Getting Ready For Tomorrow

Tomorrow is CDP's Theme Day - The Beauty of Decay.  

I found something interesting to photograph

here at the Old Coventry Cathedral.

Please notice that the sun is out :).  We headed back into town today so that I could get some photo's for tomorrow and show off the view from inside Coventry Cathedral looking out as it was this morning.  I am standing at the alter look back towards what would have been the main entrance (to the right of the spire).   See you tomorrow!

Participating in Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel.

Thatched Roof Thursday #33 - Stoneleigh

It just gets better....look down the road.  Another thatch cottage!  So far, in my time around Coventry, I would have to say that Stoneleigh Village is right up there as being one of the most beautiful and scenic villages I have visited.

It is lovely in every way.


I am running late again today.  It has been raining for the last three days.  Tomorrow should be better (oh please)!

Thank you to those of you who commented on my swans yesterday.  Genuinely appreciated.  Cheers for now :).

T Is For Trying...

...to photograph a swan better than before.

Yes, another swan photograph.  

I am on a mission to try and learn more

about the settings on my camera.

I think the photos here are better than the 'washed out' photos I posted last week.

I appreciate that the background is dark but I can see those feathers now.

More practice required. 

This week has been a tad busy and I almost didn't get to the computer today.  Of course, 'T' should be for 'Thatched Roof Thursday'.  And, hopefully, I will find time to find another thatch to share tomorrow.  Fingers crossed.

Participating in ABC Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday.

This Way...

...to The Menagerie.  Once part of Coombe Abbey.  

What you see here is the 18th Century, Grade II listed lodge which is part of The Menagerie.  Designed by Henry Holland and built to replicate the menagerie at the Palace of Versailles. What looks like an observatory once had two grand hexagonal rooms which were used for entertaining. It overlooks the lake with gardens designed by Capability Brown.

It was built for Coombe Abbey’s Craven family as a garden folly and menagerie, where they could keep animals and bring visitors to on summer days.  The present owners suggest that there is no evidence of animals ever living there except for a 16ft-18ft high wall that encircles the garden right down into the lake.

Yesterday I posted a view from the lake.  Above is the view from the lodge across the former deer park.  The lodge is behind me.  For a long period of time the property was derelict and sadly if suffered from vandalism.  In 2004 it was divided in to 5 lots and sold.  So there we have 'The Menagerie'.

Taking part in Our World Tuesday,

The Menagerie

Photograph taken yesterday from Coombe Country Park

looking across the lake towards The 'mysterious' Menagerie.

How can I get a closer look?

The Countryside

We went to Rugby Wednesday to see 'The Great Gatsby'.
Enjoyed the film but wished I had seen it in 2D rather than 3D.

On the way home we stopped (just outside Easenhall village) and waited and waited for the sunlight to reach beyond those trees.  It didn't happen but did get as far as those nice Jersey cows.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.  It is a Bank holiday here on Monday and most of the schools are closed for the week too. Everywhere will be busy.  Hope the weather cooperates.  Cheers for now!

Participating in Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel.

Thatched Roof Thursday #32 - Stoneleigh

Beautiful home and, yes, Circa 1500.

Stoneleigh is located in beautiful countryside as shown below.

Absolutely no idea what's in store for tomorrow.  

Hope it is a better news day than yesterday and earlier this week.  

Stay safe, folks.

S Is For Swan Family

The whole family were out proudly on Sunday.  

I believe these cygnets are about a week old.  

Darling.

While the Swan's above were out and about -

Have a look below.....

Hardly comfortable but a nice setting

at Coombe Country Park.

For more photos featuring 'S' (and possibly more swans), 

please follow the link to ABC Wednesday.
Also participating in Outdoor Wednesday and
Water World Wednesday.

On a personal note:

These photos have convinced me that I must start learning about the settings on my DSLR.  I don't always use that camera but when I do it is set on 'auto'.  I have struggled all through the winter with the snow and now these white swans.  Wish me luck :).  

View from University

Taken from Coventry University - looking northeast.

The buildings opposite is new student accommodation for the University.

 Below - looking east

Below - looking southeast towards Rugby.  

The tower is the Whitley Incinerator.

At the moment, pipe is being laid from there to the City Centre 

to heat nine buildings, including the new Cathedral.

I live about 3 miles in that direction.

There is no glamorous architecture to see out these windows.  What you see are row after row of housing and quite a bit of blue sky....hooray!  Coventry Cathedral is directly behind me.

Participating in Our World Tuesday.

