Roger Bennion's photos

A bit of an obscure link for 'Sight and Sound' but I was taken with the sky here. I have chosen Jackson Browne's "Late for the Sky" covered by Sivert Hoyem with Darling West. One of my very favourite songs and love this cover version. Must be heard through headphones I say :-) Added to Sight and Sound : Pictures & Music ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ Listen here ~ Late for the Sky - Sivert Hoyem with Darling West Maybe view on black, please.

HAPPY FENCE FRIDAY, EVERYONE A scene from the wider Waddesdon Estate. I have also added this photo to 'Sight & Sound' with a link to "Open the Gate" by Zach Bryan because I was tempted to open the gate here :-) Added to Sight and Sound : Pictures & Music ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ Listen here ~ Open the Gate - Zach Bryan Please view on black.

When I visited Waddesdon Manor back on 10 July there was clearly a photoshoot happening. I was tempted to ask if I could take over the photographer duties but thought it was not a good idea :-) Took a couple of shots from afar and added a bit of soft focus to this one. I did wonder if the lady in middle of the group had spotted me :-) Photographs were being taken and there would be memories for sure. For 'Sight and Sound' I decided upon "Photographs & Memories" by Jim Croce. Added to Sight and Sound : Pictures & Music ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ Listen here ~ Photographs & Memories - Jim Croce

My Mum & Dad always had a number of commemorative mugs. When my Mum passed away and I was clearing the bungalow I had to decide what to do with the mugs. I decided to keep them all and they are displayed on the top of one of our kitchen cupboards. Following Queen Elizabeth's very sad passing I realised there was a Coronation mug from 1953 and decided to use this as a tribute. Knowing how clumsy I can sometimes be I was pleased that this mug didn't have any chips or cracks and the handle was still attached!

There are lots and lots of statues/sculptures in the grounds of Waddesdon Manor. I have searched the internet and, apparently, the two main figures here are Proserpina and Pluto. I thought Pluto was Mickey Mouse's pet dog but clearly that is not correct here :-) Apparently, Proserpina is the Roman goddess of agriculture and the daughter of Jupiter & Ceres. And, Pluto is the God of the Underworld. I think the small figure is a 'Triton'. Presumably, Proserpina and Pluto are in love and on this basis I have chosen "Would You Like to Learn to Dance" by Steve Goodman for 'Sight & Sound'. One of my all time favourites. Probably one of the best love songs ever written, in my opinion. "Would you like to learn to love? Well, that's somethin' else again I can show you how to sing and smile and dance Oh I have no keys to open your heart And no way that I could make you take the chance And so we'll dance around the room again And we'll sing a tune or two to pass the time And smile a lot and if you really want to We can try a little lovin', I don't mind Try a little lovin', I don't mind, I don't mind" Added to Sight and Sound : Pictures & Music ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ Listen here ~ Would You Like To Learn To Dance - Steve Goodman

WISHING EVERYONE A 'HAPPY FENCE FRIDAY' This scene is part of the wider Waddesdon Estate. There is a 'Windmill Hill Walk' that is pretty much circular. It goes from near to Waddesdon Manor to the Windmill Hill Archive that houses the family archives of the Waddesdon Rothschilds. The walk then continues back to near Waddesdon Manor. Near to where I took this photo is a sign saying "Windmill Hill Walk". Not sure if this is considered to be the start or the finish of the walk. Not that it matters :-) And, I have found the other start or finish point. I started walking from here but it turned out that I was walking in entirely the wrong direction!!! On a different day I started walking from the other start or finish point and reached the Windmill Hill Archive building. I still have to find the middle section of the walk. I am determined to do the complete walk on the same day and without getting lost :-) Decided upon a tenuous musical link involving walking :-) Added to Sight and Sound : Pictures & Music ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ Listen here ~ Walkaway Joe - Trisha Yearwood with Don Henley Absolutely love Trisha's performance and Don's harmony vocal takes it to a whole new level, in my opinion. Brilliant band too.

Waddesdon Manor Aviary. Inside looking out. Quite lucky with the blue sky and clouds because soon after I took these shots the sky started to go quite grey. I wasn't sure which photo to upload so decided upon both :-) Extract from Waddesdon Manor website - "Aviaries were an important part of many Rothschild gardens all over Europe in the 19th century. This followed a custom established by rulers and noblemen from the late 1600s, when owning exotic birds and animals was also a display of power, wealth and knowledge. Waddesdon’s cast-iron structure, erected in 1889, is similar to trelliswork pavilions designed for the gardens of Versailles." And, for 'Sight and Sound' I go back to the 'Birds.....Byrds' connection. As said previously Gene Clark was one of the founding members of The Byrds. I have chosen Gene's recording with Doug Dillard of "Somethings Wrong" from the 1968 album "The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark". Added to Sight and Sound : Pictures & Music ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ Listen here ~ Somethings Wrong - Gene Clark & Doug Dillard

HAPPY FENCE FRIDAY, ALL One of the entrances into Waddesdon Manor.

