Day 59 - End of Another Month.

The last day of February and everything is good. LB's cold is improving, his Mum is cheerful and accepting that she's going to be another 2-3 weeks in hospital, my parents & our kids are fine, in their own ways.  I had a good session in the gym this morning and impressed LB with another Madhur Jaffrey  cookbook meal.  The kitchen's a bit of a mess but the food was lovely!

I had an idea for a photo too. This is a Buddhist singing bowl, a very small one. It makes a lovely sound, or rather three sounds. You get a different tone out of it depending on whether you strike it or stroke around the outside or inside of the bowl. Running the wooden striker around the outside sets up a wonderful long resonant note which apparently is an aid to meditation. I wanted to show it being struck and also give an impression of it resonating. I didn't get it right, I should have moved the bowl sideways rather than tipping it but I think you can get the idea. It's a composite of 4 photos and took me ages!!

Here's a different sort of composite.  I have just learnt how to do these mosaics so I'll now post one at the end of each month of that months photos.  Looking at it I'm struck by how few birds and landscapes are in it. I'm sure that's a reflection of the weather. My favourites this month are the light painting, the blue bottles and  my feet in chains - quite a variety!

Day 58 Ogmore - Another Castle

Well, I went to bed early last night and got up late this morning. I feel much better! I was obviously overtired yesterday. LB is still feeling rough as his cold shows no signs of abating.  I left home late morning as he was going back to bed! I had decided to stop off to take some photos en route to my Dad as it was a sunshine and showers sort of day & the light was quite nice.  I called in at Ogmore Castle.   This is a much ruined Norman castle of the 12th century guarding a ford on the River Ewenny. It's quite pleasant there though sheep graze within the outer ward of the castle so you have to watch your step!  The local riding school uses the ford regularly and there are stepping stones if you don't have a horse to carry you across.  The stones were underwater while I was there, as the tide was in. I didn't take any particularly outstanding photos but enjoyed my time out in the fresh air.


Dad and I had a rather fruitless trip to the hospital this afternooon.  After eating the trifle Dad had taken in for her, Mum fell asleep in the chair & was still asleep when we left half an hour or so later.  She used to do that regularly but has been more alert in recent months.  It's rather frustrating but can't be helped.  She must have had a good Sunday lunch!


So here's some photos. My pic of the day is of a puddle within the castle. I like the colours of the reflections of the castle walls.

Castle Reflection

Also a photo of one of the bigger bits of wall & of the ford 

Ogmore Castle

Crossing the Ford

Day 57

Well it's been a bit of a dull day today & a not very interesting photo.It's just been one of those meh days when I just couldn't stir myself to do anything.  LB still has his cold and is even more listless. So we did nothing today.....well he visited his Mum for half an hour & I popped out to the shops. I had absolutely no inspiration for a photo & am wondering how to keep this up for a whole year.  Is it possible to take 365 half decent photos? There's no point in just snapping at any old thing. Perhaps it's just a winter thing, I'd love some good light for landscapes & seascapes. Close up shallow depth of field indoor shots, which are my standby, are getting a bit boring.  Anyhow, I resorted once more to Our Daily Challenge which was curves. So here's the light over our dining table with our artex ceiling. Hopefully I'll feel more inspired tomorrow.

Curves

Day 56 Towels

Why towels?  Well we have another wet grey day here so it's back to indoor photography. I'll be spending the afternoon visiting Mum so wanted a quick photo this morning. Hmm! I don't seem to be able to do quick ones! Our Daily Challenge for today is "soft" so a pile of towels seemed an easy choice. No! First I took several photos of half a dozen stacked towels. Looked at them on the computer and realised quite how much detail there was in the texture.  I then switched to the compact camera to get in closer and took about twenty shots from differnt angles. Next I had to sort through them on the computer and deleted 75%. Finally post here & to Flickr! So just one photo as it's time for lunch. I might add a couple more later if I'm in the mood!

Back from the hospital. Mum is in a new unit for dementia patients. When we visit we tend to go in a small sitting room which today we shared with Ivor, who's Mum slept the whole time he was there. There's a supply of paper and crayons so I used the paper to make a paper aeroplane. We spent the whole afternoon throwing the aeroplane back & for to each other. It was rather battered by the end! At least it perked Mum up, she thoroughly enjoyed it & grinned the whole time, which is nice. She does have a habit of just staring blankly into space and can be difficult to engage.  I should have taken a photo of the plane but hadn't thought to take the camera! So you'll have to make do with some more towel photos!

A towel!

....and another towel - this one with a torch inside it!

