Causeway Hospital

This is a view of the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine.
I was visiting this afternoon because my wife's sister is a patient at the moment.
When I arrived it was virtually impossible to get parked. The car park isn't big enough - although, admittedly, there's no charge for using it.

Car parking has become a particular problem since the new restrictions on visiting hours were imposed. The recent outbreak of c.difficile in the Northern Trust's area has caused changes in the way our local hospitals are run.
There has been a return to the old ways - visitors not allowed before or after certain times. The only thing missing is the bell ringing to tell everyone "Time to leave".

I was a little late in leaving, so the car park had begun to empty by the time I took the photo. What really annoyed me when I was trying to find a space was the number of times two cars - parked at an angle - were occupying three spaces.
Is it that difficult to park a car properly?

Snow

I said it was getting like winter, but it's unusual for us to have snow this early. The photo is of Slemish near Ballymena. Like the rest of the Antrim Hills it's got a light coating of snow.
We've had a bad summer and autumn, so I hope this isn't a sign of an equally bad winter to come.
Apparently to-day was the coldest October day here since 1934.

Winter

The clocks went back on Saturday night, so it's almost dark by 5.30 now. Makes it feel like winter.
The weather is changing too. Only 6 degrees this afternoon, with a chilly northwest breeze making it feel colder. According to the forecast, it's to get colder as the week goes on.
There must be a possibility of frost to-night because the gritting lorries were out when I was coming home this evening. It was raining at the time, mind you, so I thought it sort of defeated the object of the exercise.

The photograph above is of Ramore Head at Portrush. It's more effective if you click to enlarge it.
Below? Well, just the end of autumn.

Renewable Energy

This windmill is a recent addition to our local skyline. It is situated in the grounds of the University of Ulster's Coleraine campus and provides part of their electricity supply.
There were a variety of protests about a windmill being constructed close to the town. Many people regard it as an eyesore.
I don't agree. I think windmills are quite elegant - and infinitely better than having a power station on your doorstep.

Late Afternoon Sky

Blue sky appeared briefly, late this afternoon. It was a windy, wet and miserable day, typical of autumn. Many trees have lost virtually all their leaves already. And a hint of winter is in the air.

Railings

Our local council have obviously decided that these railings should be highly visible. Perhaps they even glow in the dark?
I suppose they have to use special paint to prevent corrosion caused by the sea spray, but surely other colours are available. Or is it just undercoat?
This is part of the West Strand at Portrush at close to high tide.

More Rain

If there's a pot of gold at the foot of the rainbow, I should have spent the day searching around the second field back from my house.
Just think, I could be rich now...

Gale Force?

It was quite breezy to-day, but I didn't think it was bad enough to bring branches of trees down.
This was the scene in a local car-park.
There were no parking spaces, so the photo was taken out the car window.
The quality isn't great, but there was just one shot because I was blocking the way and the impatient person behind started blowing their car horn.

The Barmouth

The Barmouth is where the River Bann enters the sea close to the village of Castlerock. The river divides Portstewart Strand from Castlerock Beach. The photo above is looking up-river, while the one below is the view out to sea.

This little warning sign doesn't deter people from walking down the pier. But what it says is very true, as can be seen below. This picture was taken from the Castlerock side of the river.

Petrol...Prices Down?

In Coleraine a litre of petrol costs less than £1 again. OK, it's 99.9 pence, but that's less than £1. Diesel is still about 11p dearer than petrol.
The situation's a bit different when you cross the border into the Republic. The photo above shows petrol slightly cheaper than in the UK, but diesel is around 15p cheaper.
I have bought all my petrol and diesel at this filling station in Muff, Co. Donegal for a number of years. I have saved a lot of money over the years, because the price differential used to be greater. The exchange rate hasn't been in my favour for some months now. Around a year ago a euro's worth of fuel cost me 69p, now it costs 80p.
It's getting to the point where it won't be worth driving over the border to get petrol, but I'll still make the trip for my diesel.

Exercise?

Somerset Wood covers an area of 375 acres. It was originally part of Somerset Desmesne and was purchased by the Forest Service in 1944. During World War II it was an American Army base used for training exercises prior to D-Day.


The photo below shows the Exercise Cluster referred to on the sign at the entrance. There is some information about how this cluster should be used.
I didn't bother to read the details because exercise and I are not compatible. Apart from walking, that is.
There are two walks around the wood, the longer one being commonly known as the Trim Trail.

This is the entrance to the car park. I took this photo because the sun was shining!

Wet...Again

Trees at the entrance to Somerset Wood just outside Coleraine on the A54 Kilrea Road, known as the Castleroe Road. This wood is one of three around Coleraine. The others are Mountsandel and Castleroe.
The photo was taken quickly during a heavy shower.

Socks

It's a long time since tiny socks like these were blowing on our washing line. Perhaps smaller pegs would be a good idea...





Looking across Coleraine with Knocklayde in the background.

River Bann

Had a walk along the Bann to-day. This is the river which flows through Coleraine.

I noticed this colourful character lying at the edge of the river. I wonder what happened - thrown away, or washed away by a flood?

There is a path along the side of the river. This was a very rough path, but it has recently been upgraded and resurfaced. It's now suitable for wheeling a pram, so my wife and I took our grand-daughter out for some fresh air on a beautiful afternoon.

Waves

I have lived within a few miles of the sea for over thirty years. When you live with anything, you get used to it. But sometimes I realise how fortunate I am.
The picture was taken at Portstewart.





This is a Friday afternoon traffic jam in Coleraine. It must have taken me all of five minutes to get to the end of the road.

Shepherd's Warning

This photo was taken at 7.30 this morning. When I got up, I had this view from my kitchen window.
The old saying is right - Red sky in the morning... Within an hour it was raining and it hasn't stopped all day.

The second picture is another reminder of autumn and long dark nights.

While the winter wheat showing through the ground makes me think of spring and back to brighter days.

Sell-by Date?

To-day's sunshine made me realise my pot plants are getting a bit past it. Time for a tidy up, I think.




But it is autumn after all.

Must start somewhere...

I have been meaning to take at least one photograph every day. But days, even weeks, pass without my camera being used.

The camera is a simple little Nikon Coolpix L12.

This photo shows our recent weather - yet another wet day!

Now, a photograph every day...