OK, so actually it’s Ghent to Ambleside but
what the heck…
The Ghent Altarpiece
It is now possible to zoom in to the
intricate, breath-taking details of one of the most important works of art in
the world, thanks to a newly completed website focused on the Ghent Altarpiece. Composed of separate oak panels, the Ghent
Altarpiece was pain ted in 1432 by Hubert and Jan van Eyck. It recently underwent emergency conservation work
within the Villa Chapel in St. Bavo Cathedral in Ghent, Belgium. The project was funded by the Getty Foundation.
The altarpiece was removed from its
glass enclosure and temporarily dismantled, making it possible to comprehensively
examine it and create a stunning One Billion Pixel reproduction which anyone
can now access on http://closertovaneyck.kikirpa.be/#home
Zooming in from this
to the book in St John’s hand.
The Isle of Lewis
I have still got hundreds of photos of The
Isle of Lewis to sort. A couple a day is
all I seem to be able to manage. Today
the distractions from this task included the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa. It’s one of the few that I would really
consider going abroad to attend. I can
imagine what it feels like to be in the stands and watch the cars go through
flat out… Sigh. Today’s GP was won by Britain’s Jenson Button. Hooray!
Among the photos I sorted today were some
netting in the harbour at Stornoway.
A seal waiting to see if any fishing boats
would come in with a kindfisherman or two to throw it some fish.
And, of course, one of the early morning at GB’s.
And finally, one of trees in the castle grounds.
"If
you would know strength and patience,
welcome
the company of trees."
~Hal
Borland~
(Thank you Norma for the quote!)
Implement of Torture?
Partner-who-loves-tea reckons this looks like
an instrument of torture.
So what is it?
It’s a French style nutcracker, something I’ve been after for a long
time and which Daughter-who-takes-photos and Friend-and-Son-in-law-who-loves-otters
gave me on Father’s Day. At last I have
something which will deal effectively with Brazil nuts with a minimum of
effort. And I think it looks superb as
well. It actually looks like something designed
to do its job – unlike so many modern inventions which concentrate on having a
pretty design and forget about their objective in life.
Ambleside by night
The Lakes Lodge, the place that Partner-w-d-t and I stayed at
in Ambleside on the way home from Scotland was excellent and GB has already
extolled the virtues of its breakfasts. One
of the other advantages is that one is given a front-door-key so when I couldn’t
sleep I could wander out into the night and at 4 a.m. one day last week this was what Ambleside
looked like…
Considering I had no tripod I was quite pleased with the results. This was how the Stock Ghyll looked by night.
The Bridge House
Every window seemed to have a sheep or lamb in
it!
Charity shop window with books. Needless to say I stopped to read the titles.
The Doi Intanon Thai Restaurant, situated in
the old Market Hall, where Partner-who-loves-tea and I had an excellent evening
meal.
Enjoy Labor Day if you are in the US. Actually, I hope you enjoy Labor Day wherever you are...
photos that are lovely and some are fun!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome to the quote. See how far it traveled!?
I suspect good quotes travel around the world many times, thanks again.
DeleteI love seeing the special people in your life and in your posts. Thank you for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteLove your night photos of Ambleside. It seems to be an idyllic place, seen by daylight or after dark.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Ghent altarpiece is fascinating.
PS - Did you go back to the charity shop in the morning to buy any of the books in the window? :o)
xoxo Carol
Carol, what dio yoiu think? Jo and I arrived home with four large carrier bags full of books from the holiday - mostly from charity shops.
DeleteI knew I could count on you, John -- a man after my own heart! :o)
DeleteSuperb night shots....The Bridge House is very effective.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link.
Doesn't a place at night or early morning, when you are the only person out and about, feel a lot more "intimate", as if it were much more "yours"?
ReplyDeleteNot that I am out and about in such circumstances often...
Love the tree and the early morning sky!
Yes, Meike, that sums it up perfectly. Ambleside really felt as though it was mine with no one else around to 'claim' it or disturb the peace and quiet.
DeleteThese photos are absolutely spectacular -- especially the one of the fishing nets and the Bridge House one.
ReplyDeleteI think you tend to post blogs first thing in the morning which is when I go to bed over here. I seem to be the first to visit your new blog. I will have to catch up with all of your new ones when we get back as I won't have my laptop with me. Have a great week mulling through the memories by photo.
Have a good time, Chris.
DeleteAs for when I post - that is in the lap of the gods. I don't think I have a regular time though if I start one in the morning it often doesn't get posted until evening as I get sidetracked so easily...
Hi,
ReplyDeleteYou posted so many wonderful photos! I love them. Especially I love fishnets and the bridge house. The colors of the fishnets are quiet but elegant. The bridge house is enchanting and mysterious. I have not walked a street around time between morning and night. But I imagine I will be able to see many sceneries with very different atmosphere from daytime. I want to try it one day. But I have to ask my husband to come with me.
keiko
That's one advantage men generally have over women, Even in Ambleside I suspect most women would not feel happy on their own in the middle of the night - a sad reflection on society. Unfortunately I think one really does have to be completely alone to savour the full feeling of the place being yours.
DeleteWhat a great post. Loved those colors of the fisherman's nets, I will find that color of yarn and crochet something!
ReplyDeleteLabor Day has been nice, thank you. Braves won today and they won last night too with a 3 run homer in the 9th inning! Go Braves!
Absolutely enjoyed today (am still enjoying!) - went to the north shore of the island and rambled about in the seaside town called Port Jefferson. Ate steamed clams and crab legs with drawn butter (in pencil, if you have to ask), drank wine. Bought an artisan-made coffee cup to replace the one I had that broke. Traded tattoo compliments with other inked personages. Left a few of my new business cards around. Tasted beer at a new micro-brewery. And all with Bear, who has the whole day off with me!!! Way cool. I absolutely adore your photos, especially the one of water and the bridge house at night. AMAZING.
ReplyDeleteGee - or should that be Ghee - sounds like you had a super Labor Day - really pleased for you.
DeleteI love the photos. They are gorgeous and lets me take a tour of places I will probably never see. So thankful you shared them.
ReplyDeleteExcellent photos. I wonder if you have a polarising filter. I don't have the kind of camera I can use one on, but I am always taking pics of shop windows and always frustrated by the reflections. Grrr! The view from GB's is absolutely stunning, I'm imagining it in real life - all quiet.
ReplyDeleteAs for the altarpiece, I will share the link with T. as I am sure he too will be interested.
No, Jenny, I don't have a polarising filter. My bridge camera doesn't have the facility to add filters, regrettably. But I do have a few tips about taking photos through glass and I'll share them in a post in the near future.
DeleteLoved every single one of these photos...great shots.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the website link too....very fascinating stuff. Technology at its best.
Are you sure you are only going to use that nutcracker for Brazil nuts???