Everyone likes pictures

Barry and its beaches

2012-02-01T00:15:00.001Z

The top one is Barry Island beach taken from Cold Knap Point and the bottom picture is of Watchtower Bay.

"During the Second World War, Cold Knap Point was altered to look like the Battery on Nell's Point, with the placement of dummy guns and fortifications. There was also a barrage balloon site built in the swimming pool grounds to give credence to it. This fooled no one, as in the 30's the Graf Zeppelin flew over Barry taking pictures of the port and the surrounding countryside.

Watch Tower Bay takes its name from the watchtower built there in about 1865, when Barry had a population of less than 90."
[ Tom Clemett's History of Barry http://www.barrywales.co.uk/tomclemett/knap.asp ]

Cold Knap - pebble beach

2012-01-29T16:13:00.001Z

Cold Knap, Barry is about 10 miles from Cardiff. Its pebble beaches are formed by the wave action together with the steep slope of the the beach.

This beach had its hey day in the 1950's but now is still enjoyed as a walking area. Another feature of Cold Knap was the outdoor Lido one of the largest in the country but now demolished and filled in.

Its still an excellent fishing area though and at one time the largest line caught cod, 44 lbs, was landed here.

Waterfalls - Barry Sidings

2012-01-24T21:00:00.003Z

These waterfalls are at Barry Sidings Country Park located close to Trehafod on the B4753. The park runs along the southern bank of the river Rhondda for about 1.5 kilometres. The park is built on the site of an old railway siding owned by the Barry Railway Company. This company owned the railway and also the Trehafod colliery as well as others. The railway provided a route for transporting the coal to Barry Docks, and from there is was exported all over the world. By 1913 Barry was the largest coal exporting port in Britain, possibly even the world.

Forty shades of green.....

2012-01-21T08:06:00.000Z

......as the Irish would say. Because of the mild winter plants are ahead of themselves by a few weeks. These were growing on the wall of an embankment just outside Taffs Well.

Cardiff Statues 2 - Marquis of Bute

2012-01-15T00:30:00.002Z

The Marquis of Bute who was really responsible for changing and developing Cardiff into a major city.

When coal became king in the late 18th century, the Butes built the Cardiff canal to Merthyr to aid industrialisation. But the area's potential and prosperity wasn't fully realised until John, the 2nd Marquis - son of Lord Mountstuart - commissioned the first of the great docks on the Cardiff waterfront.
The Bute Dock opened in 1839, paving the way for Cardiff to become the biggest and most prosperous coal port in the world. [BBC website]

If you ever fancy a read of the history of Cardiff, albeit a fictional story but based on fact, try "River out of Eden" by Jack Jones

Cardiff Statues 1 -Ivor Novello

2012-01-13T00:29:00.002Z

One of Cardiffs famous sons, more here from Wikipedia. He even has a pub named after him in Canton, the "Ivor Davies"

Norwegian Church

2012-01-11T00:31:00.002Z

This has now been refurbished and is an arts centre and cafe, more here

Cardiff's 5 star hotel

2012-01-09T00:32:00.003Z

Cardiff's one and only....complete with gigantic bird on the roof!

Boat face

2012-01-07T00:35:00.000Z

Its all in the title!

Bay studios

2012-01-05T00:36:00.000Z

Cycling around the Bay area I came across this, new to me, building. Why no photographs, so I took one, then a Security Guard came and asked if they could help. I asked why the secrecy...its the BBC studios where they film some popular series, so I guess they dont want snoopers or local paperazzi.

Millenium Stadium

2012-01-03T00:38:00.000Z

Its only resting until the rugby home internationals start!

Bay apartments

2011-12-31T10:00:00.000Z

This is Penarth marina, part of the Bay re development area.

Happy New Year to you.

Cardiff weather

2011-12-28T00:34:00.001Z

With all the variations that the weather can throw at you in Wales, its always good to check out the forecast....even when early morning shopping.

Cardiff Central station - deserted

2011-12-26T17:03:00.000Z

No trains over Christmas, so no one around!

Caerphilly Festival of Lights

2011-12-24T06:47:00.002Z

This was a procession through the main streets of Caerphilly , with hundreds of children, samba bands, a brass band too, and ending with a firework display in the castle. It was very well supported and no doubt the children already excited by Christmas, would have been wound up that little bit more.

A Merry Christmas to you all.

Christmas Market stalls

2011-12-23T06:46:00.000Z

Sorry not one for vegetarians, but it was the layout that appealed to me.

