Gill Morris - Talkingthailand

The Changing Seasons – June 2022

In June, I travelled to Leicester to meet up with some of the guys I used to work with in Bangkok. They too are currently living in the UK. It was a really fabulous afternoon – we chatted over food and drinks and it was like I only saw them yesterday.

Places to go in the UK — Bangkok Reunion

The “photos of the day” from morrisophotography in June were these lovely flowers I spotted on my walks.

Things to see in Northampton — Blue-lilac bush

Visitors to my old garden looking for food or taking a rest.

A waterfall in the woods behind my old house.

Finally, capturing the sunrise one morning at 5 am. Just look at those colours!

The UK is experiencing some very hot weather – Who would have thought it! We are just not equipped for it here 🙂

The Changing Seasons is hosted by Ju-Lyn at Touring my Backyard, and Brian and Bushb oy’s World

About The Changing Seasons

The Changing Seasons is a monthly project where bloggers around the world share their thoughts and feelings about the month just gone. We all approach this slightly differently — though generally with an emphasis on the photos we’ve taken during the month.

For many of us, looking back over these photos provides the structure and narrative of our post, so each month is different. Some focus on documenting the changes in a particular project — such as a garden, an art or craft project, or a photographic diary of a familiar landscape.

But in the end, it is your changing season, and you should approach it however works for you.

There are no fixed rules around post length or photo number — just a request that you respect your readers’ time and engagement.

Tag your photos with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them.

A Walk Around Northampton

One rainy Saturday in January 2021, I took to the streets of Northampton and captured some images of the town centre.

Up to the time I went travelling and then left to go and live in Thailand, I never took much notice of what the town of Northampton looked like. I was blase to the interesting features, some old, some new, I now see with ease.

Walking towards the town centre is Cafe Marseille, straddling Sheep Street and Broad Street, previously a nightclub, now a cafe/bar that I have yet to visit. For now, I’ll admire the lovely building from the outside.

You can see the spire of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre from there too.

Continue along Broad Street and you will come across the building of the former Friendly Societies Medical Institute. The sign at the top says it was erected in 1883.

Keep walking and cross over Lady’s Lane.

See if you can find the street art on the underpass at the bottom of Greyfriars.

Keep walking straight and turn left into Gold Street.

As you walk up the road, look above the shops to see how lovely the old buildings are.

There is also an old clock above the shop – sadly no longer working.

At the top of Gold Street, you will be treated to the sight of the beautiful All Saints Church.

To the right of the church, you will see Sessions House – which used to be the old courthouse.

Wood Hill is to the left of that.

Walk into St Giles Place.

Where you will see the stunning Guildhall.

And some signs in case you are lost.

Passed the Guildhall is St Giles Square.

To the right is Northampton’s very own “Cultural Quarter” where the theatre and museum is located.

From St Giles Square, you can go down Derngate if you fancy stopping for a refreshing drink at the Mail Coach.

Or, you can walk along St Giles Street and have a quick pit stop in the Optimist.

Turn left onto Fish Street, back towards the centre.

At the top of Fish Street, you can turn left or right into Abington Street. I turned right…

…and found the Francis Crick Statue. Crick co-discovered the DNA molecule (Source: West Northamptonshire Council.

Take a left up Wellington Street. At the top, on the right, you’ll see a little pocket park.

Across the road, you’ll see the (not so) new Crown & County Courts.

Wherever you are, it’s really up to you where you wander, just remember to keep your eyes open for the things you’ve probably bypassed many times before.

I only walked about a mile, but I saw loads and was very happy that’d I’d gone out with my camera! Peace and love 🙂

The Changing Seasons – May 2022

If you hadn’t noticed, I love taking photos of flowers. So many varieties and colours, they really do brighten up your day!

Peace and love 🙂

The Changing Seasons is hosted by Ju-Lyn at Touring my Backyard, and Brian and Bushb o y’s World

About The Changing Seasons

But in the end, it is your changing season, and you should approach it however works for you.

There are no fixed rules around post length or photo number — just a request that you respect your readers’ time and engagement.

Tag your photos with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them.

Sagrada Familia – mindful moments

I wrote about the wonderful Sagrada Familia last week, so this week, just take a moment to enjoy the beauty and serenity of arguably the best tourist attraction you will ever visit!

Peace and love to all 🙂

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

Unless you have witnessed the Sagrada Familia for yourself, I would bet that you have never seen anything quite like this before. I said this about Park Guell, but the Sagrada Familia in on another (Gaudi) level!

Antoni Gaudi was put in charge of designing this fabulous basilica in 1883 and it’s not finished yet! If you’d like to read the full history, there is an interesting timeline from the 19th century until the present day on the Sagrada Familia’s official website. One of the longest ever architectural commissions, but in Gaudi’s apparent words “My client is not in a hurry!”

My first glimpse of this impressive building as I walked down Carrer de Sardenya.

