On Heritage

Arriving at my aunt’s for Sunday lunch (it was, as usual, an excellent meal), I saw on the table planning documents for various new developments. After talking about them with my aunt, and enjoying the aforementioned lunch, we set off on a walk to visit the site of the most significant proposal (because it is on the doorstep of St Nicholas’ Chapel) and see the area for ourselves, having already formed opinions about the proposed development by Freebridge Community Housing.

My own view as someone who always considers plans on their own merit and has no time for knee-jerk negativity over change (and will cite both the new jetty on the Great Ouse and the alterations to the Tuesday Market Place as unequivocal successes) was that although I would have preferred larger windows and lighter brickwork (the latter not possible because it as conservation area and the dark brickwork is already there), and could not fail to notice that the proposed living quarters were going to be a trifle “compact” I was prepared to forgive these failings. There were two huge positives, first and most important that the plans included secure places for bicycles (and there is a cycle route almost on their doorstep), and second that although the new view would not be of picture postcard quality, at least the hideous modern monstrosity in the background of the feature image would be obscured.

I have some excellent pictures to share with you as usual…

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Bug trapped in amber.
Bug trapped in amber.

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This square manhole cover sits inside a circle of cobbles - maybe an well?
This square manhole cover sits inside a circle of cobbles – maybe an well?

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This fine property is one of too many in central King's Lynn that stands empty because the owners cannot be bothered to let them out.
This fine property is one of too many in central King’s Lynn that stands empty because the owners cannot be bothered to let them out.

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This property is reached via a cunningly disguised public right of way (and the company responsible wondered why there was concern over their plans for Devils Alley?!)
This property is reached via a cunningly disguised public right of way (and the company responsible wondered why there was concern over their plans for Devils Alley?!)

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An eight-legged friend
An eight-legged friend

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A mixed bag

Once a very absorbing days play had ended between Lancashire and Middlesex I decided to go out for a walk and enhanced my photo collection. The two sides are scrapping to avoid relegation to the second division of the county championship, and with two days to go Middlesex are heavy favourites to do so. This is because owing to the bonus point system (5 batting and 3 bowling points available in the first 110 overs of each first innings) and their standings prior to the match starting, mere victory is not good enough for Lancashire, they also need to outscore Middlesex on bonus points. With six wickets currently down and some 40 runs needed to reach the next batting bonus point mark, Lancashires sole hope is to reach 300 for the loss of no more than two further wickets (a third, being the ninth in total would give Middlesex full bowling points and thereby condemn Lancashire) and then declare and bowl Middlesex out cheaply enough to have a manageable fourth innings run chase. I resume this having had to break off for a days work, and a check of www.cricinfo.com tells me that Lancashire did reach the magic 300 only 8 down and declared, so the relegation battle is still live. The final day tomorrow could see some fireworks as Lancashire have to go all out for whatever target they are left when they bowl Middlesex out, since a draw for them would be just as bad as a loss.

Some big news from work: the BBC have picked up on the Olympic medal story. The full story can be viewed at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-29360899 and I have of course already mentioned it on our own facebook and twitter accounts.

As usual I have plenty of photos for you to enjoy…

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The Great Ouse at night
The Great Ouse at night

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Farewell to Learning Works and King’s Lynn in the sun (still!)

My involvement with Learning Works came to a close today, two years and seven months after it started as a ten week work placement. The King’s Lynn centre is closing down, and it is purely for this reason that I shall no longer be attending. I have benefited hugely from my time at Learning Works, and without wishing to sound like the Hideous Hog, plenty of people who have passed through the King’s Lynn branch of Learning Works while I was there also benefited from my presence.

I have gained a new follower who by serendipity happens to live near Vancouver, British Columbia, so I have two sets of photos today, one my usual stuff, and the other a special “Vancouver Gallery” which I shall show first…

Vancouver plaque

A close up of the plaque at the base of the Vancouver statue
A close up of the plaque at the base of the Vancouver statue

Vancouver's Birthplace Plaque

The feature image - the statue of Captain Vancouver that stands alongside the lower Purfleet.
The feature image – the statue of Captain Vancouver that stands alongside the lower Purfleet.
Monkey Puzzzle
This araucaria is a prominent feature of the Vancouver Garden
The other bridge that connects the Vancouver Garden to the rest of King's Lynn
The other bridge that connects the Vancouver Garden to the rest of King’s Lynn

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The rest of the images are my more usual fare for a non working day, although one other noted navigator features prominently, Nicholas of Lynn, who died in 1369, definitely sailed to Iceland and may have found his way to the Americas. Note: all claims of discovery of the Americas made on behalf of Europeans are bogus by definition – in human terms the Americas were discovered by the hardy folk who crossed to frozen Bering Strait from Asia into the Americas some 20,000 years ago – hence why I do not personally used discovered in the context of Friar Nicholas and has possible trip across the Atlantic.

