Category Archives: History

Devon days. Part 7…

15 Monday Jun 2026

Posted by in Devon, History, Photography, Railways, Ships, Travel

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Our last day in Devon saw us breaking up into different camps. Clive had to go off to Northamptonshire for work, so the four of us only had the morning together before he left. Dawn and Ann arranged to enjoy a sunny day at home in the garden but I had something more adventurous planned. As much as we’d enjoyed walking the Tarka trail there was a gap in the route which we hadn’t closed, so I planned to go out and complete the section between Bideford and Instow. Dawn decided to accompany me as far as Bideford in order to get her walk in for the day, only to find the shops she was hoping to browse whilst she was there were all closed. Bideford isn’t exactly a hive of activity on a Sunday, to say the least!

I had better luck as I managed to get shots of the old station and its museum in far better light than on my previous visit, which was a bonus. After that I pounded the tarmac on the Tarka trail all the way to Instow. It was a lovely walk as the trail follows the River Torridge all the way. Plus, the sun was in the right position for me to get shots of many of the old ships that litter the riverside as well as the shipyard at Appledore. This yard’s had a mixed history over the years but seems to have gained a new lease of life. In 2024 it was bought by a Spanish company Navantia. Now it’s building Royal Navy ships again, this time supply ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (link).

Arriving hot and sweaty (but happy) at Instow I had an hour to wait for the tide to come in so that the ferry across the river to Appledore could start running, Admittedly, sitting on a pier watching the world go by whilst the sun beats down upon you is hardly a hardship!

Once across I had another 90 minute walk ahead of me through Appledore and the quaintly named Diddywell before getting home, where the girls were still chilling in the garden. Still, 27,000 steps on a hot day with a camera bag on my back was an achievement!

Here’s a few pictures from the day…

I did say the weather was better in Bideford!
The Tarka trail looking North form Bideford
Built in 1946 and preserved at Bideford, the SS Freshspring is a former RFA ship and the last of her kind.
Appledore shipyard at low tide.
The Tarka trail on the approach to Instow from the South.

And so ended our last day in Devon. We’d had a fantastic time exploring places neither of us had seen before and others we’d not visited for yonks, none of which would have been possible without the superb hospitality of Ann and Clive. Thank you!

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

Devon days. Part 6…

14 Sunday Jun 2026

Posted by in Devon, History, Photography, Railways, Travel

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

With the weather having picked up dramatically day 6 saw us off on another grand tour thanks to Clive, who spent the day driving us around Devon and into Somerset.

Our first port of call was Chelfham, a small village on the route of the old Lynton and Barnstaple railway. The landscape here is dominated by the impressive old viaduct.

Cafe and viaduct

Underneath it nestles an old mill and the ‘crafty cafe’ which is run by a community organisation called the growforward project. They serve great breakfasts as well as other food and drink and regularly hold music events, yoga sessions and all manner of community focussed activities.

Whilst the reborn Lynton and Barnstaple railway hasn’t reached here yet the station’s been beautifully restored and is open on a regular basis.

Pretty Chelfham station.

Our next stop was at the railway proper. The current base for the railway is at Woody Bay. The old station building contains a ticket office, cafe and shop with the rest of the site containing the line’s loco depot and carriage shed. It’s all beautifully kept and a real credit to the volunteers. Trains run along the former line as far as Killington Lane which is roughly a mile away. The trip offers some fantastic views of the Devon coastline – and what better way to see it than in some superbly restored railway coaches hauled by a steam locomotive which is a carbon copy of one of the line’s original engines?

No 762 is a modern recreation of one of the original engines used on the Lynton and Barnstaple before its closure in 1935.
One of the beautifully restored old coaches.
Clive enjoying 1st Class luxury!

I wish the L&B every success with their ambitious plans to extend the line in each direction as it really is a little gem of a railway.

Our next port of call was the coastal town of Lynton, where we took the funicular railway down to Lynmouth. The funicular has the distinction of being the highest and steepest water worked railway in the world. Lynmouth itself is a pretty little harbour with a torrid past. In 1952 the village suffered a terrible flood which killed 34 people and left the place buried in mud. There’s little sign of the event now other than a small museum which tells the story of the tragedy.

