topping of beetroot or even advocado?

Anyway, that feels a lot better.

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Urban view

View down a hill across the city as we were walking back home tonight. The street lights of the main dual carrageway road that runs through the city were shining brightly. Up here the view is across the valley of the river Trent. On a clear day you can see the way the land undulates towards the horizon about three or four miles away? There are hills to the left behind the buildings that rise up to a TV mast on a hill and then further on the green fields and pockets of woodland heading up to the Staffordshire moorlands. Straight in front and over the city hills would lead you eventually East into Nottinghamshire, and South the land is also covered in farms and woods, heading towards the Birmingham conurbation fotry or fifty miles away. We are an isolated city, surrounded by mostly countryside. A pleasant situation when so many other cities around England seem to be be surrounded by satellite towns. Fresh air is not too far away.