The Great Ouse – Page 5

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…

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?

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.

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?!)

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.

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 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 5: Out and about in Lynn on the big day

The combination of the fact that King’s Lynn is not huge and that I live plumb in the centre of it meant that for me at least my sole method of locomotion would be Shanks’ Pony. Some of the things that I saw while walking between official sites could have been seen on any day, others only this day but the picture of the day (pardon the pun) would be incomplete without reference to the in-between bits as the whole town was decked out for the day – and the weather gods lent their support by providing a lovely warm day for the occasion.

In terms of distances of greater than a few yards my itinerary was planned (with scenic routes taking priority at every turn) as follows: Flat – Tuesday Market Place – Great Ouse – Southgates via Hardings Pits – Red Mount Chapel via parkland – Flat and with the addition at the end of a couple of places on King Street which looked interesting that is the route I followed. Not many others opted for scenic routes – I was all but alone for the walk to Southgates.

My next post takes you underground once more, to the cellars of the Bank Hotel, before resurfacing for the rest of the journey – meantime enjoy an eclectic collection of pictures…

No - I did not drink from this barrel! — No – I did not drink from this barrel!

This plaque is on a stretch of road I do not usually walk down

These birds are not among the kinds I usually see here at the Nar Outflow

Sea Scouts building

Bus — I travel in so many buses that not even a free ride tempted me to actually board this one!

To adapt a Sherlock Holmes line seeing the Lynn Ferry travel in this direction is like seeing a tram on a country lane!

Boats of this sort are not common on the Great Ouse

King’s Lynn, Apple Picking and Brownies

The Jetty on the Great Ouse was in use yesterday morning, by research vessels relating to fishing. With the river at high tide there were plenty of opportunities for good photographs. In the afternoon I went apple picking in the orchards at Sandringham. The apples were comfortably up to their usual amazing standard – and they were Cox’s. A hand-picked Cox is the finest of all apples.

Before heading home to King’s Lynn I enjoyed a fine supper at my parents house in East Rudham. After some excellent lamb chops there were raspberry brownies for pudding. My mother had reduced the amount of sugar from the 225g stated in the recipe to 150g so that the pudding while rich was not particularly sweet – and was all the better for this.

Today is Heritage Open Day, so stand by for some good posts about historic buildings and meanwhile enjoy a selection of cracking photos…

Fisheries Research Boat moored at the jetty

Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority Nar meets Ouse Arctic Tern Black backed gull

Sycamore seed pod that resembles a propeller

$\Moorhens 1$ Moorhens 2 Moorhens 3 Station Flag Apple Tree Apple

Flitcham War Memorial

Fresh peas - just podded by yours truly — Fresh peas – just podded by yours truly

Old Chapel

Birds, boats, planes and auction lots

Between a day’s hard work imaging for James and Sons and two sets of photos from King’s Lynn’s current Indian summer I have some splendid pictures for you. I have decided to sandwich the auction lots between two sets of my own personal pictures.

Without further ado here are my selected pictures…

Before... the larger piece is the framework of the box and the smaller that of the lid... — Before… the larger piece is the framework of the box and the smaller that of the lid…

...and after - one newly assembled box - I assembled 30 of these for Learning Works while there as a volunteer on Monday morning — …and after – one newly assembled box – I assembled 30 of these for Learning Works while there as a volunteer on Monday morning

Butterfly with its wings closed... — Butterfly with its wings closed…

One of five swans together on the Nar when I crossed the bridge over it.

This pair of arctic terns are in perfect synch.

A first hazy glimpse of the fishing fleet

The lead boat as it turns into the dock.

The weather continuing to be good enough to eat supper outside has advantages photography-wise as well!

I was in the right place at the right time to get some pictures of a returning fishing fleet!

Sunday’s Sporting Successes

After a superb Sunday lunch at my aunt’s place (parents away) I returned to catch up with the cricket, and got the last rites of the match as India’s response to a 338 run deficit on first innings was to be all out 94, demonstrating all the backbone of a jellyfish. What made things even worse for India than the abysmal score was the way in which some of those wickets were lost. One of the last few that I heard was a run out, which in a situation like that is absolutely crazy.

India looked like a side who had mentally checked out. They had nearly been all out for under a hundred in the first innings (a catch went down when they were 95-9), and in the second they were much worse, because the conditions were better for batting.

Later that night I watched the last session of the European Athletics Championship on iplayer (I refuse to get a TV license, being quite happy to watch stuff at a time of my choosing once it is available). GB had been locked in battle with France at the top of the medals table, but by the time Mo Farah had won his expected gold in the 5000 metres, Greg Rutherford had won the long jump, the men’s 4×400 relay team and both 4X100 relay teams had also taken gold, and GB were convincingly top of the medals table.

As usual I have a selection of pictures for you…

	Thomas on World T20 Cup Underway
	Anna on World T20 Cup Underway
	London Underground t… on Project Piccadilly
	Thomas on All Time XIs – Detective…
	Anna on All Time XIs – Detective…