Goodbye 2012

I am for those clouds parting and plenty of sunshine showing up for 2013.  Happy New Year to you ALL!

This was taken yesterday about a mile from the Coventry City boundary.  The rain stopped but promptly started up again. More rain today.  

Skywatch Friday - Sun Block

Baginton Oak in the Village of Baginton

This photo was taken in early November.  It is the Baginton Oak and (hang on to your hat) is 300 to 350 years old and said to be one of the oldest trees in the County of Warwickshire.   We do have the occasional very hot day.  I think this would be a fine source of shade on such a day :).

Clouds are doing a pretty good job of blocking the blue sky in Coventry.  I am going to follow this link to see sky photos from around the world - SKYWATCH FRIDAY. Join me!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Thatched Roof Thursday #11 - Brinklow

Rain, rain, and more rain can produce a little extra greenery on some thatched roof cottages.  This is a good example of what I mean.  Hopefully, in the warmer months I can show you this sweet Grade II listed cottage with beautiful flowered vines and a little less moss on the roof.

Next week we are back to the cottage in Coventry that is being re-thatched.  Not much work has been done this week...think that could have something to with Christmas :).

PS.  Happy Birthday, Lottie & Dave too !

X Is For Kisses

Greetings to you all.
It is Boxing Day in England.
Hope you have had a wonderful
Christmas.
Cheers!
Lauren xx

The letter 'X' can be found mostly at the end of a letter or note or even in lattice leaded windows at Blue Coat School.  For more photos featuring the letter 'X' follow this link - ABC Wendesday.

This photo was taken on Heritage Day looking through the leaded windows at Blue Coat School.  Think that is a tour group being filmed for local TV.

Merry Christmas

I get to go through that gate later today to celebrate Christmas over dinner with family and friends.  Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!

St Andrews Church, Rugby

I picked this photo for Christmas Eve because I thought a church would be nice and so would some blue sky.  We haven't had much of that lately.  Poor Santa is going to get drenched when he arrives in England tomorrow.

As I am typing this, it is already Christmas in other parts of the world.  I have a few hours to wait....better get those last minute jobs done :).

Not A Sound

Early morning at our golf course. So still, so silent, so missed my putt on a green over there.  

Take a look at more photographs featuring the sky by clicking on this link - Skywatch Friday.

Four more sleeps until Christmas :).  Enjoy your weekend!  

Thatched Roof Thursday #10 - Update

Cruck House, Hinckley Road, Walsgrave, Coventry

One week on from Thatched Roof Thursday #9 and this is how the cottage looked yesterday.  The old straw has been removed (but it looks like not all of it), and the thatchers are just starting to put fresh straw on the roof.  It was raining yesterday (and again today).   So we drove by and my sweet husband stopped long enough for me to get this photo.  Sorry, if you were in one of the cars behind and had to wait :).

W Is For West Window...

...Coventry Cathedral's Great West Window, that is.

Screen of Saints and Angels
Engraved by John Hutton

This is the main entrance to the new Coventry Cathedral.  You can see the reflection of the ruins of the old Cathedral (which is behind me) in this magnificent window.  This window is 70 feet high and 45 feet wide.  The glass is supported by a bronze framework.

Main Entrance, Coventry Cathedral

For more photographs featuring words beginning with 'W' follow the link - ABC Wednesday.

Message To My Friends

I took this picture recently because I thought the sugar and creamer (on the top shelf) might make a nice Christmas present for someone.  It did.  It is sitting on my kitchen counter now :).

We are all embarking on the joyous season that is Christmas and New Year.   For the next couple of  weeks it is going to be a hit and miss agenda for me as to when I can add photos to this blog.  I am well behind in my Christmas preparations and not organised enough to do postings every day.  Equally, I am still saddened by the events in Connecticut.

See you at least a couple times this week. 

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Another shot from the golf course, taken possibly 30 minutes after last week's photo facing in a different direction.  Amazing!

For more photos featuring the sky follow the link to SKYWATCH FRIDAY.

Have a wonderful weekend all.  Many of you will be busy Christmas shopping, taking pictures and having fun.  Stay safe and warm.  See you next week.

Thatched Roof Thursday #9 - Coventry

I found a house which is in the early stages of being re-thatched.  It is cold out. That is frost on the roof.  The nice man up there explained that the old thatch has to be removed before renewing the thatch.  It will take about 3 weeks.

Cruck House, Hinckley Road, Walsgrave, Coventry

This thatched house is possibly late 1700's and is described as a Medieval cruck timber frame (Grade II listed) building. Can't wait to see the progress of re-thatching.

V Is For Vanilla...

...Vanilla Latte, that is on the 12th of the 12th, 2012.

Not the most exciting of shots for ABC Wednesday.  But, I can tell you that having a coffee in the structure shown below IS exciting and most enjoyable.  Today I did just that.

