Chester

Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas. We had the usual, too much food, not enough exercise and an overwhelming sense of well being!
We used the poor weather as an excuse not to get out but a few days after, the rain stopped and the sun came out so we decided to venture out into the great outdoors. Only as far as Chester tho!

Dropped the girls off shopping while Carl and I had a wander along the river. It was very high.

Nothing major is flooded in this area, we are extremely lucky and all thoughts go out to everyone who is suffering because of all the rain.

I am loathe to complain about the sun as we don't see it often enough, but it was very bright and very low and I was the wrong side of the river, having to shoot straight into it, so desperate measures were called for. Well, no, actually we just crossed over the bridge and came down the other side of the river.

I can't believe the sky tho, pure bright blue, made such a nice change from all the grey we have been having recently.

The other side of the Dee is uncharted territory for me so it was fabulous to be able to wander around and discover new treasures.

Just loved this sign lurking in the undergrowth. Had to do a fair bit of clambering to get to it and a bit of precarious balancing on the bank, but so worth it. Then as if that wasn't enough, came across this old waterwheel which didn't look like its been used for a long time.

Then back over the bridge to familiar territory. Not the most exciting day I've ever had, but so nice just to get out, enjoy the weather and walk off at least one sprout!

I would like to wish everyone who has read and commented on all my nonsense a wonderful and action packed 2016 and to thank everyone who has helped me during this fabulous year. 

Lessons Learned: It just goes to show that even with a place you go to regularly, there is always something new to find if you look close enough.
You have to walk a long way to burn off Christmas Pud.

Diet Diary: Monday. Been given a Fabulous Christmas Card with a picture of the summit of Snowdon on it reminding me that earlier this year, I was there. It brought it home to me that I couldn't do it now, weight has gone up and fitness levels down. So with renewed determination, diet diary will be back up and running from the 4th. Wish me luck!

Showing Off

Because I usually have to apologize for things I have done, it makes a nice change to have the opportunity to show off about them!
I recently entered a photograph in a competition in The Observer New Review. It was about sharing pictures on the theme of Heaven.
My immediate thought of my idea of heaven is to be walking down a deserted beach while the elements battled around me, which brought me to one of my surfer pictures that I had always been very pleased with.

The Newspaper people seemed to like it as much as I did as they sent me an e-mail last week saying that it may be printed in today's paper, no guarantees.

So the last 2 days went by very slowly and I was waiting on the doorstep of Tesco as it opened. Found the Observer and flicked through. It may seem churlish but at £2.90 a copy I wasn't going to buy one if I wasn't in it. My hands were shaking and I could barely turn the pages, but there it was on page 38! I may have whooped, I can't honestly remember as it is all a bit of a blur. I do remember walking around Tesco with an inane grin on my face clutching 2 copies of the paper (one to show around, one to stroke).

So here it is.

You are now reading the musings of the terminally unfit, but nationally published, photographer! 

Dinorwig

So the day dawned cold and drizzly. Needed to get out for a small hike somewhere to top up the zen. Thought I would head to Snowdonia. Haven't been to the Dinorwig Slate Quarry for ages, and if the weather didn't improve I had the Slate Museum to visit.

So decided to get prepared for any weather eventuality, so checked waterproof trousers, snood, scarf, gloves, hat, spare boots and socks. All set.

It was only when I was almost at Betws-y-coed that I suddenly thought that I didn't remember picking up my coat. Parked up and ransacked the car, no coat. Its the middle of December and I am hiking up a hillside and I have no coat! I really am a danger to myself.

So 3 choices:
a) Go home and get coat - would waste the whole day, so not an option
b) Put up with the cold - really don't like being cold and it would spoil the day
c) Go buy another coat - any excuse to shop!

