Tag: postaday

The Wars of the Roses

As a child growing up in West Yorkshire I knew that a friendly rivalry existed between Yorkshire and Lancashire, our neighbours on the other side of the Pennines. Later on at grammar school I learnt a little about the Wars of the Roses and was astonished to discover that it wasn’t a war between the two counties as I had believed, but a series of battles fought in medieval England from 1455 to 1485 between the House of Lancaster and the House of York.

The name of the battles derives from the symbols used by the two sides:

comtesse d'Oxford
Red Rose  – House of Lancaster
House of York
White Rose – House of York

On moving to Ludlow a few years ago I found out that one of the major battles of these wars took place only a few hundred yards from where I now live. The Battle of Ludford Bridge 12 October 1459. The Yorkist factions gathered here to make a push into Worcestershire, but fell back when they encountered a large group of Lancastrians led by Henry VI. The two sides took up positions on the opposite banks of the River Teme, but many of the Yorkists deserted during the night and the rest retreated the next day. So a victory for the Lancastrians. It is such a picturesque spot now that it is hard to imagine a battle taking place here.

Let the sun shine in…

The Weekly Photo Challenge is about Doors. Those of you who are regulars to my blog will know that I am quite partial to a door or two. My last post explained about the importance of having the correct colour for your front door so that everything was good in Feng Shui terms. One colour escaped me though. A yellow door. Lo and behold on a house hunting trip to Penzance I spied one across the road. And naturally had to take a photograph.

yellow door

The difference a year makes…

Last year I was involved in a fascinating project run by Lisa of the blog NorthWest Frame of Mind to show what was happening in different parts of the world at the same time of day. One of the most interesting and challenging projects I have participated in. Anyway, one of my ‘hours‘ was to show the back of my Ludlow house and the abandoned allotment.

At the back
THEN
P1220187
NOW

Last year poppies flourished and all matter of weeds wild-flowers grew. This year the plot is smothered in Valerian of all shades – deep red, deep pink and even white. Of the poppies there has been no sign. But the most magnificent rambling rose is tumbling over the wall and the potting shed has practically disappeared from view as the ivy reclaims it.

Last Year

Wild flowers flourish
Nature reclaims
The demise of the potting-shed

This Year

Lovely elderflowers
Beautiful roses
Valerian on the wall
White Valerian
Somewhere amongst this there is a potting shed

And a neigbourhood cat has claimed it for his crash-pad.

P1220199

I shall link this post to the WPC Muse as Ludlow seems to have been a major source of inspiration for my photography over the last four years. The history of this Medieval town is fascinating; its importance hundreds of years ago when royalty lived in and visited the castle; the battles fought here in the War of the Roses. Its very position on the Marches – the turbulent Welsh/English border. With the rolling countryside surrounding the town and the wonderful open-air markets selling local produce along with all the festivals held each year this place has contributed enormously to my blog. I just hope I haven’t bored you 😀

WPC: Vivid

st ives
St Ives Harbour Beach
adjective
  1. producing powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind.
    “memories of that evening were still vivid”
  2. (of a colour) intensely deep or bright.
    “the rhododendron bush provides a vivid splash of mauve”

    I could have gone for a vivid flower for this week’s challenge, as I have seen quite a few this week, but this shot, taken today (Friday 5 June) in St Ives seemed to fit the challenge in more ways than one. Powerful feelings – so much going on in this photograph and intense colours – reds, blues, yellows, not to mention that sky.

    I’m a huge fan of LD’s work the host of this weeks photo challenge and his wonderful street photography, but to see his work in colour you must take a look at the way he visualises the VIVID festival of Sydney, Australia. Simply the best…