Night-time exposing

I thought I might try night time exposing.
Here's one I did down a dark back-lane.

122 second's at f8, ISO 100 for those of you who are interested.

Moo

A Highland Cow, Aberdeen Angus, hairy cow or Heilan Coo. Call it what you will. This is one in close up portrait monochrome.

January dauner in Derbyshire

What a great way to start a new year. Just chillin'
Dark peak, Derbyshire

Then there are some mobile phone shots that I have taken in the month of January that might be worth a look, but only this one worth posting.

And as a bonus, a wet street in the land where rain comes from, , ..... Manchester

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I know I'm posting this about four weeks too late but, Happy New Year to you all.
Starting with some dancing in the street around midnight.

Later a walk to fetch the car. Nobody would be out dancing in this rain.

Not only wet but windy too.

Osprey Land

Rutland water in Leicestershire. But don't let the locals hear me say that :) The smallest county in the UK, once swallowed up into Leicester's county. The most part of Rutland seems to be a big body of water. Once a valley but flooded to create a reservoir.
It's wet out, forecast for wet and wet with a wind in between but a little drier at this time. We aimed for the drier time and just about got it right. Raining when we arrived and 3 hours later it was raining as we left. Some 'dry' was had though. With a rather biting wind at times.

Rutland water is also home to an Osprey reintroduction programme. They are on their Winter holidays at the moment but this is here all year. Two days it took a man with a chainsaw to create this.

Most of the walking around the Reservoir isn't that scenic really. An absence of people at this time of year also compounded by the inclement weather makes it prettier though.

Normanton Church. Still used for weddings. The village it once served, like it's own lower half, is under the surface of the water now. It does provide some shelter from the wind though!

Beacon Hill on Boxing Day

 Boxing day. We wanted a walk without going too far or getting clagged up boots.
Beacon Hill provides a compromise of not much mud and not too many people.
It's pretty too!

The Trig at the top

 

Near to the bottom car park is a board-walk through the Rhododendron grove

 Never smile at a Crocodile. Smiling at this is allowed, it's an Alligator !!!

 On the way home nip into the Great Central Railway for a 'cuppa'. Brilliant, working museum of a station in wartime Britain

Retrorackets at The Criterion

Christmas break and all is quiet in town.
Except for this pub, where the RetroRackets were making a noise

I want one of those !

A late update. Very late.

December, what a blur! Here is a bit of a catch up of December, up to Christmas day, in pictures.
Firstly though, I have a new phone. It's a Sony and it has a 20mp camera. This is one of the early shots with it when I was playing with the settings.

The 4th of December was a lovely day, I spent it at work :(

By the 10th we were trying to complete all of the gift shopping. This occasion saw us in Nottingham.

Nearer to Christmas now and 'er indoors' is getting worried about finding the perfect gifts for our kids and Grandkids.

It's the 14th.
 I have been to work but finished early. I started walking and received a text offering a lift. I sat and waited on a bench in town.

The 17th was a busy day!
First I was out to collect some logs, after topping this tyre! Odd how it's always this corner of the car that goes low for no apparent reason? I'm sure it's the 'screw-loose' over the road doing it.

.

Then carted them up the garden in our squeaky old wheelbarrow.
Then a Hospital appointment.
Park and ride is the cheapest and easiest option.
Wait for a bus here

There's one!

We are on it!

Boredom at the Hospital. My new phone has software. Here is the kaleidoscope effect on a Christmas tree in the waiting area.

A terrible bus wait-freeze-wait-squish-trafficCrawl-alight-freeze journey back to the P&R car park. A walk across the road to the shopping area. Oddly enough, after a fruitless shopping trip the other day we find today has almost fulfilled our list which has been checked twice. A well known large toy shop later and we are on our way home.
Finally done and home to relax in front of the fire :)

The 19th of December
Moving towards Christmas and the Christmas train moving.

22nd Dec. Shopping in town and I take a walk by a Church. Is that an alien spaceship in the trees? .. It is in fact our town councils attempt at decorations.

24th Christmas eve
We decided to go out and see the world. Our favourite pub was closing at 10pm! We left at that time and wandered into a very quiet town. In the back room of one rather empty pub you would have found us. Pool anyone?


25th Christmas day.
Chocolates

Beer

Chocolates and wine

More beer! I'm not too sure about the origins of this one though?

 MERRY CHRISTMAS one might say. I hope you all had a good one :)