Joining the funicular car at Lynmouth for a trip up to Lynton.
When they said the funicular was steep, they weren’t kidding!
Lynmouth harbour

Having explored and filled ourselves with ice cream we set off again, this time to Exmoor , where we crossed the border into Somerset. There’s some fantastic views to be had from the moors. You can look across the Bristol channel to South Wales, or along the Somerset coast to spy places like Minehead and Hinkley nuclear power station.

Looking along the coast from Exmoor towards Minehead, with Hinkley nuclear power station in the distance

Having driven back to base the day ended with an evening out at Westward Ho! where we enjoyed a few drinks by the beach before tucking into fish and chips. Well, what else should you eat besides the sea!

Low tide at Westward Ho! with the wind driving the sea onto the rocks.
In the opposite direction, surfers hope to catch a few waves.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

Devon days, part 5…

13 Saturday Jun 2026

Posted by in Devon, Flora and Fauna, History, Photography, Railways, Travel

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

The weather here in Devon picked up again on Friday. We still saw mixed skies and the occasional light shower, but sunshine was a constant visitor throughout the day and temperatures were ideal for walking – which is what we did.

Today’s plan was to walk more of the Tarka trail, this time South from Bideford to Torrington, a distance of about 6 miles. Clive had some work to do which left our trio (Dawn, Ann and I) to complete the trek and meet Clive for tea and cake at the other end.

Here’s a few pictures from the walk.

We joined the Tarka trail at Bideford station, where the old signalbox museum was open. Here’s a look inside.
The signalling diagram for Bideford station, showing the old track layout.
The railway bridge over the River Torridge is a great place to stop and watch the wildlife on land and sea.
There’s a short tunnel on the section between Torrington and Bideford which is fun to walk through. It’s well lit, so not too spooky!
Inside the tunnel, showing the mixture of construction techniques.
There’s plenty of wildlife en-route, including butterflies like this.
Torrington is the site of the Tarka Valley Railway. They have a couple of old industrial diesel shunters and an ex- GWR Class 143 ‘Pacer’ DMU. This is a Ruston and Hornsby 0-4-0 built in February 1969 as a 192hp diesel electric shunter. Works number 544998, it was last standard gauge locomotive built by the company. It was delivered new to the Nevils Dock and Railway Company in Llanelli where it continued to work until 1990.
Torrington station contains the Puffing Billy cafe which offers a range of snacks, drinks and meals. The station was once an important freight location, sending two daily trains of milk tankers to London Waterloo station.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

Devon days. Part 4…

12 Friday Jun 2026

Posted by in Devon, Food and drink, History, Photography, Railways, Travel

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

The weather finally let us down on Thursday. The rain stayed with us for most of the day with the skies remaining leaden throughout. We even had sea mist nearer the coast, so the plan for a long walk went out of the window. Instead, Clive drove us all to Hartland Quay, a former harbour near the north-western tip of the Devon coast. It’s famous for its rcky outcrops and rough seas, which we had a small taste of. There’s also a hotel and pub, which we took refuge in to enjoy a hot drink and chips after being battered by the wind. The rock formations here are amazing and well worth seeing.

The sea shows off its power.

Our next stop was somewhat more eccentric. The Merry Harriers garden centre, which features something I’ve never encountered before. A Gnome garden! No that wasn’t a typo – it really is a garden full of gnomes – of all different shapes, sizes and poses!

Heading back to base afterwards the rest of the team relaxed whilst I went for another wander into Bideford, where I crossed the river and popped in to the old railway station which is the base of the Bideford railway heritage centre. The group have reinstated a short length of track and have a small Planet diesel locomotive and a brake van which they plan to give rides on.

The old signalbox has been restored, along with a old SR parcels van and a Mk1 coach which is used as a cafe.

The day was rounded off with a visit to a restaurant and bar in nearby Northam. The Crow Bar has only been open for 9 weeks. It’s modern feel and variety of seating makes it an interesting venue. The food is tapas based with the beers locally sourced. The owner has installed their own micro-brewery which isn’t in production at the moment but will be opening just as soon as time permits. We really enjoyed our visit. The food was excellent as was the atmosphere.

