I posted a couple of images of the Southern Distribution Road, Usk Bridge last night and at the risk of boring you silly, thought I'd post a couple more.

Well you never know, someone might them interesting and the bridge does cross the River Usk!

Bridges... you either like them, or loathe them...

I don't much like this one, but it has some nice curves...

Anyone like to guess what they used to do here?

Far too many beans in the soup!

This derelict warehouse in part of Newport's old dockland just had the perfect shaft of light falling through the top window...

I seem to be in a strange mood just recently... I look at things and see them in some very odd ways...

I can almost hear you scratching your head and wondering, "What the hell is the old buffoon wittering about now?"

Well it's like this. I was walking beside the Severn yesterday and looking at the water, the mud, the bridge... and I was thinking... what would this all look like if the Martians really had taken over the world? (think H.G. Wells, War of the Worlds here)

Thinking about what an odd sight would greet my eyes, I decided to capture an image... a snapshot of my mind's eye if you like...

...and this was what I came up with... you may want to click the image for a larger view...

So now I'm just waiting for the strange little men in their funny white coats to come and take me away...

This log was also washed up on the foreshore... interesting sort of a log isn't it? Great shape... some sort of tree... or is it really something rather more sinister?

What do you see in this image?

I posted an image of the Severn Estuary foreshore yesterday; all grey and muddy and bleak looking... and I got to thinking that it might create the wrong impression because if you take the time to look the foreshore is far from grey.

The alluvial mud coats everything it touches, but in those places where the tide is strong or the silt hasn't reached the 'beach' is filled with magical colours...

So there you have it, the second side of the estuary foreshore.

Hmmm.... that might make quite nice desktop-wallpaper now I come to think of it...

This dod of wood was washed up on the foreshore of the Severn Estuary. I have no idea what tree it came from, but I loved the texture/colour...

My mate Spiritbird posted his desire to live on an estuary earlier so I thought I'd just add an image of my local estuary... the Severn Estuary...

Don't be fooled by the grey and mucky appearance, this stretch of coastline teems with wildlife and some of the country's best salmon and bass are caught here.

...put a name to this little guy?

Is it just me or has Blogland been on a bit of a go slow the last 24 hours or so? My connection may not be the quickest in the world (2Mb Broadband) but even so I as amazed when it took almost two minutes to load the ‘edit new post page’ earlier. What's more it took half a dozen attempts to upload the image...

I would have wrapped my hand in and given up, but I really wanted to share this image with you...

I don’t know about you, but I lurve sweet corn... well corn on the cob to be more precise... I always think one of life’s pleasures is to grill corn cobs over charcoal, smother them with salted butter and grind a liberal amount of black pepper over the top, before seizing them up and biting into the sweet kernels so the butter runs down your chin... blooming marvellous... quite a-Maize-ing in fact.

I'm not one to deny anyone pleasure; god knows there's little enough joy in this world. All I ask is... when you've finished having your bit of fun in a quiet country lane, wrap the evidence in a tissue and take it home, or at least dispose of it properly; don't just dump your used condom out the car window!

Sleep eludes me for the second night in a row; so frustrating because I’d been sleeping better just recently.

I’m never able to understand the patterns sleep holds for me or understand why one night affords rest and recuperation, when another leads only to frustration and restlessness.

Okay then... who can tell me what my local buzzard had been eating for his dinner?

October is nearly out, yet amazingly there are still blackberries waiting to be picked...

Okay some of them are not in the best condition, but hey if you pick around the fuzzy ones there're still lots of good fruit out there.

Oak leaves have often been used in history to signify valour, strength or greatness; the oak has been chosen as the national tree of England, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, the United States and Wales.

It is perhaps easily understandable then that an oak leaf cluster or oakleaves is a common device which is placed on U.S. military awards and decorations (and those of some other nations) to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the second and subsequent award of the decoration.

In Commonwealth countries a bronze oak leaf signifies a Mention in Despatches, and is worn as an award in its own right, rather than to signify multiple instances of another decoration. The Commonwealth equivalent of US oakleaves is a bar to the medal.

In the Second World War, the Knight's Cross of the German Iron Cross could be awarded with the additional distinction of Oak Leaves (mit Eichenlaub). Of the 7,313 awards of the Knight's Cross, only 883 received Oak Leaves.

