This is taken in the same churchyard as the photo a day short of a year ago: the same Saturday of the year, that is. And for the same reason, in that we were seeing Joe’s annual drama club show in the attached church hall. But I am not supposed to take and publish pictures of all that (child protection and all that) so here are some memorials instead. The fact that this has all their blank back sides on gives it a rather eerie feel, I think.
A happy Christening day to Ellie (Eleanor Mary) who becomes the youngest person to appear on the blog twice (after this shot last January). Father Loyd last appeared on his wedding day, so you see, they’re doing it all in the order they’re supposed to.
Two otherwise rock-solid photo opportunities were snatched away from me today by poor weather. My first plan was to do a walk in the Lakes, and even after that was cancelled due to forecast thunderstorms, a 5K run in Halifax which Clare and Joe had planned was also postponed for ‘safety reasons’ (e.g. it would have been a bit wet). Wet it was, so I fell back on this random architectural curiosity, a church that seems to have misplaced most of itself. I assumed as the result of WW2 bombing but apparently it has been like this even longer, since a fire destroyed most of it in 1930. Hardly the best photo I’ve taken — I manage to make it look even wonkier than it already is — but it’ll do.
Back home. The trouble with committing (still) to do this every day is that some days, even when the light is good (warm, sunny day today) and there are opportunities to get some good shots, the technique fails. I didn’t really get any good pictures today. This one is OK, a bit of a study of shape and texture, but that’s about it.
Second Russian church in three days, and another very beautiful building. This one is on the UNESCO World Heritage list and stands in the park of Kolomenskoe, overlooking the Moskva (Moscow) river, to the south-east of the city centre. It was built in 1532 to commemorate the birth of an heir to the throne, who turned out to be Ivan the Terrible, so perhaps the appeal to divine providence didn’t really work in this case. Bearing that in mind the storm clouds gathering around it this afternoon seem kind of symbolic.
Let’s face it. This really is one of the world’s best buildings, isn’t it?
Heptonstall is the oldest part of Hebden Bridge, built several hundred feet above where the main town now stands. Its cemetery is home to the town’s most well-known deceased resident, Sylvia Plath. This part of the churchyard, located between the 19th century church seen here and its ruined, 15th century predecessor, is a Gothic playground of tombs that is always good for a photo.
A bit blurred, I know, but I like it anyway, and seeing as Casper’s christening was the main event of the day, I should pick a shot directly related to it. He is the son of my cousin David, pictured here holding him, and his wife Emily (to right). Well done to them all, and a nice day was had.
I can never remember though, does this make Casper my second cousin? Or first cousin once removed? I pass.
This is St. Stephen’s Chapel, part of a complex of buildings that comprises the centre of Catholic worship in Brisbane. The main church is to the right, just visible at the edge of this photograph. I like the way this looks like a little baby church, or a kind of shrunken one, too small for the lawn it’s on and the city around it.
Was determined to present a photo that wasn’t ‘festive’ – not that I am anti-Christmas, I just fancied hitting a different theme. This shot was taken during the short walk we did in the early afternoon, a nod to the desire to get some exercise among the eating and drinking, and is altered slightly by the rain in the lens but not spoilt, I think. No White Christmas this year, though we have had some in recent years.
Anyway – a happy Christmas to you all, wherever you are and whatever your weather.
Being 42 