SISKINS, A ROBIN, A HOUSE SPARROW & A RARE GREENFINCH IN THE GARDEN THIS WEEK...

 

EARLY MORNING, NEWLYN, 1926... (My new poem inspired by Dod Procter's painting...)

 Early Morning, Newlyn, 1926…

(My new poem inspired by Dod Procter’s painting…)

Peace becalms the jumbled huddle of cottages and each stylised terraced house,

The angled roofs stripped clean of lichen, guano and lumps of moss. 

Soot-topped chimneys belch out no smoke, suggesting a warmer season

And the absence of gulls, although unaccountable, is really rather engaging…

The harbour’s jointed arms, like a crab’s claws enfold the quay, 

Where moored and tucked luggers shelter upon the calm sky-blue ocean

Of early morning Newlyn…   

There are no raucous screams of gulls, nor clamour from the fishing industry, which might rouse

The locals and there is no lighthouse to guide boats, whose irrevocable loss

In heavy storms could cripple the villagers’ lives beyond all reason.

The absence of more than a couple of folks, although unaccountable, is encouraging

And the enclosing granite arms one hundred years on, still nurse the boundary

Of the harbour for trawlers and crabbers and hand-liners which will soon set in motion

From early morning Newlyn…

Pete Ray…

2nd March 2026…    

Newlyn…

One of my favourite places to see, explore and photograph…

There is now a lighthouse at the end of the right-hand harbour-arm and the roofs are no longer stylised and tidy, like in Dod Procter’s smart painting!

One hundred years have passed since the artist produced this work… 

The thoughts of an independent source, The Sand Martin...

‘This painted view of Newlyn Harbour from the higher vantage point of the hill above looks almost like a photograph. The buildings and rooftops are very precisely depicted with delicate pale grey-white shades giving an impressionistic idea of slates. By contrast the pale orange chimneys and coping stones on the rooftops help to sharpen and delineate the shapes of the assorted roof areas. 

Similarly the greyish-purple areas in the shade stand out, comprised of various types of triangles that cleverly help to show the pitch of each roof area. They appear in parts to almost tessellate as they

fit together so perfectly in quite a graphic style.

The properties themselves are tantalising because one sees mainly rooftops and just a few house walls and windows, peaking the interest as to the full view of the homes clustered together.

Looking beyond, one sees the exquisitely deep blue shade of the calm sea and the harbour with three boats safely moored. Perhaps more are out at sea, having fished overnight.

The stout harbour wall indicates that the sea in these parts can be ferocious and the ocean beyond is depicted as being rather less calm than within the safety of the harbour.

From the soft green shades of the hillside to the colours used in the buildings and rooftops, this is mostly a calm and gentle picture with early sunlight illuminating the bright white of the buildings in the foreground. 

There is a beautiful juxtaposition of light and shade that makes the eye linger and wonder about the properties. The odd bright emerald green patch of garden and areas of lighter green by the harbour wall with a hint of yellow lichen on one roof, all balance this painting so beautifully.

The people walking along the harbour wall tell us that the day has begun in this corner of paradise where the sea beyond can be a living hell for those simply trying to earn a living and longing for the safety of the harbour that is Newlyn.'

HOOK, LINE & SINKER... (My new poem inspired by Louise McIntosh's painting...)

 Hook, Line & Sinker…

(Inspired by Louise McIntosh’s stunning painting of Oban…)

A tail fin flips on white from the luxurious blue of the firth, a narrow inlet

Of the sea, watched by a teased and inquisitive cat, loitering upon the quay.

Drag marks from kayaks direct the gaze to jolly premises along the harbour wall

Having scoured the rich amber sand upon the otherwise vacant beach.

A myriad of luxurious colours accentuate every detail of the town, each set

Cluster of buildings luring, securing one’s attention in a spree

Of luminescence. The purple tree-line is injected by stabs of vivid green, below a squall 

Of red sky, topped by a lilac McCaig’s Tower, unfinished and impishly beyond reach…

A snug cottage watches from the woods, an unlikely sentinel to vet

The glitz below, peering towards the distillery and a pink industrial chimney.

Rainbow-like roads, their inclines like snakes disappear, yet enthral

And the total blast of colour wrenches the attention to the quiet haven, a rewarding niche…   

Pete Ray…

1st March 2026…  

The startling hues grabbed my attention and the humour in the painting was palpable…

Love it…

The thoughts of The Sand Martin...

‘What a spectacular view of Oban this painting presents! 

There could hardly be more of a contrast with what the eye sees in real life and what this painting presents in terms of colour and style.

The buildings and features are sharp and clear, and the range of colours enables one to more clearly discern each feature and building than would necessarily be the case by simply looking at the view. 