Enough history... Not exactly a cluster of leaves here, but I rather like these nevertheless.

I wonder if he was related to A.J.'s little chum? I suppose we'll never know...

Deep furrows, stubble, lines, dour expression... it must be a self-portrait! I know, I can see the way your minds are working.

Well it isn't... not a self-portrait that is.

I thought I'd better qualify it before you all started pointing fingers... hence the title.

No indeed not a portrait, but a landscape. It does have all my bad features though... ...so maybe I've got more in common with the area I live in than I'd realised.

Following a local footpath recently I stopped to look more closely at a fallen tree. I was taken by the cross section left by whoever had taken the bulk of the trunk away.

I walked around the tree so I could examine it from all angles...and there, just a few feet away was another, similar shape.

No idea what had killed the sheep, but the shape of the skull reminded rather of the shape of the hole in the tree...

I don't doubt someone got a big kick out of this bit of graffiti, but it's hardly original and did it really have to be daubed on a wall?

Now don't get me wrong, I really appreciate some of the graffiti you see painted on walls and hoardings; some of the artwork is stunning and the effort involved is immense. I’ve blogged my feelings on graffiti previously for anyone interested...

I get kind of cross though when people daub names or silly slogans on the walls of public buildings. Does this mean I have double standards? Well yes, I suppose it does...

...the owner needs to secure his bike with a lock?

Scenes like this always make me want to kick-leaves!

Well, would you Adam & Eve it?

Some weeks ago I blogged a piece saying how chuffed I was one of my images was being included in the 2008 Michelin Tourist Guide. Well bugger me, I got an email today asking if I'd allow another of my images to be published in the Schmap - Dynamic Travel Guide for November 2007! Fame at last!

I'm really very pleased with myself... *skips around the room again* ...Can you tell?

...on a picnic table.

Do like going out for picnics? I do. I've always enjoyed alfresco dining, although I tend not to go to 'organised' picnic sites. No, my preference is to get away from others and just spread a cloth in quiet, lonely spot.

Lot’s of people do use picnic sites though and that’s fine; I respect their desire to eat outdoors. That’s why I get kind of depressed when I see picnic tables bearing the scars of some unthinking fool with a portable, instant bar-b-cue thing...

This is better though.

I don't mind seeing things like this on a picnic table.

We had a drop of rain yesterday... only a short, sharp shower... but it was enough to disrupt my short walk and leave me searching for a dry path...

...and of course being soaked to my knickers I was in need of a dry set of clothes!

Okay, who can tell me what this is?

No, it's NOT a cow!

Sorry about the tree growing out of his head; the dozy bugger wouldn't move no matter how much I cajoled him!

...but one I sometimes walk around...

Not a lot to see at this time of year, but I thought you might enjoy the reed mace standing at the water's edge.

While I was wandering about at the coast the other day I spotted a pebble on the edge of the beach. There were lots of pebbles of course, but this particular one caught my eye and reminded me of someone special.

I suppose I have to hold my hand up and admit I broke the law by picking the pebble up and bringing it back with me, but I wanted to photograph it and share with you. Just rough images for now, but I'm guessing this will definitely fall into the 'girly pebble' category.

Click any of the above for a larger view.

Sorry about the title, but the colours are just kind of perfect for Autumn...

When I was celebrating my Rusty Usky Day yesterday, my mate Spicy asked "haven't you got anymore nice pebbley pictures for us girls?"

Nice pebbley pictures? Well how about this one...

I'm not sure it qualifies as a nice pebbley picture for the girls, but it is pebbley in a rocky sort of way...

Odd the things you find hanging over a cliff isn't it?

Well all good things come to an end and I'm getting tired, so I think I'll call an end to my special Rusty Day. If I were a gentleman I'd apologise for boring you all wittless, but I'm not so I won't!

I have loads more rusty images, but thought I'd leave you with this one...

G'night all!

Rusty Usky strikes again!

Another from the Engine Graveyard...

... go round an round...

Continuing my Rusty Usky day...

Anyone know what this might have powered?

Might take a bit of work to get this one going again...

