Harwell Campus

 

 

This is the new Maderna building on the Harwell Campus

It is built on part of the remaining runway of the old RAF base where they took of for the D Day landings

Not far away is another part of the building this also meant the removal of the Harwell Catapult it's taken over a year to get this far and it looks like it is not far off opening

Back in 2018 I retired from this place Diamond Light Source

I was interested to see this building which I knew was being built, they were talking about it back when I left. Now this one is nearing completion as well. This is where they will build Diamond 2

This is new as well

I'm going to have to find out what it represents

Take Care

St Mary Banbury

 

This week the Church Explorer visits St Mary Banbury a church I have been longing to see inside for a long time. The lat time I visited the church was closed but on this occasion I had driven past on my way to Alkerton and noticed the doors open. On my return I had to collect my son from a nearby hospital ans asked if he minded visiting with me which he was happy to do. The church was open when we got there as there had been a Women's World day of Prayer service and they were having refreshments after they were also happy for me to get some photos. I found the church quite stunning

 

Reflective moments

 

I'll star with this scene I witnessed, the swan you see has just chased off the geese for landing on the lake, it has a mate nesting back the other end of the lake. When the geese landed the sway swam all the wall along the lake and chased the Geese away

Later in the day some reflections I noticed in the lake by the caravan site where we stay 

 

Clouds

 

Trees

 

 

Trees & clouds

 

 

Google effects on this one 

 

Happy SkyWatch

St Michael & All Angels Alkerton

 

 

This week the Church Explorer visits St Michael & All Angels Alkerton. This was one of the churches that is outside Banbury I had been planing to visit. The opportunity for my visit came about when my son had to go to the Horton Hospital in Banbury for a scan. I found out that the church was about 20 mins away so I dropped him off and went off to visit the church.

 

Wednesday Morning

 

Wednesday  after the last sunrise  and this time a beautiful pink hue to the sky

This time rather that out of the window I took it from the back patio

Zoomed in a little

 Going wide

Happy SkyWatch

Daffodil time

 

So a friend of mine who lives in Canada told me about some snowdrops he had growing in his back yard, then today told me he had a ton of snow dumped overnight in the yard so now the snowdrops and under it all. Send daffodil photos to cheer him up. we here they are out of my garden and beyond. Enjoy, first few are form over the road by the pavilion

Couple from the front garden of our house

Only a few out the back, I seem to have lost a few

I'll end with these, they are called Cowslips in case you forgot. My wife bought a few last year and they seem to be doing nicely. Mind you they grow wild up on the bank along the Westfield road near Lollingdon.  Ps can't do the Whisky

Take Care

St Cadoc Raglan

 

 

This week the Church Explorer  visits St Cadoc Raglan the last resting place of the knights of Raglan Castle. I took me two visits to get the photos I wanted.

Into February

  

We  I'm into February  now even though I know its nigh on most of the way through March (all ways good to have a reserve) This was another beautiful sunrise I witnessed which is always good to see in the morning

Looking out of the bedroom window at just gone 7 in the morning

Wider view

 Got to get one out of the bathroom

Even Google got in with an effect

Happy SkyWatch

St Michael Archangel Cwmdu

 

In Wales this we visit St Michael Cwmdu a church I pass on my way to our caravan, It was one I thought about visiting if I had a chance. Well it did on this occasion though the place was locked it did have a large churchyard to look around. 

End of January

 

 The end of January and another suburb sunrise presented itself for me

Out of the bathroom window through the apple tree

Zooming out a to normal setting

Zoomed out

 

In a little with the oak tree

 

Even Google had a go adding an effect though I don't think it made much difference

Happy SkyWatch

 

Collingbourne Ducas

 

Some more photos taken way back when in 2008 0f a village called  Collingbourne Ducas where my wife went dog training, while this was going on I went out for a walk around the village to see what the place was like.

Coming out to the main road looking right and a thatched house, to me it looked like it was an old pub converted, the house to the left looks newer and may have been built in the carpark of the place

The other way another thatched house

Small industrial estate

An actual pub the blue lion, it is still there but under a different name now

 An old mile stone showing it is 10 miles to Marlboro and 10 to Andover

St Andrews the village church

 The barn was old and from the look of the metalwork on the end has a structural problem

 I will leave you with this collage of thatched photos the sculptures you find on the roofs of the thatched houses, the one on the top right I think was a crown

Take care

St Michael Barford St Michael

 

This week the church explorer visits St Michael Barford St Michael a beautiful old church with some superb beak head carvings around the doorway