Thatched Roof Thursday #20 - Ansty

Last week I showed you Main Street, Brandon. This week it is Main Street, Ansty.  It is always neat for me to round a corner and see a thatched roof cottage in the distance.

Ansty village is dissected by a busy road. I can promise you that the speed limit of 30 mph seems a bit quick when you see how close these houses are to the road.

Wingletang (thatch on the left) is connected to The Whitehouse. Both are Grade II listed buildings. I am not at all surprised that the walls are less than bright white. Wingletang might not be the most elegant of cottages, but I still love it. To the rear is a canal and a view beyond.


I better get a move on. I think I found a photo for tomorrow's City Daily Photo Theme Day - Cafe Chairs. See you then!

G Is For Grey or Gray

Taken during our big snowfall last month.  My offering for Grey or Gray.....

The weather forecast mentioned 'more snow' but it just hasn't happened in Coventry.  I think that is it for this year. Maybe not. In the meantime I have still have loads of snow photos.  They will appear from time to time.  This one is at the entrance to Coombe Abbey Hotel (behind me).

Now to 'grey or gray'.  Moving from USA to England has many challenges.  Learning a foreign language isn't one of them or so you would think.  Spelling is!  One of my first jobs here in Coventry was spent behind a typewriter.  I transcribed shorthand notes dictated to me by a learned man who accepted nothing less than perfection.  No option for creative spelling here.  Now that I am retired and my spell-checker seems to be American too, I mix it up a little.  So you will find no spelling consistency in this blog.  That adds to the fun for me. By the way, here in England we tend to spell the colour/color of grey/gray like this - 'Grey'.  Cheers!

For more photos featuring the letter 'G', follow the link to ABC Wednesday.

PS.  Just found this Spelling USA/UK link.  Have some fun!

Home Away From Home....Candy!

Before I get to the photo, let me suggest this nice day out from Coventry by train.  In just 30 minutes you can be in Birmingham (sometimes referred to as England's second city.  It is a big place.)  The train takes you past Birmingham International Airport and across pretty countryside before arriving in the City Centre.  A comfortable walk and you are in Bullring Shopping Centre where you will find fabulous stores and best of all Selfridges, a huge department store.  And what does Selfridges sell? LOTS and LOTS of American Candy.  It isn't cheap but a lot cheaper than an airfare to our nearest USA store.  There is plenty of selection but my favourites are here - I think I will have a Baby Ruth or two or three :).  Gradually, American treats are finding their way to the UK.  I am happy.

Did you watch the Academy Awards?  How exceptionally nice that I just happened to wake up at 1.30 am, slid out of bed quietly and put the 'telly' on downstairs.  I am happy with most of the results and so glad we saw many of the movies.  I was back in bed at 5 am and got up a tad later than normal.  If you watched the show, hope you enjoyed it too!

So that is what's happening here, check out Our World Tuesday to see more photos from other Cities.

Tomorrow it is back outside in the cold, cold, cold!  

Skywatch Friday - I'm Thinking Hoarfrost

I did not know what hoarfrost was until Mammoth Lakes Daily Photo featured it more than once. (Have a look here.)  Since that time, I stumbled across this photo taken in December, 2010.  I have posted photos of this view before but wanted to add this to my collection.  Could that be hoarfrost in those trees?

We have had three very cold days here with lots of 'NO blue sky'!!!!!  If it has to be cold, I much prefer something like this view above.

For more photos featuring the sky, please follow this Skywatch Friday link. 

That's me done for the week.  I may have to take Monday off  if I stay up all night watching the academy awards.  It starts around 1.30 am here.  Cable TV is organised.  (Adele will be singing.)  But, if I have any common sense, I will record it and watch it in comfort on Monday morning.  We shall see :).  Have a good weekend all.

Thatched Roof Thursday #19 - Brandon

We drive past here at least 3 times a week to go swimming at the Brandon Hall Hotel located at the end of this road.  On a very sunny day last week, I took this photo.  I thought you might like to see a village main street.  Most villages around here seem to have a 'Main Street'.

Earlier today, I drove past the cottage that is being re-thatched. They were covering it with wire netting.  I took a photo with some of the roof uncovered.  It looks good.  Now we just need another sunny day so I can get a nice final photo of it.

It was cold today.  So we did go to the cinema and saw 'Django Unchained'.  I had to close my eyes quite a bit because it was way over the top with violence, a la Quentin Tarantino.  Those parts were not my cup of tea but the rest of it was ok.  If you go to see it, it has good acting, amazing scenery, but just be prepared for....well, be prepared.

F Is For Flying...

...the Flying Cross sitting on top of Coventry Cathedral's flèche.

