...when you think of Penarth?

Penarth is probably best known for its pink alabaster stone, its Victorian pier and its old world charm.

I posted an image of a piece of the pink alabaster yesterday, so now it’s the pier’s turn.

Less elegant perhaps than the pier at Clevedon, Penarth pier is also for the most part a cast iron and timber construction.

The pavilion end is the exception.

Go clink, clank, clunk!

To me there is beauty in corruption. You may not agree...

Just the stuff for making mud-pies...

I missed my morning blog today... no particular reason, I just had other thngs on my mind and Blogland got pushed onto the back burner.

Anyway, I'd intended posting a few more images of Penarth, so here goes...

I seem to be constantly drawn back to shells and pebbles...

There are some great colours to be found on Penarth beach...

Are you good at spotting things?

Good at working things out?

Well here's a reminder that last weekend's teaser still hasn't been cracked...

Follow this link... if you think you're good enough...

You might not want to lick it though...

I think you've dropped something....

Who's following who?

So yesterday I decided to go for a short walk beside the sea to blow away the odd cobweb and give myself some space to think.

My chosen destination was Penarth; it’s not exactly the best beach there, but parking is never a problem and there’s a cliff-top walk as well as the beach, the promenade and the pier.

I parked in the left-hand end slot of a parking bay beside the lifeboat station, locked my car and went on my way. Walking along the beach I was attracted by several objects and took a batch of photos. Although the sun refused to shine, I really enjoyed the fresh air and to be honest, the relative solitude.

After wandering for an hour or so I made my way back to the car. From a distance I could see parked to my left and on double yellow lines was a beat-up old Ford Fiesta. Great bit of parking, I thought. Especially since there were legitimate empty parking spaces just along the sea-front.

When I actually reached my car it became obvious the driver of the Fiesta must have been extremely thin; the idiot had parked so close no-one could have got out of the driver’s door. Despite the lack of space however said idiot had obviously tried... I have a nice red ding in my near-side door to prove it; bastard!

I sat in the car and waited to see if the Fiesta’s owner would turn up... no chance, which was probably just as well. Why oh way are some people so fickin’ ignorant? What makes them think they have the right to ignore the rules? Why do they have no consideration for others?

In the end I took a couple of photos of the inconsiderate git’s attempt at parking, detailing the double yellow lines, the proximity of the Fiesta to my car, the Fiesta’s number plate, etc... it’s up to the authorities now...

What happens when a seagull gets it completely wrong?

Keep an eye on the guy on the left...

Keep watching...

Concentrate...

How's that for an indignant expression!

Well by the river anyway; the River Wye at Brockweir that is.

I’m not exactly sure about the history of this bridge, but it’s not too far away from me so I intend wandering along down there one of these days and looking for a date plaque.

On a misty morning though, these old chunks of cast iron can be quite picturesque.

Fireweed gone to seed

Another 'weed'...

It's been a bit of a funny year for blackberries; some areas seem to have had bumper crops while others are still waiting the first berries of the year.

There's been a lot of fruit on the bushes here, although some of it has rotted before it got a chance to ripen.

The bushes are loaded with flower again, so there seems to be a whole new crop on the way. I hope the weather is kind and we get a second picking...

Herman and his Hermits sang about silhouettes way back in the mists of time.... I only vaguely remember the song.

Silhouettes have been popular among art lovers for many a year; here’s one of mine.

Hope you like it.

Right, I think that's enough from me for one day: more posts than I've oftem made in a week!

Just the place for a cool walk on a hot day...

A little evening visitor...

Somehow I managed to miss these when I was posting images from Thira back in July...

Very nice they were too!

I photographed this flower at a garden I visited a year or so back. It grows on a small bush and the plaque said it was Tea Tree. Here's the thing though, I've since seen Tea Tree growing at the National Botanical Gardens and it looks nothing like this; I'm guessing the bush was wrongly labelled.

So okay, I don't have the least clue what this is, but it's rather pretty; can anyone help me out here?

I've bloged about Melincort Falls in the past, but thought I'd revisit simply because of their beauty; the spectacular eighty foot high waterfall on a tributary of the Neath River was painted by J.M. Turner in 1794. Turner didn't see the falls quite as I do though...

The whole fall is lovely, but I really like the bottom of the fall.

This is nearer to Turner's aspect:

Should you find yourself anywhere near Resolven, I urge you to take a few minutes to admire this beauty.

But it was all on its lonesome...

When you look at power cables strung across the countryside, what do you see?

If you follow the main route into South Wales (the M4/M48 motorways) you'll need to ensure you have some cash with you; we charge you to enter God's country you know.

There are plenty of toll booths available to relieve you of your cash and they're divided into various sections to speed traffic flow, however you shouldn't expect to find them always as empty as this; there are more usually queues of sorry citizens desperate to get out of England!

I’ve always loved the way Nature juxtaposes colours; brilliant white flower, light and dark green foliage, variegated shading... I just think it’s so wonderful to look at.