Wednesday 7 December 2016

Tuesday 6 December 2016

Summer House

Coombe Country Park
Coombe Abbey Hotel is just out of view on the right.


The stone pavilion structure (in the middle of the top photo),
and known as a summer house, has recently been restored.  
 On some occasions, it will serve as a new wedding venue
 at Coombe Abbey Hotel.


I expect I will have to wait until a much
warmer day to actually see a wedding taking place here.
It was very frosty last Sunday :).

Friday 2 December 2016

CDP Theme Day - Transitions

Transitions in Aviation

Sir Frank Whittle
Inventor of the Turbojet Engine
1907 - 1996


Sir Frank Whittle, a British Pilot, born in Coventry
designed and patented the first turbojet engine in 1930.


Millennium Place, Coventry

This statute of  Sir Frank Whittle was unveiled in Coventry
on what would have been the 100th birthday
of this great inventor from Coventry.
Above the statute is the 'Whittle Arch' -
described as a twin-arch tubular structure.

Below you can see more of the Whittle Arch.
The blue structure is a walkway, called 'The Glass Bridge'.
You can just make out the statute in front of the bus.



There is plenty of construction going on in Coventry too.
More university student accommodation, I am told.


Participating (a day late) in City Daily Photo
Theme Day.  For more 'Transitions' photographs,
please following the link HERE.



Wednesday 23 November 2016

Changing Coventry

Trinity Lane (on the right)


I haven't seen the sun since Saturday,
so I thought I would share this photograph
taken right in the middle of Coventry on a 
sunny day last month.

The Tudor building is The Flying Standard pub.
The colorful building on the left is student accommodation
and the 2 cranes are at building sites for more student accommodation.

Hope the sun is shining wherever you are!


Monday 21 November 2016

Growth Of The City

Sainsbury's, Trinity Street
Diagrammatic map - part painted on
Swedish Pearl Granite
by Artist, John Skelton in 1964.


You can see the words 'Cofas Tree' in the centre.
It is thought that Cofa's Tree is mostly likely the source of 
the name 'Coventry'.  The gold leaf buildings are the City Gates.


Please pardon the reflection.  This map shows the
growth of Coventry from 1748 to 1932.  
It is located by an emergency exit door of
 Sainsbury's grocery store
 and is not visible from outside.




Participating in Monday Mural

Happy Birthday, Richard!

Wednesday 16 November 2016

Full Flaps

Coombe Country Park
Swans near Capability Brown Boathouse


My husband came up with the title.
I love watching the swans around Coombe.
Not long ago, I got a chance to see several land on the lake.
In the last shot you'll see one virtually glide onto the water
at 'full flaps'.




Participating in Wild Bird Wednesday


Tuesday 15 November 2016

Time Capsule


Friargate


Under the plaque is a sealed canister. The canister contains a collection of
2016 Coventry memorabilia. The plan is to open the 'time capsule' in 2066.

The building under construction (below) will house Coventry City Council offices.


Friargate is a £100 million regeneration project 
between the Coventry Railway Station and the City Centre. 
We are told there will be new office buildings, hotels, residential and leisure space.
And, I see, there is a 'time capsule' too :).

PS:  The plaque is in the middle of the walkway.  
That couple have just walked by it.

Happy Birthday, Nadine xx


Monday 14 November 2016

Say 'Cheese'

Coombe Country Park
Phone camera photo taken yesterday


Cold, crisp morning.   I couldn't resist
taking a photo of them 'taking a photo'.

Have a good week!








Wednesday 2 November 2016

Verticle

Coombe Country Park
At the Bird Hide last week.


These two photographs were taken about
10 minutes apart.  I must say the squirrel
stayed a tad longer than the Great Tit.


Participating in Wild Bird Wednesday


Wednesday 19 October 2016

Autumn In Coventry

Coventry Cathedral Ruins
Today


So glad I had my phone with me :).


Hi all -
I am recovering from a rotten cold.
Feeling better now so off to see
what other photo bloggers have to share and
leave a comment or two, or three.....

Friday 14 October 2016

No Apologies

Coombe Country Park
Taken from the Bird Hide


Amazing the quality of photograph you can get with
a mobile phone...and this one is a Moto G (3rd Gen) 
not my iPhone.  I have shown many images of this
view out the window.  No apologies - here is another one :).

