Sky Watch Friday - Beware!

The old saying goes...

"Red sky @ night, shepherds delight,

Red sky @ morning, shepherds warning" ...

Sky Watch Friday - Somewhere over the Rainbow!!

From last weekend in Brighton - sitting in the bright, bright sunshine on the Peir, I looked back inland - WOW...I never felt/saw the rain, just enjoyed the rainbow.
And, with luck, my 'Pot of Gold' will be moving to Brighton next year.

Sky Watch Friday - St Aldates!

It's been an odd week weather wise!
A mixture of pleasant blue skies one minute, then grey with strong, strong winds & heavy rainfall the next and more of the same is forecast for the days ahead.
Thankfully, no floods have ensued locally, unlike elsewhere in the UK, particularly Cumbria where hundreds of people were rescued last night from their homes due to rising water levels.
And, a Policeman helping evacuate folks, was swept away when a bridge collapsed beneath him!
The Winds, I'm not enjoying - as several of my window panes rattle worryingly!!!
I know I should have had them re-puttied this Summer.
Tutt -Tutt, on my part!
This quote describes me & my increasingly dilapidated terraced home to a T...
"Our houses are such unwieldy property that we are often imprisoned rather than housed by them."
Henry David Thoreau
[1817 - 1862]

Moving on - hopefully next year to Brighton[!]...
I only made it into town when it was briefly sunny, and when my aches, pains, & bruises, a consequence of my stupid fall last weekend due to wet slippery leaves, let me.
TY for all the kind words re this latest mishap of mine - I am OK - just a clumsy Clutz!
This is from my one walk up St Aldates - the turret on the right is part of Christ Church...And the gated archway, is a side gated entrance to the college, used in the days of 'Coach & Horses', when the carriages of wealthy parents came calling on their academically blessed prodigy...
For more interesting skies from around the world - ALL 349 plus of them, last weeks total, the designated blog is HERE!
Skywatch it seems, is now even on Facebook!

Sky Watch Friday - Autumn Market!

Gloucester Green in central Dreamingspires, is home to a new development of modern designer apartments...I do like the 'look', as fancy flat living, but perhaps not the location so much!
It was though, thoughtfully tree'ed for Autumnal colour...Every Thursday it's central square, hosts an Antiques [& Craft] Market.
I regularly check it out....All these shots were taken yesterday morning, before the skies clouded over & we, locally battened down the hatches for a long weekend of torrential gales & rain - Yuk, yuk, yuk!

Sky Watch for the brave, is to be found HERE!

Sky Watch Friday - Nellie!

The following photo's were taken on a previous visit to my friends area near the South Downs but are typical of today...And, can you see her???"Nellie the elephant, raised her truck,
And waved good bye to the circus!"
Okay, I have plagiarised the rhyme to suit my purpose.
It really goes like this:-
"Nellie the elephant packed her trunk
And said good bye to the circus...
Off she went with a trumpety-trump
Trump, trump, trump."

Mellow Yellow Monday - 'Rock On' ; But First!

Wow!
What a huge difference a morning makes...After taking the above photograph & yes, I have cleaned & polished my camera lens - as I had a lunch date @ Bill'sProduce Store with friend JI - my Brighton visits have rituals that must be observed - LOL; I headed to the North Lanes, which can always be relied on to produce something different, in this case for a 'Mellow Yellow' post...I just love the quirkiness of Brighton, which is why I must get my act together regarding moving here!

Waves and Wet Cars!

Yesterday I had a seriously busy day planned out.

No visit to Brighton is ever complete without seeing my favourite WFT Jackson.

Therefore, the mornings first plan of action was, that I accompany him & his JI on a leisurely walk.

Next, was to meet up with blog friend Dina & her husband Mick for the first time.

They were driving down for the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, now in it's 79th year!

Both meetings, promised lots of photo taking opportunities.

But, things did not go quite to plan regarding the first!!!

The previous night, I was woken by the sounds of a ferrous storm battering my hotel bedroom's french windows.

So much so, I feared their latch's wouldn't hold & I might be blown away!

The wind & rain didn't abate in the morning, the wild sea lashed the promenade with vengeance!

Jackson's walk was put on hold re a lull in conditions.

A brief respite, saw me dash across to the Palace Pier in hope of capturing the storm waves, which I did with mixed results.

As it's Monday, I'll start with the Monochrome Maniac's take...

The sea breaking over the groyne was spectacular...

However, the sound of the surf, violently crashing on shingle, meant I didn't hear calls from JI.

Subsequently, she & Jackson did their walk without me & got exceedingly wet doing so!!!

I was [still am] grieved, to have missed my one chance to see the Jax this stay, but it was my own fault.

