Thursday’s Special

Paula’s (Lost in Translation) challenge this week is Tall.

Cascais

Following her idea of a lighthouse I have opted to show this  beautiful blue and white striped pepper-pot structure, which is topped by a small glass beacon.

During the 1750s, on a rocky shoulder overhanging the sea, a small fort was erected that was part of the maritime defence of Cascais until the 19th century. In 1762 it was modernized, and began its function as a lighthouse in 1868 after losing its military value.

In the lighthouse museum are gathered representative pieces that illustrate its activity whilst it was a lighthouse, featuring a series of optical devices from the 19th and 20th centuries as well as an audiovisual centre where a multilingual documentary about the lighthouses of Portugal is exhibited.

You really need to wear good sunglasses when visiting this site – the white glossy tiles of the exhibition centre and auditorium throw off a blinding light in the sunlight which quite hurts the eyes! The tiles are laid slightly unevenly so the apparently plain surfaces catch the light and have a subtle iridescent quality.

I have been promising to show this to my blogging friend Jo for a very long time! I hope she enjoys it 🙂

A lingering look at Shropshire

Paula’s black and white Sunday this week is all about Rural Living.

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I was going to post a view from my new house, but then I thought it would be nice to show off a bit more of the beautiful Shropshire landscape which has kept me company during the past four and a half years. Just a couple of miles walk from the town you find yourself with views like these. I have to say I will miss them. The Ent-like trees, the dead straight hedgerows, the sheep in the fields, the tracks of tractors, the black and white timber-framed houses and the hills. Shropshire is a beautiful rural county and I think this image captures its beauty.

Please visit Paula to see other blogger’s thoughts about rural living.

Thursday’s Special: A literal translation

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Paula’s Thursday Special this week features Meg as a guest challenger and her topic is Calligraphy. Please take a look. You won’t be disappointed.

My immediate thought was of the Chinese Garden of Friendship in Sydney. I would have liked to have looked for a less literal translation, but I hope these will do. This wonderful oasis in the city made me feel calm and relaxed and balanced. In harmony you could say.

Do take a close look at the bamboo.

Monthly Photo Challenge: Frantic February

Many of my blogging friends already know that I have been hoping to move to the West Country and I am at long last happy to say that it shouldn’t be much longer! So February is filled with de-cluttering, cleaning, packing and LOTS of boxes! Not much time for taking photographs I’m afraid, but I hope you will enjoy my first Cornish sunset with me from my new home.

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And, yes, that is MY corkscrew hazel(?) tree 🙂

The Cardinal is continuing his photo project throughout 2016 – a blogging event, a monthly photo challenge. Read his blog for the new rules this year (he is running two versions) and to view his interpretation and those of other participants.