Brian's Blog

Palma visit cruise 2011

2011-10-23T08:49:00.002+01:00

Sorry have not posted for a while but not been to good much better now!!

A few photos of Palma from our cruise earlier this year, please view and comment!

Barcelona continued views across Barcelona from the hills around and through a coach window

2011-09-16T08:09:00.001+01:00

The photos in this blog were taken looking across Barcelona from one of the hill tops over looking the docks which gave a good all round view of the city. The graffiti was taken from a moving coach window.. I love the cable cars but would not go on them they were taken from the cruise ship about half a mile away! I hope you like looking and even lave a comment?

A day out with my brothers dogs

2011-08-10T20:02:00.002+01:00

My brothers dogs are the Black and White Border Collie and the small Griffon. took them for a walk in Bude Park and Wild Meadow in Kingston upon Hull UK...

My first photos of dogs together was great fun!!

Barcelona Cathedral

2011-08-10T15:01:00.000+01:00

Cruise day 7 Barcelona The Temple of the Holy Family

2011-08-02T15:11:00.000+01:00

The Holy family Temple is known as La Sagrada Familia and is not the Barcelona Cathedral as some people call it, it was started in 1883 by Antoni Gaudi and is still being built. It was very busy around the Temple and you would get pushed into the road into on coming cars, so i photographed from the other side of the road and to be honest was pleased when we left this area and headed to the Barcelona Cathedral not to far away by coach!! That will be my next posting and the difference was amazing!

Cruise day 7 Barcelona July 2011

2011-07-24T08:25:00.001+01:00

These first 8 photographs of Barcelona were all taken from a moving coach, the first one is when we enter the main area of the city!
The second two are of protesters protesting about the state of the EU and taxes.
The next three are the building by Antoni Gaudi these are house!
The last two are one looking towards the famous Temple dedicated to the Holy Family the Temple's name is La Sagrada Familia Temple (Holy Family) my next post will show this in more detail!!!

Cannes day's 5 and 6 of our cruise May - June 2011 from Southampton

2011-07-09T19:13:00.003+01:00

Sailing to Cannes from Gibraltar after the explosion, we encountered some bad weather and the seas became rough, for the folks who suffer travel sickness this was not a good night...The first 4 photos give some idea of the condition's however by morning it had all settled down as we approached Cannes famous for its film festival, and rain, umbrella sellers and sellers of shoddy goods while your trying to enjoy a coffee, needless to say I do not like Cannes and only photographed one building!! We also had to be ferried from the ship to land!

I could not wait to leave, and was glad to hear the captain announce we are about to sail for Barcelona!!

Gibraltar a hot retreat after a good day 31st May 2011

2011-06-29T17:14:00.001+01:00

When we arrived in Gibraltar on the 31st May 2011 it was sunny and soon became hot, but not as hot as it did at 3:30 PM!! We were docked close to the centre (center) of town well so I was told, walking is not so easy for me and I have to use walking sticks, and this walk was just a little to far. Apart from the stature which is to commemorate during the war women and children were evacuated against their wishes but on the orders of the British Government. The men stayed behind to work in the dockyards. The other figure is of a street statue! All the other photos were taken from the vessel "Independence of the Seas" We returned to ship about 12:30 pm and just lazed about enjoying cold and refreshing drinks in our staterooms and on the balcony. Then at about 3:30 pm there was a loud explosion which the photos tell the story, I do have videos in HD which I have not post yet and from the moment of recording which was within seconds of this explosion it took about 4 to 5 minutes to get the vessel away, 10 were hurt on the upper decks but all treated by the ships doctor.. So you see we had a hot day in Gibraltar which made the main news stories on TV and in the national papers..

Cruise sailing day 2 and 3rd Morning Morocco and Gibraltar

2011-06-26T13:56:00.002+01:00

We are now sailing across the Bay of Biscay on day two of our cruise this covers the first 5 photos.. The first photo is of the over hanging hydrotherapy pool, one on each side of the ship. Photos 2 and 3 are on the top outside deck 11 and as you can see it was quite cloudy looking very dark..The 4th photo was taken close to the vessels web cam looking at the bow.. The 5th photo needs to be looked at closely as it is a picture made up of thousands of cotton reels, hanging at top of a flight of stairs!! The 6th was due to a lot of luck and me having my camera ready at just the right moment. Photos 7 to 10 are of the coast of Morocco North Africa on the 3rd morning early as we entered the Straights of Gibraltar, we were on the starboard side and Morocco was on that side of the straights. As the ship turned photo 11 is of the Rock of Gibraltar this was the best one! As you can see it was murky.... The next set in a few days time will be of Gibraltar from the Independence of the Seas also while on shore ..And the explosion along side as we made to set sail...This did make the international news and papers!!

