Croquet in the Afternoon

A relaxing, pleasant and informative afternoon watching and photographing a Croquet Tournament at Ramsgate Croquet Club on the West Cliff.

I play Croquet and it was interesting to study some of the better players of the game and understand their tactics and playing styles.

Now, if you don’t know Croquet, here is a quick explanation.

The object of the game is to get both your two balls through the hoops in order and ‘peg out’ both balls by hitting the centre peg. A player strikes one of his balls and, if he hits another ball or runs a hoop he gets another shot. By hitting another ball with his ball (a roquet) he takes ‘croquet’ from that ball and then with a ‘continuation stroke’ he either runs a hoop or strikes another ball. Should he fail to do either his turn ends. The winner is the first player to run the hoops and ‘peg out’ both his balls. It is a game of strategy, tactics and skill.

Here are some of the ‘action shot’ from this afternoon.

Taking ‘croquet’ using a roll shot to approach the hoop:

Running the hoop with a ball waiting:

If you are the ‘out’ player you can only watch as your opponent goes round the lawn  in one go:

The lawns attract Gulls – we don’t know why!

If you are interested in playing this fascinating game then come along to Ramsgate Croquet Club on Royal Esplanade on the West Cliff, Ramsgate or visit our website.

There will be a warm welcome waiting.

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Holy Blooms

St. Nicholas Church at Wade in Thanet held a Flower Festival over the weekend.

Church Entrance and Interior:

We went along. The show was entitled ‘The Fragrance of Jesus’ and each display was accompanied by words from the New Testament.

Taking photographs proved a bit of a challenge as I didn’t want to use a flash but for a couple I had to use my ring flash because of the low lighting.  The light from the stained glass windows made an interesting background to the displays.

Bridge Chapel:

This little area of the church is where ancestors of Sir Robert Bridges (Poet Laureate) are interred.

Here are a few of the displays

Display Number 14:

Display 2:

Display 3 – Allium:

Allium close-up:

Star Gazer Lily:

Gerbera:

A lovely display that I enjoyed looking at and photographing.

I trust you enjoy them as well.

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Out in the Sunshine

Since the wedding (see previous post) I have been busy sorting out the 400+ images and creating an album for the family.  I am also working on a slide show set to music but I have not yet found a piece of music of the correct duration

Has any one got a suggestion as to a romantic piece of music of approx 8-10 mins in duration?   No songs though as I don’t know what their tastes are but a choral piece would do fine.

I have made it out into the fresh air as Mae thinks I am glued to the computer.

On Tuesday we were in Broadstairs. It was a lovely day and we had a cup of coffee overlooking the harbour. It was really warm in the sunshine – until a cloud came over.

From the clifftop looking out to sea beyond the harbour the Wind Farm Array under construction can be clearly seen.

Click on this image and, although faint, the turbines can be seen.  The view from Broadstairs will never be the same!

On Thursday I took a walk round Nethercourt Estate.  The Avenues are looking great with the trees in blossom.

This trio is at the top of Thirlmere Avenue

Now the sun seems to be getting out on a more permanent basis I suppose that means I will have to be as well.

More ‘outdoor’ photographs in my next post.

Click on the images to see them full size. They were all taken on my little Canon Powershot.

The answer to a previous post Ramsgate Harbour Sunshine as to where this mural can be found:

It is on the wall of Pete’s Fish Factory in Harbour Parade:

I don’t know how long it has been there but it is not easily seen as it is tucked up Kent Passage and is usually in shadow and I have walked passed it many, many times without seeing it.

No-one answered correctly but thanks for looking and your comments.

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Ramsgate Harbour Sunshine

Ramsgate Harbour

It was such a nice morning that we went into Ramsgate Town Centre and had a walk along the Harbour Wall.  The sea was like a mill pond.

Ramsgate from the Eastern Arm, Ramsgate Harbour:

Ramsgate Harbour and it’s two Ferries:

The new Ferry towers over the old one and both dominate the harbour.

Here is one of my ‘How well do you know Ramsgate’ puzzles.

Where can this mural be seen?

A clue is in the painting itself.  I have enhanced the colours a bit to make the painting easier to see.   This one is very easily missed though.

No prizes for a correct answer but  please try anyway.

Click on an image to see it at it’s best  as the thumb prints seem a little blurry – I don’t know why.

We sat and watched the world go by for a while.  Very pleasant it was too.  Then it was home to cut the grass.  I couldn’t believe how much it has grown in a week.

A last minute entry to this post.

I saw a couple of bats in our garden this evening as dusk was falling. Chasing flying insects they were.

I have never seen that before.

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Blue Sea and Sky in Broadstairs

Today was such a nice day that we decided to take a walk along the seafront in Broadstairs.  We started at Dumpton Gap and strolled along the promenade towards Broadstairs. It was lovely hearing the sea lap against the sea wall and feel the warmth of the sun on our faces. There was a bit of chill to the wind but we had fleeces on so it didn’t bother us.

Viking Bay and Broadstairs Harbour looked really nice and there were lots of workers painting and tidying up the ammenities.

We had a cup of tea at the Pavilion on the Sands and enjoyed the sunshine.

It was so nice to be able to do this, and in March!

We walked back to Dumpton Gap on the cliff top.

We think there has been a bit of a ‘chalk slide’ at Dumpton Gap as this looks fairly recent to us (at least since we last walked this way).

Spring appears to have arrived.

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North Foreland Lighthouse and Wind Turbines

Today, while Mae was visiting a nearby house, I took some photographs of  North Foreland Light House.

I had hoped for a bright sunny day. Instead I got grey clouds and a bitterly cold wind.

