SBlandfo
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sblandfo.bsky.social
SBlandfo
@sblandfo.bsky.social
690 followers 630 following 400 posts
Poet. Nature, conservation, history, archaeology, art, architecture, politics & the pleasures of reading. Doyenne of #IronworkThursday. Still #yallmasking
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sblandfo.bsky.social
If Anne’s wonderful Old Fox stories have ever brightened your day (or even brought healing tears), do sign up for her Patreon or buy her a birthday Ko-Fi
A vivid late autumn sunset at the London Wetland Centre this week, with bare black trees silhouetted against a sky of peach and apricot fading to a delicate pale blue.
November 20, 2025 at 5:53 PM
sblandfo.bsky.social
Elaborate #tile and #mosaic floor at Ettington Park, Warwickshire, with the Shirley family motto “Loyal je suis”. Remodelled 1858-62, the Grade I Listed building, now a hotel, is described by #Pevsner as "the most important and impressive High #Victorian house in the county”. #TilesOnTuesday
A highly detailed mix of tiles and tiny mosaic tile-pieces in dark red, brown, blue and cream combine heraldry witg star and flower motifs between interwoven bands with the motto of the Shirley family. Impressive workmanship but almost too cluttered to be really attractive, design-wise.
November 18, 2025 at 9:55 AM
sblandfo.bsky.social
This image contains just a small extract from the immense list of reasons for rejecting a proposed #petition - it’s amazing that any get allowed on this basis. This one may well fall foul of the “asks for someone… to lose their job” exclusion
Extract from the list reads as follows: It accuses an identifiable person or organisation of wrongdoing, such as committing a crime. It names individual officials of public bodies, unless they are senior managers. It names family members of elected representatives, eg MPs, or of officials of public bodies. It asks for someone to be given an honour, or have an honour taken away. You can nominate someone for an honour here: www.gov.uk/honours It asks for someone to be given a job, or to lose their job. This includes petitions calling for someone to resign and petitions asking for a vote of no confidence in an individual Minister or the Government as a whole. It contains party political material.
November 10, 2025 at 11:53 AM
sblandfo.bsky.social
Therfield Heath with its barrows is one of my favourite places. Here it is being inspirational in four different ways…
Lurid sunlight highlights the smoothly curving downland under turbulebt stormy slate grey, pale grey, blue and white clouded sky. Rooks perch facing into the wind on a completely bare tree silhouetted against a perfect dark blue sky. Lovely spikes of creamy yellow toadflax flowers in the tussocky grass. Classic view of three of the Bronze Age barrows on the grassy skyline.
November 10, 2025 at 10:50 AM
sblandfo.bsky.social
Oops, we accidentally celebrated St Willibrord, Apostle to the Frisians, two days early - I baked these hazelnut and spice cookies called Fryske Dúmkes (Frisian Thumbs) in his honour
20 small golden-brown vaguely rectangular cookies on a baby blue plate. They were delicious.
November 10, 2025 at 9:13 AM
sblandfo.bsky.social
St Willibrord was the son of the enigmatic Wilgils who lived as a hermit on the wild sand spit of Spurn Head on the Humber estuary.
Wilgil’s view out across North Sea from the grassy sand spit of Spurn Head. Atmospheric image of the dark sand spit of Spurn Head and a very stormy cloudy sunset sky.
November 7, 2025 at 8:18 AM
sblandfo.bsky.social
Rare Royal Mail #postbox in Esher #Surrey with the monogram of King Edward VIII who abdicated before his coronation. #PostboxSaturday
Postbox stands on a sloping leafy grass verge. Close up of monogram topped with crown. Closeup of ER VIII monogram.
November 1, 2025 at 12:28 PM
sblandfo.bsky.social
I chose Set Two - but any of the seven sets would make a lovely present for the #cat lovers in your life - or a cheering treat for yourself… #AltText #art
Five vibrant watercolour versions of famous paintings by Vermeer, Blake, Magritte and other artists with Bridget, Michael Cox’s cat, added plus other pleasing contemporary details.
