Bath Traffic Warden

Sam explains about the rules of parking in Bath, to a traffic warden.
While shooting a picture for the RPS in Green Street.
Picture Wendy Farr

Snail

A small snail decides if the ballpoint pen is friend of foe.

Bath in Bloom

They may not win Bath in Bloom this year!

Passing python

A young Sam tries to persuade a passing python to pose for his camera rather than strangle him.
Picture Wendy Farr

Help for the Swans

Some years ago when I was working for the old Central Electricity Generating Board I went to the R.S.P.C.A. West Hatch Animal Centre.
Hinkley Point Nuclear Power Station had donated liquid detergent to help clean badly oiled swans.
I went into this room that was full of steam, where three tables with two people on each were washing swans.
Much to my surprise the swans just lay on their backs and watched the cleaning with no sign of protest.
I suppose they were tired from the effects of the oil and thought resistance was futile.

Storm

Another picture of Storm in her prime.
She's so old and fat now, I doubt we could get
her this high without filling her with helium.

MILK, NO SUGAR COFFEE LOUNGE

It was my birthday today, we visited this coffee lounge in Street for tea.
They did have sugar and the chocolate toffee gateau was excellent.

Lottie

Lottie is turning from baby into a real little girl, walking and climbing into everything.

The old Bath City Council Laundry

When we had the old Bath Mineral Water treatment centre the council had its own laundry in Swallow Street.
This is a picture from the roof of our old shop in Abbey Churchyard, taken in the late 60s.
By the look of the smoke this may be part of the reason I've seen Bath Abbey cleaned twice in my lifetime.
Old Bath residents will notice that Beechen Cliff is clear as Carlton Gardens was just a twinkle in the planner's eyes.

Big Ted

Big Ted is mugged by student visitors!

Strange picture of the day.

It's strange the lengths that some people will go to stand out from the neighbours.

An unusual view of Brunel’s Twerton Tunnel

The Great Western Railway between London and Bristol was authorised by Parliament in 1835.
The detail of its construction was entirely the conception of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and was to be, in his own words, 'the finest work in the kingdom'. It was opened throughout in 1841.

Dundas Aqueduct, Limpley Stoke

This is the Dundas aqueduct that carries the Kennet and Avon Canal over the river Avon and railway with a span of 150 feet.
This Georgian Grade 1 listed structure was designed by the famous canal engineer John Rennie and completed in1798.

Lost house

Sometimes a simple job turns out to be the most difficult of the day.
I had a photo request to go to a house with just the road and house name.
Knowing it was a long road I called the owner to get a clue to the location, he gave me a number and said "it's six doors down from the pub on the right and a bit overgrown".
I drove up and down the road four times before parking the car and looking on foot.
This is the entrance and the name and number are there but a bit tricky to see.
That's how a ten minute job takes half an hour.

Fiona Richmond

Here's a sex star from the 70's, Fiona Richmond came to fame visiting towns and writing about the men she met.
She then went on to star on the stage and screen.
I think she wanted her picture taken with me for her records of achievement.
But it's more likely she was appearing at the Theatre Royal and I went to photograph her.

Somerset Place

You may have noticed in the papers a complete Georgian Crescent in Bath sold for more than 10 million pounds.
I was playing with Autostitch again joining pictures; and I managed to make the crescent convex instead of concave.

Oldbury Nuclear Power Station

Oldbury Nuclear Power Station, from the air, the original Severn Crossing can be seen in the distance.

A couple of Wendys pictures of the Teddy Bears picnic Party Food
and the cake Nicky Made.

Lottie was one today, the party pictures are here.

What is this man doing!

Strange sight of the day, what is this man doing!

Here's the answer he's sending his pictures from the edge of the football pitch.
Though he's digital it looks like he still needs a portable darkroom.

Bath from the Air

Bath looking towards the City Centre from the Air, this was taken in April.
Coronation Avenue is in the centre and The Oval to the right.
More of my pictures can be purchased here

New Spa

The new Thermae Bath Spa is nearly all glass, so window cleaning is a major task.

Low flying Chinook

The Bristol Balloon Fiesta is starting soon; it usually means a fall in the number of balloons we see, as most of the local pilots fly from of Bristol this weekend.
Our terrier Paddy hates hot-air balloons, and goes wild at the slightest sound of the gas burners, he keeps a careful watch on the sky.
But he couldn't care less about this low flying Chinook that flew over at nearly nine o'clock tonight.

Old Southgate Street Bath

Southgate Street Bath in the 70's, the site was cleared soon after this was taken
It is due to be demolished and rebuilt again soon.
There a picture of the rebuilding in 1973 here.

Photographers get down to it

The new Thermae Bath Spa opened today after years of problems with the building.
Photographer Matt Cardy caught Western daily press photographer Richard Hudd and Sam getting down to pool level.
Sam was photographing the Chair of Bath and North-East Somerset Council and the Mayor of Bath in the roof Pool with their chains of office.
He then returned the honour with this picture of Matt joking with them.

City Swan

A swan lands in the middle of town
Copyright Sam Farr/The Bath Chronicle

Food Factory

I Spotted this sign in a food factory toilet,
and they mean it!

Woolacombe Bay Hotel

A few years ago we were regular visitors to the excellent Woolacombe Bay Hotel; in fact we reviewed it for the paper.
The hotel was used by US forces while they were preparing for the D-Day landings.
The outside of the hotel was almost unchanged, so I copied the picture of the US army outside and added the modern Hotel and us.
Alas it was taken over and we had a couple of unsatisfactory visits, and have never returned.
It's probably a great hotel again now, but now we prefer Wales to North Devon now, so won't be returning.

Good Crop

This hot spell has brought the best crop of plums that I have ever seen in our garden.
They are quit small and will need to be picked soon before the weight pulls the tree over.

A very Good Magician

Quick Change Artists
Uploaded by jismnasium

Hercules

A Hercules swoops low over a field of sunflowers in Winsley today.

One of the family dogs, Storm in the days when her hobbies were running jumping and catching passing rockets.
Now she lists her hobbies as sleeping, eating and looking hungry.