Before you even enter the basilica, your gaze will immediately be drawn to the wonderful sculptures on the walls – this being part of the Nativity Facade.

Inside, you won’t know where to look first. I was wide-eyed with wonder and excitement and my mouth spilled out a silent “wow!”

The stone columns throughout the interior have been designed in typical Gaudi style – to resemble a forest with its trees and branches reaching up into the vaults. It really is stunning!

With curved lines to mingle man-made structures with natural forms. This design can also be seen at Park Guell.

Once section of the basilica is also known as the temple of light because the beautifully coloured stain-glassed windows allows natural light to flood in at certain times of the day – creating an ethereal atmosphere.

A view along the nave and aisle.

If you include it in your ticket, you can ascend the stairs to the towers.

There are other, smaller features, that can be easily missed, like this emblem of Saint Luke.

And, as part of the stain-glassed designs, the names of places and people that might have some religious significance.

Outside, you can see the Passion Facade which is dedicated to the Passion of Christ with its pediment of bone-shaped columns at the top.

The 4 spires at the top of the Passion Facade represent 4 of the apostles – James, Thomas, Philip and Bartholomew. (Wikipedia)

The exterior of the basilica is carved with beautiful sculptures and features.

Other spires have bunches of fruit and wheat which represent the Holy Communion.

If you look upwards, you can see the construction work taking place at the top of the building. Once the final tower has been built, the basilica will become the tallest church-building in the world! (Wikipedia)

The Sagrada Familia is still a work-in-progress, but it is due to be completed around 2026 – some 143 years after Gaudi started his masterpiece.

It’s a beauty now and it will take your breath away, but just look at what it’s going to look like!

It’s a definite must-see attraction when you visit Barcelona.

Street Art in Northampton

I’ve seen a few pieces of street art in and around Northampton, but it’s the town centre where most of it has been created.

More than a few artists came together as part of the Northampton Wall Games to bring a splash of colour and creativeness to some of the least attractive parts of town.

I think the artists have done an amazing job and their ability to create such striking pieces is admirable.

Mid-Summer and Mid-Winter Walks in Northampton

I have lived in Northampton most of my life, but it took me to live away for the best part of 10 years to realise just how green it is. And, whatever time of year, the walking paths close to town are actually very pretty. Join me for a mid-summer and mid-winter walk to see how the area changes with the seasons. (Click on the images to get the full view)

Mid-Summer

Mid-Winter

I love a good bridge – even if it’s the same one! Peace and Love 🙂

Why I Love Walking

I often go for a walk – not just to keep my body fit and healthy, but it’s a good way to clear my mind and to enjoy my home surroundings.

By November of 2019, the town Christmas tree was up.

The sunset was beautiful (as it always is) and, in December, I took a few photos on the way to see my friend.

I went for a walk around the Washlands en route to meet my sister for a post-Christmas afternoon out.

I’m not really a fan of the dark nights, but I love the colour of the skies in the afternoons.

By the end of the year, I was travelling via Eurostar to Brussels for New Year. Not many people were around Kings Cross this early in the morning.

More walks coming soon! Peace and love 🙂

Close-up Captures of Park Guell

As a photographer, I’m always looking for the ‘not so obvious’ subjects and Park Guell had lots – I just had to keep my eyes open!

Park Guell ceramic medallions on the front of the Porters Lodge .

The ceramic tiles of the wall on either side of the Dragon Stairway.

The ceiling decor of the Hypostyle Room, beautifully created with colourful ceramic tiles.

The house where Gaudi lived – now the Gaudi House Museum.

The fan-shaped fence surrounding the museum.

Park Guell is such a lovely green space with a variety of plants on either side of its walkways – like this one on the way to the Laundry Room Portico.

There are all kinds of flowers, shrubs and trees to see.

The park also attracts a few feathered visitors.

Gaudi was a fan of creating trencadis which is a mosaic made up with broken tile pieces. It’s a feature that is prominent throughout Park Guell.

Gaudi also created features that blend into the natural surroundings – like this curved seating area.

Located on a hillside is Casa Trias which was the only other house that was lived in during Guell and Gaudi’s time in the park.

Because the park is on different levels, you get good views of the park.

And the city beyond.

Until it’s time to leave by the exit on Carrer d’Olot.

For me, it’s fun to find these smaller details, but Gaudi got me intrigued with the big stuff too!

The Changing Seasons – April 2022

For April, I thought I would share two of my ‘photos of the day’ from morrisophotography. I love taking photos of animals in all their shapes and forms, but photographing smaller creatures has its challenges. For once, these beauties stayed long enough for me to capture them.

The Changing Seasons is hosted by Ju-Lyn at Touring my Backyard, and Brian and Bushboy’s World

About The Changing Seasons

But in the end, it is your changing season, and you should approach it however works for you.

There are no fixed rules around post length or photo number — just a request that you respect your readers’ time and engagement.

Tag your photos with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them.