3rd June photo - blood brothers!

This afternoon my Mother & I went to see Blood Brothers at the new Shrewsbury Theatre. it was fantastic - I was determined not to cry - but I could not help it and I had a good old weep at the end - but then so did the rest of the audience!


I had not seen this show before so it was a nice new experience for me and neither had I been to our new theatre which only opened in February - I was pleasantly surprised.

We had lunch in the restaurant overlooking the river and then sat out on the balcony until the show was ready to start - very civilised!

The theatre has been built next to the River and has had quite a few critics for its architectural merit or lack of - but I quite like it and it is nice and modern inside - they even have built around an old chapel which was on the site and incorporated that into the design for the bar. Looking at the programme for the rest of the year, I am keen to visit again.

2nd June photo - clematis

It's May Bank Holiday and true to form my Clematis has flowered as it does each year at this time. It seems to thrive on neglect!

I am learning from my fellow 365'rs that tight close up's look better and this is the one that I will use in my album - but am also posting this larger one so you can see the whole flower.

1st June photo - more Welsh water!

Well we had Steven on his Kayak on the sea Saturday, the lovely lakes in the Welsh mountains yesterday - so I might as well continue the watery theme and go for this photo of .......

blimey I can't choose one again! The sea looked beautiful because of the cloudless sky so I want to use one of the following but which one???

Aberystwyth from the top of Constitution Hill.

The blue sea with a lone sailing boat for interest.

The beach at low tide at our caravan site.

Or this plain blue photo of the sea & sky?

30th May photo - watery Wales 2

After yesterday's lazy day - today was a little more energetic - we went back into the mountains!! Steven & I visited some geocaches high up in remote Welsh mountains - thankfully the car took us most of the way and we walked along forest gravel roads. These caches were called Watery Wales 2 and were a series of caches to take you around some interesting water features in the mountains - lakes & waterfalls - they were gorgeous. We only managed 3 out of the 5 as there was quite a lot of walking involved.

To reach the first cache we had to walk through Forestry Commission land and the were piles and piles of logs everywhere.

The first cache was hidden next to this beautiful lake - thankfully in such remote places there is little chance of the caches getting muggled, so they are not too difficult to find.

There was not a cloud in the sky so the blue sky was reflected in the lakes making them a gorgeous blue colour.

This second cache was hidden on the banks of this lake - Steven wished it was not so remote as it would have been perfect for kayaking on - but he would have had to carry his kayak for about 5 miles to reach this spot!!We sat and admired the mountains whilst tucking into biscuits and drinks.

This was the final cache and after a few wrong turns we eventually got to the right spot. However it was rather scary as it was on the edge of a cliff - looking down at a waterfall - we did the necessary photos and then beat a hasty retreat as I was scared - given my recent run of mishaps - one of us was going to topple over the edge. The views over the valley were gorgeous though.

photo practice

I was very very lazy yesterday and just sat on the beach all day watching Steven on his kayak, reading and sleeping. But I also had a little practice with my camera and took some nice photos - so this extra post is just to share these.

I have never taken silhouette shots before - but quite liked the shapes of these teenagers playing on the beach and I am pleased with how they came out.The sun looked beautiful glistening on the sea - so I tried to capture it - not sure where all the colour has gone though!Nice stones on the beach and then our lazy tea - a beach barbecue!

30th May photo - mucking about on the water!

The long journey to Bournemouth this week seems worth it now, to see the joy on Steven's face now he is actually out on the sea in his kayak!

Its a gorgeous sunny day at the coast - just right for mucking about on the water - and good for photo opps. as well!

I am not sure which photo to choose as my photo of the day - I quite like this action shot - but I should really have his face in I suppose.

29th May photo - Lions

But not real ones!! In an effort to find an interesting photo subject for today, I took a little walk, but I did not have to venture far - just down the road in fact, to the Shirehall - our local Council offices. Here is a very tall statue of Lord Hill overlooking the town, with 4 stones lions at the base. I thought the Lions would make an interesting view.

Taking a leaf out of Vicki & Karen's book I have gone for the close up shot and then moved further and further away to eventually get the whole picture.

Not really sure which one to choose for photo of the day - I like the detail of the lion and the true blue of the sky in these close up shots.



The column is open to the public a couple of times a year and after a little claustrophobic climb up a spiral staircase to the top, you are rewarded with 365 degree views all over the town

Just found this info about the colum on the net if anyone is interested ( I didn't know it was the World's tallest Doric column - so I have learnt something new today!)

:- Lord Hill's Column, outside the Shirehall (Shropshire County Council's headquarters), is one of the most notable features of the town of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. The tallest Doric column in the world, standing at 133ft 6ins (49.83m), it commemorates Rowland Hill, 1st Viscount Hill, with a 17ft tall statue standing on the top of the column. The column was built between 1814 and 1816; its diameter is two feet wider than Nelson's Column, and, not including the pedestal, is 13 feet higher.
The architect was Edward Haycock, with modifications mainly to the pedestal by Thomas HARRISON. The pedestal is square with a pier of buttress at each angle, on which are placed recument lions, worked of Grinshill stone (the same as the column) by John Carline of Shrewsbury. The statue of Lord Hill was designed and executed by Messrs. Coade and Sealy of London, in their artificial stone (Coade stone), modelled by Joseph Panzetta.
The first stone was laid on 27 December 1814 by the Salopian Lodge of Free Masons assisted by deputies from adjoining lodges, on the festival of St. John the Evangelist. The last stone was laid on 18 June 1816, the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. The total expense was 5,972 pounds, 13 shillings and 2 pence.
The structure once stood at the centre of the crossroads there, but the junction is now set aside from the column. The column also gives its name to a borough ward, which is simply "Column" ward. It is possible to climb within the column using steps to reach the top. The column is opened up to the public by Shropshire County Council on a few days each year.
The column has been listed by English Heritage as a Grade II* structure