Day 55 - Castell Coch

Poor LB isn't very well today.  He started coming down with a cold yesterday & felt quite rough this morning.  In fact after being up an hour or two he went back to bed. He also took to his bed again after lunch.  He seems a bit better now though.  So this morning I thought a perfect excuse to avoid disturbing him would be to take myself off with my camera.  It's exactly a week since we were at Chepstow Castle so I thought I might do another castle.  Perhaps Thursday is castle day!  Just down the road from us is Castell Coch.  This was originally a Norman mediaeval castle which fell into ruin and was rebuilt on the original foundations in the mid 19th century.  The outside is fairly authentic but the interior is pure fantasy, courtesy of the architect & artist William Burgess.  It is a two bedroom castle with kitchen banqueting hall, drawing room & dungeon!


Here is a chair & its reflection in a bedknob in the Lords bedroom

Chair & Bedknob

A couple of other photos of the castle

Castell Coch

Portcullis Chain

Drawing Room Ceiling

Day 54 -Swimming Pool

No I didn't go swimming myself. It's half term and the place was packed out with rowdy kids! I'd been to Cardiff to do some shopping and detoured to the pool to take some photos.  I'm tired of photos in the house I need to get OUT! Anyway the pool is only a couple of years old and is built of green opaque & clear glass with lots of girders.  There's a sort of prgola thing attached at the back so lots of nice shapes. My main photo is of a solitary guy on an exercise bike 2 or three floors up.  I think it looks strange as the gym has a glass wall rather than a window.  It's almost as if he's part of the wall.  I walked around the outside & got some interesting photos. There are some more different ones on my Flickr page.

Bike with a View

Later we visited MiL who is doing well, is in less pain and just starting to move her shoulder. We went straight from the hospital to Cardiff Uni for a Cardiff Scientific Society lecture on "The Origins of Cosmic Dust" This lecture has been postponed twice and was originally supposed to be given a year ago.  Interestingly the lecturer said she knew the origin then but new research has muddied the waters somewhat and now no-one knows! It was an interesting talk on the research done so far, though.  Again it was wonderful value for money, top class speakers all for £8 a year!!

 

Day 53 - Grid

Had a fairly quiet day today. My bike (the BMW) needed its first MOT today. I was quite looking forward to a short ride but LB asked to take it to ditract him from mother worries. I think he regretted it though as they took ages and kept him hanging around!  We visited Enid this evening and she had some news for us.  Following a scan the surgeons have decided not to operate but to let it heal naturally .  She'll need a lot of physio & will end up with restricted movement in that shoulder.  That seems reasonable in view of the risks of a general anaesthetic.  I just hope she has enough movement to remain independent. Leaving the hospital, we drove to our son & daughter in law to be.  They'd cooked us a lovely meal & we had a very pleasant evening with them.


As far as photos go I played around with some metal mesh and the ceiling lights.  This was purely experimental and has given  what I think is quite an abstract but interesting result. What do you think?

Day 52 Fun Colours

Have  been totally uninspired to do anything today. Have just pottered around quietly at home while LB has done the hospital visiting. I think an early night is in order! As far as a photo goes I took the topic of the Ouor Daily Challenge group again which was "What Doesn't Belong" ie odd one out. So here's some coloured pencils.. The big pink one was so long I couldn't fit it in the frame!

Day 51 - Bubbles

Had to grab a quick & not very inspired photo this morning. Actually it wasn't that quick as I tried various set ups before I was happy with it. Miserable cold grey day so used this tall glass with the curly red stripe and soda water for the bubbles.  Had problems with the lighting again even though I used flash but Lightroom came to the rescue! I love that software! 


Anyway then had to do some shopping, go over to Porthcawl to pick up Dad, help him finish the crossword and then off to GlanRhyd Hospital to visit Mum.  Took Dad back, came home, had a snooze (!), then off with LB to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital to visit his Mum! It's been a busy day!  Anyway tomorrow MiL is having her shoulder scan & we should hear whether they recommend surgery or not and will have a better idea of when she's likely to be coming home. So far she seems to be doing fairly wel. She was sitting out in a chair today and although is in a lot of pain when they move her, she's comfortable otherwise and is visibly stronger each day.


So here's todays photo

Day 50 - In Chains

Not much news on Mother-in-Law yet. We rang the ward earlier & she was comfortable, had been seen by the consultant and treatment continues to be pain killers and bedrest but for a scan & review on Monday. LB has gone to see her this afternoon & so has my younger son & his girlfriend. I'm at home so as not to clutter up the bedside and will visit this evening.


So, day 50, a minor milestone! I'm forgetting castles for now as I'll be staying close to home while MiL's in hospital.  Our Daily Challenge yesterday was Chained so here's my take on that - Chained to Fashion!



