Cruise 2011 Western Med on the Independence of the Seas

2011-06-20T17:52:00.002+01:00

This was the first day 28th May 2011 when we boarded the Independence of the Seas at Southampton UK. It was wet and cold; the photos are of deck 5 and the stateroom 7274 on deck 7. Deck 5 was a shopping mall and was quite something to see first time. The other photos were taken as we sailed towards the open sea.. I will be posting other photos in the days ahead. If you click on a photo it will be enlarged...We stopped at Gibraltar, Cannes, Barcelona, Palma De Mallorca, Alicante, Lisbon and Vigo... Please comment...

Mothers day in the UK was the 3rd April 2011 and it is the 8th May in the USA

2011-05-08T17:32:00.002+01:00

Four photos of the flowers and cards Pat got from our sons on Mothers day 2011 there were many other presents which have been unwrapped and happily used.. I would like to wish all my friends across the Pond a Happy Mothers Day Today Sunday the 8th of May 2011....

Part 3 the last two photos of this visit to Surrey and Kent April 2011

2011-05-06T07:24:00.000+01:00

The last two shots of our visit to the canal near Deepcut in Surrey, loved the walk but was so very tired at the end, but how nice to be back out with my camera's I now have a new camera a High Definition Video Camera the Panasonic HDC-SD60 which also takes HD Stills so need another holiday.

Part 2 of Surrey and Kent a few day's away with my wife Pat visiting family April 2011

2011-05-04T20:48:00.001+01:00

A few more photos from Deepcut and the canal to take these I did one of the longest walks since my strokes and it took me one and a half hours to walk just over half a mile ... So a very big day for me....

Surrey and Kent a few day's away with my wife Pat visiting family April 2011

2011-05-02T13:37:00.002+01:00

Pat and I spent a few day's away with my son Ian at his home in Frimley Surrey and a few more day's in Sandwich in Kent with my cousin Pauline... The first two photos are near to Deep-cut Barracks close to Frimley in Surrey, the others are taken in Sandwich Kent. The last photo of me was taken at a presentation evening when our stroke service came runner-up, at an evening celebrating improved NHS services within our area of the UK. All but the last photo, taken by myself.

"Please feel free to comment"

Manchester and Chester March 25th to 27th 2011 The meeting up of new and old friends on the Friday and Saturday evenings.

2011-04-03T12:30:00.001+01:00

We all met on the Friday, chatted and became more settled with our new found friends, Marie, Tina and Colin travelled by train from Manchester, Surrey and Scotland, Brenda flew down from Northern Scotland, and the remainder arrived by road. The Friday and Saturday evenings meals were enjoyed in the restaurant attached to the hotel close to Manchester Airport with the train station just 100 yards away... The Budweiser is Marie's and the Coke mine, sorry to say I am not in any photos but not by choice.

Manchester and Chester with stroke survivor friends old and new March 25th to 27th 2011 This is the first series but on the second day, the others will be posted later.

2011-04-01T13:24:00.002+01:00

Last weekend the 25 to the 27 of March 2011 a group of stroke survivors from all over the UK met in Manchester for a get-together. This was my first time out with my cameras for some months and am I glad to be back and posting on my blog... Some travelled from the far North of Scotland, Southern England, Wales and a few from the Manchester area. The photos below are of the second day when we visited Chester, some went shopping and down to the river and as you can all see I went to the Cathedral and a Costa Coffee. Please read the interesting story of the little elephant. The last photo is a photo of a photo hanging in Costa Coffee and a colour negative!!

Snow and Ice winter 2010 December and first few days of January 2011

2011-01-22T13:25:00.003Z

Photos of snowy garden in daylight and night time and icy house tops. The fountains can be found in Kingston upon Hull Queens Gardens, please comment if you view.

