At Last

Coombe Country Park

Grey Heron

I've tried and tried to capture one of the many

heron's seen at Coombe.  Finally,

got a few images over the last week.

 All the photos, except the one below were

taken at the Top Pool.  The flying heron

was taken from the Bird Hide on Sunday.

 Participating in 

Wild Bird Wednesday

and

Water World Wednesday

Lovely To Visit

The Sandringham Estate, Norfolk

Queen Alexandra's Nest

Built by Sir Dighton Probyn

These photographs were taken last year when we visited

The Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. 

Queen Alexandra's Nest is the

summer house overlooking the lake.

There is a story that goes with this summer house.

If you have time, click the link and read 

about Sir Dighton Probyn

and his devotion to Queen Alexandra.

Sandringham House is just beyond the trees.

Beautiful place, don't you agree?

Restored Ghost Signs

120 Upper Spon Street
Part of Black Swan Terrace
Built in 1454

In the second half of the 20th century this premises was
occupied by wholesale & retail tobacconist, H. E. Jones
and later the London Laundry.

In the photo below you can see 3 of the 6 terraced cottages.
They were originally built by the Benedictines in the
15th century as a group of live-work units.
People had their business and lived in cottages
with 3 rooms only (2 downstairs and 1 upstairs).

In the 1990s the buildings were close to being demolished
but the Spon End Building Preservation Trust
was able to restore and reflect different periods of history
as part of the restoration project.  I will revisit :).

If you would like to know more about the
history of Black Swan Terrace, please follow the link HERE.

Participating in Monday Mural

Hot Pursuit

Coombe Country Park

Great Crested Grebe

 I have chased after these waterbirds

on many a visit to Coombe.

They don't do much flying but tend to

dive into the water and it is anybody's

guess where they will next appear.

The top and bottom shots were taken

one after the other.  The grebe 

was in a shadow (above) but you can

get an idea of the bird's ornate plumage.

Participating in

Water World Wednesday

and

Wild Bird Wednesday

Perfect Day For A Wedding

Coombe Abbey Hotel

Today in the Sunshine

A wedding on Tuesday?  Yes, especially when the weather is

like it was today.  That's the happy couple above (taken

with a very long lens).  Below is the view across the lake.

(Note the people sitting on the bench - far left.)

(Below) There they are!  My husband was busy chatting 

with this nice trio when I was snapping away.  

Think he was hinting for some wedding cake :).

Yes, a perfect day for a wedding!

Participating in Our World Tuesday

To the celebrating trio: If you want a print without my ©,

email me.  Otherwise, you have my permission to copy any of these

photographs.  Nice chatting with you!

Last of The Daffodils

Brinklow Road

Photo taken last Wednesday.

Main road outside

Coombe Abbey Hotel & Coombe Country Park.

I have some catching up to do.  Excited to

see what has been going on with my mates

at City Daily Photo :).

Bishop And The Spire

Coventry Cathedral Ruins

First Bishop of Coventry,

Huyshe Wolcott Yeatman

You may recall a similar image I took in January

from this spot with a fence interfering with the overall look.

The fence is gone and whilst there is more light on

the Spire in this image, I am amazed at the results taken with my phone.

Have a good weekend!

Hope you have picked a winner in tomorrow's

Grand National Hunt Horse Race.

Participating in Skywatch Friday

The Chaffinch & Nuthatch

Coombe Country Park

Chaffinch (female)

Participating in Wild Bird Wednesday

Here is another shot.  This one is of a

Nuthatch digging deep for bird seeds.

Happy Wednesday.  I am keeping things

simple today. Hope your week is going well :).

"We Saved It"

Starley Road Mural

I have included more detail about the story 

behind this mural (further down the page).

(Below) are some of the late Victorian houses that

line Starley Road close to Coventry City Centre.

The road was named after James Starley,

father of the bicycle industry.

The story goes something like this:  

The bombs that fell on Coventry during the Blitz

in WW2 missed Starley Road leaving this road in tact.

In 1970s the Council came up with an unpopular plan 

to demolish this inner-city terraced street

and replace it with a tower block. 

The local residents had other ideas.  

A mural was painted (not the one you see here)

on this end terraced house.  It was a picture of a tower block

 with an X through it and the words 'Starley Road - Save It'.

By September, 1978, the residents did just that.  

They formed the City's first ever housing cooperative

and replaced the mural with the one shown here today.

Below is the full size mural declaring

'We Saved It'.

There is a small children's park next to this building.

Participating in Monday Mural

CDP Theme Day - The Beauty of Simplicity

Church of St. John the Baptist

Broad Street, Brinklow Village

(near to Coventry)

Today is theme day for members of the

City Daily Photo group.  The topic is

'The Beauty of Simplicity'.

My photograph is of a quiet moment in a

picturesque English village.

For other interpretations of the theme 

from around the world, please follow the link

HERE.

PS. I'll be back to this church next week,

I want to show you a 'benchmark' near that door.