Shrouded in blue

Rare winter sunshine on Forder Creek

The Hamlet of Forder, at the head of the creek.

The ancient tidal mill.

Bridges over placid waters

The Main Line from Cornwall to Plymouth and onto to London,crosses Forder Creek

a couple of miles before crossing the River Tamar into England, over Brunel's iconic 1859 bridge.

Winter Visitors

I wasn't the only one enjoying the brief period of winter sunshine on Forder Creek.

Up the Creek

Forder Creek provides a safe haven from winter storms for these small boats.

 

The Dying of the Light

Silhouette

HMS Somerset making her way across Plymouth Sound on Friday morning.

 

Man Overboard.

This small Royal Navy ship is moored permanently in the River Lynher,

where it plays an important part in the practical training of all the new recruits

who pass through HMS Raleigh, the nearby shore establishment.

Whilst it was a beautiful winter day it was bitterly cold, and I'm glad it wasn't me going for a dip, 

even though they were in survival suits.

The natives are not very friendly.

The residents of the tiny hamlet of Anthony Passage, on the banks of the River Lynher,

a stone's throw from Plymouth, standby to repel intruders.

The Mast at Mount Wise

This 40 metre mast was erected in 1998 to commemorate the Naval Semaphore Station

 that stood on this high point from which semaphore signals from the Admiralty 

could be passed on to the fleet, anchored in the River Tamar below.

It was operated from 1806 till 1852 when it was replaced by the telegraph 

which remained in operation into the 1930s.

In World War Two its commanding position made it strategic in the defence of the Dockyards and Naval Base when Barrage Balloons were deployed from it to prevent low level attacks by the German aircraft.

The ferry between England and Cornwall

Looking out from Mount Wise as a ferry crosses from Plymouth to Mount Edgecumbe.

Beyond the ferry lies Plymouth Sound with its Breakwater, 

which helps to protect the city's waterfront from the worst ravages of winter storms. 

 

The Odd Couple

Blue Monday

Researchers claimed that yesterday would be the most depressing day of the year

 with people's moods affected by their post Christmas finances, the bad weather 

and the long wait for summer.

Whether they were right or not, yesterday dawned with a distinctly blue tinge.

En Pointe

Two youngsters in Sutton Harbour yesterday.

A Sudden Squall

Viewed from inside the warm, welcoming Berkeley Bar at lunchtime on Friday.

Blue Morning

The Train and the River

This early morning train is leaving Cornwall, at Saltash, and crossing the Tamar to England.

"The Train and the River" is the title of one of the most familiar pieces of jazz music

because it was used to back the opening credits of the timeless film "Jazz on a Summer's Day",

the film of the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival. 

Click to check it out.

The Gathering Storm

Despite the winter sunshine, everyone could see a very heavy squall coming 

and had made for the shelter of their cars or the bar in the Dome Restaurant.

Everyone that is except the only person in the picture.

At Long last.

The City Council has been able to purchase the derelict Quality Hotel on Plymouth Hoe.

If all goes smoothly, demolition of this eyesore could start within a few weeks, 

and the search will be on for suitable purchasers to develop this prime Waterfront site.

Looking Westward

from "The Blockhouse", in the Stoke district of the city, across the rooftops in the valley

towards the northern end of the Devonport Naval Dockyard.

One more very wet weekend

Little and Large

Les Parapluies de Plymouth

Not quite the romantic intensity of "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg", I fear.

But check out a short clip from the timeless original 1960s masterpiece

At last, a clear, sunny, winter day,

Looking down from Mount Wise onto the River Tamar as it flows out into Plymouth Sound.

Opening Soon

The sooner the better for me.

HMS Echo leaving Plymouth Sound yesterday afternoon.

HMS Echo, one of the Royal Navy's survey and research vessels, 

left her berth in the Devonport Naval Base heading for Falmouth in Cornwall.

Although it looks quiet here in Plymouth Sound it will be busier when she has passed the Breakwater Lighthouse and made her way out into The English Channel.

Click here to see the live shipping map of this section of the Channel

A brief gap between the downpours

All around the UK December's rainfall figures broke all-time records.

So far January is continuing that trend, keeping the promenade on Plymouth Hoe

 and the city's streets unusually empty over Christmas and New Year Holiday period.

Cafe Rouge

The Plymouth outlet of the Cafe Rouge chain closed its doors for the last time over a year ago.

But on a damp and blustery January day, if you half close your eyes, 

this corner of Whimple Street can seem like Paris of late nineteenth century.

 

City shapes

A city centre thumbnail during a rare break in almost continual rain.

I don't think there is a 'wavy line' in this image.

The Ferryman

For hundreds of years, before the first of the bridges spanned the River Tamar here at Saltash,

 ferrymen were among the myriad of people who earned their living on the river.

Here, one of a group, in a sculpture commemorating their passing,

keeps a watchful eye on the present day river traffic.

May it be a Happy New Year.

"Riding a Wave" 

 is the title of this sculpture by Lucy Glendinning,

which is situated outside the Drakes Circus Shopping Centre, in Plymouth's city centre.

May its exuberance be matched by an indomitable spirit,

 as the city faces the economic storms that continue to  batter it.

Visit Lucy Glendinning's website see her inspiration for the piece