October 27, 2025 at 9:52 AM
sblandfo.bsky.social
I recently read the excellent historical #novel “Cecily” by Annie Garthwaite which tells the life story of Cecily Neville, mother of Margaret of York, King Edward IV, King #RichardIII and their siblings. How many bereavements that woman endured…
Richly coloured front cover of “Cecily” in dark pink, orange and purple in the style of a stained glass window, published by Penguin Books. Available as an audiobook.
October 15, 2025 at 8:13 AM
sblandfo.bsky.social
It’s a superb exhibition - you are sure to enjoy it. #MarcusAurelius #Trier
Multi-coloured opaque glass wall or floor decoration (opus sectile) from the "Villa des Lucius Verus" showing a creature that may be a griffon. From the 2nd half of the 2nd Century AD, probably from Rome, Italy. Lent by the Museo Nazionale Romano, Rome
October 15, 2025 at 7:14 AM
sblandfo.bsky.social
I was photobombed by this beautiful #gull above the #Roman Forum just as I concluded a pano - not sure which of us was more surprised. #SuperSeabirdSunday
Roman Forum at the bottom of the image with the blue sky dominated by the extremely close arrival of a gull with wings and tail feathers fully deployed for emergency landing.
October 12, 2025 at 12:26 PM
sblandfo.bsky.social
Drachinifel can often be found on #YouTube lucidly explaining an engagement from the #AgeOfSail or the #naval battles of #WW2, but he also gave the clearest and most insightful explanation of the motives and timing of the Spanish #Armada I’ve ever heard or read…
Screen grab of Drachinifel’s YouTube Channel header with banner including his photo and naval images. It reveals he has 562 thousand subscribers and has posted 1.4 thousand videos.
October 10, 2025 at 12:19 PM
sblandfo.bsky.social
Does anyone know any details about #illustrator Edna Clark who produced this decorative map of #Yorkshire for #BritishRail in 1949? #MapMonday
Attractive pastel coloured map of Yorkshire including small illustrations of famous local buildings and historical information.
September 29, 2025 at 11:15 AM
sblandfo.bsky.social
Would you call this phenomenon, visible in the sky over south-west London at lunchtime today, a #SunBow, #SunDog or #SunHalo?
In the blue sky above the sun is a rainbow occupying about a sixth of the circumference of a circle with the red nearest the sun. The lighting the sun itself is filtered through the leaves of a tree as that was the safest way of looking up at the “rainbow” area. (The faint dot at the middle of the “rainbow” is a blemish caused by my phone camera, I think.)
August 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM
sblandfo.bsky.social
Wonder if the same #architect created the Wolfson and Rayne buildings at St Anne’s College @stannescollege.bsky.social
Detail of modernist architecture of facade with deeply recessed window balconies in grey concrete and glass. Image thanks to Manchester history dot net
July 30, 2025 at 2:04 PM
sblandfo.bsky.social
A #Roman roof #tile stamped with LEG XX VV, made by soldiers of the Twentieth Legion Valeria Victrix, from the excellent Grosvenor #Museum in #Chester for #TilesOnTuesday. #AltText
Large angular fragment of a brownish-orange broken clay roof tile with bold wavy indentations, probably made by the tiler’s fingers, flanking a sharply marked legionary stamp with capital lettering.
July 29, 2025 at 7:00 PM
sblandfo.bsky.social
For #EpigraphyTuesday, a #tombstone in the churchyard of the Old Kirk at Braddan, #IsleOfMan, inscribed “Here underlyeth the body of the Reverend Mr. Patrick Thompson, minister of God's word forty years, at present Vicar of Kirk Bradan, Aged 67 anno 1678, Deceased ye 24th of April 1689”
The weathered stone, set against the rough grey stone of the kirk, is beautifully lettered with delicate curling letters and numbers, and copious use of capital letters.
