Talkingthailand

A Visit to Warwick Castle

A couple of years ago, I went to Warwick Castle for the day.

I love visiting historical places and I can add Warwick Castle as one of the best places to visit.

You’ll find the Peacock Gardens with their beautifully manicured lawns and resident peacocks wandering around.

The Conservatory Tearoom overlooking the fountain.

Then, follow the path through the trees towards the river and the jousting area and Britain’s largest trebuchet. Check the times on your ticket for exciting shows and entertainment every day.

Cross over the river and explore all around the castle.

Enter the castle through its main entrance.

Inside the castle, you can sit on the grass, have a break with a refreshing drink, and take in the impressive architecture.

Make sure you climb the stairs and wander along the ramparts for fabulous views of Warwick and the surrounding countryside.

And, it would be a shame not to see inside some of the rooms where you can learn about some of the castle’s history.

For more photos of Warwick Castle, head to morrisphotography.

The Changing Seasons – March and April 2023

I don’t know where these months are going, but all we can do is enjoy every day.

March

At the beginning of the month, Spring was well underway.

March was my sister’s birthday, so we all went out to celebrate.

– the Turkish meat platter was so good.

A couple of friendly robins.

I won ‘Team Member of the Month’ for coping in a high-pressure environment.

My team found out I am a published author and they got me to sign the copy of my book that they had bought on World Book Day – honestly, it was such a lovely surprise and it really made me smile.

April

I had a couple of trips away in April. The first was to Weston-Super-Mare. I walked, ate, and took lots of photos and it was lovely to see a new place in the UK.

I also visited Cheddar Gorge and explored the caves.

And, for my birthday, I took the Eurostar to Rotterdam to spend a few days with my friend, Chris. It was, as always, great to see him and catch up over a few (many!) drinks.

The Changing Seasons is hosted by Ju-Lyn at Touring my Backyard, and Brian and Bushboys 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.

Van Gogh – Alive!

Two years after I went to see the Van Gogh and Britain exhibition, I ventured back to the capital to attend Van Gogh – Alive!

This was an exhibition like no other and certainly not one I have experienced in the past.

“Prepare to transcend time and space as you accompany Van Gogh on a journey through the Netherlands, Arles, Saint Rémy and Auvers-sur-Oise, where he created many of his timeless masterpieces. Set to an evocative classical score, a thrilling display of over 3,000 inspirational images transforms every surface that surrounds you in what has been described as an “unforgettable multi-sensory experience“. At Van Gogh Alive you don’t just look at his paintings, you step inside them and feel their power.” – The website of Van Gogh Alive

The experience has been all over the world and the UK and I went to Kensington Gardens to see it.

So, let’s immerse ourselves in the world of Van Gogh.

A brief interlude in the immersive (and mirrored) sunflower room.

Immersion continues.

This exhibition was fabulous and a different and exciting way to bring art into your world!

Van Gogh Alive continues its tour of the UK in Brighton this month!

Van Gogh and Britain at Tate Britain

On the same day I walked from Millbank to Leicester Square, I attended the Van Gogh Exhibition at Tate Britain.

Taken from the leaflet that I picked up at the gallery – This exhibition is in two parts. The first looks at Van Gogh’s experience in London, the art and literature that caught his attention and its role in his journey as an artist. The second explores the impact of Van Gogh’s art and life on British artists up to the 1950s. The exhibition provides an opportunity to view artworks by Van Gogh afresh, to see British culture through his eyes and to see him through the eyes of British artists he inspired.

There were 9 rooms all dedicated to a specific part of Van Gogh’s life including living in London, his interest in black and white prints, moving to Paris, and continuing to paint throughout his mental illness. It was also interesting to see how his paintings inspired and influenced other painters after his death in 1890.

I hope you enjoy this exhibition as much as I did. (Click the photos to see the full image)

My favourites are Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, Starry Night and one of his self-portaits.

And, of course, it’s also good to get sneaky pictures of other people doing the same as me.

What are your favourite Van Gogh paintings?

I think the final word goes to the man himself;

“Always continue walking a lot and loving nature for that’s the real way to learn to understand art better and better. Painters understand nature and love it, and teach us to see” – Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, London 1874.