Contrasting towers

2011-12-16T09:46:00.000Z

The old and new styles of Oxford buildings which still keep to the dreaming spires theme.

Oxford - dreaming spires

2011-12-11T10:17:00.000Z

In Oxford for a couple of days.

Little drummer boy

2011-12-03T07:36:00.000Z

A friend emailed me this link and I think its amazing. His name is Howard and he's 4 years old. Watch his face when towards the end he spots his parents in the audience.

Protest Camp

2011-11-25T20:22:00.007Z

This is one of many around the world, and similar to the one outside St Pauls in London. Originally this camp was set up outside Cardiff castle but the protestors were moved and have relocated here in front of a Trade Union building. More sympathetic to their cause than Cardiff Coucil.

Does anyone else have problems uploading photos using Picasa and IE. After Googling the problem a way around it is to use a different browser to IE and upload the pictures directly from your folder. If there is a better way please let me know.

Senghenydd

2011-11-14T07:34:00.003Z

Blogger seems to be playing up as this is my third attempt to put this post together.

This is Senghenydd, I'm sure I've shown you pictures of it before, but the reason why we visit it is that there is a wonderful hill up from the village to the moorland in the first picture. Its like a ride through history, as looking back down you can see the remains of the colliery and the scene of the greatest mining accident in UK history. In 1913 489 miners were killed in an undeground explosion, cause by a build up of "damp" gas.

In the top picture, where the top track going off to the right, is the remains of the "Senghenydd Dyke" an ancient 13th century boundary ditch, of the de Clare family who lived in Caerphilly Castle.

The Beacons

2011-11-11T07:39:00.000Z

This was taken at Garwnant in the Beacons. I went there to spot some Crosbills, but no luck, I only heard them.

Taf Trail tree

2011-11-05T07:03:00.000Z

The autumn colours are not that vivid this year, probably due to the warm mild weather we have had and the trees are still producing glucose / food. When they stop producing food, the chlorophyll in the leaves goes away and then we can see orange and yellow colours. These colours were in the leaves all summer, but the green covered them up.

This is also the worse part of the Taf Trail as there is usually so much broken glass around here that the chances of a puncture are high.

Autumn - Sourhead 4

2011-10-28T20:00:00.000+01:00

The tea rooms and pub gardens .

Autumn - Stourhead 3

2011-10-28T19:58:00.000+01:00

Some of the wonderful buildings in these gardens. Stourhead was only used as a holiday home!!!

Autumn - Stourhead 2

2011-10-26T19:56:00.001+01:00

The long and the short of trees. The owl was on an old rotting tree.

Autumn

2011-10-24T19:55:00.000+01:00

These were taken on Saturday at Stourhead .

Only some trees had the autumnal colours, probably down to the recent changes in the weather. I'll be posting some more pictures of the gardens later.

Castell Coch - A fairy castle

2011-10-20T20:26:00.001+01:00

This is Castell Coch in Tongwynlais, a beautiful local landmark. Beautiful, but never lived in, just a whim of a very rich man. This was taken from the valley floor and I have used photoshop to get this view. I've enroled on an adult education course and this was one of my projects, to eliminated all the electric cables and anything else etc . Click the link for more information.

Leaves on the Taf

2011-10-14T18:21:00.000+01:00

Another tree framed shot, this time of the river Taf, running alongside the Taf Trail.

Llanrhidian - Gower

2011-10-03T07:25:00.001+01:00

This was taken over looking the village showing the old mill and pond to drive the water mill, because until the beginning of the the 20th Century there was a thriving weaving industry here.

Vancouver

2011-09-25T07:51:00.000+01:00

Whilst in Norfolk we visited Kings Lynn and it was interesting to find out where the name Vancouver came from.

Norfolk Broads - the setting sun

2011-09-19T14:15:00.001+01:00

We had a few days away in Norfolk, and this shot was taken at Horsey just by the water pump. I suppose Norfolk is mainly known for The Broads. but there's a lot of other very interesting places as well.

From this to this!!

2011-09-08T11:24:00.000+01:00

This is from part of a cycle ride. The first picture is as you are leaving Treorchy with its ribbon development and then heading up the mountain road to the top of the Rhigos Mountain. Its 4 miles from where the first picture was taken to the top, a steady climb and not too steep. I took these pictures whilst cycling.

On the way to the top you pass an old Iron Age settlement called Hen Dre Yr Mynydd [The old town on the mountain], some more pictures here.

Industrial relics - Rhydyfelin tin works

2011-09-03T21:56:00.003+01:00

These old industrial buildings always intrigue me, I wonder what went on in there...I must find out!!

