The Xmas Bridge

Remember my X is for Xmas post  showing the bridge that was being demolished well this is what it used to look like.

And this is how it looks now.

Not quite the same as Brunell built it.

Z is for Zepher

This last letter had me thinking  And my first thought was for Zebedee spring which is somthing that is used in industry and we have plenty at work  but after  looking  through some of my Flickr photos and noticed this Zepher MkII, which is much more interesting to look at and I'm a sucker for classic cars.

Z also stands for Zodiac like this one below.

Or this Zodiac rag top I spotted at another show.

Taking part in Blogging from A to Z.
 After entering Blogging from A to Z at the suggestion of fellow blogger Dana I set out to show a different photo each day representing a letter from the alphabet, at times I felt I would fail but I have made it to the end. It's given me the encouragement to try again only this time I will prepare in advance  and have a theme. Thank you to all who have visited my blog and commented I hope you will return.

Y is for Yellow

I did also think of using Yacht but I could find one to use so it is yellow today. Yellow is one of those colors which brighten the place up and heralds the advent of spring.

Daffodils appear along the roadsides and brighten the most dismal day.

 Looking round my garden for influence I spotted this pansy

 Primroses seem to pop up all over the place

 Even the humble weed the dandelion brings its shine to the place.
Taking part in Blogging from A to Z

Sunday Photo

A path in the woods

X is for Xmas

I struggled with this one bit like I will for Y & Z but I thought Xmas would do. It's a name I hate as I prefer Christmas but looking it up on Wiki I see it dates back to the 16 century. Since 2008 I have bee going out on Christmas day and taking a photo for Geograph at Midday so here are a few.

Xmas day2010 Cholsey Church in the snow

Xmas Day 2011 Bridge demolition near Goring this was the second attempt.

 Xmas day 2012 Wallingford Bridge in the floods
Taking Part in Blogging from A to Z

W is for Weir

Weirs are barriers across rivers to alter the flow characteristics and help prevent flooding. The river Thames has many along it's course some more impressive than others.

Abingdon weir with gates open

And where the water flows the weirpool.

One of the nicer ones along the Thames, Buscot Weir.
Taking part in Blogging from A to Z

V is for VW

VW , Volkswagen or Vdub  the car is a legend in it's own right know all over the world. personally I have never owned a dub though we did have a T5 California for a few years.

One we all recognize and love, Herbie who has not seen the film.






 

 His racing big brother

with the fire breathing engine

and stretched limo version.









But my personal favorites are the camper Vans

Loved by Hippies

Families off camping

Or just cruising around.

Taking part in Blogging from A to Z

T is for Tony

And the tony I'm taling about is Tony Blair the ex priminister of the UK who will be rememberded for the wrong reason. He visited Diamond while he was leader.

 The small daius he was th make the speech from

 Tanking to the staff

Takeing Part in Blogging from A to Z

U is for U bend

They come in various guises like the one under the sink or in a road but the ones I find most interesting are the ones in rivers, so much nicer to look at. I found the best ones were on the upper Thames  from Oxford To Lechlaide

They also call them horseshoe bends as they tend to be that shape. This one is near Kelmscot. The one below is near Rushley Lock.

The one below I blogged a while ago and is taken near Buscot.

Taking part in Blogging from A to Z

S is for Synchrotron

Now most of you will wonder what a Synchroton is the link I added should tell you better than me. I work at one called the Diamond Light Source where I have been for the last eight years.

This is how it looked when I started, my office I work out of now is near the crane to the right.

 Diamond Light Source as you see it today, the office I work from is to the right near the blister sticking out.


Now the place looks a lot different

Q is for Queen

Yes we are talking Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty opened the Diamond Light Source on the 19 October 2007 unfortunately I did not get to meet her but I did meet and shake hands with the Duke of Edinburgh.

This was the staff entrance for the day and the entrance for guests

 The reception area at Luchtime for invited guests, including me

 The Queen did the official opening on this dais unveiling a sculpture make buy an artiest in Residence

This is another piece of artwork done by the WI which was on show.

The dining area for guests, must admit I did feel a little out  of place with the VIP's

This is the sculpture the queen unveiled on the dais seen earlier, it now stands in the Diamond House Atrium .

The Red Devils rounded the day off.

   Taking Part in Blogging  from A to Z

P is for Primrose

Apart from Snowdrops Primroses are my favorite flower. Snowdrops to me herald  the beginning of the new year and Primroses the beginning of spring. The nicest ones I always think are the ones which grow wild. This one is in the churchyard at Kelmscot.

Taking part in Blogging from A to Z

R is for River

There are many rivers in the UK but the longest and most famous has to be the River Thames this is looking towards St Peters Church in Wallingford.

Taking part in Blogging from A to Z

The Thames at Benson Lock

View towards St Helen's church in Benson from the end of the lock chamber

The Thames at Benson

O is for Office

 When I first started working at Diamond Light Source the main office block looked like this, I was working out of a portacabin.

Now as you can see it looks a lot different

Inside the place is spacious and modern and after 35 years working from a bench I found it different to have a desk.

Tanking part in Blogging from A to Z

N is for Nigel

We are talking Nigel Mansell here the  British F1 World Champion and CART Champion and the only person to win the two simultaneously.

A you can see I have his autograph on a couple of photos, helped knowing his crew chief Dave Brown. I also have his autograph on his book and a couple of Isle of Man first day motorsport covers.

Taking Part in Blogging from A to Z