The White Ferris Wheel

I saw this lovely photograph of a white Ferris Wheel taken by blogger, Jenny, on the same day that I happened to see one too when out shopping for the new camera. There must be a small army of them being deployed up and down the country!

Too busy to stop and admire, we were already busily making our way home, but I learnt later from a website that it would be leaving town after the weekend. It had been part of Cheltenham town's 2019 Light Up event where many of it's principal Regency buildings are lite up with coloured lights.
We happened to be returning the next evening for a Discussion Group Meeting so decided to take a ride on the wheel afterwards. As daylight faded following a perfect day of wall to wall sunshine, we took our place in the queue.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing".
George Bernard Shaw

The bronze statue is of the celebrated composer of The Planets, conductor, and teacher Gustav Holst - he was born in Cheltenham in 1874.

Camera Woes

I have been wondering how long I should expect a camera to last? and whether, like our computers, there is an element of obsolescence built into them? 
For the past few months mine has been playing up. It has been acting like a mischievous child doing it's own thing, and certainly not what I want it to do! It seems that I shall simply have to bite the bullet and purchase another.

This almost end of February day was a perfect moment to walk along one of our many canal towpaths and take in some much needed February fresh air. According to the forecasters, our weather this week is coming up from the Caribbean!

 The Blackthorn blossom - Prunus spinosa is now fully open and busily decorating many of our hedgerows and byways. It is this blossom that produces the small deep blue damson like plums during the Autumn known as drupes or more commonly sloes.

Not much activity seen on the water, apart from much chasing and splashing about from the ducks - the drakes were busily pursuing any hen (female duck) that appeared in their view outnumbering them by at least three to one.

The canal boats were locked, shut up, and tied to their moorings following the winter months. Easter is late this year so they will probably begin sailing again before then.

It was lovely to walk in the sunshine and enjoy the surroundings which we had almost to ourselves. Birds were twittering and chirping in the hedge, and all was peaceful. There was just the occasional ringing sound of hammer meeting metal from across the water where the local boatyard were carrying out repairs.

Anemone blanda growing along the towpath.

Wall to Wall Blue Skies

We are enjoying some unseasonal skies and sun courtesy of a 'weather-front' brought to us across the continent from the Azores. It is predicted to last for at least another week.

Having attended our Fine Art Society to hear and learn more about a favourite artist, Stanley Spencer, it was far too lovely to return straight home again.

Lunch can remain on hold whilst we wander around the town enjoying the warm sunshine and the newly emerging flowers. 

Although February is the shortest month of the year sometimes it can feel longer - this weather is such a very welcome tonic.

Valentine's Day

Our local Fish & Chip Shop is quite unique, they really pride themselves on the quality and presentation of their food. A blackboard announces daily just where in the ocean their fish each day comes from, what kind of potatoes they have used, where they were grown, what they have been cooked in, and the food is always served up with large wedges of fresh lemon. 
Their offering for this Valentine's Day is a bouquet of fish and chips - potato roses on wooden stems with leaves made out of goujons of fish, all wrapped in some specially printed paper, and tied up with a red ribbon. 

We will not be indulging in this ourselves, as we are eating a special Valentine's Day treat courtesy of M&S. However, I must admit that this does look a rather tasty and a very unique presentation.

   ❤️Happy Valentine's Day to you all❤️

Out of the Blue..........

......is when something unexpected or unforeseen happens as it did during the past seven days to me. Retired in the evening feeling normal and woke up in the morning unable to put my foot or leg to the ground. It was necessary to bang on the floor for help, I wonder what I would have done if I had been alone? As each day past the pain and disability in my knee deteriorated rapidly. Luckily when I eventually got in touch with my doctor, she saw me quickly, and within two hours of the phone call I was armed with some anti-inflammatory pills. She diagnosed inflammation behind the tendon in the front area of the knee. The experience during those first few days made me appreciate just how difficult it must be to be disabled and unable to carry out the most mundane or simple tasks we do each day. It is such a relief to be back to normal thanks to my doctor and our great National Health Service. 

Soon we shall be exploring sites from classical antiquity, hopefully in lovely weather, something that requires stamina and a good walking ability.

via

There is no blue without orange and yellow

Vincent van Gogh

In a letter to his brother Theo - Vincent once wrote "There is no blue without yellow and orange, and if you put in the blue, then you must put in the yellow and orange too, mustn't you?"

Be like the bluebird who never is blue,

For he knows from his upbringing what singing can do - Cole Porter

Once in a blue moon

Cotswold Church

Blue skies

Smiling at me

Nothing but blue skies

Do I see

Ella Fitzgerald

 Blue eyes

"Now she looks pale and small, but her eyes make me think of wide open skies."

Veronica Roth, Allegiant

Local Bluebell wood

Blue and green should never be seen!!!!

Blue horizon

Cape of Good Hope, South Africa 2017

No matter how far you travel, the horizon is always far beyond your reach.

******

"When we look up, it widens our horizons. We see what a little speck we are in the universe, so insignificant, and we all take ourselves so seriously, but in the sky, there are no boundaries. No differences of caste or religion or race.

Julia Gregson, East of the Sun