When I was doing my post last Friday about the new Coventry Cathedral's spire, I discovered that the spire was in fact called a flèche.  That word beginning with  'F' would have been great for today's ABC Wednesday entry.  How convenient that on top of the flèche is the 'Flying' Cross.  So here is another photo of the cross.  I don't have a telephoto lens yet but this photo does show more of the modern design.  Apparently, this is a replacement cross.  The original fell off in high winds in 1967 (on to the Cathedral roof)  and was replaced with this lighter copy.

Follow the link for more photos featuring the letter 'F' -  ABC Wednesday.

It is cinema day today.  If we get there, I'll let you know what we saw.  Which reminds me - Academy Awards on the 24th. Better see if I can get that program on cable tv over here :).

If I Find This Interesting...

...maybe you will too.

Three days in a row of sunshine!!  Drop everything, jump into the car, because in 5 minutes we will be at Coombe having a nice walk with the promise of a hot chocolate too!  It is still cold out!

The area beyond the arches was once a garden which supplied all the vegetables and fruit for Coombe Abbey. The 'kitchen garden' as it was known was created in the mid 1860's and exotic fruits (said to be renowned locally) were grown in hot houses.  Sadly, all that remains today is the outer wall and that area is closed to the public.

This part of Coombe Abbey has since been sold and that area is owned by the farmer next door.  I wonder if I might get permission to have a closer look.  (It's on the list!)  I can see the logic of having a garden's perimeter denoted by a wall but, goodness me, that is some wall.  In the meantime, have look from afar.

Well, that is my world today, participating in Our World Tuesday.   Have a good day, folks!

'Where's That Apple?'...

....I can only guess that is what he is thinking.  

This isn't today.  I took this a couple of week's ago when we had that heavy snow, and we could only go out for walks. The photo didn't quite come out as I hoped.  But when I was looking at it over the weekend....I decided to use it because I rather like that horse.  I have taken his picture before.  He came right up to me because my camera is red (I think).  The horses in this field are very well looked after, but I still feel that I owe him an apple...bet he thinks the same :).

Happy, happy Monday!  It was  a beautiful day yesterday and we actually got in a game of golf (and it was a good game of golf!).

A Flèche With Flying Cross

Coventry Cathedral spire is known as a flèche.  It is 80 feet high with a Flying Cross sculpture on top (by Geoffrey Clark).  A closer look is called for when I get a telephoto lens. This somewhat unusual spire was lowered on to the flat roof of the new Coventry Cathedral by helicopter in 1962 in two stages.  The flèche first, then the sculpture was placed on top.

When we were in town today, the sky was blue for a good part of the morning.  Hooray!  We went on our usual walk to the area known as The Cathedral Quarter (see below).

For more photos sharing skies from around the world, follow this link - Skywatch Friday.

Have a great weekend all.  See you next week.  That's the plan :).

PS.  Saw the film, 'I Give it a Year'.  The previews looked funny but those were the best bits.  For me, I should have 'given it a miss'. Disappointed.

Thatched Roof Thursday #18 - Almost Done

Cruck House thatched roof is nearly done.  I am doing an update now even though this Coventry thatched roof it isn't completely finished.  It is possible that the whole roof might be covered with a wire mesh (I am not sure) which might hide some of the detail.

When I was taking photos today, a man stopped to talk to me.  He had been living in the area for 38 years. He said that this is the third roof this house has had since he lived there.  So that gives you an idea of how long they last.

At some point I will show you the finished article in bright sunshine and hopefully I can get some technical details from the thatcher.  Well, that is the plan.

That is certainly a very thick and protective layer on top of this home.  Impressive.

PS -  Happy Valentine's Day to you ALL :)

E Is For Evidence....

...that England has some good size Redwood Trees too.

The last time I saw a Redwood Tree was in California at what is now known as Redwood National Park. To my delight I found a forest of Redwood Trees here in Coventry (Coombe Country Park) and there are more trees scattered around the City.  In California some Redwoods are so big that you can drive through them. Not the one in this photo. That's me, by the way, on a really cold and wet day.  I am 5' 6''.  So here is my Evidence that the trunk of this tree is pretty BIG.

For more photos sharing the letter 'E', please follow this link - ABC Wednesday.

PS.  I hope you don't mind that there have been a substantial number of photos from Coombe of late.  It is all to do with the weather.  Coombe is near where I live and a great place to go for a walk with a camera and, of course, Mr. LOL too :).

Guildhall Gateway Entrance

The best part is the ceiling.

This is the entrance to St. Mary's Guildhall.  I used to work here soon after I moved to England.  I was always in awe of my surroundings but I don't ever recall appreciating the detail here as much as I do now.  Across the street is Coventry Cathedral.