London November 2010 friends took me to London for a weekend after a term of illness I was only well enough to take six photos, if you visit hope you like them..

2011-01-16T13:55:00.003Z

North Yorkshire Moors and Whitby on a rough day September 17Th 2010

2010-10-01T16:38:00.000+01:00

A bleak day out on the North Yorkshire Moors driving from Kingston upon Hull to Pickering then to Whitby stopping off to take photographs the first being of RAF Fylingdales Radar Station. The rest from just at the beginning of Whitby pier, it was cold windy and rough so did not stay long, hope you like the photos I did take and please comment if you wish...

A day at Kilnsea and Spurn 3rd July 2010

2010-09-30T18:21:00.000+01:00

This was the day I fell from the sand dunes and hurt all my left side and knees, look at the first photograph of the light house and the road in that photograph is the road I landed on. The first three photos are from Kilnsea and shows the erosion of the coast. Kilnsea is where you turn right to drive to Spurn along a narrow strip of sand with the dunes above and to the side of you, in places it is nice to see on one side the North Sea and on the other the River Humber. The other where the old light house is the River Humber, and the men fishing in the North Sea....This can all be seen clearly on Google Earth....

Enochdhu and Killiecrankie Scotland May 2010

2010-09-27T18:39:00.000+01:00

This brings me to my last post for this short holiday in Scotland in May this year. We travelled from the West Coast across into Perthshire along the A9 heading into the Highlands at Pitlochry we took the A914 to Enochdhu where I took the photos of the Cottage and paddocks, our friends Jim and Kate live in the cottage and we stay here when in this part of Scotland...

Travelling back along the A914 we took the B8079 at Pitlochry towards Killiecrankie before Killiecrankie the road turns left across the bridge which has a parking area on the far side it was on the this Bride that all the other photos were taken...The river below is the river Tummel which flows into the river Tay a few miles down steam...

Oban and Inveraray Scotland May 2010

2010-09-18T16:13:00.000+01:00

Today we visited Oban on the West Coast of Scotland spending a few hours on the harbour side where all the photos were taken apart from the last two which are in Inveraray, we arrived there by driving across the mountains staying off the main roads this was a far longer drive but well worth the time it took... The route we took can be followed on Google Maps or Google Earth, the set is also on Flickr where they are geotagged so you can see the places they were taken ....

Scotland south down the Ayrshire coast May 2010

2010-09-08T16:45:00.000+01:00

Driving down the Ayrshire coast I headed towards Maidens, Turnberry and Girvan .

The first four photos were taken from the small pier at the village Maidens.

The next two at Turnberry were the famous golf course is located.

The last two at the village of Girvan the last photo being of the Ailsa Craig from the shore.

This was all done trying to keep out of the rain and wind which came and went at will.

Firth of Clyde Scotland May 2010

2010-09-01T12:20:00.000+01:00

Today we travelled up the Firth of Clyde a beautiful river. All I wanted to photograph was the river itself even if empty! So from the town of Largs to Inverskip and onwards to Gourock near Port Glasgow. There are only six photos from today as tiredness set in and my camera felt like a ton weight.

Dunure Castle and Village Ayrshire Scotland May 1020

2010-08-22T16:07:00.000+01:00

The day after we left Glasgow and its bridges and travelled to Ayrshire and took time out to photograph the small village of Dunure just south of the town of Ayr itself..To get to the village one has to leave the main road A719 or this tiny hamlet consisting of a few small cottages and a pub with its old ruined castle would be easily missed.

Glasgow Scotland May 2010

2010-08-09T18:07:00.002+01:00

Hello all, sorry have not posted photos for a while mainly down to ill health, but am well on road to recovery. I hope you still pop along to view these photos of Glasgow I have not posted before. This set show the bridges crossing the river Clyde in Glasgow just down from Argyle Street, also the Commemorative Stone of the Cheapside Fire Disaster found on the river side, plus reflections from a modern glass building and a roof top Peacock.