Well, Ceil, I have done, and I should have done it before publishing ....they are the Rhydfelin Tin works.

From the RCT website

"The following years saw the expansion and modernisation of the tin works until by 1836 they had become the largest in Britain. During this period the Crawshays had also acquired a small iron works by purchasing adjoining land to their existing land at Treforest. They had expanded to form the Taff Vale ironworks, which in conjunction with the tin works formed the Fforest Works. By 1835 these works were under the direct control of Francis Crawshay who had moved to the Treforest from Hirwaun (where the family owned an ironworks) and now lived at Forest House that was later to become the site for the University of Glamorgan."

See here for more info.

Valley Views

2011-08-31T21:52:00.002+01:00

A few more pictures taken on a bike ride, again on the hills over looking Pontypridd. The countryside is moving into autumn earlier this year, as the leaves on some trees are already starting to change colour. Apparently its all down to the warm and dry weather we had in April and May.

Fly fishing in the Taf

2011-08-28T07:18:00.000+01:00

This looks like a club competition, and now that the river is unpolluted there's good fishing. The nearest fisherman was getting some tuition on how to cast.

another footpath user.....

2011-08-22T07:19:00.000+01:00

This is the Common Dor Beetle. The wings are under the hard cases on the back.

Roadside flowers

2011-08-19T13:39:00.013+01:00

The top two shots are of Rosebay Willowherb [Fireweed in the US] its very common alongside roads and footpaths around here.
The bottom shot is the dreaded Japanese Knotweed......which is so invasive and virtually impossible to get rid of completely

Shopping arcades

2011-08-12T19:58:00.000+01:00

Cardiff has the highest concentration of Victorian and Edwardian shopping arcades in the UK, and whilst some streets seem to be loosing the battle with the new complexes, the arcades seem to be holding their own. Maybe its down to the individuality of the shops in them?

C'mon baby light my fire.....

2011-08-10T21:00:00.000+01:00

A couple of the ornate fire places from Tyntesfield. Imagine having to clean these daily and keep them supplied with wood and coal. All for the wage of a few pounds a year. Apparently there were 19 staff employed just to keep the house " ticking over".

You rang.........

2011-08-07T21:07:00.000+01:00

These signal bells are out side the butlers room of Tyntesfield.
One of the fascinating facts for me was that to build this vast house was less than a years profit from Lord Wraxall business interests. Still at least now "we own it" through the NationalTrust and are able to enjoy it as well.

A day at the Beach

2011-07-28T21:20:00.000+01:00

Boats

2011-07-26T21:14:00.000+01:00

there are all sorts here.

Night fishing

2011-07-24T21:12:00.000+01:00

peace and tranquility for a spot of relaxing fishing.

Be prepared

2011-07-22T21:10:00.000+01:00

always know where the safety equipment is!!!

Wrecked

2011-07-20T21:10:00.000+01:00

or marine litter?

Goodnight Sweetheart

2011-07-14T18:22:00.000+01:00

Is anyone else a fan of this programme? Its the concept of going back in time that intrigues me.

I think a time machine would be wonderful, to which period would you like to go to?

A Rose

2011-07-10T18:09:00.000+01:00

...by any other name!

The Taf Vale

2011-07-06T18:15:00.000+01:00

This is looking up the valley towards Pontypridd

Gwaelod Y Garth

2011-07-02T18:07:00.002+01:00

Nestling in the shade of the Garth, Gwaelod comes with its own micro climate, as the sun disappears by about 11 am in the Summer and even earlier in Winter. So its usually a few degrees colder here.

Summers foliage

2011-06-30T18:13:00.000+01:00

Wild flowers alongside the Taf Trail.

Looking for tenants?

2011-06-28T21:18:00.000+01:00

..a vacancy exists for some frogs and other co inhabitants.

Apply in person to view this des res.

Valley Lines

2011-06-24T05:28:00.000+01:00

These lines connecting the valleys provide a really good service.

Wind in the Valley?

2011-06-22T15:20:00.003+01:00

Some of the names of the takeaways are very interesting, I must take some more pictures of them.
I wonder if the wind in the Valleys came after eating the meal?

Car Park with a view

2011-06-20T15:22:00.000+01:00

Sardis Road carpark Pontypridd on a beautiful day. At the moment the view here is better than the town centre, which is in the process of being re developed.

Hello...and goodbye!!

2011-06-13T00:49:00.000+01:00

A regular visitor who doesn't mind the camera.

