Lightning Strike

A rare glimpse of blue sky which didn't last for long.  This photo was taken on the Brown Trail at Coombe Country Park.  It was that angular tree that caught my eye.  The wooden fenced squares on the right are protecting new trees from the sheep that are often in this field. This trail has hidden treasurers...soon to be revealed.

For more photos featuring the sky, please click on the following links:

Sky Watch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel

Happy Easter to you all.  See you next week.  Cheers!

Thatched Roof Thursday #24 - Easenhall

Campbell's Cottage is one of the rare older buildings in this part of the village of Easenhall.

This is a Grade II listed 17th century timber framed thatched roof cottage.  Underneath that exterior plaster is brick noggin. (Ok, I didn't know what brick noggin was.  I do now.)  This cottage is described as one storey plus attic, three window range.  I understand that it originally was two cottages.

This charming home is located right on the outskirts of Easenhall with fields to one side.  Carry on down the road into the village and you'll find a nice pub :).  I'll show you some day!!

K Is For Krispy Kreme

If I find American goodies here in England, I get quite excited.  I love Krispy Kreme doughnuts.  I have been known to travel to Birmingham (by train some 20 miles from Coventry) just to have a coffee and a couple of Krispy Kreme doughnuts.  They are outrageously expensive but it is a treat.  

This photo is of a display I found at Corley Services (a rest station on the M6 Motorway here in Coventry).  Corley is much closer to home and they sell my favourite - Original Glazed.  Admittedly, it is more fun to go on the train to Birmingham but this is good too.

For more photographs beginning with 'K', follow the link to ABC Wednesday.

Station Square, Coventry

The Coventry Train Station entrance is just out of shot (bottom left of this photo).  The City Centre is a short 10 minute walk from here.

It all looks so 'grey' and I am not just talking about the sky :).  In my effort to learn more about the building to the right (Station Tower), the word is that the whole area 'was' due to be redeveloped. Consequently, not only is Station Tower empty but so is Eaton House (white with blue windows) to the left.  The tallish building beyond is a Ramada Hotel and it is occupied. Something is going on here, or not.  I am on a mission to find out what the story is.  It just seems crazy to have buildings like this standing empty in the space between Coventry's train station and the City Centre.

Participating in Our World Tuesday.  Hope your Tuesday is filled with lots of sunshine!

A Little Snow

No golf yesterday, for sure!  So off for a walk with Mr LOL.  I know that 'the weather' is a big topic these days.  Many of you show photos of the Spring flowers doing battle with the snow, somewhat like what is happening in this garden here.  In other parts of the UK the situation is far more severe.  Hope you are all safe and sound wherever you may be!

St Mary's Hall From Coventry Cathedral Ruins

I am standing inside the Coventry Cathedral ruins.  This photo is of St Mary's Hall.  I used to work there.  My office was once on the top floor.  See the dormer window between the chimneys?  That's it.  I had to stand up to see out the window.  A good thing!  If I could see out from my desk, I would have never got any work done :).  Happy Days!

Please enjoy more photos from around the world featuring the sky at Skywatch Friday.

Snow or no snow.  That is the question!  Last Sunday we had a tiny bit and there is promise from the weather forecast of more.  If I end up stuck inside, I might investigate Google+.  I feel a little hesitant to use it.

Have a brilliant weekend all.

Thatched Roof Thursday #23 - Brinklow

This cottage is quite a contrast to the house next door.  

The photo above was taken late last year.  The one below was taken this month.  It is called Holly Cottage. Guess that is because of the holly tree out front.  This seventeenth century thatched roof home is two cottages.   Next door is having some building work done....always seems to require a skip and portable loo.  Try and concentrate on the cottage :).

I am starting to panic a little.  I still haven't shown you the finished cottage in Coventry.  The weather isn't cooperating.  We get moments of sunshine (as in the shot above) but they don't last.   I am insisting on showing you Coventry thatch in full sunshine with a blue sky.  Looking out my window now it is cloudy with the threat of more snow????? (Still not complaining.)

See you tomorrow!

J Is For Joggers In January

At last it is 'J' day at ABC Wednesday.  I took this photo in mid-January.  A favorite camera position of mine near the entrance to Coombe Country Park.  If my memory serves me correctly, it was darn cold out.  Bravo to those two for keeping fit!