This is part of a structure at Dunstable Downs. There is an explanation nearby saying - "Is it a sculpture? A crashed spaceship? Something the builders left behind? No. It's a wind-catcher, part of the ventilation system that enters the Visitor Centre. Fresh air goes in through the long vertical vents on each side and travels through an underground pipe into the Visitor Centre. In the summer this cools the air so that the building doesn't need electric fans or air conditioning. In winter it warms the air slightly so that the boiler doesn't have to work so hard to heat the building.". I have taken lots and lots of photos here and have always tried to look for an original angle without too much success. I had recently seen a photo of this structure in the Visitor Centre where the photographer had selected a small part of the structure. The sky was a rich deep blue and there were no clouds. It inspired me to try something similar. On World Photography Day the weather looked promising so I decided to head out to Dunstable Downs. There were a few clouds about and the sky was quite light but still blue :-) This is my attempt at a close view and a PiP is attached showing a general view taken way back in October 2021. I thought my photo was a little bit relevant with energy costs going up almost daily! And, I was thinking that I could, perhaps, get one installed in our front garden to save on our energy bills :-)

HAPPY FENCE FRIDAY, ALL This is the Aviary in the grounds of Waddesdon Manor. In the 1890's guests of Baron Ferdinand De Rothschild were told that if they did a tour of the garden it was essential to visit this 'must see' Aviary. The Aviary was beautifully restored and it now houses endangered species and there is ongoing conservation work to save these from extinction. Around one third of the species in the Aviary are at risk of extinction to some degree. Many are from Indonesia, where the wild birds are threatened by the rapid rate of deforestation and the illegal trade in cage-birds. Waddesdon participates in captive breeding programmes with the aim of reintroducing birds into their native habitat. Aviaries house 'Birds' which could be spelt as 'Byrds' and this, of course, makes it easy for me to choose a Byrds connection for 'Sight and Sound :-) Gene Clark was a founding member of the Byrds. "She Don't Care About Time" was written by Gene and released on October 29, 1965 as the B-side of Turn! Turn! Turn! Gene was the Byrds' main songwriter between 1964 and early 1966. It was astonishing that "She Don't Care About Time" was not included on the original issue of the Turn! Turn! Turn! album. My personal favourite version of this classic song is Gene's live version on the album "Silhouetted by Light", the album recorded with Carla Olson barely a year before Gene's tragic passing. Added to Sight and Sound : Pictures & Music ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ Listen here ~ She Don't Care About Time - Gene Clark

Happy Fence Friday, All. Part of the grounds adjacent to Ascott House in the hamlet of Ascott near Wing in Buckinghamshire, England. I've been trying to work out what is on the hills in the far distance :-) I think it could be Whipsnade Zoo. To be sure I guess I could visit the zoo and then look to see if I can see this fence in my photo :-)

Curtains on the inside and a reflection of a finial that is on the roof. Maybe view on black, please. There don't seem to be that many songs about curtains so for 'Sight and Sound' I have chosen "The Curtain Falls" by Bobby Darin. Added to Sight and Sound : Pictures & Music ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ Listen here ~ The Curtain Falls - Bobby Darin

Happy Fence Friday, All Waddesdon Manor For 'Sight and Sound', "Gold" by John Stewart came to mind. It was written and recorded by John in 1979. It was the lead single released from his LP, "Bombs Away Dream Babies". Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac is featured on backing vocals. Added to Sight and Sound : Pictures & Music ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ Listen here ~ Gold - John Stewart

Spotted this reflection in a window at Waddesdon Manor and thought I should be able to find a musical link for 'Sight and Sound'. This is not 'my' window but have chosen "At My Window" by Townes Van Zandt featuring Kathy Mattea :-) Added to Sight and Sound : Pictures & Music ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ Listen here ~ At My Window - Townes Van Zandt featuring Kathy Mattea

HAPPY FENCE FRIDAY, ALL. This was part of a much longer fence at Dunstable Downs. Not sure if it was the correct thing to do. BUT, decided to add a little bit of soft focus :-)

Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild wanted an estate where he could escape London in the summer months to entertain family and friends for weekend house parties. In 1874 he came into an inheritance and purchased a bare agricultural estate in Buckinghamshire. The foundation stone for the house was laid in 1877 and six years later, in 1883, the house was completed surrounded by a beautiful landscape. Running water for the house was provided from the start and electricity was provided in 1889. In 1957 James de Rothschild bequeathed Waddesdon to the National Trust and in 1959 it was opened to the public. It is managed by the Rothschild Foundation on behalf of the National Trust. Waddesdon Manor is some 8 miles from home and it normally takes me roughly 20 minutes to get there. However, there are extensive HS2 works (high speed rail link initially from London to Birmingham) taking place on the approach to Waddesdon so I am always expecting to be held up by traffic lights :-) The first stage between London and Birmingham is due to be competed by December 2026 so there may, at some point in the distant future, be an opportunity to photograph some trains :-)

HFF, Everyone. This was last Autumn in the Ashridge Estate. The Estate is a 2,000 hectare (5,000 acres) area of the Chiltern Hills with beech and oak woodlands, commons and chalk downlands.

HAPPY FENCE FRIDAY I had to look at my photo a few times to make sure there is fence here. And, there is one.....honest :-) Another photo taken at Dunstable Downs.