Wednesday 30 March 2016

In A Rush

Coombe Country Park
Black-billed Magpies


I believe these birds are Magpies.  
Last weekend I spotted this mad rush
for food that had just been put on the trunk of
a nearby tree at Coombe.  In seconds the food was gone.
I did not expect to see those blue feathers.


Participating in Wild Bird Wednesday


Tuesday 29 March 2016

Airbus A380

Birmingham Airport

Birmingham Airport is about 20 minutes away
from Coventry and has a runway long enough
to support the enormous Airbus A380-800.  Today was the 3rd
day of daily flights between Dubai and Birmingham.
We found the perfect location for a little plane spotting.
Emirates Flight 39 (below) is just about to take off.
  

I am using a telephoto lens in all of these images.
The A380 is so big I just about managed to fit it in the frame.

I am pleased I could get the distant shot of the plane
heading over Coventry and then to Dubai.


When the Emirates flight left I tried some more shots.
Seeing this one (below) made me pause for a moment.


There was a little drama too.  Black smoke.
A recycling centre nearby caught fire just as we were
watching the planes. Not good.
Hopefully, by now, that fire is out.



Participating in Our World Tuesday

Monday 28 March 2016

Flyover Mural

Coventry Ring Road
Over Gosford Street


I get rather excited when I notice any murals
around Coventry.  That means I can join others at



In these photos you can see a small portion of the
2 mile Ring Road which circles Coventry City Centre.
I'm not sure what this mural is all about
but I was delighted to be able to photograph it.
It is on a portion of the Ring Road which cuts through
Coventry University.


I hope you had a Happy Easter.
I do like those big chocolate Easter eggs :).





Wednesday 23 March 2016

Hello

Coombe Country Park
Mute Swan


It is no secret that I love (having a go at) photographing swans.
You will see plenty of them in this blog using the wildlife link.


The image above is of two swans.  
I recall there was some sort of territorial dispute
going on when I took this photograph recently.

Participating in 
and 





Tuesday 22 March 2016

Organ Pipes

Coventry Cathedral
Organ Pipes and Reflecting Light


Coventry Cathedral's organ is a gift from the people of Canada.
I have heard the organ music and I can't wait to hear it again.

The pipes (above) play an integral part of the cathedral design.
The light on the wall passes through huge stained-glass windows.




This is a sad day.
News of terrorist attacks in Brussels is heartbreaking.

Participating in Our World Tuesday


Monday 21 March 2016

Mixed Messages

William Morris Building
Gosford Street


The message above seems straight forward
until you see the sign on the wall opposite (below).
Spot the difference between these two ghost signs :).


The William Morris Building, now part of Coventry University,
has a most interesting history.  The University added
two floors in early 2000.  Before that in early 1900's 
ARNO cars and motorcycles were built here. 
After that HOTCHKISS ET CIE produced 50,000 machine guns
during WWI and then produced engines for Morris cars.
 Morris took over and the premises became MORRIS ENGINES LIMITED in 1923.
By 1930 NUFFIELD MECHANISATIONS produced armaments during WW2.
After the war it became the 
Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance.
If you would like more detail, follow the link HERE.


The arrows (below) show where
the two ghost signs are located (with their conflicting information).


I enjoyed trooping out in cold today searching
for the sign below.  I was really surprised when
my husband spotted a second sign.  Well done, that man!


Participating in Monday Mural


Sunday 20 March 2016

Lake Reflections

Coombe Country Park


Participating in Weekend Relections

PS.  All good here in Coventry.  Busy 10 days cut
right into my blogging time.  I'll be catching up
with my blogging mates asap.
Cheers for now!


Monday 14 March 2016

Water Supply Sign

6 Hay Lane
The is a WWII painted water supply sign
giving instructions to blitz fire-fighters.


 This is what I love about living in Coventry -
hidden treasures reminding us of Coventry's past.

Unfortunately, the paint has faded considerably.
I could only make out some of the words.


Last week I mentioned The Golden Cross pub.
The image below shows the pub in Hay Lane
and the location of the painted water supply sign.


Participating in Monday Mural

Friday 11 March 2016

Boathouse View

Coombe Country Park
View from Capability Brown boathouse


The public were given limited access to the
boathouse during Heritage Weekend in September, 2015.
It was a real treat to see the view from this recently restored building.


