Friday, 21 October 2011

Friday My Town Shoot-out

I nearly didn't do this week's FMTSO post but in the end I couldn't resist the challenge.

The theme is 'Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue' and was set by Mark.


For something old I chose this 150 year old wall at Arrowe Park near where I live on the Wirral in Cheshire, UK.


But when you look a bit closer it is rather older than a century and a half. This sandstone itself was laid down somewhere in the Permian (280 million years ago) or the beginning of the Triassic (240 million years ago) Periods.


For something new I couldn’t resist using lambs. This is a little Balwen Sheep lamb with its mum.



And these are Lleyn Sheep that have escaped from their mums to have a play.


Here is something borrowed. This is where I get philosophical (as Mark has done). The wood and iron that form this wheel have been borrowed from the earth. Eventually they will crumble back into the earth. It is as well if we remember that everything we take from the earth is only borrowed and it is to be hoped we don't damage it too much on its route back there.


Initially I thought I might cheat for something blue and show a cow - they often look so sad with their downturned mouths.


Instead, for something blue I have turned to one of my favourite themes, pillar boxes. In 1930 special blue-liveried Air-Mail boxes appeared but they only lasted until 1938 after which they reverted to red or disappeared. This one in Windsor is no longer in use but survives as a piece of street furniture in that heritage conscious town.

I hope you enjoyed my response to Mark's challenge and to see what else folk have found for FMTSO this week visit the link here.



15 comments:

  1. For the first time, I've really appreciated the work that goes into these posts.........This one works.

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  2. I'm glad you decided to participate at the last minute. I like your philosophical "borrowed" comment as well. And, as usual, I've learned something new from your blog -- pillar boxes. And cute lambs!

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  3. Nice choices. How strange to see a blue pillarbox. At first I wondered if you had photoshopped it ;)

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  4. Yes, your comment about everything we use being only "borrowed" from the earth is both moving and profound. And I love the blue "air mail" post box. I love photos of the many interesting post boxes. My brother-in-law took me to see his favourite box -- stuck in a hedge on a narrow lane in Essex. None of us could decide when (if!!) it was ever emptied, but it appeared to be in frequent use.
    Have a great weekend. Hugs, Carol

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  5. The lambs are adorable, but I like the close-up of the sandstone. It looks like an aerial photograph of a much bigger landscape.

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  6. A 150 yr old wall that is amazing. And the pillar box that is amazing. Good thing that they didn't get rid of this or else the new generation won't ever see this kind of box any more. I guess in the museum, yes! Happy weeekend.

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  7. I think you captured the theme quite nicely- baby animals are always so cute...

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  8. I'm glad you joined us after all. Terrific choices. I love that old wall! Why didn't I think of lambs? - they are everywhere around here at the moment - but not as cute as yours, just plain old white variety. My favourite, though, is the pillar box.

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  9. Loved the lambs. Great post.
    QMM

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  10. We used to have those similar post box, but they are in red. Nowadays they are just square white box located around town.

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  11. So interesting to see the variety of interpretations of the theme this week. Yours are very thoughtful and philosophical. Thanks for sharing the Blue Pillar Box story...interesting history lesson.

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  12. Lambs and kittens just have more than their fair share of cuteness.

    SP

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  13. The lambs are indeed irresistible! And I enjoyed your post and the thoughts behind it just as much as Mark's.

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  14. Interesting and goes well beyond the obvious.

    I never realised that there had been special blue post boxes for air mail, possibly because I was never into big time air mail util the early 80's.

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  15. fantastic post! love your words about borrowed theme. mail boxes are widely used here, only they are box shaped and blue.

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