The Farr Family

This Is the Blog of the Farr family, Sam and Wendy Farr and their Daughters Nichola and Helen plus their husbands Andy Higby and David Mattock. They all live in the Bath Area. Sam works as a freelance photographer after taking voluntary redundancy from The Bath Chronicle after 20 years, Andy is a freelance Manager for various Charities and David a Computer programmer. David and Helen have our two Granddaughters, Tabitha and Lottie they can be seen at www.themattocks.com.

Thursday, August 31, 2006

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

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Snail


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

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Bath in Bloom


They may not win Bath in Bloom this year!

Monday, August 28, 2006

Passing python


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

Sunday, August 27, 2006

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.

Saturday, August 26, 2006

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.

Friday, August 25, 2006

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.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Lottie


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

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

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.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Big Ted


Big Ted is mugged by student visitors!

Monday, August 21, 2006

Strange picture of the day.


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


Sunday, August 20, 2006

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.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

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.

Friday, August 18, 2006

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.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

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.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Oldbury Nuclear Power Station


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

Monday, August 14, 2006


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


Sunday, August 13, 2006


Lottie was one today, the party pictures are here.

Saturday, August 12, 2006

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.

Friday, August 11, 2006

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

Thursday, August 10, 2006

New Spa


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

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

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.


Tuesday, August 08, 2006

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.

Monday, August 07, 2006

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.


Sunday, August 06, 2006

City Swan


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

Saturday, August 05, 2006

Food Factory


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

Friday, August 04, 2006

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.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

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

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Hercules


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

Tuesday, August 01, 2006


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.

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