Grassington 1940's weekend

This weekend myself, Ollie, Jo and a few friends took a trip over to Grassington to enjoy their inaugural 1940's weekend.  It was a very successful weekend, hundreds of people were in period costumes, there were many displays and the weather was good.  We parked in a disussed quarry and used the park and ride scheme to get into the village and were transported there and back in vitage busses!

Lots and lots of 'tourists' were taking photos and it was strange to be seen rubbing shoulders with and having a drink in the pub with the French Resistance, Wehrmacht, American, British and Russian Soldiers.  There were many 40's civvies too and ollie was a mix between child evacuee/Resistence fighter!

Anyway, here's a few pics of me and my Pals!

Some of our group outside the Devonshire Arms, Grassington main street...

Taking 5...

It could almost be the 1940's....

My favourite shot, Ollie and myself 'Patrolling' the main street

France part deux - I'm a lumberjack and I don't care!

Whilst in France my Dad had ordered his winter supply of firewood.  Six Stere of it - 1 stere is equal to 1 cubic metre.  It's a lot!

So whilst Mum and Dad were out I set to work...

First of all, let the Dog see the Rabbit, got to get rid of all this bush and weed so I can get to the wood!

Ah, that's better!  A space to work!

This is what part of 6 steres looks like! and it all has to be moved by hand!

"Hi Ho Hi Ho, it's off to work we go!"

Not only moved by barrow, but tipped then stacked!

All done! Job satisfaction and backache - marvellous!

And for my regulars...A France trip wouldn't be the same without one of these!

The Night Sky

Whilst I was out in France i took the opportunity to do some astro photography - the night sky in Chouppes is fantastic.

My favourite shot.  Taken on a 30 second exposure from the garden of my Mum and Dads house. You can make out the milky way cutting through the night sky and through the constellation of Cassiopeia.

 I took this one to show the Pleiades aka the Seven sisters.  The above shot shows what they look like normally..

On this shot you can see the grouping better.  There is slight 'star-shift' on this shot as it is zoomed in and on a timed exposure.

This shot is looking over the roof of my Mum and dads house and you can make out the 'W' shape mid picture of the constellation Cassiopeia

In this shot Cassiopeia is more clearly defined.  It looks like a 'W' on it's side.

This constellation is called 'the cross of Deneb'.  As you can see it clearly makes the shape of a cross or crucifix in the night sky.  The star at the top of the cross is Deneb which gives the constellation it's name.  The Bright star on the right of the cross is Vega.

I took this shot to show what the cross of Deneb looks like normally with the backdrop of the other stars

Everyone knows this constellation..The Plough, aka Ursa Major, aka the Great Bear.

I took this one as it showed the different colours of the stars.  Without light pollution the stars take on a different look and feel.  Cassiopeia is visible on the right.  (Tilt your head left and look for the flattened 'W'.

This is the same shot as above but I have annotated it to show where the Andromeda Galaxy is.  It is one of the furthest visible objects to the naked eye on clear moonless nights and is a brilliant object to observe with binoculars.

It is a spiral galaxy approximately 2,500,000 light years away and is the nearest galaxy to our own, the Milky Way.

A professional shot of the Andromeda Galaxy

France

Just got back from visiting my Mum and Dad in France.  Went out for 10 days and am shortly to be returning.  Mum was in very good form and Dad was a happy chappie too!  As usual, ate too much and drank too much but also had time to visit some chateaux, wander through woods and countryside and visit friends.  Here's just a few shots..

Mum looking amazing!

A duel in the park...

Enjoying the afternoon sun at Richlieu

Our friends Val and Andrew invited us all over for a BBQ..

It went on...

..and on...

and on!  It was well into the night before we left...full and sloshed!
It was great though eating al fresco and chatting under the stars..and vines!

Mum watching Dad collect conkers for Ollie

"Here's one!"   

Mum and Dad strolling...this is the day after chemo!!

Hear no evil, see no...

Richlieu...sunshine, conkers and Deer!

Who's right, who's wrong ?

Get a room!

Butterfly, Dragonfly, Heron and Rodley

Popped over to the Rodley Nature Reserve on Wednesday to have a stroll around.  It's not just known for it's bird life.  It is home to one of Britain's best Dragonfly reserves with a special area dedicated to ponds to encourage their growth.  It certainly works as their are many different types visible by the ponds...info boards help explain the different types.

Anyway, here's a few pics..

Domestic bliss!  This one is not at Rodley but the back garden.  Cat and Squirrel find room to live together!

I've not posted a magpie picture before so here is one I took at Ogden Water earlier this week.

You may remember the picture I posted earlier this summer of seven cygnets at Rodley walking in a line. These are the same swans, grown up.

A common darter - dragonfly at Rodley

A common darter soaking up the sun.  Dragonflies are the hardest subject to film I have come across!

I found this portly chap walking along by the river.  A common toad.

This butterfly is called a Comma.

A 'little tortoiseshell' often mistakenly called a Red Admiral.

A Peacock

Another view of the beautiful Peacock butterfly

Again...a little tortoiseshell 

I like the Heron.  A solitary bird but majestic and elegant.
This is a series of snaps I took yesterday as I watched it flying then come into land...

This one had striking eye and chest markings...

Touchdown on one of the Rodley Lagoons

The wingspan of a Grey Heron is 5.5 to 6.5 ft (185cm)

A majestic bird...