Anyway, now for the rest of those photos…

Stoptober Post Office War Memorial Moorhen Swimming Moorhen ?????????? ??????????

LBJs
Little brown jobbies – normally very difficult to photograph

Little Brown Bird Mile Post Moorhen and drakes Swan on the Nar

I was attempting to capture something else, failed, but got this picture by way of compensation - the sort of thing that might happen more often if the Rueful Rabbit took up photography!
I was attempting to capture something else, failed, but got this picture by way of compensation – the sort of thing that might happen more often if the Rueful Rabbit took up photography!
Swan
But for the extra significance of Vancouver for this blog at this moment this would have been the feature image.

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Given how much wind we get in King's Lynn it makes sense to use it!
Given how much wind we get in King’s Lynn it makes sense to use it!

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Nicholas of Lynn - her certainly DID NOT discover the Americas (see body text) - but he may just have been there over 120 years before Columbus.
Nicholas of Lynn – her certainly DID NOT discover the Americas (see body text) – but he may just have been there over 120 years before Columbus.

Navigation circle 2

Of course I'm master of all I survey - I'm a CAT!
Of course I’m master of all I survey – I’m a CAT!

Sunday

Following a nice Sunday morning walk which yielded some fine pictures I called at my Aunt’s house, ready for the journey to East Rudham for Sunday lunch. Edward (her youngest), was there with his girlfriend Rachel, and owing to the necessity of waiting for the drying cycle to finish on the washing machine we had a little time to kill.

Helen showed the quilt she has been constructing for her middle son Charles in its full glory – it is mighty impressive.

Sunday lunch was as usual magificent, and afterwards my mother and I went apple picking at Sandringham before she dropped me back in King;s Lynn.

Enjoy some splendid pictures…

Bunker Moorhen and lilies

Moorhen
Probably the best moorhen picture I have yet taken
Two moorhens
To get two moorhens in one shot is something of a rarity.
Snail on a footpath
Given the location of this footpath it was surprising and pleasing to note that this snail was undamaged.
These birds were on the grass near Lynn Sport - evidently they have no problem with people.
These birds were on the grass near Lynn Sport – evidently they have no problem with people.

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It was windy down by the river.
It was windy down by the river.

Rough water on the Great Ouse (2)

I first came across these owls as lot 73 in James and Sons sale, and they now adorn a wooden bookself in my Aunt's house
I first came across these owls as lot 73 in James and Sons sale, and they now adorn a wooden bookself in my Aunt’s house
This is the quilt mentioned in the body text - spectacular!
This is the quilt mentioned in the body text – spectacular!
This is a close up of one part of the quilt.
This is a close up of one part of the quilt.
This view arose after we had finished picking apples.
This view arose after we had finished picking apples.

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New PR Materials for the Great Charity Centenary Auction and The Great Ouse in the Gloaming

I did get some fine pictures while taking the scenic route back from the bus station along the bank of the Great Ouse, but the main raison d’etre for this particular post is that last night I put some new publicity materials for the Great Charity Centenary Auction on the website, twitter and facebook pages. To view the full posts click the following links: http://www.greatcharity.org/splendid-new-poster-now-available/ and http://www.greatcharity.org/colonels-shopping-list-reissued/. Also, since I have mentioned them, any new likes/ follow on facebook and twitter would be most welcome.

Anyway, enjoy the added media…

GCAGeneral GCAMontage Shopping List ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

This is one of the finest bridge books I have ever read.
This is one of the finest bridge books I have ever read.

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A remarkable effect created by the sun being partially occluded by a tree - in silhouette is the spire of West Lynn church.
A remarkable effect created by the sun being partially occluded by a tree – in silhouette is the spire of West Lynn church.

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Everything from Arctic Terns to Woodworm

Where do the Woodworm come in (other that is than getting me as close to an A-Z of photographs as is likely in the absence of my nephew!)? Answer: I was needed to photograph the evidence so that the good folk at Hampton Court (Hampton Court, King’s Lynn, not the one in Surrey!) could get someone in to deal with it!

No further words of wisdom come immediately to mind, so on with the photographs…

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Not great, but a MASSIVE improvement on what it is replacing.
Not great, but a MASSIVE improvement on what it is replacing.

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The most publicised woodworm since the one that stowed away on the ark at the beginning of "A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters"!
The most publicised woodworm since the one that stowed away on the ark at the beginning of “A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters”!