Today I am mainly having a Rusty Usky day.

From the place where car engines come to die...

Well I ask you...

How could I possibly resist?

Just a few images from my walk yesterday that I thought some of you might find interesting...

These were taken as I worked my way around the headland between Swanbridge and Lavernock.

The going can be a bit hard over the rocks, but I think it is well worth the effort.

As you can see, it was lovely day here in Wales yesterday.

The weather was wonderful in Wales today, so I took myself off for a walk and went to the coast. I decided I was going to clamber around the headland at Swanbridge to get to Lavernock; it's not far, but you do have to climb about over the rocks beneath the cliffs. Anyway, I digress...

Before I get into the rocks, cliffs, rusty bits, et al, I want to introduce those of you who don't know it to Sully Island.

Sully Island is only an island when the tide is in. When the tide's out you can walk to the island, which may be why it was chosen by a certain Mr Marconi as the remote station for the first ever transmission of radio waves across water.

So here it is in all its glory, Sully Island,

And this is me being arty-farty with the sunlight, the island and the water...

I was walking past a field yesterday and as I drew level with the gate a load of heads turned in my direction... I stopped... they stared... malevolently...

Should I have been worried?

Ought I to have called for my brown trousers?

Would I have been right to madly leg it?

After all, these are deadly killers aren't they?

Rabid and blood-lusting...

What? Sheep?

Black Sheep, the latest nonsense to have come out of Movieland would have us believe they are...

Talk about stretching the imagination...

Parents, lock up your children... never again chant Bah Bah Black Sheep for fear of instilling nightmares!

I took mesself off on a walk today;
Well hardly a walk, more a stroll,
But I wandered down yon leafy lane
An' found mesself face-to-face wi' owl.

So I whipped it out real quick like
An' snapped it at Wol in the tree
The bugger jus' sat there a grinnin'
As thee who looks can plainly see.

Bugger! It must 'ave flown away...

It just dawned on me I haven't posted anything public today and it's already after 3:00pm.... that's shocking!

Anyway, here's a little something you might find interesting... or not... depending on your outlook on life I suppose.

I'm not exactly sure what these fungi are, but I quite like the look of them. Anybody fancy trying some for their tea? Just let me know if you're horribly ill so I can make sure I avoid them in future...

As you probably know, yesterday was Blog Action Day. Please take a few minutes to look through the Blog Action Day - Wrap Up website.

Another image of the reservoir at Talybont in the Brecon Beacons...

This is an image of Talybont Reservoir in the Brecon Beacons.

Talybont Reservoir was built to supply water to the town of Newport in te 1930s.

Gets to wave his flies about...

I've had a crashing headache most of today and am keeping away from the computer. I just thought I'd post an image of somewhere I'd like to have been; somewhere peaceful, quiet, shaded and restful...

Hope you're all having a better day than me today.

G'night all.

Please help save our planet...

...don't let this be the last reminder of our sea-going mammals.

Another image for Blog Action Day

Especially if you happen to belong to our native wildlife...

An image for Blog Action Day

The edge of the largest dune network in Europe; please help preserve it!

Regular readers of this blog will recognise this as a bit of a hobby-horse of mine, but I make no apologies as I climb back on my soap-box to have yet another go at fly-tippers!

The mentality of someone who obviously goes miles out of his/her way to dump their unwanted trash in a country drainage reen is simply beyond my comprehension.

I’m well aware of the costs involved in legally dumping things like car tyres and electrical/electronic equipment, but to contaminate the environment by inconsiderate tipping is NOT the answer.

A question raises itself here; what would the morons who dump like this do if someone contaminated their home environment? Yu can bet they wouldn’t be pleased! So what makes them think they can just dump wherever they see fit? After all, lots of individuals live in this reen... or did before some asshole filled it with trash and blocked it! Still it really doesn’t matter because the farmer whose land this reen drains will clear it and dispose of someone else’s trash won’t he; how wonderfully fair is that?

Perhaps we need new government legislation to levy even tougher penalties on those caught tipping, but also to make recycling both easier and cheaper?

Not much to say in Blogland today, but thought I'd share this image with you...

I hope you like it.

Anyone interested?

Leaves impersonate F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter in burned out tree stump...