A view of the main area and bar which has a mezzanine floor above containing comfy seating.
The Spanish style croquettes.
Today’s special was a delicious Trout.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

Devon days, part 2…

10 Wednesday Jun 2026

Posted by in Devon, History, Photography, Railways, Religion, Travel, Walking

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Day 2 of our trip saw us on another long walk whilst visiting some historic places with rich social histories. Clive drove us to Westward Ho! the only place with an exclamation mark in its name. The name came from a Charles Kingsley book, titled Westward Ho! It was a best seller and brought a new wave of tourism to the Bideford area leading to the creation of the village, which has grown considerably in recent years.

Our walk took us along the coast on the trackbed of an old railway that I’d never heard of before. This was pretty unique too as it’s possibly the only standard gauge passenger railway that was never connected to the national network. The Bideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore railway had a very short life. It opened in 1901 and closed in 1917. Having walked along part of its route along the cliffs I’d have thought it would have made a great preserved railway and tourist attraction, but it never survived World War 1.

The course of the old railway makes a great coastal path. Here it is at Abbotsham Cliffs West of Westward Ho!
At this point the old railway swung inland to head towards Bideford. You can see the course of the line and a couple of breaches in the trackbed near the top of the picture. This is a lovely place to stop and admire the coastline.
The wind was whipping up quite a few white capped waves during our walk. Here’s the view looking East towards Baggy Point.

Back in Westward Ho! We explored the village and I discovered its link with one of Britain’s most famous authors whom I’ve long admired. Rudyard Kipling. Kipling went to school in Westward Ho! and he’s remembered by plaques and a line of his most famous poem ‘if) being incorporated into the seafront pavement.

Memories of Kipling in Westward Ho!
A colourful row of houses in Westward Ho! with several being repainted for the summer season.

Having driven back to Northam we popped into the local church where Ann volunteers at their regular coffee and cake days. I’ve always enjoyed visiting country churches as they often provide fascinating glimpses into British social history and St Margaret’s was no exception. Oh, and the cakes were excellent!

Many a well-to-do family’s line ended like this during the First World War, with the death of the only son.
Segregated church services!
Coffe with Passionfruit and lemon cake. Yum!

Having returned home to take our ease I couldn’t resist on last wander into Bideford to make the most of the weather in order to get a few pictures.

The most substantial surviving structure of the old railway is the engine and carriage shed in Bideford. Nowadays it’s used as a car-wash.
The old bridge in Bideford with the modern bridge in the background.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

 

Devon days, part 1…

09 Tuesday Jun 2026

Posted by in Devon, History, Photography, Railways, Travel

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Monday was our first full day here in Devon. We’re staying with our friends Ann and Clive here in Bideford, a lovely area on the North Devon coast. I’ve not time to write a full blog so I’m going to leave you with pictures from the days activities which involved a long walk into Appledore, the ferry across the river to Instow and then a hike along the Tarka trail (the old railway) from Instow to Barnstaple before getting the bus back.

Looking across to Lundy Island.
Rather poignant seeing as the anniversary of the D-day landings was only a few days ago.
Looking back to Appledore as we cross the river Torridge on the little ferry.
Instow station on the Tarka trail. The old signalbox and some other rail features have been restored.
Heading towards Okehampton on the Tarka trail. The trackbed had been tarmaced, making an easy surface for cycling/walking.
The cafe and information centre at Fremington Quay on the Tarka trail. This was once a busy port, transhipping coal and clay from rail to ship. The quay closed in 1969. The cafe here serves a range of food and drink – and great cakes!
An abandoned yacht on the edge of the River Taw as we approach Barnstaple.
Nice here, innit? Rather bigger than Bigland Towers too…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

Back to the hills…

28 Thursday May 2026

Posted by in Architecture, History, Photography, Railways, Travel

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

I’m back in Halifax for the day after returning to visit the dentists for my six-monthly check-up. Fortunately, neither Dawn nor I needed anything doing other then the regular clean

Like most people across the North-West and Wales, I was woken up at 03:00 by the most i thunderstorm. I didn’t get to see any lightning, but the cracks of thunder and torrential rain certainly made an impression! When I left Southport this morning I was amazed to see hardly any sign of the storm. I’d half expected flooding, but the streets were dry. It was the same on the journey across West Lancashire as we were treated to yet another hot and sunny day. As I had an appointment to keep I only stopped off a couple of times en-route. The first was to admire the famous listed Deep Pit footbridge at Hindley, which has been rebuilt as part of the electrification programme.