Monday 5Th October 2009 Part 2 around the north east cost of Aberdeenshire, the coastal towns of Banff and Macduff with Duff house

2010-02-28T11:40:00.004Z

Scotland Monday 5Th October 2009 Part 1. My visit today took me over Glenshee, (only a few miles from where we stayed in Enochdhu) to Braemar past its castle, to Crathie Kirk the Kirk of our Queen, near the Balmoral Estate and Ballertar then into the Cairngorms, on my way to the far north coast of Aberdeenshire. They will be my next set of photographs

2010-02-19T11:08:00.005Z

Scotland Sunday 4Th October 2009 Arbroath on the East Coast of Scotland Arbroath Mariana and docks with cliff walks the house is where Pat and I stayed but is some 50 miles away at Enochdhu

2010-02-14T10:07:00.004Z

Scotland Saturday 3rd October 2009 Bruar Falls, Blair Castle and Glen Fernate near to Pitlochry in the highlands of Scotland.

2010-02-01T15:32:00.012Z

Kingston upon Hull Marina Round the World Clipper Race September 13Th 2009

2009-09-16T08:49:00.024+01:00

These are photographs of the clipper ships berthed in Kingston upon Hull marina on Friday and Saturday the 11Th and 12Th September, before the start of the round the World Clipper Race on Sunday the 13Th September. The clipper Cork was moving to the far end of the marina at the time...

The last photo is of the clippers in the river Humber maneuvering and getting ready to start the race at 14:00 on Sunday the 13Th taken from the river side at the entrance to King George Dock...

The clippers will return to the river Humber July 2010 to finish the race.....

The vessel One Hull did not take part....

Keith's metal art and work from my visit to Seaham

2009-09-12T13:06:00.016+01:00

Below can be seen the metal work and small objects of art that Keith has produced, there are many more that I did not photograph, but that will be for another day...

The first two photos show the fences that Keith made at the front and back of his bungalow and also can be seen his lovely Bull Mastiff dog which was so very friendly...

Keith also take photos with one hand using a Canon EOS 350D and no not always with a tripod but just holds the camera with one hand and clicks and changes the lens the same way....

A Visit To Seaham Co Durham North East England

2009-09-11T06:50:00.024+01:00

A day out at Seaham on the North East Coast of the UK with two friends. We have all had strokes (Brain Attacks) and been chatting to each other in a stroke survivors chat room for some time...And on this Wednesday the 9th September 2009 we met for the first time, in the seaside town of Seaham..Some 120 miles from where Keith H and I live. Keith A lives in the town and showed Keith H and I (Brain) around the area.. and the photos below are a record of that day...

The memorial to the miners and the names and ages on that are worth looking at closer as young boys of 14 years of age died in the pits ....

The photos are of the two Keith's ... Keith A wears the glasses the other is Keith H.

Keith A also does art work in metal welding and also paints by using his one good hand teaching himself this after his stroke (Brain attack), I have taken Photos of his work and will be posting some of his welding art soon ....I must stress that Keith only has the use of one hand even to take photographs. Keith's work can also be seen at this link to Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36548362@N07/

Memorial to 158 Squadron RAF Lissett East Yorkshire

2009-08-23T05:29:00.023+01:00

MEMORIAL TO 158 SQUADRON LISSETT EAST YORKSHIRE - UNVAILED SATURDAY 16TH MAY 2009

No matter how you look at the Memorial you can see the faces, and on each stature can be seen the names of the many who served and died. Enlarge the photos and the names can be read.

The Memorial stands on the road side just through the village of Lissett off the A165 Hull to Bridlington road.

The poppies were growing at the side of the Memorial on the day the photos were taken.

Bodnant Gardens Snowdonia North Wales

2009-07-19T17:24:00.011+01:00

Nothing more to be said!! Just look at how beautiful the gardens are....

Isle of Anglesey

2009-07-19T16:48:00.012+01:00

A day on the Isle of Anglesey, do not be fooled by the blue sky it rained most of the day . But a good time was had by all.....

Snowdonia National Park North Wales

2009-07-13T09:54:00.011+01:00

This is only a small part of the Snowdonia National Park, spent a few happy hours here just looking and taking in the beautiful scenes, it was very windy and rain came and went without warning.... however that helped to make it memorable ...

I drove along this road five times in all but stopping to take photos was not always a good idea ...