I'm a jeans & trainers girl so heels like these are as hard for me to walk in as having chains around my ankles! I've only worn them once, to a wedding, & had to sit down most of the time as I couldn't stand let alone walk in them!

Day 49 - a Helluva Day!

Well, there I was, this morning, about to wrap myself in chains for Our Daily Challenge, Flickr group when LB phoned from his mothers house to say she'd fallen & could I go down there. Although she lives further down the same street I drove, for quickness. She was on the floor in the kitchen  unable to move due to severe pain in the right shoulder and right groin. As the ambulance was delayed I left her with LB and took one car back home and returned on foot. This is the paramedics car , outside her house, which had arrived by the time I got back.  It took a while to control the pain sufficiently to get her into the ambulance & then we went off to A&E. I must say she was well looked after but it all took a time.  It turns out she has a fracture dislocation of her shoulder and fractured pubic bone.  We spent all day in A&E with her, saw her settled into her ward and got home about 8.30pm.  It's surprising how tiring hanging around in hospital is,  anyway current thinking is to let things heal naturally with rest but to review her shoulder next week with the possibility of surgery to come.  So I would think she'll be there for a couple of weeks. Time will tell but at least she's comfortable now.  Perhaps I'll wrap myself in chains tomorrow, it sounded fun!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

DAy 48 Chepstow Castle

As we had no parental duties today and the sun was shining we set off to Chepstow to have a look around the castle there.  We're surrounded by mediaeval castles in South Wales so I'm going to have a castle theme for the next few days to a week, as I haven't had a theme for a while.  My main photo was taken through a stone window in the castle & is LB's hand to fit Our Daily Challenge's theme for the day of hands. This could be quite interesting fitting two themes into one photo!

The next two photos are of the Great Tower, the earliest part of the castle & built in the 1080's and of the riverside walls, with the Great Tower in the distance.  This castle has three baileys stretching along the side of the river atop a cliff., a really good defensive position. 

The final photo is in colour for obvious reasons. This is taken looking up at the underside of the stone stairs of a spiral staircase in one of the towers. Some of the outer walls were whitewashed  but I don't know where the green & orange colours came from!

Day 47 More birds!

It's at least a week since I'd tried to get some bird photos so had to have my fix today! While LB was ferryiny his Mum aroun, buying dress materials this morning, I went back to the lcal nature reserve at Forest Farm.  After overnight rain the trees were glistening in the morning sun so I started off with a bit of a drip fest! Later I saw the nuthatches I've previously posted here, lots of different tits, the usual ducks and moorhens but not the water rail, which I really want to photograph.  I did see the kingfisher twice but he was much to fast to capture and finally, when nearly back at the car I came across the little egret. He was fishing in the canal initially but then flew into the tree.

For the main photo I've chosen the catkins, for a change

This is the water flowing into the canal 

The little egret in the tree









Coal tit, robin & great tit

I was home by lunchtime so sorted through some of the photos before heading off to the gym. We finished off the day by attending a rather dry lecture on "The Jet Stream - Weather & Climate" at Cardiff Scientific Society. It was a bit of a struggle but eased by a nice meal in the pub afterwards!

Day 46 - On your Bike!

Had a busy day without achieving a lot. I had a session on the exercise bike this morning, while LB was having his guitar lesson. After pottering about a bit and an early lunch we than headed to the swimming pool. We used to go once a week but have got out of the habit. It was so nice! It's such a good form of exercise and really freshens me up! We really must make the effort to do it more often. On the way home did the dreaded Tescos shop and then spent the whole of the rest of the afternoon cooking a curry from our new Madhur Jaffrey cookery book.  She has some lovely food but it always takes me so long to prepare!  Anyway we had a very green and exceedingly tasty green lamb curry.  The green was due to masses of coriander.  Also did a mushroom & pea curry with plain boiled rice.Yummy!

Then had to think of a photo! I've joined a Flickr group called "Our Daily Challenge" which does what it says and gives a fresh challenge each day to  photograph.  It seems a good idea for gaining inspiration, when I have none, and I'm sure I'll be mentioning it a lot in the future. Today's challenge was "Catch in the Action", rather strange English but anyway, an action shot, so I went back to the bike. As I have poor lighting and hence a very slow shutter speed I fortunately didn't have to work too hard to get a view of a blurry action packed leg.

Day 45 Sunshine & Showers

I am still aching! In future we've decided to take a closer look at the map before walking to check the steepness & length of the descent.  Going up is ok, just take your time but that downhill section on Saturday was a killer!


