GET DIRTY

Carmi, over at writteninc.  is getting down and dirty, and asking us to join him!   Mind you, Carmi lives in Canada, and talks of "snow just going", but over here in the UK, our snow has long gone and Spring is now here, looking clean and fresh.    Crocuses have more or less finished now, and the daffodils are coming out, the birds are courting, and I have seen blackbirds with nesting material.   Its all coming good!

So I had to get creative with finding dirty pics!   Mr.G could not understand why I wanted to take a shot of our dirty washing up, but here it is!

We don't have a dishwasher, so it was on with the Marigolds (rubber gloves) and get on with it with a nice big bowl of hot water and detergent.

We have two benches in the park which seem to be invisible to the powers that be (probably the council)   Neither has  been painted, to my knowledge, for the last 20 years, and they are really looking grubby.   Other benches in the park have been replaced with smart-looking seats, and really spruced up, but these two languish under the beech trees by the stream.   At least they merge with the foliage!

So that is my take on dirty!   Do let me know if you visit - I like to keep track of you!

BODIES OF WATER

A watery theme this week from Carmi, over at writteninc. asking for Bodies of Water.   Mine are all rather predictable, the sea, and the lake in our Park, but I am sure you will find some imaginative shots if you follow the link above!

The first cruise we went on, round the British Isles, was a bit of a disaster, as the sea was so rough we could not land at some ports!   But there was always the sea, and the wake of the ship to watch!

A much more peaceful scene - the lake in our local Park.   Strangely enough, there were no birds on there that time.   We normally have swans, loads of mallards, gulls, coot and Canada geese.

The second cruise we took was up the coast of Norway to the Arctic.   This beautiful waterfall was at the Gerainger Fjord.   There were a lot of waterfalls down the very steep sides of the fjord, and the biggest ones all seemed to have stories attached to them!

We landed at the head of Gerainger fjord, and took a coach up to the top of one of the surrounding mountains.   This in fact is a lake, only its all frozen.   I didn't risk walking on it, though!

Last year we went round the British Isles  again, this time more successfully.   Landing at Greenock, we took a ferry to Dunoon.   Not very good weather, it rained hard as we were heading for the return ferry, and the combination of a disused and sad pier and the pouring rain encouraged me to take this photo!

And lastly, ducks on our lake.   The early morning light always makes for lovely patterns, and the ducks were busy finding breakfast.   And probably a healthier one than the constant bread they get fed by visiting children!

Hopefully this year we will get a holiday, though probably not a cruise.   I love being by water, so I'm hoping for another trip to Northumberland or a week in the Lake District.

Do leave a comment if you visit - good or bad!

HIT THE ROAD

With Spring in the air, and the country getting greener, we start thinking about getting out, maybe over the hills and far away!   Carmi has asked us to publish all things to do with roads, over at writteninc.    Follow the link to see what other thoroughfares, distant roads and travels others have posted.

 We don't get as much snow as our Canadian friends and fellow posters, but this year Mr.G had to clear our drive before we could even think about hitting the road!

This bridge is somewhere between Le Havre and Rouen, in Normandy, France.   It was taken from the coach we were using for our excursion.

Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway.   Rather dreary even in summer - in winter it would be entirely covered with snow, being at latitude 78 degrees north!

Part of a very winding road in the northern part of Tenerife, in the Canaries.   Some of the little villages on the coast were extremely isolated, even with new roads like this one.   I did wonder how they had communicated with the rest of the Island before the island had opened up for tourism and built better roads.   Must have been a very 'closed-in' sort of life!

Not the best photograph I  have ever taken, but this street in Dublin is the famous O'Connell Street, with The Spire  (affectionately known at The Spike) in the distance.   O'Connell Street featured in many of the stand-offs and battles during the Troubles.

And lastly, a little country lane near where we live.   The only wheeled traffic using it now is from the farm a mile or so further along, but it is a footpath, linking with various walks in Teggs Nose Country Park.   Wellies or waterproof boots are recommended during wet periods!

Do leave a comment if you visit here - I love to know who has been!