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With the co-operation of the wind I was able to photograph these tea towels while they were drying
With the co-operation of the wind I was able to photograph these tea towels while they were drying

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Pictures of this boat have already been featured on facebook and twitter
Pictures of this boat have already been featured on facebook and twitter
This is the view even on a less than clear day from the top of the "Dogotel Drop"
This is the view even on a less than clear day from the top of the “Dogotel Drop”

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The Monday After Heritage Open Day and a Day Working on the Database

After an early finish at Learning Works due to there not being anything for me to do (that centre is closing due to not getting a contract they needed to get to stay open, so I have one more week there) I spent much of yesterday completing my series of posts (12 in all) about Heritage Open Day, while listening to county cricket coverage on the radio.

In the early evening I went out for a walk and as usual took lots of interesting photos, which is where pretty much all of todays pictures come from.

I have spent today hard at work on the database at James and Sons, with occasional restorative breaks checking out the twitter feed for the Great Centenary Charity Auction. A reminder here that as well as the twitter feed we have a website and a facebook page. While on twitter, I came across

Enjoy a crop of fine photos…

I am using this for the final time - my copy in its econiche!
I am using this for the final time – my copy in its econiche!
Assembled boxes
Assembled boxes
And not long later, disassembled boxes, as all bar a few had to be flat packed way
And not long later, disassembled boxes, as all bar a few had to be flat packed way

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Even this late in the year private boats are still using the jetty!
Even this late in the year private boats are still using the jetty!

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Probably this years last sightings of the Birdman of King's Lynn
Probably this years last sightings of the Birdman of King’s Lynn

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The light may not be needed at this time of the evening but this lamp post still finds a use!
The light may not be needed at this time of the evening but this lamp post still finds a use!

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Bushy-tailed Rat
This is the wrong kind of squirrel – to help the right kind of squirrel visit: voteforbob.co.uk

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This was to have been just the weathervane on top of the Custom House until I saw that the flag was also in shot and did not spoil the picture
This was to have been just the weathervane on top of the Custom House until I saw that the flag was also in shot and did not spoil the picture

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The Lynn Ferry lying (temporarily) idle.
The Lynn Ferry lying (temporarily) idle.

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More fiery colours of an early evening in Lynn!
More fiery colours of an early evening in Lynn!
The last hints of sunlight in Lynn yetserday
The last hints of sunlight in Lynn yesterday

Heritage Open Day 12: Conclusion

Helped by some magnificent weather, King’s Lynn was set off to best advantage on Heritage Open Day. The place was choc-a-bloc with things to do and to see, and with people taking advantage of the opportunity to do so. Although my own peregrinations only occupied three hours or so, by the time you add in the time spent editing photos and creating blog posts and it has occupied my attention for approximately 12 hours.

Obviously, the highlight for me was the fisheries research stuff, but I thoroughly enjoyed everything. I will sign off this series of posts with a photographic highlights package…

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Heritage Open Day 7: Fisheries Research

The Great Ouse, the western boundary of King’s Lynn (on the other bank is West Lynn), is a commercial river, and the area has a long history of fishing. It was therefore both appropriate and very welcome that there was some exceedingly interesting and educational stuff provided by fisheries research people.

Not only did they lay on a full tour of their research vessel, in addition they had an exhibit featuring marine wildlife. Some of the younger folk were allowed to handle these creatures in carefully controlled circumstances. The featured image was also available to be taken away – a copy now adorns my outside table (and has survived a night’s rain).

One of the things that fisheries research does is monitor, and where necessary take preventive action, the proportion of juveniles that are being caught. Obviously, creatures caught while still juvenile are denied the opportunity to breed, whereas if they are only caught once they have already had the opportunity to breed future generations are protected.

What are the possible consequences of neglect? Well, when John Cabot first set eyes on the Grand Bank he had never seen such a preponderance of fish in a single location. Yet in 1997, 500 years (in natural history terms not even an eyeblink) after this, the Grand Banks Fishery closed for good – there were no fish left.

This was one of the most interesting and beyond a shadow of a doubt THE most important element of the day. My next post will feature another boundary marker, the Southgates, meantime enjoy a selection of photographs…

Info screen 2 Info screen More maps Sideways view Lobster close up Red Crab Giant crab

Lobster
Lobster

Lobster 1 ?????????? Good map

The guideline again.
The guideline again.

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miniature submarine
This is a miniature remote controlled submarine, used in fisheries research.

Observation computer Map

Metal Pyramid
This pyramid (25cm each side at base – meaning that a cool 175,616,000 of these would make a pyramid to match Khufu’s! at Giza!) is used to take sea floor samples and check them for population density

A net