There are now history boards at each end of the bridge which explain how it was constructed.
There’s a massive new ramp on the Hindley side of the line which has been designed to fit in with the original structure.
The bowstring bridge has been lifted to give clearance for the new electric wires. The width gives you an idea of just how many running lines there were here originally.

Now I’m having a relaxing night with Dawn before heading back to the coast for part of the weekend I have to travel South to work on Community Rail week – but more of that later. I’ll be blogging from my travels tomorrow, so see you soon…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

Right, let’s try that again shall we?

19 Tuesday May 2026

Posted by in Down memory lane, History, Photography, Southport

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , ,

My idea of catching up with blogging last week turned into a dismal failure for a variety of reasons, but we’re now into a new week. After spending the weekend back at Bigland Towers I’ve returned to Southport for a few days, which will give me time to do what I need to do – which includes blogging.

Today I’m out shopping and finding a temporary ‘office’ where I can work in peace whilst getting my steps in ‘commuting’ to and from my sisters. The commute has often turned into an exploration as I try and take a different route into town each day. This involves suddenly deciding to take a detour and explore streets I’ve not visited since I moved to London back in 1986, or even before as some were near my old school which I left a decade earlier!

One thing that’s caught my eye is how the corner shop had died a death. There used to be loads of them around my parents house. Now they’re almost all gone. The newsagents/tobacconists of old are almost extinct, as are local butchers, grocers and chip shops. Even hairdressers have disappeared in some parts as people retire, or realise their business has become unprofitable. Trying to remember where these places were and what they were has become a new game. In some cases it’s easy to spot them because of the way the building’s been converted rather than demolished. In others there’s hardly any clues. Mind you. it’s not just shops. Many pubs have disappeared too, like this one – the George, where I spent many an hour with an old friend who lives around the corner.

By the George is a large old cemetery where my grandmother used to take us young kids on walks. It’s not as well maintained as I remember, but I did find this memorial which I recalled as a child. It’s to the crew of the lifeboat Eliza Fernley, as 14 of the 16 members perished, along with 13 members of the St Annes lifeboat whilst both boats were trying to rescue the crew of the ship ‘Mexico’ in 1886.

Before I made it into town I passed one last empty shop, but this one has family connections. DM Rogers was the family business. It was opened by my mum and dad and named after my mother (Doreen Myfanwy Rogers, her maiden name). When my dad gave up the business it was taken over by my brother David who moved it from Nelson St to Shakespeare St. This was the third incarnation after moving across the road. Dave retired last year and now workers are converting the shop for another tenant, so this is the last time I’ll see the sign and name.

How times change…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

Bigland Towers annexe. Day 4…

20 Tuesday Jan 2026

Posted by in History, Photography, Railways, Travel, West Yorkshire

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

Hooray! The weather finally cleared today, giving me the opportunity get out with the camera and enjoy decent visibility for a change. We even had some sunshine, but as usual, it was always at the most inopportune moment!

As the freight train I’d been stalking was running along the copy pit line today I decided to head out along the line to get pictures. The location I wanted was a good hour’s walk away, but that didn’t deter me as it gave me chance to explore along the Burnley road as far as my destination, just outside Cliviger, the site of the old colliery that was known as Copy Pit.

It was an interesting if somewhat sad walk, past many old mills, some converted to housing, other derelict and decaying. The mixture of housing styles was also interesting. Old stone farmhouses rubbed shoulders with Victorian terraces and bigger homes that betrayed how wealthy the area was when it was a hive of industry based around mills and coal. All these buildings were squeezed together in what’s actually a narrow valley. Nowadays much of it is tree covered, but go back 70-100 years and it would’ve been quite a bleak landscape, and polluted too, with all the soot and smoke from coal fires being trapped in the valley.

Just before Cliviger the valley opens up and you cross the modern-day boundary between West Yorkshire and Lancashire. I was headed for a bridge over the railway at a place called Dean Farm, which allows great views along the railway. On arrival I found that the train I was waiting for was running an hour late so I filled my time by walking further up the Burney road which parallels the railway at this point, allowing me to get shots like this, looking back towards Dean farm.