Didn't have much idea of a photo for today.  I took a couple of snaps of flowers this morning that weren't very interesting.  The afternoon was spent in going over to Porthcawl to pick Dad up & visit Mum in the hospital.  The weather was very much sunshine & showers and after dropping Dad back home I drove to Porthcawl's seafront as the sky was looking quite interesting.This is the other side of the lighthouse that I photographed in January, just catching the late afternoon sunshine.The cliffs of Southerndown are visible to the left and across the water is Exmoor and the Devon/Somerst coast


























While I was taking the photo above this young turnstone landed on the wall beside me almost in touching distance so I had to take a photo of him.

Finally one other sky shot from the other end of the Esplanade

Day 44 Lazing about at home

Yes I'm still tired, stiff and aching from yesterdays walk! Weather today is miserable, rain , rain and more rain.  Have just pottered around and experimented with photos today. Spent hours trying to photograph this bunch of silk flowers falling.  Ended up with 80 shots of a curtain with no flowers in front of it! Gave up on that and swung them from a piece of string to try a panning shot. I wanted to get a bit of movement in the picture but didn't really succede and then played around with acouple of shallow depth of field close ups.  I've decided still life pics are boring because they're so static...I've just got to work out howw to make them move!


Anyway here's my swinging bouquet with the colours toned down quite a bit




































and the close ups

Day 43 -Atop the Brecon Beacons

We had a nice but testing walk today.  We headed up to the Brecon Beacons for a horseshoe walk described as 5 1/2 miles, moderate, in our walks book. It started with a steep climb to the top of Craig y Fan Ddu, then followed the ridges of Craig Fan Las & Cwar y Gigfran.  The views are quite spectacular but the weather closed in and we had sleety showers and a biting cold wind.  En route we passed the memorial to the 5 Canadian airmen who lost their lives there in 1942 when their Wellington bomber crashed into the hillside. It was very moving, memorial surrounded with poppies and remains of aircraft still present.  We then had an exceedingly steep descent which hurt LB's knee and gave us extremely wobbly legs!  The walk wasn't over as there was then a further nasty downhill scramble along the side of the stream & waterfalls then a steep climb back up to the carpark.  Both now stiff & exhausted.  We're getting old!


Anyway at least Wales beat the Scots at rugby.  It's about time we had a win. Also time for some vino so here's the photos. They were taken on the compact camera so not quite the quality of the slr.

This is the cairn on top of Cwar y Gigfran looking towards the Sugarloaf and Gwent Black Mountains

 The remains of the Wellington bomber.

& the memorial to the aircrew

Day 42

Here I am, on the computer, with Al Jazeera English on live in the background, again. Mubarak has gone and the country is partying! Egypt has a difficult road ahead as you can't bring in democracy overnight and the old guard will struggle to hold on to the vestiges of power, I think.  I wish them luck and hope they achieve all that the protesters have demanded.

As far as my day went, it was the gym this morning & visiting Mum this afternoon.  I've had an idea for todays photo but it didn't work.  I had hoped to combine one of light painting like yesterday with an object in the centre encircled by light.  Here is one of the objects which I think is interesting enough in its own right.  Quite pretty colours and shapes don't you think?

Day 41 - Light Painting

Had a good workout in the gym this morning. That wore me out and I've not done much since! Mid afternoon I was thinking about what to photograph but it's another grey wet day so it was going to be an indoor shot.  I got distracted when I realised events were unfolding fast in Egypt and sat and watched tv for a while.  I must say Al Jazeera English is a really informative channel that I've only just discovered, & I now have it on in the background as I post this.  We are all waiting to hear what Mubarak has to say.   I hope it's going to be good as that's a very hyped up crowd in Tahrir Square & they won't take another fudged response kindly.


Anyway, to get back to my photos.  It was gettting dark by the time I took them so tried a technique I've read about but not done before.  I tied a small pen torch to a light fitting, swung it around & photographed it from below.  It's a white torch so I've no idea where the blue colour came from.  I stuck some tissue paper over the end for the red light. Here's no 1

and two others

Day 40 - Traffic Trails

Have just come back from a pleasant evening at the Cardiff Scientific Society. We heard an inteeresting talk on the archeological & scientific investigations of a salt mine in Iran. Skeletons and mummified remains, including one very well preserved, fully clothed man, have been found dating back to 400BC.  They're using carbon & nitrogen isotopes to try to determine where these people came from.  It seems only a couple of them were local to the area of the mine.  They've obviously a lot more work to do as we were given a very incomplete story with lots of questions and, as yet, few answers. It was, however, quite fascinating.



Anyway, before going there I popped down the road to a vantage point over the new by-pass that's been built around our area.  I was disappointed by the sparsity of traffic, strangely when I'm driving in it there always seems to be too much! So here are my photos of traffic trails. I think I might have to try again next winter as it's barely dark enough now at peak traffic times.