Jun 1 2017

Thursday Doors, 1/6/17, door paintings…

At the moment, I’m back in Cyprus, with the intention of clearing “stuff” from my house.

You know, that stuff that accumulates through your life, sentimental, inherited, from hobbies and just, well, stuff.

I decided to tackle my art folder. Art has followed me around all my life. Somewhere in Uk, there is even my Art college work, but that’s in my sister’s loft, so can wait, it’s not in Cyprus, so it isn’t current stuff.

Whilst trawling through old art pads I came across these door paintings I did in 1997 and 1998, 3 doors from Malta and one from Nicosia. I’ll save the Cretan door poster I bought in 1982 ( honestly) for another week!

Even then, all those years ago I was a door girl 🙂  Continue reading →

May 29 2017

Weekly Photo challenge : Evanescent…

This week, WordPress weekly photo challenge asks us to show us a moment in time that holds meaning for you.

My photo was taken under the bridge that connects the mainland of Oman to Shannah port for the ferry to the island of Masirah.

I was using my new camera, a Fujifilm X-T20 and I had little idea of the settings when I took this, having been taught manual photography in the Nikon world. Each time you move, you have to understand the product-speak to relate to what you know..

( I am impatient, black mark) but a lesson to self, this is a camera that needs to be loved and cared for, the results are incredible

My past is in art and I see this shot in this way, even though the exposure is all wrong, the colours are intensified, it just gives a clue to what you can do to play with a picture…This shot is my played out and edited result…

 

Under the long Shannah bridge….

Evanescent

 

May 29 2017

Monday Window: Amsterdam windows (2), 29/5/17

Well now, there are so many windows in Amsterdam worthy of posting it was hard to know which to choose.

So I decided to start at the beginning instead of randomly choosing.

The first day I took a canal trip to relax, get my bearings and enjoy puttering around the central canals, building and people watching. Come and join me to crane upwards to admire the architecture and of course, the windows… Continue reading →

May 26 2017

Skywatch Friday: 26/5/17…

Sunset through the wires. Glorious colour in this sunset, but just catching a peek of it from my garden. The wires are in the wrong place for sunset photos!

Linking with Skywatch Friday…

May 25 2017

Thursday doors, Pombal, Portugal, 25/5/17…

Whilst I was on my travels in Europe in April, I also headed off to Portugal to connect with some dear friends from the Middle East who have chosen to settle in Central Portugal. (Cue to use a poppy photo from Central Portugal as my featured image, trying to sneak them in!) Continue reading →

May 22 2017

Weekly Photo Challenge: Heritage (1) …

Cyprus Heritage.

Woman with child, circa, 2000-1800 BC, terracotta.
I photographed this figurine in the wonderful British Museum, London on my visit in 2016.

The flattened form of these distinctive terracotta sculptures has led to the term “plank figurines”. They have been found in both graves and settlements, but their function is uncertain. They are usually interpreted as either a mother goddess or a woman with a child. Not all examples hold children however, and the sex of others is unclear. Nonetheless they are probably connected with fertility, childbirth and sexuality.

Isn’t this a beautiful heritage example from ancient times in Cyprus?

Heritage

May 22 2017

Monday Window: 22/5/17, Tomar Manueline window…

During my recent travels, I visited the Convent of Christ at Tomar in Central Portugal.

Known by art historians as being of the Manueline style, the windows are the most fanciful I have ever been lucky enough to see.

More on the beautiful town of Tomar and its castle and convent at a later date.

For today, just a little tempter…. Continue reading →

May 21 2017

Weekly Photo Challenge: Heritage…

Camel racing is part of the heritage of the Middle East.

Taken at the Al Marmoum camel racetrack, Dubai.

 

Heritage

May 19 2017

Skywatch Friday: 18/5/17…

It’s not a painting, it’s just a photo of the sunset painting the sky.

Another magical May sunset in Paphos, Cyprus.

Linking with Skywatch Friday…

May 17 2017

Thursday Doors, Amsterdam, Part 1, 18/5/17…

When you read “Part 1”, you just kind of know it’s going to portend multiple posts. Yes, frankly, it will. Amsterdam is just utter door heaven.

Instead of substance ecstasy, I was maybe unique in having door ecstasy during my weekend in town.  Continue reading →

May 15 2017

Monday Window 15/5/17: Glastonbury Magik….

Easter is now usually spent with darling girl in Bristol, UK. Each time I visit, a car is hired and off we go exploring the neighboring countryside on my travels with my daughter.

This time Glastonbury was on the to-visit list. In looking for a succinct precis for a bit of historical padding for those who haven’t had the pleasure of Glastonbury, I came across “A History of Glastonbury“: by Tim Lambert. ( Well worth a full read if you are interested) Continue reading →

May 11 2017

Weekly Photo Challenge: Reflecting…

Refracted light reflections create an abstract background for this beautiful little jellyfish…

Reflecting

May 11 2017

Thursday Doors, Streetside in Hue, Vietnam, 11/5/17.

It’s been a while since I’ve put words into WordPress. Travel and a tragedy removed my focus from the weekly challenges and my fingers haven’t felt like hitting the keyboard.

But it’s time to get back into the swing of things and whilst trying to be more organised with my photo library, I have unearthed some more doors from my trip to Hue in Vietnam last November. Continue reading →

Apr 15 2017

To my absent friend…

Two weeks ago, my best friend and I, after an evening of chat, a bit of gossip, a lot of laughs and few moans, had put our world’s to right for the evening.

Hugging our goodbyes on the doorstep, a date to repeat the same a month ahead, once I returned from my latest travels, we parted

Now we have parted forever. Continue reading →

Mar 29 2017

Wordless Wednesday…

Barbary Nut (iris Sisyrinchium), flowering in the wild in Cyprus. They flower for a couple of weeks only, the heat wilts them…

Mar 27 2017

Monday Window: Shinde Chatri, Pune, India, 27/3/17…

During my tour of the history of Pune city, a visit was made to Shinde Chatri, a memorial to 18th-century military leader Mahadji Shinde.

The Anglo-Rajasthani style of construction has exquisite and detailed carvings and an imposing three-storey facade. Within the building is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Photographs inside are forbidden, but I did snap one before I was advised of the rule and kindly admonished. Continue reading →

Mar 26 2017

Weekly Photo Challenge: It IS easy being green…

It’s spring and I’m away from the desert now, so it IS very easy being green, green is everywhere…

It IS Easy Being Green!

Mar 24 2017

Skywatch Friday, 24/3/17…

Fresh and clear blue beach walking days with fluffy, scudding clouds in Cyprus, during March.

Can you feel that breeze in your face on the beach-side walk?

Linking with Skywatch Friday.