A glacial erratic

A boulder in the quadrangle of the University of Manchester. Found nearby about 30 feet below the surface during an excavation. Carried here by ice during the Ice Age from its origin in the Lake District about 100 miles distant.

Blackthorn

Flowers of the Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) on trees near Brynteg, Anglesey. The flowers are about 1.5cm across and appear before the leaves, unlike the similarly flowered Hawthorn whose leaves appear before it flowers.

Easter Monday tea

Peter enjoying his Toffee Sundae!

Spring

Wood Anenome and Celandine, Lon y Glyn, Benllech.

Llynnon Mill and Celtic Roundhouses

Llanddeusant, Anglesey. A working windmill flanked by reconstructions of communal dwellings that were used by local people in the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age, approx 3000 years ago.

The end of the road at the end of the year

After an extremely cold night (by the standards of urban NW England!) we awoke to find a white blanket of frost/snow lying on the ground. It lay here all day which is also unusual, the outdoor temperature at 1800hrs being around -5C.

I'm glad I never made any rash promise to make this a daily photo blog, I'd have failed miserably! My New Year resolution is to do more in 2009.

As 2008 draws to a close I wish all of us (the Global We) a better 2009. Peace, health and happiness to ALL.

Wisdom and effort

The coat of arms of the City of Manchester on the parapet of Dawson Street Bridge crossing the River Medlock close to the city's Salford boundary. A translation of the motto is " wisdom and effort."

The sailing ship represents the city's trading links with the world and the Manchester Ship Canal. The three stripes below representing the city's main rivers; the Irwell, Medlock and Irk. The bees on the globe above represent industry.