The boathouse is Grade II Listed and dates back to the 1770s when
Capability Brown was commissioned to remodel
the grounds, at the time owned by the Earl of Craven.
It is located on the south side of the lake.
Below is how it looks from other side of the lake.




Hope you have a 'sunny' weekend.
That's my plan :).

Participating in Skywatch Friday


Thursday 10 March 2016

More Rain Clouds

Copsewood Grange Golf Club
Allard Way
I did a similar blogpost in 2014 (if this looks familar).


There is a lovely walk that follows the River Sowe
 at the bottom of this hill not far from where we live.  
Across the river is a 9 hole golf course, except...


...when it rains.  I have shown pictures like this before (similar to the
one above taken in February).  Yesterday, was the worst day ever.
Have a look below.


No worries.  In a day or so, that golf course
will be playable.  Hooray!

PS.  To date, the footpath we follow has never been flooded.
Phew!

Wednesday 9 March 2016

Out For A Stroll

Coombe Country Park
Coot


This all-black water bird, with a distinctive white beak
and forehead, was not bothered at all by my
hurried moves to get a shot of it in front of those daffodils.


I must say, it really does have 'intriguing' feet.

Participating in ABC Wednesday - 'I' is for 'Intriguing'
and


Tuesday 8 March 2016

Coventry Pubs #8 - The Golden Cross

8 Hay Lane
One of the Oldest Pubs in Coventry


The architecture is described as
Tudor Style with jettied upper floors.
The building has been altered and extended since
it was built in 1583.


It is located in the oldest part of Coventry.
You can just see the pub on the left here in Hay Lane.  
The brick building was once a Crown Court
and Holy Trinity Church is beyond.

(Below) The Golden Cross is on right with
Coventry Cathedral ruins beyond and
former Crown Court to left.


There used to be another church (St Michael's Baptist Church) 
on the corner where you can see a white sign (above).  It was
destroyed in the blitz in 1940.


It is thought that in the 15th century this site was once occupied 
by Coventry's mint for a short while.


Participating in Our World Tuesday


Monday 7 March 2016

Daimler Empress 1955

Coventry Transport Museum
Garage Door
Cook Street


The License Plate - MBRT 1
I believe the initials relate to the museum by its former name,
Museum of British Road Transport.


Admission to the Coventry Transport Museum
is free and well worth a visit.

Participating in Monday Mural


Friday 4 March 2016

Snapshots of Coventry Cathedral


Following on from my blog posts on Wednesday and Thursday,  
I am concluding with a few more images
that stood out during my recent visit.  

Ceiling
The rib vaulted ceiling hides the natural roof.




Chapels
There are four small chapels within the Cathedral.  
Below are the entrances to two of them.

Chapel of Christ the Servant


Chapel of Christ in Gethsemane


Windows 
The placement and design of the windows is breathtaking.
The West Screen (below) is enormous.





Below - The Nave Stained-Glass Windows left
and The West Screen to the right.


The Baptistry Window (below)


Coventry Cathedral is a modern building
that I really didn't appreciate to the full
until I put together this collection of photographs
over the last 3 days.

Have a good weekend :).



Thursday 3 March 2016

Sutherland Tapestry

Coventry Cathedral
'Christ in Glory'
Tapestry Designed by Graham Sutherland


Woven in France and completed in 1962.
It took about 10 weavers over a year to complete.
The looms were made from 2 large tree trunks.
There are over 900 colors.

I think it is fair to say that the
tapestry is the first thing you
notice when you enter the Cathedral.
It certainly dominates the interior when you face it.


The next photograph was taken in the
Lady Chapel which is located
right below the tapestry.


The dimensions are 75 feet by 38 feet (23m x 11m)
It is about the size of a tennis court. 
From where I was standing to take photograph above,
when I turned around this is what I could see:


This is a similar photo to the one I showed yesterday but this one
is taken with a flash.  Hidden from view (by the 
sculpture) is the engraved West Screen windows located at the 
other end of the Cathedral and the Baptistry Window.
I will show you those tomorrow.
You must see the ceiling too as well as 
a couple of the adjoining chapels.