~ Buying and Selling around the Globe ~

This week’s challenge for Monochrome Madness is hosted by Margaret and the theme is Buying and Selling.

We stopped at Williams (also the name of the town) many years ago for a break on our way down South. Of course dear hubby couldn’t resist picking up a new sweater, made in Australia of course.

People queuing up outside the Prada shop in Bicester — Bicester, England

A spot of colour for this one. This is the shopping outlet in Bicester, England. Famous for high end shops like Prada for heavily discounted items.

Another one from Bicester. Here I am with my sister-in-law and my dear mum. As you can see we are all heavily laden having bought many items. A lovely day to look back on.

Taken in Corfu Old Town as we were sauntering down one of the small streets. I was intrigued as to how witches and ice cream went together. A couple inside the shop buying ice cream.

A scarf shop in Hyderabad, a merchant offering his wares. — Hyderabad, India

My son and his wife looking to buy gifts for friends back home. The shop owner patiently waiting for a sale. Maddy is not one for haggling, luckily Laurence learnt from the best – his own dear father.

Another pop of colour for this one. A buyer haggling for a better price with the seller. This was taken as we walked along this cobble stoned street in Gjirokastër, Albania. There are certain places where haggling is acceptable and even expected.

A shop front in Brick Lane. An advert for paper bags and other kind of paper. From decades before. — Brick Lane, London

This is from Brick Lane, London. The original signs are still up. It looks like an apartment now.

The last one also from London. I am standing outside my favourite perfume shop. Of course I couldn’t go in and not buy a bottle!

A fun challenge and a chance to wander down memory lane once again. I’m also linking to Leane’s Monochrome Madness post as Leane is the lady who started it all.

~ Sip, Sip, Hooray ~

Who doesn’t love fruit, it’s even better in a cocktail!

For Debbie’s One Word Sunday

~ A Town Mouse or a Country Mouse, which one are you? ~

This is the question posed by Tina from Travels and Trifles this week. We are all familiar with the famous story by Aesop from our childhood. The moral of the story is “living a simple and happy life is better than living an extravagant life with constant fear“.

Of course we all want a happy life, not so sure about simple. I love living near a city, but not in one, just near enough to get an exciting vibe whenever I feel the need. On the otherhand, I do like the peace and quiet of the Perth suburbs.

Having lived and worked in London and also Hong Kong, I enjoyed the hustle and bustle of city life. We lived in the countryside in Hong Kong, an anomaly right there, but it wasn’t too far to drive into the city.

Hong Kong City – Day & Night

Hong Kong Countryside

Perth – Countryside and City

I love a city break for two or three nights, see the sights and visit fancy restaurants. Coming home to my serene suburban life is always welcome at the end.

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~ Participate in the Lens Artist Challenge: Capture Lines, Patterns and Colours ~

The Lens Artist Challenge this week is brought to us by Johnbo @ Journeys with Johnbo. He’s explained it well and we’re looking for photos that feature compositional elements like lines, patterns, or colours. Maybe we can find all three in one photo.

Bats in fronds, cables, clouds and birds on a wire

Munchkins one and two at the Airship Orchestra event at our local shopping centre.

Munchkin one is seven!

A colourful carousel featuring lines, patterns and colour

Remains of The West Pier in Brighton, designed by Eugenius Birch in 1866. Sadly beyond repair, but glorious in its hey day.

Brighton i360, an observation tower. An eyesore to be sure and not quite fitting with the surrounding Georgian architecture.

Thank you Johnbo for an interesting and entertaining challenge.

~ A Homegrown Lettuce for One Word Sunday ~

An easy choice from Debbie at Travel with Intent this week, the word is Green.

A magnificent lettuce from my brother’s garden in Essex. Although he was fairly miffed when I picked it for salad at dinner. Apparently there is a certain way to do this for regrowth. I hope it did grow again.

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~ A Riot of Reds Around the World~

As we near the end of Becky’s Red Squares for July, I went all out for the last day. Incorporating boats, doors, umbrellas and flowers for a fun fiesta of reds.

Looking forward to joining in more challenges soon.

~ Shots of Street Lamps in Monochrome ~

This week’s theme for Monochrome Madness is Street Lamps. Chosen by Brian @ BushBoy’s World.

I looked through my archives and found a few, they make lovely shots, especially when transformed into monotone. The old wrought iron and lacework make the best photos. Obviously, lighting has changed over the years to be more practical. Still, a street looks so much more interesting when there are old-fashioned lamp posts.

***The Cherry Tree, Stambridge, Essex***

I couldn’t resist leaving a touch of the yellow lichen on the roof.

Taken on a walk around London, I happened to glance down an alley way and saw this pub. Apparently the tallest pub in London and there has been an inn on this site since 1142. It is now a Grade II listed building. Charles Dickens mentioned it several times in The Pickwick Papers.

The above needs no introduction. Being named after one of Charles II’s mistresses. Possibly, the most famous one of all.

Capturing Night Photography in Monochrome

This week Elke from Pictures Imperfect has chosen the theme of night. My night photos always seem to have shafts of light in the wrong places. What I see in my view is not what ends up in my gallery. I used Canva for editing and framing my photos.

“Black and white is not sad. It’s poetic.” – Robert Frank

From my garden the other night. I seem to spend a lot of time on my patio at the moment! It’s a great place to sit in the mornings drinking my coffee and in the evenings for happy hour. I like the play on the shadows here.

“All the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow.” – Leo Tolstoy

Just a touch of a blue hue – no prizes for where this is.

A typical shot in Bangkok, could be a nice building but who can tell with all the wires.

“Black and white can transform a scene into something magical.”
Rob Sheppard

Darling Harbour, Sydney. Black and white photography work well with reflections on the water.

~ Pick Five Words with Photos to Match ~

This is a challenge indeed! Paula from Lost in Translation has chosen March’s words and here’s my gallery below. You can make up your own minds if mine accurately match the words.

Dense

This is my mum in Ephesus, Turkey, writing her wishes. Visitors write wishes or prayors on pieces of cloth and tie them to the wall. We were on a cruise and one of the tours took us to the wishing wall at the House of the Virgin Mary. I hope hers came true.

Dusk

Taken from my garden a few weeks ago. I get quite a kick in seeing a different colour sky than blue! Although that’s not a complaint.

Illusion

A pavement drawing in chalk in Hong Kong. It seems such an effort to draw in chalk as these are only temporary. Very clever though.

Authentic

Authentic and iconic, this would be recognisable anywhere in the world. There are some similar buildings that share the sail like structures but Sydney Opera House is in a class of its own.