Portmeirion Lower Woodland Walk last set 7 photos

2009-07-09T13:57:00.015+01:00

These last 7 photos are in the lower woodland walk at Portmeirion, I started my walk from the sands walking back up to the main area... It took me a long time but was so worth it!!!!!

Portmeirion North Wales part two 11 Photos

2009-07-08T09:32:00.019+01:00

This is the second set of photos of Portmeirion, there is one more set to be published of the lower woodland walk within the grounds....

Hope you like theses ......

Portmeirion North Wales

2009-07-07T16:51:00.025+01:00

Portmeirion is an Italianate rresort village in Gwynedd at the estuary of the river Dwyryd in Snowdonia North Wales... two miles east of Porthmadog.

Portmeirion has been used for films and TV series the most famous being The Village in The Prisoner.....

This is the first of two posting of photos, there will be 11 more in the next post .......

Llandudno North Wales May 2009

2009-06-29T17:21:00.013+01:00

Llandudno North Wales, this is a roof section inside a shopping centre, the next photo is the prom on a sunny day one of few....

Then the Lifeboat named after the one of the sons of the family from Manchester who donated this wonderful vessel to Llandudno.

One photo of the pier from the far end of the prom..

Llandudno from the Great Orme....

The sweet sign was under the roof in first photo

CRICCIETH NORTH WALES

2009-06-28T19:21:00.013+01:00

This is Criccieth in North Wales, rough water that day and the RNLI house and just one of the castle......

BEWTS-Y-COED CLOCK and SWALLOW FALLS off the A5 NORTH WALES

2009-05-26T13:59:00.022+01:00

The photos are of the clock at Betws-Y-Coed and the Swallow Falls on the A5 North Wales as you leave the village and about 4 miles away, they were taken last week when on holiday for 7 days in the North Wales Area.

The Clock near railway station...

The Swallow Falls Photos....

STRICHEN PARK ABERDEENSHIRE NORTH EAST SCOTLAND

2009-05-26T13:41:00.014+01:00

Photos taken by Mrs Brenda S Wallace last Sunday the 24th May 2009 at Strichen Park .....

MAPLETHORPE SEAL SANTURY 6TH MAY 2009

2009-05-07T19:05:00.010+01:00

Below are just four of the many birds and seals that are rescued by the santury just North of Maplethorpe Lincolnshire on the East Coast of England. They are starting at the top, A Snowy Owl, Kestrel, Eagle Owl and Seal. Taken
on the 6th May 2009 by myself.......

Pennan and Gardentown Aberdeenshire Scotland by Mrs Brenda S Wallace

2009-04-30T15:33:00.017+01:00

The six photos were taken by Mrs Brenda S Wallace, the photos were taken on Sunday last April the 26Th on a rainy day. the first two are of the village of Pennan were the part of the movie Local Hero was filmed.
The Film was released 17 February 1983 in the (USA) and stared Burt Lancaster, and won BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations.....

The last four are of the village of Gardenstown just along the coast from Pennan, the villages are between the town of Fraserburgh and Macduff on the Morayshire Coast North East Scotland.....

Mrs Wallace is one of the ladies in the BTG Nottingham Meeting Blog below this Blog.....

Two photos of Pennan....

Four photos of Gardenstown

BEHIND THE GRAY MEETING 17TH 18TH APRIL 2009 HORSE AND GROOM NOTTINGHAMSHIRE UK

2009-04-25T08:28:00.026+01:00

These are 50 photos of the meeting of (SAH) Subarachnoid Haemorrhage and Stroke Survivors at the Horse and Groom Pub Moors Green Nottinghamshire on the 17th and 18th of April 2009. We all help and support each other very day, which is a wonderful thing, we all owe a great deal to the Behind The Gray web site, and the people who formed it..... Survivors travelled from as far away as Fraserburgh North East Scotland and North Wales, South and North East England and the London area.
This is the link to the site please visit if you wish .......

http://behindthegray.co.uk/welcome/index.php

PARTS OF BEVERLEY MINSTER MARCH 2009

2009-03-23T09:59:00.020Z

Photos taken of Beverley Minster East Yorkshire, in March 2009 the photos are only parts of the minster as others in my blog earlier show the whole and inside!!!

4 have been produced also as black and white, hope you like them and give comments!!!!

Thank you Brian

4 black and white photos .........

