Symmetry

A pair of doves, nothing special about that you might say. Until you notice that they are standing as mirror images of each other, now that you must admit is a bit weird.

The Hutton Cranswick Affair

Here's a place I've only ever passed through on the train.
It's a quiet village that serves as a dormitory for Hull and Bridlington. Wikipedia informs that it has a large village green and two shops.
The main (should that be only?) thing I know about Hutton Cranswick is its connection with a horse racing scandal in the early 1980s. A horse called Flockton Grey was substituted with an older and stronger horse called Good Hand who romped home at odds of 10-1. The bookies became suspicious and an investigation found the trainer and two others had been  naughty boys. Flockton Grey was supposed to be stabled near Hutton Cranswick but its exact whereabouts were a bit of a mystery. Flockton Grey died at the age of 29 two years ago. You can read more here.
I'm sure Hutton Cranswick is a lovely place it's just that I've never been there, maybe someday ... 

Wilberforce Museum

At the top of the High Street in Hull's old town stands the Wilberforce Museum in the house where William Wilberforce lived. Three years ago there was a big celebration of the bicentenary of the passage of the Slave Trade Act with signs attached to every lamppost in the city urging people to sign an anti-slavery petition. A film "Amazing Grace" was made about the struggle to pass the legislation. I'm not sure what good all this did and the cynic in me thinks it was just an excuse to waste public money on entertaining celebrities.
If you go to the museum you can tell me what it's like since I've never been inside the place.

Dragons

Another tree in the Avenues area that has been carved into something wondrous. I posted one before here.

Birds of a feather

...flock together.  

Roe, a deer ...

 

Taking my usual constitutional walk yesterday I came across these Roe deer. I think they were surprised to see anyone out and about and they soon ran off but not before I managed these shots.

Opening

Geese and Ducks

The water birds in Pearson Park are having a tough time in this cold weather. Whenever anyone passes by they mob around hoping for food, fortunately they usually get some bread to keep them going. The Canada geese can be particularly enthusiastic and will nip your fingers if you let them.

Fubar

They say it's bad luck to change the name of ships and maybe the same applies to pubs. Here is what used to be the Mainbrace pub on Hull's Beverley Road. For many years it was a successful pub especially with the student crowd that use Beverley Road for pub crawls. Then about two years ago it was all change and it became the Fubar. I don't know what the reasons were but this pub is now closed and is in the process of becoming a block of flats and offices.
Find out what fubar means here; now you can see what an apt name it is.

George

On a cold day the Victorian Conservatory in Pearson Park is a nice warm place to spend half an hour. George the iguana is a particularly colourful attraction. This picture may be a little misty, the humidity in this place is extreme.

Winter draws on

Despite a month of bitterly cold weather officially Winter only starts today. Last night it was -13C which is just a bit ridiculous but the local paper threatens us with  -20C, luckily the local paper is seldom right.

An update

The building that I showed being built in August has now reached this state. I think it's due for completion in 2012. It's going to be an all in one health centre and social care place. It's lucky they got started before the cuts in public spending really begin to hit.

Health foods?

A slice of toast is much tastier than boring old nuts and seeds.

Walking the dogs

A passing wintry shower is not going to stop these dogs having their walk.

Winter Jasmine

With more snow and cold weather forecast it's always nice to see a bit of colour.

Toad of Toad Hall

The Larkin toads were auctioned off a few weeks ago. This one obviously landed on its feet in a fine house in Cottingham.

Three Cheers for the Parakeet

In June I posted about these birds and their taste for gold. The recent bitterly cold weather does not seem to have done them any harm and they seem quite settled into Cottingham church.
 

Ominous sign

You come across some strange signs as you pass through this life. What deep excavation could there be in Cottingham station?

The Black Mill, Beverley

The Old Corn Exchange, Beverley

Built in 1886 as a Corn Exchange, Butter Market and Baths this building has seen service as an infants school, then as the Picture Playhouse until 2003 and now it's a department store.

