Christmas Carol Service.

 Popcorn & I attended a Carol  Service a few days before Christmas at St. Peters Church, Ashby Cum Fenby.  A village we visit often.  The community there has welcomed and embraced us.

St. Peters Church, Ashby Cum Fenby.

We arrived early to take photo's before other folk arrived.

The church was beautifully decorated for the service.

A memorial decorated.

Each window had decorations.

Refreshments for after the service.

A general view of the church, people were arriving now.

After the service folk mingled about having minced pies, Stolen cake & mulled wine.

We left and I took this from outside.

Olympus OM10 iv with 14-42mm lens.
(ASA set to auto, very high at times)

Louth Fun Santa Run 2025.

 We recently went to Louth in Lincolnshire.  A favourite place of ours and I photographed the Christmas Santa Fun Run.  Held for the 2nd year it attracted over 500 runners of all ages and abilities, running for charity.   I took around 250 photo's but don't worry, here are just a few.

The cobbled "New Street", often my starting point in Louth.
A few Santas gathering.

Ross Carrick from BBC Radio Lincolnshire interviewing runner No. 500.

More Santas heading for the start.

Popcorn was a bit confused!

Almost time for the start

The massed start coming towards us.

This little girl was finding it all a bit overawing.

Leaders coming round on lap two.

This young runner was determined  to beat dad.

Early finishes, with medals around their necks, watching for family & friends coming home. 

Lots of fun around the finish area.

More finishers but the little girl looked a bit bored with it all.

I gave them a wave and they all waved back.

Two proud finishers with their medals.

Even this lovely Spaniel in fancy dress got a medal!

Popcorn didn't know what to make of this.  Maybe he wants a medal in 
next year's Santa Run?  NO WAY!!

A group of Santas enjoying a drink outside Coggles Bar in New Street.

Olympus OM10 iv 24-42mm EZ lens.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS.

 Happy Christmas and  New Year from Popcorn & David.

Not a  "real photo" but an AI generated image.

Things happen.

 For a year or two I've known that I need to have my Cataracts sorting out.   Last year the optician told me that, although I'd passed my eye test to be approved to continue driving, he could refer me to get the corrected.  I declined then but said I would come back in the New Year to take up the referral.  Well, in the New Year I thought I'd wait until early Spring. Then summer. Then Autumn came along and my annual eye test in November.  This time I volunteered to be referred and have been to my initial assessment for scans etc. and today I had a telephone consultation with the Eye Consultant who said all was ok and I would be getting my 1st eye done in mid March.  After dreading it I'm now looking forward to getting things sorted as I know the cataracts are affecting things, especially watching TV or using my camera.

A few days ago, as I was waiting in the queue at the petrol pumps a car drove straight into the back of my car!  It made a huge bang and Popcorn was in the rear seat but fortunately not hurt.  We went through the  usual process of exchanging details and inspecting our vehicles.  Mine was badly damaged but her car seemed only to have a few paint scratches!  Not surprising really as she had a Nissan 4x4 people carrier and my Honda Jazz didn't really stand a chance.

I had my car examined at a local garage that the insurance company referred me to and the initial opinion was "it doesn't look good mate" so it might be a right off!  I'm waiting for them to send the full report and damage estimate to my insurer to hear the news.  If it is written off, although the other driver may be held responsible and I wont need to pay any excess charges or loose my no claims bonus, I will still have to fork out for a replacement car.  

As you can see, it made a mess of the rear of my car but the garage fears there was hidden damage that may affect the chassis.  Now I must wait for the insurers to contact me. 

  

Mobile phone pic.

Autumn at North Ormsby.

 Autumn, North Ormsby Valley, Lincolnshire.

North Ormsby is a small village and a Civil parish in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire. It has a Church, St. Helen, a Grade II listed build which was built in 1848 by S. S Toulon.  It was declared redundant in 1980 by the Diocese of Lincoln and sold for private residential use.

 

We have visited North Ormsby with all of our dogs over the years. It was always a favourite place in any season and  Autumn was my wife's favourite time of year.

I haven't been there very often recently so Popcorn and I had a walk there last week to see the Autumn colours.  The gales and rain had depleted the trees but some colour remained.

The road leading down toward Abbey Farm.

Looking down into the valley where there were some farm buildings.

The Beech trees still had some colour, they never completely loose their leaves.

A little further along our walk.

A tractor was ploughing the land at the bottom of the valley and as the land rises up
the other side the earthworks of the old Abbey can be seen.  They are protected and only have sheep grazing on them.

A Gilbertine Priory dedicated to St. Mary was founded here between 1148 & 1154,

   and dissolved in 1538.

The valley remains a favourite place but I don't have quite the same enthusiasm to visit these days.

Olympus OM10 II with 14-42 EZ lens.

Here and there, this and that.

 Earlier this year I had a few walks around Cleethorpes with Popcorn and photographed a few places that our visitors may not have seen.  Some out of the way places and some near the seafront but at a time when the visitors will have gone home.

I think I can call these places "Secret Cleethorpes"!

I mentioned these photo's to a good friend of mine, who lives in America, and she expressed an interest in them.  So they are posted for you Ann.

The first set are residential areas plus a few business areas not that far from the seafront.

Terraced house at the R/O Humber Street.

Humber Street looking inwards toward the town.

Turn the other way and this is the view along Humber Street to the Humber Estuary,
which is our seafront for the resort of Cleethorpes.

Another row of houses that have all been painted in lovely bright colours.

Wardall Street and the rear of The Fisherman's Arms public house.

A walkway through to the oldest shopping street in Cleethorpes.

"La Cocina" once sold kitchen accessories but had a much more interesting past.

The building has had a chequered past.

The top of Seaview Street.

"Skinny Wrists" offering amongst other things, ear piercing.

Seaview Street, the oldest shopping area in Cleethorpes.

Panasonic TZ100 Compact camera.


The second set of photo's were taken on Cleethorpes Promenade area after most visitors
had returned home.

Just a few local folk out for a quiet walk.

About to jump down to the sand.

The Railway Station at sunset.

A view from the platform.

The side of a public house, now with a gigantic mural,

This year Cleethorpes has had some professional mural artists decorating the town.

Previously called "The Victoria", the newly refurbished "Old Vic".

Formerly  a variety theatre, now a slot machine arcade. 

The hoarding on the right hides a new development still under construction.
beyond is our pier, now part of "Papas", a national chain of fish & chip shops.

Olympus OM10_4 with 14-42 EZ lens.