BR built class 150 number 150142 passes working 2K67, the 11:19 Blackburn to Headbolt Lane (Merseyside). The rural nature of this section of line is a marked contrast to the area the train’s heading in to.

Having managed various shots I headed back to the bridge in time to capture the train I wanted.

Direct Rail Services Class 66 number 66429 hauls 6E73, the 09:09 Shap Summit Quarry to Doncaster Up Decoy yard. Copy Pit was just out of shot behind the train, behind a road bridge on the Burnley Road. There used to be a loop line to the right of the train but this disappeared many years ago. Back in the 1950s-early 60s this bridge would have been shaken by the thunderous roar and clank of steam engines hauling (and banking) heavy coal trains up the hill.
Looking the other way from the bridge as a Blackpool North – Leeds service passes. Where the light coloured houses are by the railway was the site of a goods yard and sidings that served Portsmouth station which was just out of sight around the curve. The station was closed in July 1958 and no traces of it remain.

Having achieved my aim I headed back into Todmorden. Remembering that I now have a bus pass (which I’d never used) I caught a bus back into town, reflecting on the fact that I’d chosen to walk all the way uphill, then get a bus back downhill. D’oh!

Back in ‘Tod’ I stopped off to get one last picture before calling it a day. I’d spotted this view the other day but wanted to wait until the weather had improved.

150144 crosses the wonky viaduct in the centre of Todmorden whilst working a train from from Headbolt Lane to Blackburn.

You can find more pictures from my day here.

Sadly, tomorrow’s weather is due to revert to rain, so my chances of doing much are minimal. That said, Dawn’s not having to commute to Halifax, so I’m planning to take her into ‘Tod’ to explore, so there may be some pictures to be had…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Cheers,

Paul

Newcastle explorations…

14 Friday Mar 2025

Posted by in History, Newcastle, Photography, Railways, Travel

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Whilst I was up in Newcastle for the Community rail awards I did have a couple of hours spare each day where I was able to nip out and explore in order to get a few pictures. On the Thursday I opted to explore part of the Tyne and Wear metro system as they’re introducing new trains to replace their existing fleet which dates from the opening of the system in 1980.

The weather was less than ideal due to constant heavy rain showers but I was lucky enough to hit clear weather at the right time. Time constraints meant I couldn’t go too far afield, but I did make it out as far Pelaw, which is the junction of the T&W metro routes to South Hylton and South Shields as well as the national rail routes to Sunderland and the former Leamside line which has been abandoned since the early 1990s

The truncated remains of the Leamside line at Pelaw junction disappear under the T&W metro flyover to the right. The national rail route to Sunderland, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough are in the centre whilst the single track to the left is the spur to Jarrow oil terminal.
One of the new Stadler built Class 555s (555004) arrives at Pelaw whilst working the South Hylton – Airport line. This is the first of the new sets I’ve seen since they entered passenger wervice in December 2024. 46 of these 5-car trains are on order. They’ll replace the 90 Metro-Cammell built Class 599s which have worked the system since it opened.
A pair of the original T&W sets (4029 and 4085) pass Felling on their way to South Shields. One of the pleasure of travelling in these seats is the fact the drivers cab only takes up a third of the front, allowing passengers grandstand views of the route from the adjacent seats.

Having sussed out some likely photographic locations on my trip to Pelaw I retraced my steps to Felling station where I found some fascinating (and tragic) local history as well as a surprising survivor of the original railway route.

Just to the East of Felling station are the steps of an old footbridge. On the Northern pier is this blue plaque which commemorates the Felling mining disaster of 1812 in which 92 people were killed. The rail connected pit was just to the North-West of the bridge although nothing remains of the site now.

Next door to the old footbridge is the original station building which dates from 1843. It was built by the Brandling Junction railway and remained in use until 1896 when it was replaced by a new station on the widened lines (which are four-track here).

I wish I’d had time to explore further but the clock and the weather were against me. But, I can see me making a return trip soon as there’s lots to explore in the area. Who knows what unexpected gems I’ll find next time?

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312