Things To Do In Coventry #1 - Walking Tour

The other day in town I was delighted to see this nice young lady, taking visitors around Coventry's historic Cathedral Quarter. Almost everyone is paying attention :).

Pru Porretta, Coventry's modern day, Lady Godiva,  is the guide for today.  Looks like she is going to head towards Hay Lane. (Coventry Cathedral is behind me.)

And here we have Hay Lane.  The Cathedral is to the right at the end of this lane.  The group is going into one of Hay Lane's 16th Century buildings.

Since I have been posting photos here for over a year now, I have decided to feature some tourist activities. Many people who visit Coventry only go to see the Coventry Cathedral.  There is so much more.  If you find yourself heading to Coventry, give the Coventry Tourist Information a call and see when the next guided tour is.

Participating in Our World Tuesday.

The House Next Door - Dunsmore House

Two weeks ago I chose the thatched cottage in this photo to the left as part of my Thatched Roof Thursday series.  I commented that there was a rather grand house next door.  Here it is.  Do you agree?

Brinklow village offers a lot of variety in architecture.   Dunsmore House (sounds as grand as it looks) is a mid-eighteenth century red brink, three storey building.  It has an old tile roof with a feature of end brick chimney stacks.  The facade is symmetrical with sash windows.  The classical character is maintained in the porch of Doric columns under a broken pediment, so says a Brinklow Conservation Report.

For me, today is more about the content of the photograph rather than the quality.  Enjoy Dunsmore House, Broad Street, Brinklow.

Station Tower

This 1970's building has intrigued me for ages.  It is tall by Coventry standards (15 floors), right next door to Coventry Train Station and loaded with lots of glass (not to mention it is a perfect perch for relay equipment).  It is curious to me that for the longest time, I have been able to see almost directly through most of the floors.  Can it be vacant?

I went by the main door yesterday and noticed only 2 businesses listed on the directory.  Next time Mr LOL has a chiropractor appointment near here, I will try and get up enough nerve to ring a buzzer or two and ask if I can have a look inside?  Watch this space!

It is Friday and what a busy week it has been.  Cheltenham Festival (horse racing) finishes today.  Our afternoons have been spent primarily watching our favourite horses not win :).  Still fun.

Have a good weekend!  For more 'sky' photos follow the link to Skywatch Friday.  I am going to have a go at linking to Ein Stück Himmel at the suggestion of my friend Lulu over at Princeton Daily Photo.  Cheers!

Thatched Roof Thursday #22 - Brandon

This thatch roof cottage has the curious name of Everton Manor. It is so tiny.  The sight of it always turns my head when we drive by.  I found a conservation report for Brandon Village and it describes this cottage, as follows:

'The building with the oldest origins in the village is Everton Manor, which dates back to 1550, now with a brick skin covering the original wattle and daub exterior.' 

Oh, 'wattle and daub'....??? Good old Wikipedia has can enlighten us here. So it looks like that brickwork is actually covering some rather old building material. Surprise!

The photos I have used for the last 3 days have all come from walking distance of each other. 

I mentioned last week that I was going to show you the home next door to last week's thatch.  I seem to have run out of time. I haven't forgotten :).  Better do that Monday.  Cheers!

I Is For Inquisitive

...and, please note the 'Ice' (ok, snow) on this sweetheart's coat.

Day before yesterday, I was taking pictures and couldn't help noticed some horses sheltering from the wind and snow in a field between Brandon and Wolston villages.  The minute I started snapping away, this one came straight over.

Obviously, I am supposed to produce an apple.  I wonder if that would be okay?  I will find out, because this is another horse that deserves a treat.

Aw....!  I know this isn't quite straight.  It would have been an interesting photo of me trying to take this shot in gusty, cold wind.  Totally amazed I didn't fall over :).

For more letter 'I' photos, just click on this link - ABC Wednesday.

Brandon Castle - What Remains

When I took this photo I was not sure if I was in Brandon or Wolston.  To my surprise I discovered that beyond that group of trees once stood medieval Brandon Castle.   Oh my goodness.  How exciting.  I will be doing a little reading about this site.  I wonder if I can get a closer look.

The photo was taken yesterday just after a very light dusting (as they call it here) of snow in below freezing temperatures. Horses live in this field and they are just out of sight to my left - sheltering.  The microscopic  speck on the horizon to the right is a sparrow hawk (says Mr. LOL).  I thought it was a helicopter.  But then I would have noticed that for sure when I was taking the photo.  A train was going pass just then too.  If you click on the photo you will see it.  

