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

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

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

Monday Mural.

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 :).

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 

Water World Wednesday

and 

Wild Bird Wednesday

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

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

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!

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

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

and
Weekend Reflections

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!

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

Wild Bird Wednesday

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

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

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 :).

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.