Millbank to Leicester Square

Back in 2019, on a quest to have days out like I used to, I took a train to London to visit Tate Britain and the Van Gogh Exhibition.

I took a tube from Euston to Pimlico and made my way to Millbank for some river views.

On the opposite side of the road, stands Tate Britain which has shown its art collections to the public since 1897!

Outside the gallery, there are statues from Greek legends, like the ‘Rescue of Andromeda‘ and ‘The Death of Dirce.’

More on the actual Van Gogh exhibition in a future post, but for now, let’s just skip around the back of the gallery to find this statue of Sir John Everett Millais – a wellknown and successful Victorian painter.

I leave Millbank and walk along the streets until I reach Dean’s Yard and Westminster Abbey.

And find equally impressive buildings as I wander some more.

I reach St James Park – a welcome and beautiful green space.

I turn right towards Admiralty Arch.

And across Trafalgar Square.

Through the streets some more…

Until I pass the London Coliseum – a theatre on St Martin’s Lane.

I arrived at Leicester Square for food and drinks before heading back to Northampton. What a fabulous day out!

Finding Nature

Last year, I took another walk around Sywell Country Park, but this time it was all about nature and finding the birds, insects, and flowers.

It was June, so it was much greener than before and I could feel the warmth from the sun on my skin.

The first feathered friend I saw was this Coot with its white frontal shield. Fun fact: Back in the day, the featherless shield gave rise to the expression “as bald as a coot.” (Wikipedia)

This one has found something to balance on.

Whilst trying to photograph this delicate dragonfly, I got the plant in focus instead – I think it’s a Stinging Nettle.

There are lots of flowers dotted around – like this daisy.

Although Hogweed is pretty to look at, it’s best not to touch it as it can cause blisters and scars in humans! (Wikipedia)

This bee doesn’t seem bothered.

Another beauty, but also very toxic, is the lovely Foxglove. Fun fact: In the past, myths had it that foxes wore the flowers on their paws to silence their movements as they hunted – hence ‘fox’s glove!’ (Wikipedia)

It’s quite hard to take photographs of things that move, but this Long-tailed tit sat at the top of this tree just long enough.

As did these two-silhouetted birds.

A family of swans swam passed – the mother looking back to check the cute little babies are all there.

Then, they head off towards the reeds and out of the open – there were buzzards circling overhead!

These coots chicks were sticking close to each other – the lake must seem like an ocean to them!

This bird flew away at the exact moment I took the photo!

But, this dunnock and duck looked straight at the camera lens!

It’s always a pleasure seeing nature at her finest!

Do you enjoy finding nature as much as I do?

Peace and love 🙂

A Walk Around Sywell Country Park

A lovely place to walk around is Sywell Country Park near Northampton. The reservoir was built to supply water to the surrounding villages, but now it’s a country park with a gravel walkway around the lake, meadows, forest-like areas with different types of trees, and a variety of habitats for the wildlife that live there. (Woodland Trust).

As you leave the car park, there are lovely green areas surrounded by tall trees, perfect for a picnic or just to sit peacefully and enjoy the sounds of nature.

You have to walk up a flight of steep steps to the reservoir, but the effort is worth it as the views are fabulous.

I always walk to the right and the first thing I see are these two geese psyching themselves up to get into the chilly water.

Next, I pass a lovely red-bricked water tower which is always worthy of a photo (or two!).

This swan looks so elegant with its curved neck – an aquatic ballet dancer maybe?

There are so many different types of plants and these dried grasses will be shelter to small birds and mammals.

The path leads you through sometimes wooded areas and sometimes more open areas as you walk around the lake.

There are many types of birds to see and this swan was tending to her nest among the reeds.

This robin stopped long enough in the tree, so I could take a photo.

And this Great tit was busy feeding.

The path follows the undulated features of the countryside, so you get good views all around the lake.

And there are lots of trees and, as this was early in the year, they are still bereft of leaves.

Flowers here and there give a welcome splash of colour.