The central portion of the sculpture, known as the Coronation of the Virgin, is easily missed in this passage between Bayley Lane and the courtyard entrance to St. Mary's Guildhall.  (And, it is hard to photograph too.  Must bring a tripod.)

Construction of the Guildhall started around 1342.  From what I can gather, the sculptures possibly date back to the late 1300s.   

Join me by visiting other places worldwide - Our World Tuesday.

Name That Bird, Duck or Goose

The one in the front (I think) is a Greylag Goose but I am struggling to figure out what the bird at the back is.  Any ideas??? (Taken about 2 weeks ago.)

Here is another picture which isn't very clear - I guess this unknown goose or duck is camera shy :).  (Taken yesterday.)

I have seen this bird twice now and it is so unusual looking with a ring around its neck and eye.  Now to find out what it is.

(Addition:  12th February, 2013 - Read the comments for bird's identity.)

Movie update:  The British Academy Awards show was fun last night and there were some nice surprises, but no Adele.  She was at the Grammy Awards.  (Can't blame her!)  So everything is all set now for the Academy Award show on the 24th.  Still time to see a couple more films.

Happy Birthday, Lisa!

Completely Exposed...

...those trees.  There is a lot of farmland around the perimeter of Coventry.  The trees you see here are on the top of a ridge and completely exposed to the rain, wind and (possibly on Sunday) snow that comes from any direction.

Have a look at more skies worldwide by following this link - Skywatch Friday.

Have a wonderful weekend all.  I am looking forward to our British Academy Awards show on Sunday night.  I feel totally prepared :).  Wonder if Adele will be singing the theme song from 'Skyfall' live on the show.

Thatched Roof Thursday #17 - Easenhall

When you drive through the village of Easenhall you can't help but notice this large thatched roof home.

It is really difficult to see because of all the trees around it.  Yesterday, I asked Mr LOL to stop the car so I could try and get a closer look.  Success:

I found a small road which goes to the front of house, just off the main road.  My research has failed to glean any info about this huge place.  My guess is that it is relatively new.  Only the very top of the roof is covered with chicken wire so you can see more of the detail of the entire roof.

Off to have a look at the cottage that is being re-thatched.  They are working on the ridge now and it seems to be a long job.

D Is For Distance

In the Distance is Coombe Lake.

This photo was taken last Sunday at Coombe Country Park.  Taking this was challenging -  sort of a game between me and my camera's auto focus.  Success, eventually!

All around the park are these clever displays designed to give some information about the various views and to encourage visitors to look and explore.

It works and I expect I will finding more of these in the weeks ahead.  Here is an unobstructed view (noting the lack of blue sky sadly).

For more photographs featuring the letter 'D', please follow this link - ABC Wednesday.

We went to another movie today. (I know - 3 days in a row.  Now you know what our family give us for Christmas presents - cinema vouchers.)  Today it was 'Flight'.  Good with super acting.  Yesterday we saw 'Silver Linings Playbook' and that was excellent as was 'Argo' the day before.

Cathedral Ruins In White

I have shared many photos from inside the Old Coventry Cathedral.  This is the first one to include snow (taken 10 days ago).

That was my world not long ago.  The snow is gone now.  For more photos from around the world follow the link to Our World Tuesday.

Yesterday we went to see the film 'Argo'.  It was excellent.  Off to see 'Silver Linings Playbook' today.  It's going to be raining this afternoon and this is our chance to prep for the British Academy Awards on Sunday.

London Taxi - Made In Coventry

Did you know that these iconic taxi cabs were built here in Coventry?  Long may that continue!

It was announced on Friday that future of the London 'Black Cab' is secure.  By chance, I was in the neighbourhood of the factory (Mr LOL had a dentist appointment nearby).  So I got this photo through the front gate.

The factory is behind a BMW dealership.  Interesting that their BMW sign is strategically placed.

British motor industry has changed significantly.  It wasn't that many years ago when Coventry was to England what Detroit is to America.  I found this list of manufacturers in Coventry on the internet which suggests that the London Taxi Company (LTI) is the only one left.

Well, time to go to the cinema yet again.  'Argo' is back.  Missed it the first time.  Have a good day!

February Theme Day - Umbrellas

Fancy of drink or lunch?  Turn around and go through the doors.

This is The Holyhead, Coventry.

So why am I here today?  You got it!  That Umbrella (and a coffee too).  Today is City Daily Photo's Theme Day.  Our topic for today is 'Umbrellas'.  Have fun by following the CDP link for photos from Cities around the world.


I am also participating in Skywatch Friday.  I just managed to squeeze in a bit of blue sky.  For more photos featuring the sky, please click this Skywatch Friday Link.


Have a good weekend all.  More sunshine tomorrow then rain.  How many times have I said that!