Civic Statuary

High above the entrance to the old County Court sits this statue that I assume is meant to represent justice since it has a set of scales in its hands. Sitting on top of this is another monumental sculpture part of a group representing The Daughters of Neptune  which appeared in an earlier post. These are by A H Hodge who did lots of monumental stuff at the turn of the last century.

Larkin Statue

Recently installed in Hull's Paragon Station this larger than life statue of Philip Larkin completes a far too long jamboree of arty celebrations of the death 25 years ago of this somewhat overrated wordsmith.

Ice fountain

Big Charley in the snow

Charley is a big cat, the biggest I've ever seen, but he really hates deep snow. He much prefers the warmth of Summer.

Icicles

When all this snow and ice is gone the gutters are going to need fixing; every joint has icicles hanging from it.

It's still cold ....

Dunnock

Depending on your politics this is either a dunnock , a hedge sparrow or a hedge accentor, possibly a hedge warbler. Either way it's a pretty enough little brown thing with a complicated social life and sexual habits you wouldn't believe.
Normally they creep around under bushes but the cold weather brought them closer to the bird table and the camera.
I thank Margot Juby for letting me use this photo.

Cottingham Church in Snow

I forged my way through snow and ice to bring you this view of Cottingham Church.

Snowman

There's over 15 inches/38 centimetres of snow in my  drive way, the roads and footpaths are a mess. Public transport has halted. So I'm not going far. This delightful snowman was just across the road so it was no problem to photograph it.

Feed the birds

It is important in snowy conditions to remember to feed the birds, they lose heat ever so quickly especially under an avalanche like this.

Time

View from the mediaeval churchyard of St Mary's Lowgate. 

This month's theme day topic is time. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Fall

The sudden drop in temperatures has forced a rush to shed this year's leaves. It's forecast that we shall have record low temperatures this week along with lots of snow and it's still Autumn.

Tracks in the snow

A spell of wintry weather is always an opportunity for a photo.

Grotesques

Three grotesques from near the entrance to Bridlington Priory.

University of Lincoln, Hull

The question why there is a University of Lincoln in Hull need not detain you as the place is closing in a year or two leaving an large empty building in the centre of town. You can't have too many empty office blocks.

Princes Quay Reflections

Reflecting the old warehouse on Posterngate I showed you some time back here.

Syntan

The Syntan was built in 1949 to carry coal and raw materials to the tanneries of Beverley. This ended in 1970 and the ship lay idle for nearly 20 years until restored and made into a working exhibition on Beverley Beck. You can hire the Syntan for trips down the river Hull and onto the Humber. You're thinking there's got to be a website about this somewhere and it's here.

Syntan is "a contraction of "synthetic tannins," which are chemicals that combine with, or affect, the protein constituents of hides and skins and produce a product that is flexible, porous, and has the desirable qualities of leather"  says this site. So now you know as much as me.

Nixie Plonks

Strange name for a shop, Nixie Plonks, . The story goes that when the owner was a little girl she would pester her father for sweets and treats; and his response was always "I've got nixie plonk for you". The shop is on Queen Street and sells all kinds of bit and bobs and as the sign says the prices are right.

The Bayle, Bridlington

The Bayle is the former gatehouse to the Augustinian priory I posted yesterday. It was built in the 12th century. In olden times a religious institution had other functions as the priory was given the right to crenellate its walls, that is to make them into defensible walls. Today, however,  the Bayle is a Grade I listed Building and scheduled Ancient Monument.
There's museum in the building which has a website here. 

Bridlington Priory

 

It's a fair bet that 99% of the thousands who flock to Bridlington for the seaside fun have no idea that just up the road from the beach and the bright lights sits this imposing mediaeval edifice. This 12th century priory pretty much owned most of East Yorkshire at one time.The Dissolution of the Monasteries was bad news with most of the buildings being demolished, some to build the harbour piers. You can read more here and there are more pictures here. I couldn't get inside to take pictures as there was a service going on.

Why are the towers different? Your guess is as good as mine.

Boat Lift

This odd looking device is a boat lift used for cleaning and repairing  fishing boats.