Caffe Nero, Lower Precinct

Above is the 'round cafe', built in the 1950's as part of Coventry's redevelopment after the WWII.  Today it is a coffee bar and a super place to visit.

For more V photos from around the world, visit ABC WEDNESDAY and enjoy!

Founded in 1567 - Rugby School

Rugby School, Rugby

Rugby School is one of the oldest independent (private) schools in Britain. I understand there is a 'tour'. It is on my list. An interesting titbit:  Rugby School was founded and provided for by Lawrence Sherrif in his will. Lawrence Sherrif made his fortune by supplying groceries to Queen Elizabeth I.  Not bad.

Last week, I did a piece on William Webb Ellis. That is his statute with a broad view of one small corner of Rugby School behind. More to follow after I go on that tour.  

And Now For Something Completely Different....

...they are performing, pretending to be ABBA and posing for me all at the same time.

Deja Vous, Abba Tribute Band

This was taken at a dinner dance at Weston Hall Hotel, Bulkington, on Saturday. I brought my camera in hopes I could get a shot of the band.  For me, this involves mostly looking at a LCD screen on the back of my point and shoot Panasonic. To my surprise when I looked up, these two were posing for me and I got a clear picture.  Hooray!  And, thank you.

Clear and Frosty

This may be the real reason I am recovering from a cold today :).  This was taken last Sunday.  When I left home about 7.45am, it was -5°C and very frosty.  This was taken about 90 minutes later on Ansty Golf Course, about 10 minutes from where I live in Coventry.

For more photographs from around the world featuring the sky follow this link -  Skywatch Friday.

I am off on a mission now to get well. Thanks for all your advice and good wishes yesterday.  Have a safe and cheerful weekend.

Thatched Roof Thursday # 8 - Brandon

I have been waiting for ages to photograph this thatched roof in the sunshine.  (Did that at weekend.)  This cottage dates back to about 1640 and is described as a large, light framed Grade II listed cottage.  Pretty big for a cottage, I would say.  I love the detail around the chimney.  Looks as if the thatch has been turned back.  Lovely.

When I was in Rugby yesterday, I got so cold that I got a cold :(.  Hope you all out there are keeping well.  Cheers!

U Is For Union....

...Rugby Union, that is.

William Webb Ellis
1806 - 1872
(Sculptor Graham Ibbeson)

Today we went to Rugby to have the car serviced.  Hooray, I found my 'U' for ABC Wednesday.  The roots of the game of rugby union can found here in the town of Rugby.  Rumour has it that this young man, William Webb Ellis, is credited for being the first to run with a ball in a football game at Rugby School in 1823.

There is a gold mine of things to share with you in Rugby, only 15 minutes from Coventry.   I will have to start with Rugby School (seen behind statute) someday soon.

Please view more photographs from around the world featuring the letter 'U' at ABC Wednesday.

Corridor Of Bayley Lane

This narrow part of Bayley Lane is home to St. Mary's Hall, first built in 1340's (left).  'The Cottage' (centre) is a fine example of a medieval timber framed house built about 1500.  The outside walls of Coventry Cathedral is on the left.  All of what you see survived the WWII.

I used to work in St. Mary's Hall.  I had the pleasure of stepping into this Lane regularly as did my husband who also worked there.

Bayley Lane, Coventry

Bayley Lane - A Little Family History

Before WWII my husband's mum and family lived here (to the right of where I am standing).  The buildings are all gone now.  

Bayley Lane, Coventry

Before the war in 1936, his mum was married in Coventry Cathedral because that was her Parish Church and soon after moved outside Coventry.  During the bombing of Coventry, her father and brothers still lived in Bayley Lane and survived.

The building on the left is part of Drapers' Hall.  (I will cover that building in another posting some day.)  The Old Cathedral is straight ahead and the New Cathedral is beyond.  The brown panel on the right is one of about 6 steel panels naming businesses that were here before the war.

Old Coventry Cathedral,
Bayley Lane 

PS.  Happy Birthday, Peter!

100 Steps From My Street

So here is the sequence on Thursday:  1) Wake up and look out the window.  2) Notice a beautiful moon setting in the early morning.  3) Get dressed really quick.  4) Head out my door in 'my street', turn right at the corner and walk about 100 paces to the top of the hill.  5) Start taking pictures....!

Last week  I showed you this view almost completely flooded.  Things are improving.  Less rain helps :).

Today is City Daily Photo Theme Day and the topic is 'My Street'.  I can promises you that my actual street in a residential area being dug up because there is a gas leak somewhere....so I would much rather show you this view nearby.

For more 'My Street' views from around the world, follow the CDP THEME DAY LINK.

Have a good weekend everyone.  See you next week!