Muscle man

Sepia fence

Cattle

Canopy

 

Kingfisher

Story

Graffiti under the bridge: Gallery

Story

If you have not read the story of these graffiti I found under bridge during my regular walks in Thorpe Meadows please go here or click the link above.

As a regular in Thorpe Meadows where we do our walks and cycling I always find this place a nice contrast, the once drab industrial walls transformed by colourful graffiti, juxtaposed with the natural surrounding of trees, grasses and the river nearby. After all, this site is part of Thorpe Meadows, one of the smaller parks that comprise the Ferry Meadows Country Park.

All photos were taken with an Android phone, Google Pixel 6 (https://amzn.to/3XDYCWr)

Nothing but a shadow of myself

Graffiti under the bridge

Gallery

Underneath the Nene Parkway - Longthorpe Flyover in Orton Mere is a hidden gem, a legal graffiti site that is a beauty to behold. Located in Thorpe Meadows where you will find Nene Park’s purpose-built rowing lake, nice riverside walks and a public sculpture collection, these graffiti walls are a very welcome sight to regular walkers and cyclists who have seen this part of the bridge once littered with ugly graffiti by vandals.

I think the reason this place was touched up was because it became a venue for outdoor dance events by a company called Mixology. They held their first dance event in this area in summer of 2021 and I seem to recall passing by this site while out cycling with my wife. I think they were about to start back then as we saw young people walking towards this site, which was fenced off and had a few burly security staff directing them to the venue.

Cycleseeing down Upton

The village of Upton is located east of Peterborough. I went cycling to this village with Ted one hot cloudy sunny day last August 2021. I went through mixed terrain - tarmac road, grass/dried mud and gravel. I started from my neighbourhood in Ravensthorpe then onto Stamford Road running past the village of Marholm where the road is made of tarmac. I do not consider myself as a road cyclist so I chose a route that also included grass/dried mud and gravel.

Just before I climbed up towards the village of Ufford I turned left to a public bridleway that goes to Southey Wood, the largest wooded area of the village that is run by the Forestry Commission. This bridleway is a favourite among cyclists; in fact, some of my cyclist friends have been there before me riding with their mountain bikes.

Meet Ted

 

Ted is the nickname I gave my urban bike, the Cannondale Treadwell 3 Remixte 2020 in black colour. Cannondale describes this bike as "designed to bring a bit of fun and style to the daily runaround. It’s a light, simple, responsive bike for rolling around, meeting up with friends, and getting from here to there with that feeling of freedom that only two wheels can give." And I can confirm that that is exactly what my experience is when riding Ted with my wife and friends.

Like most people during the recent Covid-19 pandemic I got into cycling as a way to endure the many restrictions imposed on our personal lives. Although a bit late than most of our friends in the local Filipino community, my wife and I decided to buy bikes mainly to maintain our fitness. Early on I decided on an urban hybrid bike as I plan to use it to commute to my workplace when everything goes back to normal.

Ted

Story

Village church

 

Power Rhythm by Robert Erskine

 

Power Rhythm by Robert Erskine

Erskine was successful in winning a national competition to create a landmark sculpture for the City of Peterborough. The resulting sculpture, Power Rhythm, was created in 2000 to celebrate the new millennium, the opening of the Sustrans cycle network, and the contribution made by Perkins Caterpillar engines to the local community. Perkins Engines have been an important manufacturer and employer in the city since 1932. The heritage of engineering in the City linked with Robert Erskine’s background in and passion for design, engineering, industry and nature, inspired this monumental sculpture. (Source: Nene Park Trust)

Located as part of the Green Wheel cycle route (Nr Eye Roundabout, Parnwell Way, Peterborough) I was able to visit this a couple of times now through cycling as part of the Eye Green route we took from our home. Sadly, it has seen better days and appears to be not well maintained with graffiti and trash found when I took these photos.

All photos were taken with my Google Pixel 3a (https://amzn.to/2Yx3eDf)

12/12: Shops and shoppers

Note: These photos were taken in December 2019 as part of my Project 12 photography project. However, it is only a year later that I am posting them to this blog.

It's Christmas time! A time of joy and of gift-giving. And it happens on the month of December. You find lots of people rushing to the shopping malls to buy gifts for their loved ones.

Shops are competing for customers with beautiful decorations and enticing discounts. Even the mall in our city is festooned with lavish displays of lights and bright decors to inspire their shoppers while busy buying presents.

I took these photos on New Year's Eve, where shoppers went to the city mall to snatch up discounted items post-Christmas day. I didn't have the chance to take photographs at the height of Christmas shopping.

For my monthly photo project I chose the subject shops and shoppers for the month of December.

All photos were taken with an Android smartphone (https://amzn.to/38MZmhi)

Reindeer

 

11/12: Fallen leaves

Note: These photos were taken in November 2019 as part of my Project 12 photography project. However, it is only now that I am posting them to this blog.

Alas, some good things never last!

In this case, after weeks of wowing us with their amazing display of colours, the beautiful autumn foliage in our neighbourhood have started falling down leaving the trees to become like skeletons.

However, the stunning kaleidoscopic display of the autumn leaves continue to entertain us even in its fallen state for weeks before it becomes dull brown and wither away.

So, for my monthly photo project I chose the subject fallen leaves for the month of November as a logical follow through to October's colours of autumn theme.

All photos were taken with an Android smartphone (https://amzn.to/38MZmhi)

Splaaat!

Yellow leaf

Peterborough Museum

Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery houses the historical and art collections of my city of Peterborough. The building was originally a private house dating from 1816, but later became the city's first hospital (1857-1928). In 1968, it was presented to the city by the Peterborough Museum Society. (Source: Wikipedia)

Last year, I went to see Treasures, an exhibition featuring important objects that represent great treasures of Peterborough's past, at the city museum. These items are borrowed from such well-known museums as the Victoria and Albert Museum and the British Museum, as well as other significant collections.

Prior to that visit, I have been to the city museum only once and that was with colleagues on a break from a team meeting. I am now on the lookout for events like Treasures as I am a bit of a history fan.

Sweetgum leaves