Participating in Skywatch Friday

Monday 10 October 2016

Jaguar Cars

Jaguar Drivers National Day
Coombe Country Park
August, 2016



Above - 1956 Jaguar D-Type 'Long Nose'.
Below - 1938 SS Jaguar 100 - 2 1/2 Litre
(with my favorite oak tree in the background).




Hundreds of Jaguar Cars were on display at this event
held in August, 2016.


Below is another look at the 1956 Jaguar D-Type 'Long Nose'.
 Winner of the Reims 12-hours race
driven by Duncan Hamilton and Ivor Bueb.



Jaguar Cars headquarters is in Coventry.
For more about the history of Jaguar, follow the
link HERE.


Thursday 6 October 2016

Thatched Roof Thursday #91/92 - Peatling Parva

Parva Cottage and Rose Cottage
Ashby Road


A pair of cottages (Grade II Listed)
built in mid 18th Century.

This style of building (two houses together)
is often seen in modern day houses here in England,  
called 'semi-detached'.  Fun to see an 18th Century version.


I am guessing these are one-bedroom homes. The addition of
a conservatory gives some extra space.
Parva Cottage is on the left and Rose Cottage is on the right.


Wednesday 5 October 2016

Got It

Over Coombe Country Park


This is one of the young cygnets leaving home on Sunday.
Haven't seen it since.

Participating in Wild Bird Wednesday


Wednesday 28 September 2016

Towers & Spires

Warwick
St Mary's Church Tower and
St Nicholas Church Spire


Below is the view from across St Nicholas Park in 
Warwick.  You will just make out one of Warwick Castle's towers
on the left and to the right is a distant view of the churches above.


It was a really nice, warm day today.  
Perfect for a 10 minute drive to Warwick
for a walk in St Nicholas Park.
After 40 years living in England, I still get a kick out
of  seeing a skyline like this with a real 'castle' in it.


Monday 26 September 2016

The Oak Tree

Coombe Country Park
Yesterday






I have great fun photographing that big oak tree from time to time.  In July, it was used for a climbing event open to the public.  In August, it looked quite nice in the background of a Jaguar Cars event.  More about that red Jag soon.






Thursday 22 September 2016

Thatched Roof Thursday #90 - Peatling Parva

Long Folly Cottage
Main Street


This is the second of three thatched cottages
I photographed in the village of Peatling Parva. 
Almost missed it...it is set back from the road.


This village is just a few miles from the old 
RAF airbase at Bruntingthorpe which was used by
the American Air Force during and after WWII. 
 The airbase then became a vehicle testing
ground for Chrysler in the mid 1970/80's.


Tuesday 20 September 2016

'Goo Stiddy, But Keep Going'

Gumley Village, Leicestershire


 See the message on this bench in 
'Leicestershire' speak, I think.
Appropriate for the hundreds of
narrowboats that venture
up and down Foxton Locks.


Foxton Locks, Leicestershire
The bench and view above is just beyond
the brick buildings pictured below.


(Below) is the approach to the top lock of 10.


Up and down the hill these narrowboats travel.
Happily there are pubs, restaurant,
coffee shop and ice cream kiosks nearby too.


If you would like to read more or visit
Foxton Locks, follow the link for more information HERE.

Thursday 15 September 2016

Thatched Roof Thursday #89 - Peatling Parva

Rookery Nook
Main Street


Grade II Listed and thought to date back to the late 16th Century.

I found more than one thatched cottage in this
lovely Leicestershire village
located about 40 minutes from Coventry.


Tuesday 13 September 2016

Diana, Princess of Wales & Althorp House

The Round Oval

Diana, Princess of Wales,
was buried on the 6th September, 1997
 on the island in the center of the lake (below).


Below is a closer look at the memorial
that stands along side the lake.





Diana's island resting place (below).



Below is Althorp House, built in 1508.
Home to the Spencer family for five centuries.


 We had a wonderful afternoon visiting Althorp House.  
Like many, we wanted to see the memorial dedicated to
Diana, Princess of Wales.  Before walking to the lake
we enjoyed a tour of the house and gardens.


Althorp House is about l hour from Coventry in Northamptonshire.
If you are interested, please follow the link HERE
for more information about visiting and the history.