Phone

In the market square of Knaresborough are two benches, each seating a sculpture. This one is 'Blind Jack' (1717-1810) with his surveyor's wheel, a local character. He was the first professional road builder to emerge after the Industrial revolution. Sculptor: Barbara Asquith The second sculpture is 'Mother Shipton'. Born in Knaresborough in the late 15th centaury. A Tudor prophetess believed to have predicted such events as the great Fire of London. Born Ursula Sontheil in a cave near the River Nidd in 1488. Died in 1561 at 80 years. Notice the old pub called 'Blind Jacks' in the background. Sculptor: Chris Kelly. Enjoy full screen.

The stone circle made by artist Michael Boffin in 1993 from local granite stones in form of a twist erected with 22 stepping stones leading up to it. This is near the village of Fallmore (An Fál Mór) on the Belmullet Peninsular . It is the Last part of the sculpture trail through North Mayo to commemorate Mayo 5000. See PiPs.

A busy view of this working harbour located on the Belmullet Peninsular, Ireland in Blacksod Bay. Of course fences abound in such places. A miserable weather start to our day in this remote spot but it was to improve. In the background stands the old lighthouse. Just to the right, out of shot is still some evidence of the old whaling station (Blacksod Whaling Co ) that used to be located here (see pip). It was active from 1900 till 1925 as Blacksod Bay is the nearest point in Ireland to the continental shelf edge and the abysmal plain. Around 800 whales where harpooned and brought here and its main site on the nearby Island of Rusheen for processing. More info: www.marinetours.ie/wildlife-log/64-captain-whalesgalore-wonderful-winter-wildlife-log.html Enjoy the weekend. ps another phone photo, as my many DSLR photos did not capture all this at quite the same p.o.v.

Welcome on this wall that encircles the old city centre. We see here the wonderful gem of the Guild Hall with its Tap House being the rectangular building on the left. Both buildings used by the merchants of Derry/Londonderry since its predecessor in 1689. See the cannons ready to defend the city. Pips shows street view and another canon from walls. Nice full size.

A surprise night visit to York gives us a chance to join this special walking tour. Our very professional wench host, Alice, takes us down the small lanes and corners to relate stories of ghost seen near that spot and other blood-curdling tales of days long past. York has a great deal of history from Roman, Viking and the dark-ages including our Civil war. Enjoy full screen and All the Very Best for Christmas.

This is part of the area known in the past as Manchester Docks. A large area just off the centre of Manchester but lying in the actual city of Salford. The waters here mainly form part of the Manchester ship canal that brought goods to and from Liverpool (mostly cotton from the deep south of America for our many mills). The Bridgewater canal also runs alongside. Nowadays Salford Quays, as can be seen, is a very up-market area with promenades, shopping malls, theatre, museum and a large media hub for our main TV services. We have just alighted the metrolink tram and we are on our way to the fabulous Lowry Theatre only metres away from this spot. (Two pips included from 2018 of the Quays just around the corner from here.) Enjoy full screen

A look at the Manchester ship canal as it makes its way up into the centre of Manchester at Salford Quays from Liverpool. Across the water we see the modern Media City buildings where our national BBC and ITV broadcasters have northern headquarters. Just by the brightly lit rounded corner sits the Lowry Theatre, our destination. There are a few very nice bridges around here and as can be seen, mostly lit up after dark. The PiP shows the scene around the corner some hours before. The whole capture is quite pleasing to me especially when considered it was hand-held on my phone. Have a good weekend.

Our second port of call on this trip to the US and Canada is to Portland, Maine. In the short time we were there, a trip to see some of Portland’s famous lighthouses was a must! “Affectionately referred to as Bug Light because of its small stature, Portland Breakwater Lighthouse in Bug Light Park (Madison Street, South Portland) was built in 1855 of cast iron with a brick lining on a granite block foundation. The lighthouse was first lit in 1875. During World War II in 1942, lighthouse beacons were dimmed for security reasons, and Bug Light wasn't re-lit until 2002 when the Coast Guard added a solar-powered light. This elegant-looking lighthouse is unique because it's believed to be the only lighthouse in the world shaped like a 4th-century Greek monument. Four Corinthian columns hold up the lens.” www.tripsavvy.com/lighthouses-to-see-near-portland-maine-4159575 HWW, have a great day.

