Clouds

North Cliffs, Cornwall ... on a blowy and cool summer's day. When the sun broke through the clouds though, the effect was magical! Sight and Sound: Just saw in today's Times obit pages that Tony Joe White passed away recently. Have always loved his music and this is an all time classic, covered by so many more famous names. I love the story of when Tina Turner (who covered many of his songs) - and I quote direct from the Times obituary - met him face-to-face; "I walked into her dressing room and she was putting on her make-up,' White recalled. 'She looked into the mirror and started laughing. I thought, 'Are my pants un-zipped or something?' Finally she got her breath and said, 'I'm sorry, man, I always thought you were a black man' " www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwyX9W0aN5c

Widely diverse views about this hut. On Pano, various Sierra de La Cabrera 'experts' (I'm the only one who made the switch to ipernity, I'm sad to say) claimed it for1) the 16th century, 2) defense line against Napoleon and 3) the Spanish Civil War - Republican defenses against the Nationalists. I look at the construction and know it just has to be no earlier than the Civil War (in other words, the 1930s) but I can't get any info on it!

Sunset, taken from a former flat (on the 11th floor and sunrises and sunsets were frequently seen).

Looks like somewhere else got a really heavy soaking! Algete, Madrid Province.

granite scenery above the fog.

From my sister's house. Looking out over the Jarama Valley to the eastern foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama from Algete, Madrid Province

On the way to teach a class. Villaverde Bajo, Madrid

The Bustarviejo Valley under fog. Shot taken from El Cancho Gordo.

South West Peninsula Coast Path at Reskajeage, looking across to Fishing Cove, Hell's Mouth and North Cliffs, Cornwall. The clouds put on a show for me too! Sight and Sound - a joyous song full of hope and friendship - www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaGUr6wzyT8

granite scenery at the extreme southwest tip of the UK. Again for Pam after more engouraging news!

Taken from the east on the Torrelaguna - El Berrueco Road.

From an old flat. Hortaleza, Madrid

Carn Gloose, Saint Just, Cornwall. Again this is the cloud that caused much excitement and front-page newspaper photos from nearby Land's End, and I have no idea why! Sight and Sound; www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOUqQt3Kg0

This cloud formation over Land's End looks normal enough from Carn Gloose but was much remarked upon in the national press. I saw the photos on the front pages of several papers, all taken from Sennen or Land's End itself and I'm still not sure why it was considered remarkable!

Interesting cloud formations above the Godrevy and North Cliff coasts at The Knavocks (love the name!). Difficult to be sure but I suspect the Penryn / Falmouth area got a short sharp downpour at the time I took this. Or maybe the Roseland Peninsula.

Another tremendous dawn from 2013 and taken from the high rise flat I was living in at the time. Sight and Sound: www.youtube.com/watch?v=X48weyESpec

Close to my flat, these are the ranks of BICIMAD bikes - the Madrid equivalent of Boris Bikes (a poor misnomer in its own right by all accounts). The Madrid name amuses my immature schoolboy sense of humour! ,

I was lucky with a few dawn shots from this flat in 2012/2013. It coincided with the 6 months of functionality of my old Canon Ixus digital 700, which was great for sunrises/sunsets and also night shots. Sadly it stopped accepting charge from any battery I tried. Experts couldn't understand it either. it sits forlornly in a cupboard and I wish I could use it again!