An evening bike ride

2011-06-09T22:01:00.002+01:00

The top picture shows the sculpure depicting the work done by Abertridwr community in creating their park .

Abertridwr is the village just before Senghenydd, which in 1913, had the worst colliery disaster ever in the UK [More here]

The last two were taken on Mynydd Eglwysilian over looking Pontypridd. for the eagle eyed , you can just see Pen y Fan and Corn Ddu in the Brecon Beacons.

View Untitled in a larger map

Early morning in Asda

2011-06-07T00:44:00.000+01:00

I just liked the colours and the symetry in this shot.

Amongst the trees, Duffryn Ffrwd Manor

2011-06-05T00:43:00.000+01:00

This is a grade 2 listed building, but now a private nursing home. I've yet to find out who owned and lived in it.

The bridges of Newport County

2011-06-03T17:28:00.001+01:00

The old and the new.
The old one, bottom picture, is the famous Transporter Bridge, one of only two in the UK. The new one is the latest bridge over the Usk.

All roads lead to ........!!

2011-06-01T17:24:00.001+01:00

Where else?

Uskmouth Lighthouse

2011-05-29T17:21:00.000+01:00

This lighthouse is on the Newport Wetlands bird reserve.

Waiting for the bride?

2011-05-20T07:45:00.000+01:00

This car was waiting in a lay by probably to pick the newly weds up after the ceremony. The driver was taking the opportunity to give it a quick polish

Speckled Wood Butterfly

2011-05-18T07:47:00.001+01:00

Because of the dry and warm weather we have had for the last two months this is one of the best years for butterflies.

Ever had one of these cameras?

2011-05-17T07:42:00.000+01:00

My first camera was the one directly in front of the picture.

A new roof

2011-05-15T07:50:00.000+01:00

The thatchers were busy re roofing a cottage at St Fagans museum

Bluebells

2011-05-03T19:42:00.000+01:00

Always a welcome sight, and even better when you're on a walk and the sun is shining. This was taken at The Vyne, a National Trust property.

Oxwich Castle

2011-04-30T20:31:00.001+01:00

A stone stile leading into a field with a white bull,...errr no thanks I'll go another way!

Gower wildlife

2011-04-28T00:11:00.002+01:00

Despite the sunny weather, we didn't see any basking adders.

I think 1.is Brown moth caterpiller and 2. is a Ground beetle.

Gower flowers

2011-04-27T06:14:00.013+01:00

From the top;
1. Gorse and bluebells
2. Again gorse.....whats the country saying "when the gorse stops flowering the kissing has to stop".
3. Southern marsh orchid.
4. Yellow archangel

Sunrise

2011-04-26T06:39:00.001+01:00

A misty sun over a Gower campsite.

This is at Port Eynon looking towards Oxwich Point. With the hottest Easter we have had for 100 years, the campsite was full, mainly with families all having a wonderful time.

Spring flowers in the garden [3]

2011-04-14T13:59:00.021+01:00

Here's my third go at posting this!!! By the time it gets out the flowers will have faded. I usually upload direct from Picasa but for some reason the last 2 posts have had the dreaded box with a red cross in it. So fingers crossed for third time lucky;
From the top;
Forgetmenots
Saxafrage
Wisteria.

Quentin

2011-04-03T08:33:00.001+01:00

This is Quentin 40 years ago, tomorrow he's 60.

Not bad for someone who's had a heart transplant and a kidney transplant. And he's still plays a mean guitar. So tomorrow night we'll have a get together........ and a few beers.

Happy birthday Quent.

Eating out

2011-03-28T07:24:00.000+01:00

Nothing but the best places for us!!

Primroses

2011-03-25T07:45:00.000Z

As sure sign that Spring is here, and also swallows have been spotted in the Cardiff area.

Chippenham buskers

2011-03-22T18:06:00.000Z

I love buskers and these are called the Bucket Band. They looked and sounded as if they had been playing for a few years. Good street entertainment.

No need to lock the car while I'm here.

Eddie Cochran

2011-03-18T08:16:00.000Z

Are you old enough to remember????
We visited Chippenham the other day and came across this plaque on the roadside and this poster in a pub.
There's more here.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Cochran

Rubbish

2011-03-14T08:26:00.000Z

Why? especially when there are so many local waste diposal places.

Rivers run red......

2011-03-10T12:58:00.000Z

.........well , with iron anyway. With lots of old iron workings around this area this spring water has turned the immediate area red with iron oxide.