The weather having taken another turn for the worse - more torrential driving rain, with winds strong enough to almost blow one over, I retreated back to my hotel, from where I checked on Dina's whereabouts - they were on the outskirts of Brighton.

So, out I went once more, this time to way lay them, as they drove towards the seafront!

As, the Veteran Car Run takes place what ever the weather, spotted this one driving past the Pavilion as I waited...After flagging their Land-Rover down - I was easy to spot, a solitary, rather damp disheveled female, we found dry underground parking & said hallo properly.

Then, it was out to brave the elements again.

After battling along the promenade to Madeira Drive, we watched the cars arrive @ the ceremonial finishing line.

It says a lot for these fine old vehicles engineering, all are pre-1905, for them to have made the run in good time, in such adverse weather conditions.

However, never ever, have I ever, seen such bedraggled, be sodden drivers & passengers.

But, they waved brightly on arrival and we clapped & cheered them in!

I, as usual snapped away...The original Genevieve, made famous by the film of the same name, was there again...

I found a blue car for me...

And, a green jacketed Dina...

And, although some photo's look very atmospheric re the rain/sea mist, the soft [fuzzy] effect's are actually due to moisture having got under my camera's lens shield whilst on the pier - hence no crisp shots.
I spent last evening, deleting, deleting deleting - one of the merits of digital photography!

On the positive side, the day did clear up, & the sun broke through by late afternoon...

And more importantly, meeting, Dina & Mick was a genuine pleasure, another fine example of friendship made by blogging, working.

Just wish we had, had longer together, as they had to head home early.

But, hopefully there will be a next time.

Wordless Wednesday - This Summer!

Sky Watching on Friday - Somewhere over the Rainbow...!

Coming back from town earlier, saw me caught out in an unexpected storm that even had thunder rumbling around.

Then, with the rain still falling, the sun peaked out from behind the blackest of clouds.

This was the wonderful result that's made my day... I no longer cared that I was drenched from head to toe as I scrambled to take this photograph!

It is only, my third ever successful rainbow capture & ironically, it's nearly in the same location as my first, ie looking down my road, as I arrived home.

Naturally, the Judy Garland song from 1939 film 'The Wizard of Oz' is now running through my head like crazy!

Somewhere over the rainbow

Way up high,

There's a land that I heard of

Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow

Skies are blue,

And the dreams that you dare to dream

Really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star

And wake up where the clouds are far

Behind me.

Where troubles melt like lemon drops

Away above the chimney tops

That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow

Bluebirds fly.

Birds fly over the rainbow.

Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly

Beyond the rainbow

Why, oh why can't I?.

Will just have to go search out a YouTube clip!

And, if I could find that 'pot of gold' too, I'd have life aced.

Wordless Wednesday, Take 2 - St Swithin's Day Weather!

Color Carnival - Summer Rain!

Most of this week has been decidedly wet here in Soutern & Central England - heavy rain, storms, thunder!
Today's faired no better!
Rain, rain & more rain showers!
The only colour to be seen when venturing out, out of necessity, were umbrella's, as photographed here, rushing to the dry hallowed halls of Christ Church College...
With St Swithin's Day looming on Wednesday, it's not looking that great for the rest of the Summer!
St Swithin, an English Saxon bishop, died in 862.
He was originally buried humbly in the grounds of Winchester Cathedral.
But, on the 15th July 971, his remains were dug up & moved to a shrine and a huge feast was enjoyed.
Legend has it that this led to ferocious storms for 40 days & 40 nights!
The phenomenon well recorded, is probably the origin of the folklore & verse that goes...

"St Swithin's Day, if it does rain
Full forty days, it will remain.
St Swithin's Day, if it be fair
For forty days, t'will rain no more."

I'm, definitely hoping for the latter!

Color Carnival just requires a colourful photo.
Martha is the creator & host.

Sky Watch Friday - Pathway to the Storm!

These stunning clouds were captured earlier this week...They heralded a violent storm, with hail stones the size of pebbles and thunder & lightening that reverberated around.
Such storms have always fascinated me.
From my childhood, I recall several explanations for them - it was God showing his anger; Heavens stallions stamping their hooves and this the oddest, Gods coalman making a delivery!!!
But, I much prefer Dillys idea of it being dragons in the clouds playing games!

I've not officially participated in Sky Watch for quite a while now, but yesterday out of curiosity checked it out - last week they had 358 participant's sign in to Mr Linky there!!!
There is also, now an alternative site too, called Looking at the Sky on Friday.
That was set up by bloggers who were banned from the original Sky Watch because they had commercial links on their blogs!
It all makes the sky scene too crowded for me, so I'll continue doing my own thing with this inspired idea.

Wordless Wednesday - Wet ----{-@ 's!

Postscript...
The foul weather of the weekend passed Dreamingspires by, till this morning!

