Shafts of sunlight & rays of hope

Hope for the New Year?

Hope it brings whatever you want.

The aftermath.

Look what happens when the street cleaners get a couple of days off. Oh how we take them for granted.

Foggy Christmas weather.

Our Christmas weather is very often mild and foggy, and this year was no exception. Just before Christmas we had a very cold snap, then the winds changed, blowing in from the south and west, bringing the milder air. The resulting fog caused huge problems at the airports and on the motorways.

These pictures are of the River Taf and the Millenium stadium.

Hope you all had a pleasant Christmas Day.

Llandaf Fields

This is the old drinking fountain in Llandaf Fields.

No longer in use but over the years it will have given good service for those using the fields. Llandaf fields were given to the people of Cardiff by the Marquis of Bute for recreation purposes only.

Behind it you can just about make out the spire of Llandaf Cathedral, so years ago people walking from Cardiff to the cathedral may have had a drink here. There is an older drinking well by the Cathedral and I will post a picture of that sometime.

Today is also the Winter Solstice which is always good to celebrate, as the days now start getting longer and Spring becomes that bit nearer.

I expect this will be the last post before Christmas so have a Merry Christmas everyone.

Cyclamen

If thou of fortune be bereft,
And in thy store there be but left,
Two loaves, sell one, and with the dole,
Buy Hyacinths to feed thy soul.

And if you can't find a hyacinth then a cyclamen will do!

Mid Winter

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Christina Rossetti

My route to work.

Work your way from left to right and you have my cycle route to work. I'm lucky in that I have a 4 mile route which is virtually traffic free, if I leave early enough. Its far more relaxing than going in the car.

Meet Harry......................

................caught in the act.

Tenby

After a week of winter gales it hasn't been the time to go out and take some shots.

Looking through some earlier pictures, here's one of my favourite places, Tenby harbour. Apologises if I have posted it before but it a view that cheers me up.

One of the things I like about Christmas.......

....and thats the Salvation Army band playing carols in the shopping centres.

Late night shopping

On the run up to Christmas Thursday night is late night shopping in Cardiff.

The castle gets decorated too. The bottom shot is of St. Marys Street.

Hogweed

Do you have this weed where you live? It reminds me of giant rhubarb.

Have you noticed a blueish tint to my last few photos? I accidentally had the camera setting on tungsten lighting, so as the weather was cold I thought the blue tones added to the images.

Dock Store Merchants

No doubt a very busy shop when the docks were thriving.

A provision curer was a trader who cured meat, possibly for the long trips away.

The bonded warehouse is where the wines and spirits were stored after being imported and before the excise duty was paid on them.

Outside the Courts

The dragon rests whilst Gwilym Williams looks on.

Gwilym, was born in 1839 at Ynyscynon and became an important judge in the county courts of Glamorgan. He was a highly respected public figure and was known as Judge Gwilym Williams of Miskin Manor. He and his father were the promoters and chief supporters of the first daily newspaper in Wales, the Cambrian Daily Leader. Ygwladgarwr, the Welsh language newspaper published at Aberdare, was also established with the help of David Williams.

The Temple of Peace

Here's another building from Cathays Park.

Enjoy your weekend where ever you are.

Cardiff law Courts

My new pictures have dried up, so here's one I took last year.

All the main civic buildings are built in English Renaissance style carved from Portland stone. The quality of the architecture at Cathays Park means that it is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of civic centre in Europe.

On such a winters day

All the leaves are brown

And the sky is grey

I've been for a walk

On a winters day

I'd be safe and warm

If I was in L A

California dreamin.

Mamas & Papas

Will you be singing the song all weekend? Have a good one.

Rooms with a view.

When I first saw this, I thought the house on the right had a wonderful balcony...............look at it closer.

Spot the Gnome?

How do you know he's called Spot?

Bridge over the Wye

....and this is how you get to the pub!

Enjoy your weekend.

Sunday walkers

What more do you need either at lunchtime or at the end of a good walk. Here some walkers are enjoying the facilities.

The last of my Autumn pictures

Its just that the countryside is looking so good, the weather is warm and dry, ideal conditions for getting out and taking pictures.

The top one is in the local park and the early morning sun was highlighting the colour of the leaves.

The bottom one is of the river Wye which I crossed while walking with friends last Sunday.

"IF"

If this was in Arizona, would it be a cactus?