A quick weekend in the Cumbrian town of Kendal gives us a surprise winter downfall of snow. This is one side of the hill up to Kendal Castle but the children have only one thing on their minds. The pip shows the same scene on the next day after more snow. Note my real HBM shot from almost the same place is on the adjacent page here. Enjoy the week.

A very wide view of Mispec Bay within the much larger Bay of Fundy. A world famous bay that lies between Canada’s Nova Scotia and New Brunswick provinces, and touches the U.S. state of Maine. It’s known for its extremely high tidal range of about 16 metres (52ft) and thereby is the highest in the world. (The second highest in the world is in the Bristol Channel area where I was only a few months ago.) This taken with my phone in panoramic mode. The first time I had used that handy mode after learning how on the bus to here! (My DSLR had decided to die on me minutes before taking this.) Enjoy full screen

A glimpse of a Christmas landscape we love to see, taken only three weeks ago in Cumbria, North West England. Actually at Kendal castle. I wish all of my Ipernity friends here a wonderful Christmas and remember others less fortunate than ourselves in other parts of the World. Let Peace, health and happiness abound.

For my last fence of the year I re-visit Barmouth and its River Mawddach estuary where we were at in July this year. A healthy hike up to this spot especially after many detours. Its all downhill from here now and a hot coffee awaits us back at the car, parked not far away from the right-most boat across the water. - Another capture with my phone here – please forgive me. Enjoy full screen Have a good weekend.

A pleasing quick shot with my phone to send to friends and relations still in England. This is quite different from my other photo of the same lighthouse and demonstrates the power of sunlight on the foreground and subject. The rocks too are different here having a sandstone appearance and looking like Thor has taken his hammer to it all. Is one better than the other? It is in eye-of-the beholder I guess. See next photo for real comparison. While no doubt the most well-known lighthouse in Canada and one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world, the history of the light at Peggy's Cove is little known. It was built and lit in 1868 and stands at 26ft high. It is 65ft above the water level. More info here: www.nslps.com/about-ns-lighthouses/lighthouse-lists?c=peggys-point-lighthouse Best full screen. Enjoy the day.

Halifax, Nova Scotia: Outside the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 The life size bronze sculpture shows a smiling Ruth Goldbloom seated on a bench, surrounded by immigrants'suitcases, with her beloved tap shoes sitting at her feet. The sculpture, created by Newfoundland artist Morgan MacDonald, is located near the entrance to the museum. Visitors will be invited to sit beside Ruth, whose legacy was that she talked to anyone and everyone who entered the museum that she created to honour the 1.5 million immigrants who entered Canada through the Port of Halifax’s Pier 21 from 1928 to 1971. HBM, enjoy the week.

A steep flight of stone steps gets us up here from the west side as we look along the ridge to the east. A spot to Raleigh the troops and stop for a breather before the bigger challenge in front of us. A wide panorama via my iPhone here. Best full screen. Enjoy the day.

We are looking down into the Monsal Dale valley in the Derbyshire Peak District onto the impressive Headstone Viaduct. In the valley bottom runs the very nice River Wye and to the right is the village of Cressbrook with Water-Cum-Jolly Dale just a little further. Its-time for us to stride down the narrow path and steps to the wooden footbridge across the river near the buildings on our right before taking the opposite bank of the river, back under the viaduct, along the grassy bank past an impressive weir and second footbridge before traversing uphill back to here and a little further to our car. Phew! The Grade II listed viaduct built in 1863 is 91m long, 21m high with five 15m span arches and was built by the Midland Railway. It is now home to the Monsal Trail for walking and bicycles. There is also quite an impressive tunnel just out of sight: the Headstone tunnel is 487m long through which the trail runs. ~ Another phone panorama! Best full screen. Enjoy the day.

Another capture from this Canadian city showing the waterfront and some of its seating. Not quite benches but very nice coloured seats instead. In the background we see part of the Maritime Museum with HMCS Sackville taking pride of place. See followable PiP. HBM, enjoy the week.

A panoramic view of these gardens just beyond Fountains Abbey. This very wide angle view taken with my phone following the River Skell course down river and shows the Moon Pond and Temple of Piety. If you look carefully, higher in the trees towards the top right, you can also see the Temple of Fame. Just near the end of the water on the left sits the Octagon tower. 3xPiPs. See last photo for the full Temple of Piety view. Best full screen.