NotYetHere
A visit to this workshop, with a few cars on the front parking space. Tornado Autos let me take a few pictures.
Just getting out and about, looking at whats around me and hoping to find some good pictures. Enjoy the sun while it lasts, and be ready to enjoy the winter when it comes.
I always have a strong affinity for London, I grew up South of the city in Eltham, going to school at Crown Woods Comprehensive. We did lots of trips in and around all parts, visiting markets and museums, travelling on the Red Buses, a great place to grow up. So now, although I don’t want to live there, I do enjoy going back. I feel very comfortable around its streets and still manage to find my way around. This trip was to meet up with friends from Belgium, to take time, walking, chatting drinking coffee and seeing a bit of the city. So here are a few shots taken over two days around Kings Cross, Covent Garden, Camden, and places in between.
I apologise for an image heavy post, but London is a big city. I love getting out and about in places, seeing some of the quieter corners. We visited the British Library this time, where they always have some sort of open show going on. Walking around and seeing manuscripts from Mozart, notes and drawings by Da Vinci. Maps, the Magna Carter, all priceless and free to go and see, nearby the statue and frieze in St Pancras is amazing. Go visit, it’s a great place.
It occurred to me while doing the tourist, and of course taking pictures of things that interest me, that we sometimes lose sight of why we came. Have friends with us, talking, strolling and stopping for food and drink took us on a slow stroll around some of the quieter places, and some of the busy places. But looking with fresh eyes at things we may not normally see. And to all the people, faces stuck to phone screens without peering around the corner, this is for you. But don’t feel too guilty because we all get lost in it sometimes.
Taking Pictures.
There is no pause when you point and shoot,
and instead of looking, seeing,
imbibing a place, drinking in the soul
of the people as a photograph in a box,
on glass or celluloid once did,
now it is stretched so thin as to be seen through.
Click and shift, click and shift – Gone.
So many possible eyes, maybe millions, maybe none.
Still reaching, still stretching, every second
draws out the soul of the picture, colour fading,
names, places, tags and Instagram come and go.
Statistically placing a value to each view
to create a top ten list of pictures you must take
when you visit this city at this time, with this person.
So much lost space, paths no longer explored
untrodden corners to tarnished gems and silent seats.
Places to wait and let the sun cross the sky,
unpictured perhaps except in a dream,
a silent waking memory of a dream,
with a smile on a face seen through glass.
Roads go ever ever on,
Over rock and under tree,
There has been snow in the hills near me, in the Brecon Beacons. So to avoid the crowds I stayed on the Eastern side and climbed Pen Cerrig-calch, with a walk along the ridge to Pen Allt-mawr and a return via Table Mountain to the place I began.
Tree, at the hills edge. 
Table Mountain in the foreground with Sugarloaf in the distance.
This was a day out on my own, to take in the views. To take some pictures using the new tripod my wife got me for Christmas. And to enjoy the bright, crisp, clear, cold January day that was forecast. Only the bright, clear bit didn’t really stay around too long, such is the way with winter mountains. They have different ideas about the weather. It was cold, the cloud dropped and stayed fairly low, and there was snowfall on and off most of the afternoon. But still a good day on the hills.
The edge of the summit plateau marked by this cairn. 
The Beacons themselves, with glowering cloud. 
Looking East, towards Offa’s Dyke and England. Snow passing through.
These pictures not far apart in time show how things progressed during the day. I love the way you can see the changes as they approach move past and away to somewhere else.
Pen Carrig-calch trig point. 
Next stop, over there somewhere for lunch.
I headed out along the wide ridge to Pen Allt-mawr, where I had planned lunch. I was hoping the weather would clear or I would find some shelter, I’d brought hot food and the pocket rocket to cook on, as well as a filter coffee bag. I do like a good cup of coffee, even on a mountain or in the wilderness. When I arrived, the weather let me settle down comfortably to cook and eat in peace, and take a few snaps of the views.
Pen Allt-mawr trig point. Looking towards Mynydd Troed. 
Towards the Beacons. 
Mynydd Troed
This quieter side the Brecons, despite being lower had its fair share of snow, drifting and filling the paths that criss-cross the ridge it makes it an interesting walk, dropping in deep furrows full of snow, or finding half-frozen puddles beneath ready to fill your boots given half a chance. Not a problem, just slower than normal. That and that I was carrying enough to keep me safe walking alone meant a 7 hour trundle rather than 5 for this patch of Wales. As well as stopping to eat and take pictures, these stops always need to be taken into account when planning timings for these winter routes, with shorter days meaning you may finish in the dark. So the torch came in handy at the end.
Pillow of snow on the initial descent, who knows what lurks beneath.
Family bought me some new maps as well, and Ordnance Survey have also started offering free digital downloads when you buy the paper map. This was my first opportunity to try out the feature, and I can say it was a good little gimmick, in the dark, using my phone to see the mapping clearly did help with route finding. It is easier than unfolding the large paper map, or as I always do anyway using the smaller extract with a torch. If you are so inclined you could also use the GPS on your phone to try to get a clue if you are way out of touch. I like to use old-fashioned methods first, and had a better than average idea of where I was, but confirming a turn point is always a good idea in the dark. Anyway, well done to the people at Ordnance Survey, great idea and good little app.
I’m hoping to get out again soon, who knows, maybe the snow will hang around a while longer, I can live in hope can’t I. Poetry Café this week, I have been writing, just not much. The Lyrical Ballads topic seems hopelessly optimistic, I have the wild ramblings of a madman, and not a very lyrical madman. Thursday night may be filled with polite coughs and people heading to the bar after I read.
What have I been writing?
Fragments
…Each night passing,
each day again. And again.
Waiting with the night,
a dream, a waking dream.
Have a wild time as we pass today, Blue Monday the press here are calling it. Just another day going by, no need to feel sad, just smile at someone and make their day. You may get another smile in return.
A walk through the world between places 