Blackbird

2011-03-06T08:37:00.000Z

Taffs Well, Well - reflections

2011-03-04T17:17:00.001Z

For some reason the Well at Taffs Well has flooded to a level half way up to the door in the middle. We've had rain but not an unusually heavy amount to cause this level of flooding.

Hello down there

2011-02-28T20:18:00.002Z

Just thought I'd take a rest and have a look around!!

Pontcanna Birds

2011-02-25T20:16:00.003Z

These were taken from a friends house looking through the patio doors onto her garden.
To the left of the top picture she has a pyrocanthus hedge and we were able to watch the sparrows busy nest building.
The sparrows feeding on the corn throw lots onto the floor, so the doves wait for the fallout.

Woodland gems

2011-02-19T20:49:00.000Z

The trees are just beginning to bud and from a distance you can see that slight change in their colour, from the dark drab browns of winter to the pale greens of early spring.

Save our Libraries

2011-02-15T18:05:00.000Z

This picture captures two current themes.
The first one is the threatened closure of some of our public libraries due to the spending cutbacks of local government. Once they are lost they will never be replaced, but luckily the campaign to protect them is gathering momentum with many authors and celebrities putting their names to the fight against closures.
The second is that I am reading a library booked called Forgotten Voices of the First World War, which is extracts from soldiers letters and diary entries. Its very moving to say the least.

Spring colours

2011-02-13T18:07:00.001Z

Whilst there's still a chance of more cold weather at least some flowers are out.
Roll on the warmer days.

Chester - buskers

2011-02-06T19:12:00.001Z

Chester must be a mecca for buskers as we came across them on virtually every street, and these young guys were fantastic.

Chester [2]

2011-02-04T19:11:00.001Z

Chester is served by both the river Dee and the Shropshire Union canal. In the top picture you can see how the sandstone rock was carved to make the canal, and the houses were built right up to the edge.

Chester [1]

2011-02-02T19:08:00.002Z

Chester - a few miles away from Llangollen and even I enjoy shopping here.

Llangollen - Canoeing the Dee

2011-01-31T19:24:00.000Z

Llangollen and the river Dee.
The outside temperature was -2C so that water must have been very cold.

The old Nantgarw railway

2011-01-29T21:10:00.002Z

Whilst the canal has disappeared under a road the railway has been put to good use...as a cycle path.

Nantgarw Porcelain

2011-01-28T16:15:00.001Z

Here's some of the famous porcelain displayed inside.

Natgarw pottery

2011-01-27T16:13:00.002Z

The pottery was serviced mainly by the canal and later the colliery was connected to the railway.

Industrial estate and potteries

2011-01-26T21:04:00.000Z

The old winding wheel at the entrance to the industrial park is from the Nantgarw colliery that once stood here. Just around the corner is the famous Nantgarw pottery. I'll show you more pictures tomorrow.

Ponty - famous landmarks

2011-01-24T06:28:00.002Z

Both are meeting places in the past and the present. The Princes cafe with its delicious pastries is not the place to go if you're weightwatching .

Ponty, the old bridge

2011-01-22T03:27:00.001Z

Here's the original bridge in Pontypridd.
The Old Bridge (Welsh: Yr Hen Bont), which is now also known as the William Edwards Bridge or Pontypridd Bridge, was originally known as the New Bridge or Newbridge, it is an arched single-span footbridge that spans the River Taff at Pontypridd in Wales. The bridge was built by William Edwards and was completed in 1756. The bridge now has statutory protection as a scheduled ancient monument.

[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

Trail shots

2011-01-20T06:40:00.000Z

These were taken on the Taf Trail on the way to Pontypridd [Ponty].
In winter with all the leaves gone you get different views, and in all the times I've ridden this trail, I've never noticed this culvert and pipe before.
They are resurfacing the trail and its a work in progress. Its amazing that its being done at all with all the council cutbacks, so thanks to Rhondda Cynon Taf, it will be appreciated.

Spring is on its way.

2011-01-18T21:41:00.001Z

The snowdrops in the garden have been out for nearly a week now, so lets hope Spring is on its way.

Across the bay towards Penarth

2011-01-16T21:33:00.001Z

These are the remnants of the old docks, maybe left behind, after the redevelopment, as a reminder!
Directly in the middle of the picture on the shoreline is the Penarth Custom house, now a restaurant.

A rainy day on the Valleys bus

2011-01-10T17:14:00.000Z

The forecast was for heavy rain and it was right. This is Pontypridd bus station taken on the mobile, through a rain lashed window.