Monochrome & Odd Shot Monday - Snow Windows!

It's more snow photo's!
Walking along the Devils Backbone to view the scene, couldn't resist capturing the effect on the fencing.
So, for Aileni, have an almost en-natural Monochrome Maniac entry...
And, then peeping through the frosted wire, gave me my Odd Shot for Katney's meme.. Woodstock snaffled the oddest one to tinker with in B&W!

Snow Musings!

Listening to the BBC lunch-time news - a tale of road & school closures, disruptions, business's failing as no-one made it into work, general woe & people be-crying the effects of the snow, I think we Brits have gone soft!
I have posted bemused snow photo's, because, having lived in Dreamingspires for now, an amazing 36 years, I've only twice, in the last twenty plus of those, seen snowfalls here to match this weeks.
And, with my current brittle bones status and ability to slip, slide & fallover, I profess to being cautious in this weather.
But, I am of the generation that remembers, repeatedly snowy Winters when, life just continued on, rather that grind to a halt as it seems to these days.
And, I've been to places like Saskatchewan, CA; where what we have now, is the norm!
To them, we are a joke!

Friend Aileni, per an 'Comment' earlier today, reminded me of the severe Winters of 1947 & 1963.
The former is well, before my time; but, I grew up hearing tales of it's length & severity, when snow chains on cars were the norm.
I do however, remember 1963, as that was the year I walked on solid frozen snow drifts that towered over my Mother's head.
But, the Village Infant School, I attended remained open.
And, the Steam Trains made it through - mine, was a Railway Community.
Other Winters in the 60's & 70's, regularly saw my village, in a rural valley in Northamptionshire severely snowed upon.
The Secondary School there, only closed briefly then & not because we, the locals couldn't walk there but the 'bused' in children couldn't get in on the first day.
I remember, with amusement, one over zealous teacher skied in, to take his C.S.E. Geography class [mine, as it happened] only to find it cancelled.
He couldn't ski home, up hill & ended up lodging @ one of the local pubs for the night.
Strangely enough, when the school, re-opened, the following morning, he was unable to take his lesson - cried off sick!

Winter back then, automatically meant, stocking up in advance, doning Wellington Boots & thick socks, mittens & warm woollen jumpers.
Now, due to years & years of mild affairs, no one is prepared.
Or, worse still, is dangerous - as no one knows how to drive carefully in ice & snow.
I think we better learn fast, as I for one, am with Aileni, re Global Cooling!
Think we are in for a lot more of this...

Todays Flowers - Snowed in!

Now, to those living in North America, where Winter is Winter, this may seem really silly!

But, it's snowed!
The UK's Met. Offices forecast was for once, was spot on - I, the sceptic didn't believe them!
However, light white flurries,, have been falling all day here in Dreamingspires - we have about a couple of inches as I type!

Wow!
But, that's NOTHING in comparison to what's hit other parts of the country.
It's the most significant snowfall in 18 years, for London & the SE of England, upto 8"!

Life has subsequently ground to a halt there!

And, around the country - Airports are snowbound, planes grounded; Motorways closed & snarled with abandoned & wrecked vechiles; Buses & Trains are none existent due to icy roads & frozen points.

British Rail says... "It's the wrong type of snow"!!!

The beneficiaries of our inability to cope - children, whose schools are now closed!

And, there is a new 'Severe Weather' warning in place for the next 24 hours!
The Capital could end up with a foot of snow, and the the likes of the North Pennies 3 feet!
Blimey!

I've only ventured out briefly, into my front garden - the neighbours Polyanthus looked pretty miserable in the drifted snow... But, last April's brief but, unexpected heavy snowfall produced the saddest images.
Cherry Blossom engulfed...My Tulips drooped...

Today's Flowers is hosted HERE!

Guess, I should say ... watch this space.

The snow may well get me & my locality yet!

Sky Watch Friday - Puddle Watch!

After days & nights of rain, it really was a case yesterday, of watching out for the puddles, as the only thing the leaden grey skies of an English Winter promised was more of the same...

To join or see brighter views, the dedicated Sky Watch blog can be found HERE!

January Hoare Frost!

Dreamingspires usually misses the worst of the English Winter weather.
I know, NOTHING here, matches the extreme COLD experienced by my friends in North America.
But, we UK wimps, don't care for anything below freezing!
We're just not use to it, especially those of us South of the Scottish border!
I woke this morning to a White World.
No, not snow.
But, the damp & overnite cold had done a great job.
Mr Jack Hoare Frost had visited locally!
My garden bushes...The park locality...I love his beauty, it comes without the problems of Mr Ice & Mrs Snow.
The next few shots are from 'his' Mr Frost's visit to Derbyshire...Keep warm & cosy all.
I plan too!