It’s good to see all kinds of wildlife getting a helping hand as these little bat houses prove.

And, it’s also a pleasure watching wildlife from these hides which are placed in certain locations.

On the walk home, I couldn’t help but stop and say hello to these fellows. (Don’t you find cows to be very curious – they always migrate towards you!)

This cute pony getting in on the action.

And I was happy to see that with Spring comes new beginnings.

Peace and love to everyone!

The Changing Seasons – January and February 2023

With 2023 truly underway, here is a run down of my January and February!

I have been wanting to go to Cirque Du Soleil for years and, finally, in January I took a trip to London with my mum and sister to see Kurios at the Royal Albert Hall.

Kurios is about an inventor who invents a machine that defies the laws of time, space, and dimension. As he reinvents everything he is joined by characters from another dimension who interact with him (Wikipedia).

The show was thrilling with crazy acrobatics and contortionists, great costumes and fabulous music. I could have sat and watched it all over again. The venue was just as stunning as the show!

Places to go in London — The Royal Albert Hall

And, for February, here are my ‘photos of the day’ from morrisophotography.

Places to go in Northampton — River Nene

Things to photograph at home — Love and Laughter Live Here

Enjoy your March!

The Changing Seasons is hosted by Ju-Lyn at Touring my Backyard, and Brian and Bushboys 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.

Discoveries, Memories and Smiles

The town centre of Northampton is small when you compare it to the likes of Birmingham and London, but it’s surprisingly full of things to see.

I live close to the centre, so I always walk there and, with camera in hand, I find some things that I have never noticed, others that bring back memories and some things that just make me smile.

I walk passed the Garibaldi Hotel all the time. I have never been inside, but something compels me to take a photo – I think it’s the green-painted wall with the sign on one side – but then I notice the date at the top of the other side. It was erected in 1897 – making it one of Northampton’s oldest pubs and it’s still open!

On the corner of Sheep Street and Church Lane, I manage to get a photo without any people and then I notice further up the street a club called Passion (the small white building on the right hand side) where I partied with friends on a mad Saturday night out many moons ago.

I’ve walked through the graveyard of St Giles Church before, but never stopped to just be in the present moment before.

I stand for a while watching this squirrel scamper about – it brings a smile to my face.

I also notice the trees full of beautiful pink cherry blossom.

I’ve spent many nights / afternoons with friends and family at the Mail Coach in the past. It’s one of the places I still go to. I remember meeting everyone there before I jetted off back to Thailand in 2014, they all came to say farewell, it was such a great night. This photo is again devoid of people which surprises me as I took this photo at 4.00pm on a Friday afternoon – I’m not complaining though!

I was on a mission to see things I’ve never seen before and I spot the ‘Rosa Concordia Signum’ which means ‘the Rose, Emblem of Harmony’ After a little research, I realise this is Northamptonshire’s motto.

There are two little alleyways in the town centre. One is Frances Jetty, leading from Bridge Street to St Peter’s Way. All the times my friends and I used this alley to get our taxis home after a night out on Bridge Street, I never knew its name. It really is amazing how much we miss sometimes!

The second alley is called Jeyes Jetty and this one used to run between the Drapery and College Street. Again, I was interested to find out that this alley is linked to the invention of Jeyes Fluid and used to be called ‘Screaming Alley’ due to painful dental extractions that happened there.

I’ll let you read the notice on the gate.

The New Testament Church of God is housed in this Greek-style building, complete with columns and arched windows and these carved stone faces and decorative capitals on another building up the road. Both things I hadn’t taken much notice of before.

I can’t wait to see what else I can find, what else evokes memories and what else will make me smile. 🙂

Something old, something new!

Last week, I published ‘Another Day, Another Walk’ and this week I am publishing ‘Something old, something new.’ The same walk a few months apart and this time I walked further and took the long way back home.

On my walks around the town, I may take the same or similar photos, but I always manage to find something new to capture.

And, after many years away from my hometown, I really enjoy exploring it!

Trees and water, buildings and wall art, birds and animals, graffiti, bridges and flowers are all things that I am drawn too and can’t myself taking a few photographs!

What are you drawn too?