CLICK ON ANY IMAGE IN A GROUP TO ACCESS ITS ENLARGED GALLERY
A patch of mostly dull and cold weather is giving me ample reasons for continuing with the scanning of the negatives of the long walk of the rather hot July of 2003. Today we are again back on the River Thames in South Oxfordshire.
This was still near enough to normal civilisation for elderly couples to be out walking along the banks.
If there were any footpaths on this stretch, they lay beneath the ripeness of Summer requiring negotiation, in the form of wild flowers attracting bees; grasses in seed; plantains trip over; broad backlit leaves bearing shadows of other floral forms; and convovulous carrying tiny beetles.
One of the latter plants trailed over the river, reflecting on the murky water.
An avian trio perched on the coping stones of a derelict shed in need of replacement tiles;
a pair of peacocks entered into head to head negotiations;
a mallard paddled along ahead of her imprinted offspring;
and a pair of swans introduced their cygnets to further reaches of the Thames.
A flock of sheep grazed alongside what I took to be farm buildings of some sort.
The sun-baked natural world disregarded the two young men taking a leisurely row along the sleepy waters, passing a dangerous-looking weir, and negotiating a narrow lock.
Here, at home, dusk this evening lent a dramatic air to the looming skull of the virtually gutted North Breeze next door.
Shelly and Ron gave me a couple of very good Blason du Rhone Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2015 wines for Christmas. I drank a glass this evening with Jackie’s excellent chicken jalfrezi, and aromatic pilau rice, served with vegetable samosas. My lady finished the Coquimbo.
I just love that roof!
🙂 Many thanks, John
Always serene. Always beautiful
Thanks very much, Lonely
The derelict building reminds me of the cover of the Joe Walsh album ‘Barnstorm’. And the roof above my garage.
Many thanks, Chris
I’ve never seen a peacock in the wild. Your photos are the next best thing, Derrick. I love the shots of the elderly couples strolling…they should be holding hand though! 🙂
Many thanks, Jill. 🙂
Lovely summery photos Derrick!
Many thanks, Pauline
Yes, I took a fancy to that derelict shed too. Such finds are always worth photographing. A great photo gallery again, Derrick.
Very many thanks, Roland
All looks very peaceful Derrick.
It was, Miriam. For most of the way we didn’t see anyone else
That old shed is great, as is the picture of next door’s roof.
Thanks a lot Quercus. I’ve not mentioned next door before because the story of what’s going on keeps changing. The jungle has, however, been completely flattened and the rats are gone.
As I read through the post and got to the end, I thought, “North Breeze has been gutted?” What the heck? That was news.
I’ll let you know what happens in the end, but the story changes by the hour
It’s nice to think of the rats being cleared – must make it much pleasanter.
It does
If I was talented, I’d paint that shed. I especially liked the unintended symmetry in the two elderly couples in the first frame. Even their clothing was almost the same!
Many thanks, Diane. They did fall into place quite nicely
Some wonderful summery pictures! I love the old shed and the close-up of the peacock’s ‘eyes’.
Many thanks, Clare. It’s fascinating how popular the shed is
It is strange how we all find ramshackle and derelict places attractive, perhaps romantic? – as long as we don’t have to care for them ourselves!
🙂
Nice walking with you again Derrick.
Thank you very much, Arlene
I see the duo is still negotiating claustrophobic locks and weirs in the elegant rowboat while their patron saint goes about capturing fascinating silhouettes and shadows in wild vegetation. I love peacocks. We used to have a lot of them around our hometown, they are vanishing gradually due to the continued poaching and ever spreading madness of urbanisation. Dramatic is the burnt down North Bridge in the crepuscular light! And hey, Derrick, enjoy those vegetable samosas! They are the best things you can have on the planet.
Love that derelict shed, imagining the workmanship when it was created. I suspect the sheep are grazing next to a Shearing shed, very similar to ours in Australia.
Many thanks, Ian. I thought one of you might know
No worries mate, normally where there is a good flock of sheep, you can bet your bottom dollar, there’s a shearing shed not too far away.
I’ve been enjoying your series of the River Thames journey. Thanks Derrick.
Many thanks, Ivor. Not done yet
I’m enjoying these summery reminders whilst we wait out the current dreary days, Derrick 🙂
Thanks very much, Sandra
Nice post Derrick. Gary
Many thanks, Gary
Your photos do a lovely job of capturing the heat and the still of the day.
Many thanks, Laurie
Beautiful photos Derrick 🙂
Many thanks, Lakshmi
It is always a delight to see your scan photos Derrick, thought today it was sunny skies although cold today, But I took myself off for a walk..
Love the reflection of the flowers in the water, and the derelict building.. 🙂 And the sunset very dramatic view 🙂 with the sharp angles of the building.. 🙂
Hope you are enjoy your week Derrick <3
Very many thanks, Sue. Yep. Good week so far. I wish you the same X
Thank you Derrick 🙂
These are remarkably beautiful photos, Derrick.
Many thanks, Merril
Very fine photography. I especially like the backlit leaves.
Many thanks, Leslie
I love that photo of the shed!
Many thanks, Lynn.
Getting a bit worried about those blokes in the boat. Are they lost? Do you think we should send for Capt Cook to save them?
I just fancied a change 🙂 More to come, perhaps today
Well I should hope so
🙂 Just tried to link to the Spitalfields post – took several goes to get on then got database error when I commented and tried to follow. Thanks anyway – it looks good
Many beautiful photos, I like the roof capture especially.
Thanks very much, Amy
I love that photo of the elderly walkers, two by two. Love that shed (feeling a bit like it).
I can see what happened to Narcissus 🙂
I wonder what would happen if the peacock got into the water – would it get dragged under by the weight of those plumes?
Thanks very much, Mary. Interesting thought about the peacock
🙂
A beautiful day back in 2003, Derrick! The shed is interesting. Are those terra cotta tiles? They look like they would weight a bit. The support structure underneath appears to be buckling.
Many thanks, Lavinia. You are right about the tiles on both counts