So helped by a very nice and rather handsome young man in one of the shops (I do seem to find them on my travels!) with the brief of "warm and cheap" I was finally suitably attired. (Would you like a bag? No thank you, I'll wear it, can you cut the tags out please)

So first stop Dinorwig Quarry. You can either walk up from the bottom, which is a very steep climb, or park up halfway and walk the rest. Afraid I wimped out. Fitness levels still not where they should be, so will work up to that one. Its amazing how quickly they drop. Climbed Snowdon in May, don't think I could do it now!

I was looking for a picture for the Derelict Sunday challenge I am hosting on blip for the next 4 weeks, and had a scene in mind.

I love the ruined state of the building with Snowdonia in the background. A dark and dramatic reminder of Snowdonia's industrial past. I tweaked a bit in Lightroom to add a bit more drama and hopefully make it a more powerful shot.

This is one of the Slate Pools that you come across when wandering through the quarry. The scenery is just incredible. You are surrounded by slate mountains on one side, and real ones on the other, it is very imposing and quite humbling when you think of the conditions men had to work and live in.

Much of it is fenced off which is a shame, but I think it would be foolhardy to climb over those fences because it is obviously a very dangerous place to lose your way in.

It was starting to drizzle again by this time so I headed to the Museum which amazingly, is free entry.

There is a very informative short film when you first get there telling you about the history of the quarry and then you are free to just wander around among the bits of machinery left as if the workers had just popped out for lunch.

On this visit, they were well into the Christmas Spirit, so there was more tinsel than you could wave a stick at, and an assortment of Snowmen, Santas and Reindeer, which kind of changed the ambience a tad, especially as I was the only person in there!

Been here many times and I just love it. I seem to find something new to see every time I visit. This time there was a whole new room open with some very interesting dials! 

The main piece of advice for any photographer visiting here is to remember your tripod. The light is very dim throughout and you will probably need some long exposures. It really is worth the inconvenience of lugging it around!

Last stop of the day was at Llyn Padarn. It truly is beautiful, a large lake with views towards Snowdon. 

The dying sun cast some interesting shadows and gave the light a beautifully dramatic feel. 

So I have hiked over slate, clambered up hillsides, photographed lakes and derelict buildings and also got the chance to do some shopping. Zen levels well and truly topped up!

Lessons learned: Leave the new coat in the car for all the other occasions when I am daft enough to forget one.

Diet Diary: You'd think all this hiking would help with the weight loss wouldn't you. It has been suggested that if I stopped visiting all the coffee shops and having slabs of cake, that it might make a difference, but I can't see that myself. What do you mean "denial"?

Cambrian Railway Museum

Definition of panic: The look on your hairdresser's face when you turn up for your appointment a day early.
Definition of embarrassing: See above.

So I had a bit of unexpected free time, and right opposite the salon is the Cambrian Railway Museum, in Oswestry. Never actually been in it, but have parked in their car park for many years, so decided to explore. 

The Museum itself was shut, but there was lots to see outside. During normal opening hours the admission is free which is such a rarity these days!

I have mentioned Blipfoto in earlier posts and I am completely addicted to the photo a day scenario. So much so that I am actually hosting a weekly challenge now. It is specifically for photos with a derelict theme, so thought I would get in early! Plenty to choose from here.

I am loving getting more to grips with Lightroom, as with minimal tweaking, you can give a picture a completely different feel. For the above shot, it worked better in mono and I tried to make the contrast really strong to give a more vintage appearance.

I am still struggling to get the depth of field right tho. I am pleased with how the post and the cobwebs came out, but would have liked the background more blurry, I guess it will come with practice.

Regular readers will know that I do favour a bit of clambering on my trips, but unfortunately there was nothing available here, just a quick sidle past a no entry sign. I guess that will just have to satisfy the wild side for now!

Unfortunately I think there is going to have to be a lot of work done to renovate some of the railway stock here, bearing in mind that I believe it is just a group of volunteers, but well done them for even attempting it.

So back to the hairdressers tomorrow, at the correctly designated time, for the introduction of Rich Raspberry into my hair. Got to love the pink!

Lessons Learned: Have the sense to actually check the diary before leaving the house. 

Diet Diary: What, this close to Christmas, I think not!