Do jays moult in the autumn?

A bit rough and ready, but time is of the essence...

When darkness falls

When darkness falls upon the land
And the shades of night come calling
That’s the time the bad dreams come;
They really can be galling.

Nightmares can take many forms
And often we may find
That midnight tremors shake our soul
And torment our troubled mind.

The frozen sweats that chill our bones
And stem from evil dreams
To make us shiver in the night
And compliment our screams.

When darkness falls upon the land
And shades of night come calling,
We’ll make our way upstairs to bed
Not knowing if we’ll be falling

Into slumbers sweet and restful
Or into disturbed, troubled sleep,
That’s why before we climb in bed
We pray the Lord our soul to keep...

I love Nature's carpet, the soft brown colours are so beautiful... and I love the way it crunches when you walk across it.

Have you ever experienced freefall?

Ever found yourself in that out-of-control state heading ever downwards?

Maybe you’re a sky-diver and get your kicks from ‘falling’ thousands of feet through the air? If you are, you’ll at least have some idea how it feels.

As a glider pilot I’ve experienced something similar, although both sky-divers and glider pilots are of course in control; at least you’d better hope they are or the skies will be raining aircraft and screaming people!

I’m not talking about physical freefall though, but mental freefall.

I went into mental freefall yesterday... I’ve no idea why, it just happened.

It started with a gin and tonic while I was cooking. It was lovely; cool, crisp, refreshing. I had another... then another... well I dare say you get the picture! Each gin was a little larger than the one before and every bit as enjoyable... but inevitably I got pickled and maudlin and very low.

Here’s my tip of the week; if you suffer from depression and take appropriate medication don’t be tempted to suck large amounts of gin into your body, it’ll only make you feel terrible!

Talking about freefall...

Nothing like a nice cold splash to wash the sleep from your eyes.

Mind you don't topple over the edge though...

Continuing my mountain waterfalls theme...

The rock was so smooth here...

For anyone who may have missed them:

First post here

Second post here

Here's a couple more images as promised. I hope you find them refreshing.

There are numerous small waterfalls to be seen as the river winds its way down the mountain. Several of them look like this one.

More to come later...

I love water; rivers, lakes, streams, oceans, seas... it really doesn't matter, I just love water.

Being an ex-sailor I have huge respect for the power of water and could tell you 'sea stories' to make your toes curl! *yarghs like a pirate*

If I'm honest though I think the side of water I love best is the beauty that often comes hand in hand with it.

The water tumbling in this mountain stream eventually becomes one of the great rivers in Wales. It has a long old way to go before that hapens though.

And all the time, the water's journey is ever downwards. Sometimes the stream is a gentle flow...

...and at others there are cutaways and drops that create sparkling waterfalls for us to enjoy.

I'll be posting more images of this fledgling river through the day for those who may be interested.

Thought I'd leave you with a final view of Hawkesbury this Tuesday evening.

G'nite all!

Even a casual glance around the hamlet of Hawkesbury shows signs of long, long years of occupation.

There's an ancient hill fort atop the hill to the left. The church to the right is the centre of the modern settlement. There's evidence of a mediaeval settlement in the position where the image was taken.

Seems to me people have seen the beauty of this spot for thousands of years and who could blame them?

I recently blogged some images of Mary the Virgin at Hawkesbury; a lovely church in an idyllic hamlet.

Adjacent to the church is an equally lovely barn, that with a little loving care would make a wonderful residence.

Front view

View from the rear

Detail of what could be a wonderful entranceway.

Anyone fancy a conversion?

Good morning all...
Hope you're all feeling fit and well today.

Last image from me today... my matress calls...