Tomorrow, I will swing around a little to the left to see those horses - one in particular.  I must say, I feel rather excited.  All in one day having snow and discovering a castle.  Fabulous!

Taking part, with pleasure, in Our World Tuesday.  Click this link for more photos from around the world.

Am I complaining?

Not a chance.  I have been rattling on that 'we might have snow' for ages in hopes (but don't tell anyone) that we might get just a little bit more.   Finally!

So here is how it looked in our back garden when we got up this morning.  The plan - go into town and takes loads of photos.  I got into the car and only managed a short trip around the block, so to speak.  They don't really have 'blocks' in Coventry, more 'curves and shapes'.  Roads were slippery so back home it was for me.

This photo is for our friends and family in Oz who are suffering with the heat.  Hope you all had a good weekend.  No golf yesterday, it was too cold.   Time to put my boots on and go for a walk.  Mr. LOL has twisted his back, so he is grounded until tomorrow.

Cheers for now!

Skywatch Friday - Open Air

This was taken in late September, 2012, inside Coventry Cathedral ruins.  It was as still as it looks and seeing that moon, well, just incredible.

For more photos featuring the sky follow the link to - Skywatch Friday.

The 'weather' is definitely on top of the conversation list.  Seems rather dramatic worldwide.  For us in Coventry, England, more RAIN and just maybe a little snow on Sunday.  Oh dear, what about our golf?  Have a lovely weekend all...see you next week. Well, that is the plan :).

Thatched Roof Thursday #21 - Brinklow

And, Fosse Cottage (on the left) is for rent, or at least it was.

This timber frame building with white painted brick infill is actually two homes.  The building is Grade II Listed, dating from the seventeenth century.  It is described as one storey, plus an attic. You won't believe the house next door.  I'll show it to you next week. 

Broad Street, Brinklow, is a little wider than many of the 'main streets' I have seen and this one is full of a variety of homes in all shapes and sizes and shops too. 

These photos were taken last Saturday when the sun was out.  That didn't last long.  I haven't seen it since :).

H Is For Hidden...

...the sunshine, that is!  

I have been searching for a tree to photograph throughout the year.  This oak tree was 'C is for Contender' and is my choice for this little project.  It sits along side what was a medieval road known as Coombe Lane (main route between Coombe Abbey and Coventry City Centre).  I am counting on some sunshine to appear (eventually)!

Have a look at other photographs featuring 'H' by following the link to ABC Wednesday.

Went to the cinema today to see Broken City.  Filmed in New York City.  I found the story a bit complicated in places but I enjoyed it.  Good acting and interesting plot.

Cheers for now.

New for Old

In recent months a lot of restoration work has been carried out in Coventry Cathedral ruins.  Not too long ago I asked this young stonemason if I could photograph him working on some replacement masonry to be used at the main entrance.   Lucky for him it wasn't raining that day!  

I think I know where this piece will go but I couldn't get close enough to get a photo.  Too much scaffolding.   I will have to wait until the work is completed.  (It's on the list.)

It amazes me how craftsman can just set up shop almost anywhere and get the job done! Well done!!

Another Angle

If you joined me last Friday on City Daily Photo's Theme Day, you saw some cafe chairs just outside this door to the left with a view looking to the right.  If you didn't stop by, have a look here.

I think this is going to be an eclectic week.  I normally have a plan by Monday.  But this week I haven't.  So, who knows what I will be posting tomorrow.  For today, here is an untouched look straight out the main door of the Information Centre at Coombe.  Guess this is my favourite hangout at this time of year.

It did not rain yesterday AND we did have some sunshine AND it was cold AND I did not play my best ever game of golf.  No worries, we had a good day.  Happy Monday...see you tomorrow.

March Theme Day - Cafe Chairs

Can it be March already?

This is where we sit and have hot chocolate after a nice walk around Coombe Country Park.  My favourite tree (not the one leaning precariously in the distance) is hidden behind those pillars.  The agile young lady just passing by?  No idea who she is.  She just appeared.  So glad.  She adds something to a photo of rather uninteresting (but functional) cafe chairs :).

Have a look HERE for more City Daily Photo theme day photos.

No rain in the forecast so that means a chance to play some golf.  Enjoy your weekend.