TREE CARVINGS IN THE AVENUES KINGSTON UPON HULL 2009

2009-03-08T11:58:00.019Z

The Photos were taken in the avenues area of Hull, Victoria, Park and Marlborough, also photos of two houses, this was February 2009

VIEWS OF KINGSTON UPON HULL FEBRUARY 2009 3RD SET

2009-02-28T16:45:00.013Z

City Hall Kingston upon Hull

Queen Victoria statue

Ferrens Art Gallery

Queen Victoria Statue

Now who she is

Town Docks Museum

The Punch Hotel

This was the Yorkshire Penny Bank now a coffee shop

Could not find the ship outside the Town Docks Museum

A colourful window

East Park Kingston upon Hull January and February 2009

2009-02-21T13:47:00.022Z

22 photos taken of East Park Kingston upon Hull over three weekends last weekend in January and the 1st two in February 2009

Last Weekend January

1st weekend February ice appears

2nd weekend February around the bird house and park road, the windmill was take from the old tennis courts

Avenues and Hessle Road area of Kingston upon Hull 2009

2009-02-14T16:03:00.009Z

Fountains, houses and wood carvings, in the Park avenue area of Hull, off Princes Avenue.

St Georges Road and the Fountain in the Boulevard off Hessle Road.

VIEWS OF KINGSTON UPON HULL FEBRUARY 2009 2ND SET

2009-02-08T12:56:00.011Z

10 more photos of Kingston upon Hull around the town docks museum and Princes Quay

The town docks museum with it's three distinctive domes, and the glass entrance to Princes Quay Shopping Centre, are shown in the first. The second is a black and white from Princes Dock Side looking to the museum. The third and forth are taken from the top of the shopping centre and show the three domes again one in black and white. The fifth is the top of the City Hall with it's green dome and roof.

The sixth shows the marina from the top of Princes Quay, with Castle Street in the foreground and on the left some of the old dock warehouses as apartments a posh word for a flat.

The seventh, eighth and ninth are of Princes Quay from Princes Dock side, and the last is the VUE cinema sign within the shopping centre.

VIEWS OF KINGSTON UPON HULL FEBRUARY 2009 1ST SET

2009-02-06T12:51:00.020Z

The photos were taken in the old town and from Princes Quay Shopping centre in the city of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire UK

The first four within the old town, starting with the market place, and the old grammar school, next two of the statues that you see as you enter the market place, one in black and white, the forth is of Holy Trinity church, inside the marble font dates from around 1380.

The other five from the top car park of Princes Quay, the first one you can see Holy Trinity in the back ground, the second is looking down on the marina, third looking to the town docks museum and it's distinctive dome. Next entrance to the VUE cinema and the last the Princes Quay sign on the top deck car park.

VIEWS OF KINGSTON UPON HULL, ROOF TOPS, THE DEEP, PIER, TIDAL BARRIER.

2009-01-31T17:45:00.019Z

The photos were taken from The Deep (The World's only Submarium) across the roof tops, then from the pier to The Deep, and towards the Tidal Barrier that protects the River Hull from flooding. If you look closely at The Deep you can see the viewing area through the glass. The big river is the Humber and the smaller one going to the tidal barrier is the river Hull , both rivers meet underneath The Deep.

The photos across the roof tops were taken through very thick plastic on the viewing platform at the top of The Deep. That is the old part of Kingston upon Hull in the color photo looking down from The Deep to the left you can see a slope leading down into the water, this is the old horse wash that was used years ago to wash the horses that worked in the area.

In the Shark photo the far shore you can see across the river Humber is Lincolnshire, before the Humber bridge was built it could take about two hours to drive round to Immingham and Grimsby on the far bank, now it only takes about 40 minutes!!!
You will see that I have taken photos in both color and black and white, please click on them to make larger and see details better.

HUMBER BRIDGE FROM THE NORTH BANK 18th JANUARY 2009

2009-01-27T17:01:00.021Z

The photos were taken on the 18th January 2009 on the north bank of the river Humber, near to the country park and walk way under the bridge. All photos apart from the last one were taken within a 100 yards of each other.
The last photo is of the Pod which has Starbucks on the first floor, the Pod can be found on Junction Dock, Kingston upon Hull. UK.