Think it will be 'S' for 'Swan' tomorrow.  That 'Ho-Hum' Swan has 5 additions to the family.

Still Exposed

This photo is of farmland taken from Coombe Country Park yesterday.

The sky was blue with just a little haze early on.  

I used a similar shot in February titled, Completely Exposed.  

What a difference.   

It was actually warm yesterday and no rain.   

Wouldn't if be nice if that continues :).  

Have a good week!

CDP National Theme Day - Norwegian Constitution Day

In celebration of Norway's National Day, I went in search for something 'Norwegian' here in Coventry. 

 Here is what I found:

The Norwegian Organ 

A gift from the people of Norway to Coventry Cathedral in 1967.

It was built by Torkildsen Brothers and designed by Ole Rasmus Krag. 

Today (17th May) is Norwegian Constitution Day.  

Members of City Daily Photo are celebrating too.

Click the link HERE for more contributions.

View from west end of Cathedral in both directions (above and below).

Sign displayed give more detail.

It is Friday!!!!!  Have a great weekend!

PS.  Yesterday I said I would show some Coventry views.  

Last minute discovery for 'theme day' changed my plans :).

Thatched Roof Thursday #31 - Stoneleigh

Another gem from Stoneleigh Village.  

A cruck cottage dating about 1500.

Take a minute to note the brick work and those 

beams, before you home in on 

what I think is a peacock.

(Amendment - Change of plans for tomorrow.  It is off to Coventry Cathedral.  Views from Coventry University postponed until next week.  Cheers!)

R Is For Ripple

Thank you Mr Duck for giving me my 'R' for ABC Wednesday
and photo for first participation in Outdoor Wednesday.
Have a look!

Taken at Top Pool, Coombe Country Park, last Sunday.

Coventry University....

....library to the left and Faculty of Engineering and Computing (silver building) to the right.

The photo above was taken last week.  I love these two buildings.  The photo below is taken through window from inside the silver building last night.  We went on a tour.  I'll show you another view 

on Friday and more from inside next week.  

Below is the view from the Ring Road (exit to London Road) looking at some of Coventry University.  Architecture here is diverse with buildings of modern design next to 

foundation ruins of a friary church dating back to 1342.

Left to Right - 

Library, 

Student accommodation (in distance), 

Faculty of Engineering and Computing (Center),  

Student Center (red brick) 

and to the foreground - friary ruins.   

Coventry is home to two outstanding universities - University of Warwick and Coventry University.

Participating in Our World Tuesday.

Tomorrow I will show you a duck :).  

Tree Series And More

View of my tree yesterday.  What a difference from last month.

We now have a favorite 'picnic table' too.  

Still cool outside so we had hot chocolate 

after walking around Coombe Country Park.

Please don't be distracted by that big tree trunk

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE (darn!)

of my photo :).  

Have a super, super week!

A Little Sunshine...

...at Coombe Abbey Hotel.

Have a great weekend!

Participating in Skywatch Friday and Ein Stück Himmel

Thatched Roof Thursday #30 - Stoneleigh

This thatch cottage has a cozy look to it with that amazing curved timber frame on the end showing 

some of what is a 'cruck' frame that supports the roof.

The cottage and building next door have been combined to create one home. 

Looks like some minor roof repairs have been carried out recently.

You may wonder what that white box is - here is a closer look.

'Local Honey' - I am still none the wiser.  Guess I better go and ask :).

Q Is For Quadrant...

...The Quadrant building in Warwick Road, that is.

The Quadrant has a curved frontage like a crescent.  You see half of it here.

How handy, a sign on the building that tells the whole story.

The Quadrant is located between the train station and the City Centre.

Unmissable by its appearance but completely surrounded by zillions of cars. 

By the way, it is currently home for businesses rather than being residential.

Angela Brazil (children's writer) lived and worked here between 1911 and 1947.

Participating in ABC Wednesday.

My Kind Of Day

When you drive into the village of Monks Kirby from Coventry...this is your view to the right.  

Taken yesterday.  I don't want to be fooled into thinking that Spring is here.  But, I think it is :).

This second shot is taken just a little bit further down the road.  Aw...!

I abandoned my coat for the first time yesterday.  Hooray!
If you are in the England, enjoy the sunshine - rain tomorrow :(.

Linked with Our World Tuesday.

Ho-hum.....

....I think I'll go for a swim.

Splash!  Made it!

Graceful?  I think not :).  The swan in the background in the top photo is sitting on a nest (waiting for her partner, I expect, to come back).

Have a good week!

Linked with Miscellany Monday.