This is the second time I have been in this area all geared up ready to take that ‘defining’ photograph of the lighthouse, you know the sort, blue skies as a backdrop to a brilliant white building.  This was the best I could manage.

I then went to Joss Bay to look at the construction of the Thanet Offshore Wind Farm.

The Thanet project is located approximately 11 km to the east of Margate, Kent.

The Thanet project will comprise 100 Vestas V90 wind turbines and have a total capacity of 300 MW which is sufficient to supply approximately 240,000 homes per year with green energy.

I didn’t linger long taking photographs as it was freezing and my eyes were watering trying to focus on the vessel. It was then back into the warmth of the car to wait outside the house where Mae was to continue reading the last book in the ‘Flashman’ series. (A good read).

When will we get some warmth?

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Nethercourt Snow Scenes

I went to bed last night after wistfully looking outside at the winter wonderland that was the Nethercourt Estate. I am recovering from a chest infection so really have only been able to look out of the window all week. I haven’t mentioned it earlier as my daughters have told me that the only way they hear about ‘things’ was through my blog. So, they were told first. I am now getting over it (oops – I haven’t told them that!). Mae is suffering now.
I wanted to go out and take some photographs of the snow at night, hence my ‘wistful looking’, as the night took on an eerie glow and the street lighting created a yellow glow all around. Mae told me I would be ‘mad’ to go out (there would be no sympathy should I do so).

This morning was different. I made the excuse of having to feed the birds and wrapped up warm out I went and, of course, my camera ‘happened’ to be with me.
Here are some of the photographs I took.

Bird Bath with snow piled on top creating a crown.

The branches of the trees were heavily laden with snow.

I sneaked out to the front of the house and took these photographs of Nethercourt Estate.
Windermere Avenue in the snow.

Thirlmere Avenue in monochrome.

I also wanted to sit in the bird hide as the garden was busy (Bluetits, Chaffinches, Black Birds, Sparrow, Dunnocks and the Robin) but I knew I would be pushing my luck should I do so. I have promised myself that over the weekend I will observe from my hide and hopefully get my shot of a Robin in the snow.

I am sucking Menthol-lyptus sweets by the packet to stave off the coughing in an effort to show that I am fit and well.

I’ll let you know how I get on.

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Dumpton Gap to Viking Bay

Our favourite walk is along the promenade from Dumpton Gap, Broadstairs to Viking Bay and the Harbour at Broadstairs.

It is a lovely walk as the sea air lifts the spirits and the sound of the waves lapping on the beach relaxes the soul. Viking Bay and Broadstairs Harbour gradually come into view as the promenade winds it’s way round the cliff face.

I do not know how many times we have done this walk but I always am impressed by the sight of the Harbour as you approach it from Dumpton Gap.

We had a cup of coffee from the Cafe on the beach and as I am forever trying to find new angles from which to photograph the harbour I saw this and thought it would be different.

We then made our way to the Promenade overlooking the beach and harbour and walked back to Dumpton Gap and our car.

What a pleasant morning we had before the rain fell by the bucket full in the afternoon.

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Another Musical Weekend

On Saturday the Knightriders played at the Summer Party at St. Clement Church’s Hall, Sandwich.

This was our inaugural outing as a group. The Knightriders take their name from the street leading to St. Clement Church. We play Music of the Ceilidh.
Céilidh is a traditional Gaelic social dance originating in Ireland and Scotland. The music is played by an assortment of fiddle, flute, tin whistle, accordion, bodhrán, and nowadays can also include drums and electric bass guitar. The music is cheerful and lively. The dances in the modern Scots céilidh are ‘couple dances’ performed in a ring. These can be performed by fixed couples or in the more sociable “progressive” manner, with the lady moving to the next gentleman in the ring at or near the end of each repetition of the steps. and the basic steps can be learned easily; a short instructional session is often provided for new dancers before the start of the dance.
I am grateful to John for allowing me to use this image in my post.

We enjoyed playing and we hope our audience enjoyed listening!

On Sunday it was off to Quex Park for the ‘Spitfire Prom’.

What a great evening it was.

As you can see from this image we had a good view.

The National Symphony Orchestra played the Spitfire Prelude & Fugue by Walton while a Spitfire Flew over-head putting on a fantastic display.

These are the best images I could get that weren’t blurred or the aircraft too small. I did get this though:

This would have been the best shot of the evening but unfortunately I only got half of the Spitfire. Such is life!

The evening finished with the usual prom favourites. Fantasia on Sea Songs. This one is where the audience clap as the music accelerates but, as always, losing the beat in the last four bars (I could explain how it is always so but that would spoil the fun!). Rule Brittannia and Jerusalem were followed by ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ (Pomp and Circumstance March No.1). How uplifting these tunes and words are.

A huge Firework Display ended a brilliant evening.
We went home, tired, hoarse but full of patriotism.

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Essex Police Helicopter over Ramsgate – Update

Further to my earlier post about the Essex Police Helicopter over Ramsgate on Saturday18th July 2009.
I understand that on this Saturday there were two incidents. One was an elderly vulnerable woman missing and the other was a robbery.

My information is that there was a robbery (mugging) where a woman was attacked in the alleyway leading from Manston Road (railway bridge) onto the Nethercourt Estate. I know no more about the missing elderly woman but I do not think the incidents are related.

I am grateful to those who posted comments and to friends who told me what they know.

I am surprised that this story was not picked up by our local newspapers or Television news. After all it is not everyday that a Police helicopter is called in to assist our local Constabulary. If it has been in the local papers I must have missed it!

If you know more please let me know.

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