June 17, 2025 at 10:05 AM
sblandfo.bsky.social
Thanks to #Church Explorer jmc4 on Flickr, I can tell you that this chancel east #window was designed by Alfred Fisher of Kings Langley & dedicated in 1979. It was funded by #Cadeby Parish Pantry, a catering group run by Revd "Teddy" Boston’s wife, Audrey, symbolised by these cups, saucers & plates.
Vividly coloured stained glass window panel with the words “We praise Thee, O God” against a blue and turquoise background and an assortment of cups and saucers, teapots, mugs and jugs in warm orange, brown and green. Also plate with a sandwich and cutlery.
June 5, 2025 at 9:07 AM
sblandfo.bsky.social
That’s interesting - the only clue to its creator does seem to be this tiny “building facade” motif in the bottom right-hand corner of the “steam loco” panel. Is this the “chapel” of the Chapel Studio?
Close-up image of five small intensely coloured pieces of stained glass (in two shades of turquoise, two blues and a lime green) with the tiny image of a gabled building facade, possibly a chapel, in black paint in one corner.
June 4, 2025 at 2:45 PM
sblandfo.bsky.social
The 1970s stained glass window at All Saints #Church Cadeby commemorates the Revd Teddy Boston, #train enthusiast, by including a steam #locomotive. #WindowsOnWednesday
The brightly coloured panel includes the words “We acknowledge thee to be the Lord” and an irregular roundel with a delicate drawing of a steam engine in profile, with maybe a hint of the portly Rector as driver. Bare trees and swirls of engine smoke create the background.
June 4, 2025 at 2:38 PM
sblandfo.bsky.social
Modern stained glass window in the church of All Saints Cadeby (Diocese of #Leicester) in memory of the Revd Teddy Boston. #WindowsOnWednesday
Stone-framed window filled with three panels of brightly coloured figurative stained glass, with turquoise, blue and orange making the main impact. It was installed in 1979. Grade Two Star listed Cadeby Church dates from the 13th century and is well-known for its links with Thomas the Tank Engine as its Rector, the Reverend Teddy Boston, featured in two stories.
June 4, 2025 at 6:40 AM
sblandfo.bsky.social
A ragged but surviving over-wintered peacock #butterfly in the early evening sunlight for #Day2 of #30DaysWild
A head-on close-up of a dark red butterfly with striking blue, black and cream “eye” motifs on both fore and hind wings, with damage to one wing and general signs of wear to its colourful scales.
June 2, 2025 at 9:08 PM
sblandfo.bsky.social
Italian poppy for #WildflowerHour and #Day1 of #30DaysWild
Single poppy with delicate scarlet petals with slightly scalloped edges and fine black stamens at its centre. Background of a variety of small-leaved green wildflowers and dry soil.
June 1, 2025 at 7:35 PM
sblandfo.bsky.social
I thought you might enjoy seeing this amazing #marble from an apartment in #Rome. #geology
Dramatic black, grey and greyish-cream marble surface (with credit-card sized measure for scale).
May 30, 2025 at 12:16 PM
sblandfo.bsky.social
I know it’s hard to make these rules stick in practical terms, but the NRLA website says the following:
Text reads as follows: Legally, the minimum heating standard for the private rental sector (PRS) is at least 18°C in bedrooms and 21°C in living rooms, when the temperature outside is 1°C. The heating system must be available at all times and should be kept in good working order. Tenants, on the other hand, are responsible for using heating appliances correctly and reporting any issues or faults. In addition, since April 2018, all privately rented properties must have a minimum energy efficiency rating of E unless the landlord qualifies for an exemption. If your tenants are consistently experiencing temperatures below the minimum heating standard, it may be an indication that the heating system or insulation in your property is not up to standard.
May 28, 2025 at 4:29 PM