Kath's Arty Blog: 2020

Wednesday, 18 November 2020

Magic Magdale

Cycling to work last week feeling tired and fed up, when suddenly 2 roe deer appear. One hesitates, before gliding effortlessly over the wall in front of me, disappearing into the trees. Later, miraculously, a golden pheasant struts across the road......

Tally Ho!

Fox Hunting Weather Vane. Hmm.

Ebenezer Stone

Unexpected signs at Almondbury

Elephant's Foot

Weekend Walks prior to self isolation....foggy walk over Deer Hill, back down the Chain road...and off my patch round Almondbury. I liked the wall built round the elephant's foot-shaped tree root....

Pea Souper

Fog on Deer Hill: an walk t'other weekend, all senses working overtime (prior to self isolation, now holed up at home!)

Mink Link

Mink Link Danish Think: the covid virus has jumped into mink, mutated and transmitted back into humans. 12 people at mink farms in Northern Denmark contracted the virus.

Here We Go Again

No guarantees it'll end on December 2nd, Covid cases still climbing...

The Second Coming

I've started my 5th Corona Lockdown diary...

Sunday, 1 November 2020

Toasting Fork Gate

The Dove of Peace be Upon You, Ranting Man at Quonian's Lane Junk Shop, Lichfield

Up The Trent & Mersey

Canal meanderings awaiting Mum's Op at Burton and on the stretch of Canal being renovated in Lichfield...

Wall

A walk to Wall (Letocetum), Roman remains on Watling Street near Lichfield. Pompeii it is not, so much imagination needed!

I Can See Clearly Now The Rain Has Gone

A big Thank you to Burton Hospital for removing Mum's cataract. First thing she saw when she got home was a squirrel in the tree....eyeball image from Disabled Photography Exhibition, Lichfield

Thursday, 22 October 2020

Pump House

Old pumphouse which supplied bits of the Black Country via Hanch tunnel; maltings for the Lichfield Brewery, now a gated community, a manhole cover made at Tuke & Bell Foundry, now houses... and a nice bird

Bee Knocker

Here's a knocker I spotted earlier....

Saturday, 3 October 2020

To Boldly Go

Some Light Relief

Virtual Victory (Uplifting Story)

Great article in The Guardian about Care Home residents taking part in static cycling competitions

Lunar Loo

Relief at the International Space Station

Space Toilet

Trump Tweets Test Positive. Meanwhile NASA toilet blasts off into Space.

2nd Wave

Corona Virus: The 2nd Wave, 4th volume

Wednesday, 23 September 2020

Dwynwen's Eels

Magical atmosphere on Llanddwyn Island, Anglesey. The ruined church was a place of pilgrimage. Dedicated to Dwynwen (Welsh patron saint of lovers), pilgrims visited the holy well where the faithfulness of a lover was divined by eels moving in the well. A woman scattered breadcrumbs on the water, then laid down her hanky. If the eel was disturbed, then her lover would be faithful. See also: www.anglesey-history/places/llanddwyn

School & Gaol

Old National School and nearby gaol (or is it jail) in Beaumaris

Friday, 18 September 2020

How to Throw a Grenade In Welsh

Some useful Welsh phrases, Caernarfon Castle. My personal favourite for the weekend were "Dim Tipio" and "Cic Baffio" (No Fly Tipping/ Kick Boxing)

Coast & Castles (No) Marathon

Angelesey Half Marathon postponed due to Covid, Coast & Castles at a more leisurely pace, with thanks to Fergal, Beaumaris Runners, for a great stay which now seems 100 years ago!

Wednesday, 2 September 2020

Stubbin Farm Mystery Arch

Not sure if this is the remains of an old keeping cellar, a garden inglenook or a bricked up tunnel....farm dates from 1771, head-height, white washed wall...

Sunday, 30 August 2020

Honister Slate Mine

Guided tour of Honister slate mine, sketching in the darkness - got dripped on! The miners all lived in a bothy near the mine, mine shut in 1989 and was reopened by local man.....No roofing slates now- they make cheeseboards and kitchen worktops and people pay to dangle over the Honister pass on a Via Ferrata. Sadly the owner was killed in a helicopter crash near the mine a few years ago.