G'night all

No, not the potato crisps... Trees

Here's another

Shaggy Ink Cap Mushroom

(Scientific Name: Coprinus comatus) A mushroom variety that was named for the early era process of producing ink by boiling the blackened mushrooms in water with cloves. As a cousin of the Common Ink Cap mushroom, the Shaggy Ink Cap mushroom has a white skin with tan coloring across its shaggy appearing outer flesh. During the early growth of this mushroom, the cap appears compressed into an oval shape like a closed umbrella. As the oval grows and spreads out, the mushroom begins to form an umbrella-shaped cap. It is during the early growth stages while still oval or egg-shaped that the gills beneath the cap of the young mushooms are very white and are best for eating. As the mushroom ages, the gills darken and become blackened with an inky coloring that actually begins to drip dark fluid as it deteriorates. Thus, the closed cap stage of growth is the time to consume this mushroom and not when it begins to open. Also known as the Shaggy Inky Cap, Shaggy Mane, Inky Top, and Lawyer's Wig mushroom, the Shaggy Ink Cap can be kept only a few hours before beginning to deteriorate, so it is best not to attempt to air dry this mushroom.

When prepared fresh, this mushroom is typically served with fish, eggs, or added to sauces, however use caution when eating if unsure of the variety of Ink Cap being prepared. As a cousin to the Shaggy Ink Cap, the Common Ink Cap, Inky Cap or Alcohol Ink Cap as it is also referred, is a variety that is not poisonous unless eaten with alcohol. The Common Ink Cap has a smooth appearance without the noticable shaggy looking outer covering. Knowing the concerns about the Common variety of the Ink Cap mushroom make it questionable as to whether it should be consumed and is generally not recommended as an edible mushroom, especially one to be served to guests.

Since it is important to note that alcoholic beverages or medicines with alcohol must not be consumed while eating the Common Ink Cap mushrooms, it is also advised to not consume any item with alcohol several days before or after eating the Common Ink Cap mushrooms, due to the potential for causing severe illness. The combination of alcohol with Inky Cap mushrooms may cause heart palipatations and vomiting, so extreme caution must be taken when preparing any type of food with the Common Inky Cap mushrooms.

Isn't it funny how memory plays tricks on you? I was sure this doorway had a much rounder arch...

The original church at Hawkesbury was Norman; this part of it remains intact and in use.

I love the texture of the stonework.

I'd never heard of this church until recently, but saw a sign for it while driving and as I had time on my hands I made a detour; I'm very glad I did.

St Mary the Virgin's Church, Hawkesbury

But someone's been having a scoff

Once again, please click this image.

Please click this image; you'll enjoy it if you do.

...to go out and enjoy the changing colours we see around us.

Occasionally we get the chance to compare like for like.

Or maybe just compare colours.

At other times we're treated to 'foreign' bodies when we least expect them.

How can people be so cruel?

I’ve spent a lot time walking this last few days and have seen some really beautiful things; unfortunately I’ve also witnessed something that turned my stomach... fret not readers, no images on this occasion... I wouldn’t subject you to the visuals.

I was following a public footpath through a dense wood when a flash of colour drew my attention from the path. I immediately stopped and carefully turned to see the rear end of a fallow dear disappearing between the trees; bugger! How could I have been so unobservant not to spot it sooner?

In desperation I carefully picked my way into the depths, hoping to get another glimpse. About 25 metres off the path I stumbled onto something that stopped me dead in my tracks; the almost complete skeleton of a young canine. My first thought was a small fox that had come to grief. How sad.

A few paces further revealed the disgusting truth; some bastard had hobbled a bitch to a stake and left her with her pups to starve to death. You didn’t need to be a forensic expert to work out what had happened.

I like to think I have a fairly strong stomach, but in my present depressive state I not only lost my breakfast I also shed many, many tears. How anyone could be so cruel is beyond me. How frantic the poor animal must have felt is also thankfully beyond me...

I’ve never been a big fan of the human race and this experience only bolsters my disgust of some of our number. A nation of animal lovers? Well not everyone, obviously!

An Eye On My World

My world is sometimes bright and breezy;
The people great,
The living easy.
My camera sees my world and sighs;
The vivid greens,
The azure skies.

At others my world is silent and dark;
Birds don’t sing,
Dogs don’t bark.
On these days my camera cries;
The lifeless hills,
The lowering skies.

Each morn as from my sleep I rise
My world expands before my eyes;
Through my camera’s lens I see
What my world will hold for me.

Every day my cameras talk to me;
They are my closest friends you see.
Is my world filled with obsession?
No, I simply suffer from depression.

Just a brief thank you for all the support messages. Please forgive me if I don't answer individually; I'm going to opt out of Blogland for a day or so.

See you all soon.