How Much is that Kitty in the Window?

Hobo was a street cat who adopted my son one day when she walked in off the street and took up residence in his house. She was well known among the locals, and every day while he was at work she would walk about, visiting and greeting old friends along the way.

 

Hobo

A few years ago my visit to family in the UK coincided with an ‘Art In The Window’ event, where retailers, restaurants and individuals showcased artwork in shop windows and even the front window of their homes.
My son and his partner, both talented artists, had joined in the fun.

The town became an open air art gallery, and it became impossible to “quickly pop out to the shops” – on any journey outdoors I found myself distracted and delayed as the various and varied displays along the way caught my eye.

One morning I was sitting in my son’s front room when I heard a commotion outside on the street. There was lots of ooing and aahing and laughing and a small crowd had gathered in front of his house.

I snuck outside to join them and to try to eavesdrop on what they were saying about the art.

As well as the art on display, they were also looking at this little poser, and wondering how much she was selling for.

Art in the Window

A Photo a Week Challenge: Street Lights. Also: A Revamp

In an effort to motivate myself to contribute more to this blog I have decided to do a make-over.  You may have noticed the name change, from Far Out in Africa to the more appropriate and less restricting (at least I think so) I’ll Give You a Letter For That.

For now not much else will change, but I think the non-Africa posts will seem less irrelevant.

Let me know what you think.

I know the title says A photo a week, but I’m terrible at making decisions.

So I’ve included a number of pictures that ‘may’ fit with the theme, which I took during a visit to the UK to visit family last year.

If you want to play along please visit Nancy Merril‘s post, where you can read the rules and hopefully join in the fun.

Moonset over Glossop in Derbyshire

Small alley in Durham

Durham flower display

Street lights in Newcastle upon Tyne

Crossing the Tyne Bridge, towards Newcastle

An intriguing sculpture stairway in Newcastle

At the Quayside Market, Newcastle

A narrow flight of stairs, Newcastle

 

G for Green is Go and God is Love

 

Snow!

I’m sure many of you are sick of the sight of it but I’ve not had many opportunities to see snow (to be precise, twice) so when it snowed on Boxing Day while I was visiting my family in the UK I was delighted.  That the snowfall coincided with First Born’s first night in the UK – and his first ever experience of snow – made it all the more exciting.

As the first flakes fluttered down we all rushed outside, immediately built a snowman and then gathered as much snow as we could to throw puny snowballs at each other. Our laughter and screams of hilarity drew confused neighbours to their kitchen window and we laughed even more when we heard one of them comment “Oh, it’s OK. They’re foreign”.

It’s not much to look at, but it’s Ours!

Foreign antics

The following morning my Dad took us all for a long walk around Shire Hill. I  love the crunchy noise the snow makes when you walk on it!

The snow had hardened by then but that didn’t make the views any less spectacular.

Looking down on Glossop from Shire Hill

 

More snow was flung around.

And again the neighbours came to have a look.

What’s with these foreigners flinging snow all over the place?

Half way up the hill we found this poignant memorial and we stood still for a moment, the only sounds coming from the wind whistling through the trees and the occasional plaintive bleat from the sheep.

Come and sit for a while, and remember me

We all felt a little sobered, so it was a great relief to the eyes to see a small splash of colour among the white to cheer us up. First Born’s reaction was delightful – “But that’s so English!”.

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Black and White Wood (and a couple of birds)

Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge – Wood

I recently travelled to the UK – to renew my passport, which is another story entirely – and not only did I get my entire family together for our first Christmas in 10 years but I was also lucky enough to experience my first proper snow.

On Boxing Day we went for a walk in the hills around Glossop – the views were breathtaking!

I don’t know if this first picture qualifies as true black and white since I took it in full colour but I love the effect of the white snow on the black tree trunks.

A few days after returning home I spotted this eagle perched in the dead tree above our bedroom:

 

And then a couple of days later we saw this Fish Eagle perched on a tree on the banks of the Zambezi River: