Photography – Page 186

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

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

Vancouver Garden Plaque

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

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!

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!

Navigator circle 1

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

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.

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 view arose after we had finished picking apples.

This and that

I am only putting this up because I have some cracking photos to share including some poppy pics that I will be putting on the Great Centenary Charity Auction’s facebook and twitter, where we are on the verge of reaching 150 followers. Enjoy these pics…

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…

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

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.

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…

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

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”!

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

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”

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!

And not long later, disassembled boxes, as all bar a few had to be flat packed way

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

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

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

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

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

The Lynn Ferry lying (temporarily) idle.

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 9: The Red Mount Chapel

From the South Gate (see previous post) I headed into the parkland area by the route that got me more park and less road than any other and made way way to the Chapel of Our Lady of The Mount, also known as the Red Mount Chapel. Unlike the South Gate I had been in this building before, but it was still breathtaking. One starts at the bottom and works ones way up (a minor casualty of the popularity of the day – less freedom to do things in ones own way). To show what the windows might have looked liked before the stained glass was broken, one window has been remade in stained glass and looks remarkably good.

King’s Lynn is home to many religious buildings and was once home to more (indeed the town was called Bishop’s Lynn until Henry VIII “suggested” that a name change was in order), but even in the context of a town that is overstocked with this type of building this place is special. If you ever get the opportunity to see the inside take it.

My next post will feature 11 King Street, and in the meantime enjoy these…

The chapel from the outside

Stonework

Butterflies in the window Window Altar

Window The entrance - at the bottom of the building story board

Heritage Open Day 8: The South Gate – a Medieval TARDIS

After thoroughly enjoying myself learning about fisheries research I headed along the Great Ouse as far as Hardings Pits, through Hardings Pits to ultimately join the main road just beyond the South Gate – not the quickest, but the most scenic route, and well within the compass of Shanks’ Pony.

Obviously, living where I do, I have seen this building from the outside some thousands of times, but I had never previously been inside it. I was amazed at just how much is contained within the building – perhaps liking it to the TARDIS in this regard is excessive but not unduly so.

The ground and first floors merely contained artefacts relating to the building and some display boards, but the top floor, which spanned the width of entire building also had scale models, a very old painting, and some brass rubbing plates (I could not get a shot of these latter as they were in use throughout).

This building opens between 12 and 3PM Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays in the summer months and I recommend if you in west Norfolk in summertime that you pay it a call.

Look out for my next post, about the Red Mount Chapel and enjoy these photos from the medieval TARDIS….

The Southgate approaching the town — This external view reveals a handsome old gateway but gives no clue as to how much there is inside (hence the title of this post)

Iron roof supports joining together in the middle

I thought this brickwork pattern deserved close attention.

Chest Niches Old iron Fireplace Second Floor info board Renovation Scale Model 2

Table The first floor Fireplace Description board The ground floor from the entrance

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 More maps Sideways view Lobster close up Red Crab

Lobster 1 Good map

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