Curvaceous - Thematic Photography

When I saw Carmi's theme of "Curvaceous" my first thoughts turned to topless beauties and a favourite goddess of mine.

Gaia - Tresco Abbey Gardens

Still on Tresco on the Isles of Scilly it was the curve of the beach that caught my eye, with the solitary figure of my son, totally unaware of the camera's presence.

Not quite deserted

Nearer home in North Yorkshire I found a harbour empty except for the sea, its curvaceous mouth waiting for ships to arrive.

Whitby Harbour

Even nearer home are the curves I see each week, just some of a total of 43.

Yarm Viaduct

To ogle over more curvaceous beauties don't forget to cross over to Carmi's thematic-photographic-248.

Yarm Gala 2013

It was Yarm Gala today; one of the events was a steam boat parade. There was also the opportunity to take a ride in a steam boat. I missed the first part of the parade but managed to catch up with events a bit with these short video clips,

Boats from the Parade

Steam Boat

Steam Boat Ride

I thought I had missed Murray play in the tennis at Queens Club but fortunately it was raining there while I was at the Gala.

Father's Day Stamps

As there is no Sunday Stamps this week I decided I would still show some stamps, those that I received with this Father's Day card.

Add caption

There is not much baseball played in the UK but even I recognise some of the USA's baseball stars.

USA - Baseball Stars - 2012 Forever

USA - Baseball Stars

There is no link to follow, but Sunday Stamps will return next week.

Jewellery Boxes - Sepia Saturday

I have never been a follower of bling although there was a time when I supported a medallion. Fortunately no photos survived the shock.

So for this week's  heist I had to raid some jewellery boxes. I'll let you decide whether I got away with it.

Ancient and Modern Jewellery Boxes

The oblong box dates from the late 1800s or early 1900s; I have been unable to trace the jeweller in Halifax, Yorkshire.

Turquoise and Diamond Brooch

My next jeweller at Louth. Lincolnshire has proved equally elusive although I have located a clock and watchmaker of the same name.

Ruby and Pearl Ring

Having looked again for William Colbeck, I found him at the Black Bull at 22 Upgate, Louth aged 1, born in 1880. In 1910 there is a newspaper report which I can't access that shows his shop at Market Rasen was burgled. The report in the Stamford Mercury December 16 1910 starts, "The shop of Mr William Colbeck, jeweller of Market Rasen. Nov 9. The shop door had been cut about with a knife and a hole had been cut right through near the lock. An attempt had also been made to remove the glass panel...."

That ring belonged to Amy who you have seen on Sepia Saturday before. The modern box belongs to my wife and contains the birthday present she bought for me this year.

"Bob's" Ring

I'm afraid there is nothing interesting to report on Market Cross, jewellers in Yarm. However when you raid jewellery boxes you may find some  unexpected things.

Christmas Bells and Grand Daughter's Brooch

Perhaps she will grow up to believe -

or

Perhaps I'd better bow out and let you look for other rocks atSepia-saturday-181.

Angus On The Water - Thematic Photography

When Carmi posted 'On The Water' as the theme for this week's thematic photographic I knew exactly what I would show.

My grandson, Angus, is currently in Nicaragua at the ISA Junior World Surfing Championships. He is a member of the GB team for the Under 16 Boys. I have no pictures of him there on the water but have a collection from elsewhere.

Angus Scotney, Surfer - On The Water

Above The Water - Off Fistral Beach, Newquay

On The Water Off Fistral Beach, Newquay

Off The Board in Portugal

You can watch the surfing in Nicaragua live at http://www.isasurf.org/ each day from 3pm UK time (8am Nicaragua). Angus should be on around 9.30pm (UK) tonight.

Meanwhile back in Cornwall things are much more sedate.

Cruise Ship, Deutschland, in the Fowey Estuary

For other watery sites or sights please check what others have posted at Thematic-photographic-247.

Darwin Jigsaw - Sunday Stamps

I know I have shown one of these stamps before which were issued in 2009 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. However I decided to show it again with the First Class stamp from the same set.

Great Britain - Charles Darwin

The other jigsaw pieces in the set represented:

Great Britain - Darwin - Zoology

I do not have the others, but they were.

• 50p Ornithology (Finches)
• 56p Geology (Aerial view of Galapagos Islands)
• 72p Botany (Orchid)
• 81p Anthropology (Ape)

There were four more stamps of conventional (oblong) shape; two First Class showing a flightless cormorant, and a giant tortoise and a cactus finch; two at 81p of a marine iguana and a mocking bird

I'll keep and eye out for these with my market trader.

For other shapes and sizes check out those offered at Viridian's Sunday-stamps-125.

Hospital Trains - Sepia Saturday

I have had to resort to the Internet to find some photos linked to this week's prompt, the kitchen on a WWI German hospital train.

Staying with WWI, I wonder about conditions on this Red Cross Train, no joint of meat for these sick and wounded French soldiers on their way to Paris in 1917.

A nurse touring the train distributing coffee

In WWII the British Medical Services provided medical transport.

Wounded soldiers playing cards in a hospital train in Belgium
(Photo ex Imperial War Museum - No. 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit, Sgt Biggins)

Trains like these were manned by both civilian and military crews, whose job it was to ensure safe and speedy travel for the casualties, including enemy wounded. Although damaged and disorganised.. trains played an important part in transporting casualties from hospitals and dressing stations to bases and evacuation areas. Casualties able to walk were given comfortable saloon coaches for the journey.

Sixty-nine years ago today at least one soldier was enjoying a cup of tea,

A soldier, evacuated from Normandy, on a hospital train,
7 June 1944 - One day after D-Day

He must have been going home judging by the smile on his face.

I must say that I am pleased that my experience on trains during my National Service was limited to night trains back to Catterick Camp.

To see what other warlike connections made this week take a trip across to Sepia-Saturday-180,