P is for Postcrossing

Postcrossing is a project that allows anyone to receive postcards (real ones, not electronic) from random places in the world.

You can read all about it at this website http://www.postcrossing.com/.   I joined postcrossing several months ago and have received postcards from all over the world.  The first postcard I received came from the USA and was from a gentleman that lives in a town I used to live in - what a coincidence!

Here are some of the lovely cards I have received:

ABC is brought to each week by the Mrs Nesbitt and the ABC team (thanks to all of you), to see more ABC contributions visit the dedicated site here

ABC Wednesday - M

I am back, I was unable to get my computer to jump back to life so after a lot of thought I made the decision to buy a new one. It is taking me a while to sort out all the new folders etc, but I am getting there.

This week we reach the letter M.  I have chosen photos of Manchester, in North West England, my daughter and cousin live there so I can visit whenever I like.  It is a city I have got to know and now enjoy visiting.

My daughter used to live very close to Deansgate tram station.  When I visit I love to travel by tram, it is so much cheaper than the buses in this area.

ABC is brought to each week by the Mrs Nesbitt and the ABC team (thanks to all of you), to see more ABC contributions visit the dedicated site here

Apologies

My apologies for no blogging and no ABC posts. 

My computer only boots up now and again, when it does boot up it freezes after about half an hour so I have no time to do anything.  Once it freezes it will not boot up again the same day. I have done a system re-boot but it has not made a great deal of difference. It is all very frustrating.  Hopefully I can get it repaired and be back in the blogging world again.

ABC Wednesday - E

E is for Exeter.  I visited Exeter in December for my birthday treat.  My son and his girlfriend visited the shops while I went to the Cathedral, we then met up and walked to the Quay area.

Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the County Council. The city is on the River Exe, about 37 miles (60 km) northeast of Plymouth, and 70 miles (110 km) southwest of Bristol. According to the 2001 Census, its population in that year was 111,076, while the mid-2010 estimate was 119,600.

Exeter was the most south-westerly Roman fortified settlement in Britain. Its Exeter Cathedral, founded in the early 12th century, became Anglican at the time of the 16th century Reformation.  (from Wikipedia)

Exeter Cathedral

Exeter Quay

ABC is brought to each week by the Mrs Nesbitt and the ABC team (thanks to all of you), to see more ABC contributions visit the dedicated site here

ABC Wednesday - D

D is for Daffodil, I am looking forward to spring and seeing daffodils again.  Winter this year has been long and very damp, only one day of snow last Sunday which did not last.

These are wild daffodils in woods in Somerset, it was so unusual to see daffodils growing wild, there really was a ‘host of golden daffodils beneath the trees, fluttering and dancing in the breeze,’(from Wordsworth’s poem)

ABC is brought to each week by the Mrs Nesbitt and the ABC team (thanks to all of you), to see more ABC contributions visit the dedicated site here

ABC Wednesday – C is for Church

I like to take photographs of churches the architecture is always fascinating. Information from Wikipedia:

A common architecture for churches is the shape of a cross (a long central rectangle, with side rectangles, and a rectangle in front for the altar space or sanctuary). These churches also often have a dome or other large vaulted space in the interior to represent or draw attention to the heavens. Other common shapes for churches include a circle, to represent eternity, or an octagon or similar star shape, to represent the church's bringing light to the world. Another common feature is the spire, a tall tower on the "west" end of the church or over the crossing.

This is the interior of St Cuthbert’s Church in Wells, Somerset.  It is quite a large parish church and often gets mistaken by tourists for the Cathedral.

St Cuthbert

The sun was shining through the stained glass windows causing reflections to ‘float in the air’.

ABC Wednesday – B is for Birds

I enjoy feeding birds in my garden, and love to see birds when I am out and about.  I would love to take beautiful close up photos like you see in magazines but I don’t have the equipment so I have to settle for what I can get.  Next weekend is the Big Garden Birdwatch organised by the RSPB, we are asked to spend an hour in the garden or in a park and record the number and breed of birds that we see. From the RSPB site:

• With results from so many gardens, we are able to create a 'snapshot' of bird numbers in each region. This is important because we've been able to see that some of our birds are disappearing in scary numbers.

• We've lost more than half our house sparrows and some three-quarters of our starlings. And your results have helped highlight these dramatic declines.

I have been taking part for 4 years now, last year was not a very good year as it rained all day and few birds came to my garden, I hope this year the weather will be better.  If you live in the UK and would like to read more about it or take part visit the link here.
 
ABC is brought to each week by the Mrs Nesbitt and the ABC team (thanks to all of you), to see more ABC contributions visit the dedicated site here

ABC - A

A is for Art

 

This is the Art department of my local college, I spent 3 years at this college doing my photography exams, I went back tonight to start a new course in mixed media.  I enjoyed being back in a familiar place but new challenges ahead!

ABC is brought to each week by the Mrs Nesbitt and the ABC team (thanks to all of you), to see more ABC contributions visit the dedicated site here

Back to work

I finally went back to work after being off for many weeks with my back.  I have not recovered but I really thought I was better than I am.  It was a very difficult week, being in pain most of the time but I did get to Friday – just.  I have spent the weekend recovering, I am not looking forward to another week.  I have three prolapsed discs in my spine, the doctors say I will recover but 2 years later I am still suffering, it is really starting to affect all that I do, I have not been taking many photographs lately due to not wanting to go out.  My world is my sofa, laptop and TV when I am at home, I just have no energy to do anything else when I am in pain. I do have some strong painkillers to take but they make me sleepy and I cannot think straight when I take the full dose.

Anyway its not all doom and gloom, I did manage a holiday to North Wales this year, i was able to cope by making sure I rested every evening and taking extra painkillers.  I loved being in the mountains, this photo shows a typical view.

Our World Tuesday

My world has been centred around my home and garden for the past few weeks as I have been home from work with severe back pain again.

I saw these caterpillars on a branch of my hazel bush, they have since moved and I have been seeing them all over the garden.

To join in with Our World Tuesday and see many more parts of the world visit the Our World site here.