A new Sunday challenge for me – Sunday Stills hosted by Terri – this week the theme is Fabulous Florals.
“A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.” – Zen Shin
Birthday Bouquets
Florist shops from China and Japan
The beautiful Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
A few years ago there were display stalls in our local shopping centre with a device where you could slot your own phone in to take a selfie. Ingenious!
Floral mural in a restaurant in Edinburgh
A new Friendly Friday challenge from Amanda this week “Beneath my Feet”.
This brought to mind being up high and looking down at the world beneath my feet. You don’t have to be in an aeroplane to see the world below or up high in a building, sitting in a cable car or on a chair lift brings you closer to nature.
Back down to earth again. Nothing like digging your toes in the sand and letting the waves lap over your feet.
One for Monday Mural. This is a recent photo I took while In London a few weeks ago. It is very near Whitechapel High Street and painted by Insa, whose works can be seen all over the world.
Something to brighten up an old wall!
Posted as part of Monday Mural hosted by Sami at ColourfulWorld
An odd one for Becky’s SquareOdds
~ Everything is really about lighting ~ Robert Denning
This week’s Lens-Artist challenge is all about low level lighting. When I first read this I was intrigued and have looked at a few examples from fellow bloggers and of course Sofia’s to find out the general idea. I realised I had quite a few from my archives and some recent ones. They are only taken on my S10 phone camera but I really liked the general effect of the light at that time of day.
“For those searching for the light, never stop” – A. Meredith Waters
I enjoy a challenging challenge that intrigues me enough to research it further!
The last time I visited Canvey Island was around 40 years ago, and then that was only at night to a nightclub or disco as it was called then, The Goldmine! It was a regular haunt for many years, such fun nights were had.
I have recently downloaded an app called Go Jauntly, which gives you different walks in whatever location you are in.
The walk I am taking you along in this post is along the Esplanade on Canvey Island to take a look at the murals on the sea wall. The Esplanade is lined with benches and each one is dedicated to a loved one with an engraved plaque. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did and maybe you will have a favourite.
The three murals below depict the changes on Canvey Island over the decades. The sun was out therefore so was my shadow!
The murals are all about the things in life for whom the mural was painted for.
All of these murals are so intricately drawn and beautifully painted, and have stood the test of time. Unlike many murals I have seen there is no graffiti anywhere to be seen.
My favourite is the ship with the elegant dancers in the foreground, did you have one?
It was a lovely sunny day and I also took the opportunity to snap some photos of the views from the Esplanade. They are interesting more than picturesque! Mud flats and rocks as far as the eye can see with an oil tanker in the far distance.
Click to enlarge above photos
It is separated from the mainland of south Essex by a network of creeks. Lying only just above sea level, it is prone to flooding at exceptional tides and has been inhabited since the Roman conquest of Britain. A flood in 1953 from the North Sea devastated the island, killing 58 islanders and leading to the temporary evacuation of the 13,000 residents. It is now protected by modern sea defences comprising 2 miles (3.2 km) of concrete sea walls. Between 1911 and 1951 it was a popular seaside resort.
As much as it is residential here there are large oil tanks on the island and it is noted for the relationship with the petrochemical industry. Source – Wikipedia
As is our habit on these outings we always end up at a pub, and today was no exception! My dear husband stopped a lady walking her dog and asked her for a recommendation. She suggested The Lobster Smack.
Such a wonderfully old pub to end our walk with lunch, a pint and a cold white wine.
It is said that there has been a pub on this site since the 1580’s and was believed to have been a model for Dickens’ Sluice Farm in Great Expectations. I found a very interesting history of this pub in this link – The Lobster Smack.
I hope you enjoyed this walk along the Esplanade with me. I’ve been very cheeky and linked it to a few challenges below.
Marsha’s Photographing Public Art
Xingfu Mama’s Pull-Up-A-Seat
Jez’s Water-Water-Everywhere
Hammad’s Weekend Sky
I came upon this tree during our weekend away in Stratford-upon-Avon and thought it very apt for Becky’s Squareodds and also for Marsha’s Public Art Challenge.
For this week’s PPAC I have a few from local outings.
We went out for lunch last week to a nearby suburb and I said to my hubby “I wonder if there are any murals I haven’t seen” and as I turned around there was this beautiful one staring right at me!
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And here’s a fabulous one by Perth’s very own Stormie Mills
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Surfers at Cottesloe
This is painted onto the side of the Surf Life Saving Club. I like how it blends into the sea and sky.
This is my photo for One Word Sunday hosted by Debbie at Travel With Intent
I could just about capture this in my garden the other night. Just peeping through the branches.
For October Squares Becky has invited us to post photos of past squares. This is one I never joined in as I didn’t have my blog then!
