BBQ Gone Wrong

Coombe Country Park

Revisiting my favorite oak tree.

Dotted all around Coombe Country Park are wonderful

picnic tables, all of which are there as a memorial to family and friends.

On Sunday we decided to go over and see how

my favorite tree (above) is looking.  We were distracted.

How disappointing it was to see that someone

decided to put one of those disposable BBQs on the

table and burn a hole in it.

I hope this table can be repaired soon.

It is such a lovely spot in the park to be enjoyed by all.

The Swan On Patrol

Coombe Country Park

He looks innocent enough but in the photo below -
the name of the game was keeping those geese out of the lake.

We watched for a fair amount of time as he patrolled up and down.
 It was clear (for at least a while) who was in charge.

At some point, I got the photos below
using my new zoom lens.

Well, that's me done for the week.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Cheers!

Thatched Roof Thursday #85 - Pailton

Midsummer's Cottage

Pailton is a lovely little

village not far from Coventry.  I have driven by this cottage

many times but only recently noticed that bright red door and

how pretty the cottage was looking.  

The oldest part of the cottage dates back to 17th Century.

 Yes, it is Grade II Listed.  

The details are HERE.

Coventry Pubs #5 - The Earl Of Mercia

18 High Street

Located across the street from Coventry's Council House,

this building opened in 1896 as Lloyds Bank.

Since the early 1990s it has been a public house 

with a number of names, the most recent The Earl of Mercia.

The name is after Leofric who was The Earl of Mercia

and the husband of Lady Godiva.

This is a Wetherspoon's public house which

translates into reasonably priced food and drink,

conveniently located in the City Centre.

Participating in ABC Wednesday

E is for 'Earl' in The Earl of Mercia

Who Are You?

 Coventry Cathedral Ruins

Located at East Entrance

Why does taking a simple photograph end up being a project for me?

I spotted this head with a broken nose and tried to find out 'who' it was.  No luck.

Then, I wanted to refer to it as a 'Gargoyle' 

only to read that gargoyles includes a 'water spout'.

Through the magic of the internet I found a site HERE that explains

that if carved stone like this doesn't act as a water spout,

it is a 'Grotesque'.*

But, of course, you knew that - I didn't :). 

All around Coventry Cathedral there a number of gargoyles

and grotesques.  I will have fun photographing more.

*Addition to post 12th August, 2015:

The History Anorak informs me

that this figure is a 'corbel'.  

Blue Stained Glass

Coventry Cathedral Ruins

Look closely - Can you see the blue glass in the first photograph?

I hadn't noticed it before.  The photos below are

taken progressively as I step back into the middle 

of the cathedral ruins.

Coventry Cathedral and the ruins of the old cathedral

are open daily.  

It has been a busy week.  Biggest challenge was

sorting out Windows 10 on my laptop.  

All sorted now, I hope :).

Have a good weekend and see you next week!

Participating in Skywatch Friday

City Daily Photo Theme Day - Bicycle

Coventry Transport Museum

1879 Lawson Bicyclette made in Sussex (front)

and

1885 Rudge Penny Farthing made in Rudge Factory, Crow Lane, Coventry (back)

Coventry is the birthplace of the British Cycle and Motor industry.

In 1888 Rover Safety Bicycle (below)

was made by John Kemp Starley's Rover Company in Coventry.

This bicycle is considered to be the first modern bicycle

and is one of the most important inventions of the past 200 years.

As you can see, Coventry Transport Museum 

has a comprehensive collection of bicycles.

The museum is free and you can spend as much time as 

you like looking at the bicycles as well as

everything you ever wanted to know about 

Coventry's rich motor industry.

I couldn't leave out these bright

red wheels on the velocipede (below)
known in Britain as the
'Boneshaker' because it was so uncomfortable to ride.

I've visited the museum many times and used one of their 

displays in CDP's 'Revolution' Theme Day back in May.

For more bicycle photographs from members of 

City Daily Photo, please follow the link - HERE.

Clouds...

...with 3 fighter jets out training (I hope).

Mablethorpe

This was taken recently when we had an outing to the seaside.

You often see these jets (lower right corner) training off the coast in Lincolnshire.

They sound loud.

By the way, those clouds are a daily feature here in Coventry.
At least today we had no rain and it was actually 'warm' :).

It takes about 2 1/2 hours to drive to Mablethorpe from Coventry.

Participating in Skywatch Friday

The Shakespeare Express

Snow Hill Station

Looking up Cromwell Street, Birmingham

4965 Rood Ashton Hall Steam Train 

Built in 1929 for the Great Western Railway.

 The photo above was taken at Snow Hill Station

looking between the engine and carriage.

Below is the full view taken at 

Stratford Upon Avon Station later in the day.

On Sunday we had a fun day taking a

steam train ride from Birmingham to

Stratford and back.

Unfortunately, it rained a good portion of the day.

The couple of hours we had in Stratford was

spent taking short walks with plenty of stops for tea!

If you fancy a trip on a steam train like this,
please follow the link for The Shakespeare Express.

Participating in Our World Tuesday

Across The Street

Mill Street, Warwick

Taken last week.

These timber framed houses are lovely but what gets me

is the sight these homes have from their front doors....

...Warwick Castle.

There is a big wall between the Grade II listed homes in Mill Street

and the castle.  I did use a zoom lens here but believe me,
the castle does look that big when you are standing in Mill Street.

  Below is a photo I used in my blog
in 2012 taken from Guy's Tower (tower with flag - above) looking down to where I
am standing in the top photo.  You can see Mill Street and
a little of the timber framed buildings.

It is nice to get these three photos together on one page.

Warwick Castle is about 20 minutes from Coventry.
Well worth a visit!!!!

Participating in Our World Tuesday