How many shades of grey?

Not 50 according to the programme QI. No, there are apparently 104....after this week though I would beg to differ. There's one and one only for I have seen it day after day this week. It doesn't trouble me unduly for it makes the blood red skies of the sunsets and sunrises of this time of year all the more spectacular. I stopped the car to take a photo of this on Sunday....so magnificent was it. I do hereby solemnly swear that I may have cropped out the passing car, but I have not tinkered with the colours in any way.

Until recently I never understood the science behind why we see the colours we do at this time of day. All fascinating stuff. Rather than regurgitate the article and brown off the author into the bargain there's a link here for anyone who's interested http://news.wisc.edu/curiosities-what-determines-the-colors-of-the-sky-at-sunrise-and-sunset/ These natural wonders keep me going when it's grim out there.

Arilx

Advertising Space

There is little more for me to add about my jolly to the Geffrye museum on Saturday because my blogging chum Lovely Grey has already covered all the bases rather marvellously here http://lovelygreyday.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/days-out-in-london-geffrye-museum.html

However, I did take a couple of shots of things which caught my eye as I made my way there. Having had a son visit Pompeii earlier this year and talk about the Roman wall paintings advertising various services [including ahem the ones at the brothel] it struck me that here we are more than a couple of thousand years later still doing exactly the same thing!

This example is next to the museum. I really feel we should be listing these nowadays as they become rarer rather than just letting them disappear.

Then this one which I guess is its modern equivalent. This is the signage for a garage near Hoxton station. Certainly eyecatching!

Arilx

"A Mad Wall"

" A Mad Wall"....a phrase made famous by Lovely Grey when showing us pictures of her home. Only this time it wasn't at her house, but seen at the Geffrye Museum in London....thankfully she was with me to fully appreciate it!

This is the handiwork of Jonathan Early and at first glance, it looks to be a fairly sensible depiction of a typical 18th century landscaped garden. Closer inspection proves it is anything but....instead it's a rather marvellous flight of fancy. Think Beatrix Potter meets Punch with wonderful detailing.... why there are even ants for those who take the time to look closely. Just fab!

Arilx

D.I.Y Nativity

As an alternative to a shop bought Nativity with a carefully constructed setting and coordinating figures, I was rather taken with this home made affair which I saw in a Sussex church at the beginning of the year. I rather like the fact the maker has gone off piste with the inclusion of all different types of ornaments to set the scene. I had some of those whimsies made by Wade as a child and although, I don't recall there being any mention of an owl being present, but the Bible doesn't say there wasn't one either!

I had a smashing day with Lovely Grey yesterday, but I need to sort out photos and thoughts before I blog and frankly, I can't remember where I put the jar with my brain in so no chance of that happening today!

Arilx

A Quick Quote

Arilx

A Frosty Reception

I can honestly say that until yesterday, I had never been greeted by a snowman doffing his hat. This rather fabulous automata was built by the amazing volunteers at the local museum. Apologies for the less than fabulous photos....they were taken on my phone.

I shall make the next post a non festive one...I don't want to be suffering from Christmas overload too early in the month!

Arilx

The Stealth Elf

Following on from a recent conversation about buying strings of non fairy lights to keep up in the lounge during the long winter months, Mr GBT and I went mad in the town recently and not only topped up our light supplies, but also invested in some new festive decorations. A fair few have got broken over the years and the tinsel looked decidely threadbare.....never fear the height of our retail extravaganza was to step over the threshold in in Wilkos, but most came via our usual preloved route of the charity shop.

Now this has given us a tidy little pile of new, shiny things. Normally I'm a right old harridan about the whole Christmas decorating malarky....nowt up until Yule except this year we seem to have acquired a stealth elf  here at GBT who is challenging my bah humbug ways by sneaking one decoration up a day. I didn't even notice them appearing for the first couple of days. Mr GBT just smiled at me benignly when I commented on it and continued along his merry little way. They are still popping up and it's become quite an amusing game to try and spot them!!

The pretty glass baubles are one of our recycled thrifty purchases.

Arilx