In that case some time would be necessary to pick out features. In this stunning picture each of them shouts out loud and clear, so that for example although the shops may be similar, they are most certainly separate from all the others and very different.

My initial thought was that the vivid saturated colour was too much but upon looking more carefully I see that in fact it clarifies the view in a more accessible way. 

For many and particularly the visually impaired this is a fantastic way to bring the world alive. The distinction between beach and sea is wonderful with the opposing colours delighting the eye and always a winning combination. 

The grey tones used behind the seafront and higher up the hill whilst keeping the focus on the seafront show, as does the perspective, that the town spreads upwards. 

The grim spilling of blood in the original Roman Colosseum is perhaps referenced by the bright red painted sky around the enormous colosseum-like structure at the top of the hill.

Originally startled by this painting I find that it is altogether an uplifting and enlightening work of art, giving a wonderfully fresh view of this well known scene.’ 

THE 23 IMAGE OUT-TAKES FROM THE MALVERN TOWN 3-1 FALMOUTH TOWN GAME... (MY PHOTOS WITH UNUSUAL CAPTIONS...)

 

THANKS TO OSCAR MASSEY (EX-MOUSEHOLE) FOR NOT SCORING IN THE FIRST-HALF WHEN HE STRUCK AN UPRIGHT, CUZ MY CAMERA HAD MALFUNCTIONED INTO A BLUR...

"NOW THE SKIPPER'S GONE, LET'S START A RUMOUR ABOUT HIM...)

HOW TO WRECK A GROUP HUG...

YURI QUINTAS SPOTS A FRIEND IN THE CROWD...

SKIPPER JOE TUMMELTY WONDERS WHAT THE PLAYERS HAD BEEN SAYING ABOUT HIM...

"IF YOU WANT A BACKY, EXPECT TO HAVE YOUR ARSE SQUEEZED..."

LOOKS LIKE THE REF IS AMUSED, AS HARRISON JEWELL RECOVERS FROM A KNOCK BUT OFFERS HIM A COUPLE OF PARACETAMOL ANYWAY... 

THE REF APPEARS TO BE OBSERVING A MINUTE'S SILENCE FOR THE SITUATION IN IRAN...

THE REF NOW APPEARS TO BE SLAPPING FREDDIE START-WALTER AROUND THE HEAD...

GOAL FOR MASSEY & MY HAND-HELD CAMERA PLEASINGLY FAILED TO MALFUNCTION FOR THAT SHOT...

JOHNSON HAS SCORED FOR 3-1 BUT I WAS THE PROPER CHARLIE, FOR MY CLIP OF HIS FAR POST HEADER WHICH LOOPED INTO THE FALMOUTH NET WAS CRAP...

SOMEONE'S ATTEMPT AT A HEADSTAND FAILS MISERABLY...

HARRY CLARK HAS REGAINED THE LEAD FOR THE HILLSIDERS, WHO PROMENADE UP THE PITCH LIKE THEY HAVE JUST LEFT A DISCO...

DION MOLYNEUX IS CAUIONED FOR RIDING ON THE BACK OF AN OPPONENT, DESPITE HAVING HIS BUTT SQUEEZED...

TAKE-OFF TIME...

BOYS NEVER DID UNDERSTAND COUNTRY DANCING...

A TOUCHING MOMENT, AS START-WALTER REMOVES A BEE FROM A COLLEAGUE'S FOREARM...

REF: "OK, LET'S PLAY PAPER, SCISSORS, STONE AND IF YOU WIN, I WON'T BOOK YOU..."

THE ART OF LEANING LEGS...

SOMEONE HAS LEFT HIS KAYAK IN THE LOCKER ROOM...

TUMELTY: "LOOK MATE, I'M SKIPPER HERE. ARE YOU THAT IMPORTANT? NO? WELL, NAFF OFF..."

A FALMOUTH PLAYER PLAYS AIR-KEYBOARD WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING.
MASSEY (BACKGROUND) IS WELL IMPRESSED...

TO PREVENT BRAWLS AT THE TOSS, CAPTAINS HAVE THEIR HANDS TIED BEHIND THEIR BACKS THESE DAY...

MALVERN TOWN 3-1 FALMOUTH TOWN: THE LINK TO 17 MINUTES OF VIDEO ACTION WITH FULL COMMENTARY...

 

PLEASE CLICK ON THIS MESSAGE TO GO TO THE 17 MINUTES OF VIDEO ACTION WITH FULL COMMENTARY...

THE INTREPID PILGRIMS FROM CORNWALL...

...& WHERE TO PRAY, IF DEFEATED...

THE FAB BACKDROP...

THE FACILITIES...

IN DANGER OF TOPPLING, THE BODGING HANGS ONTO THE PYDOG... 

GREAT SKY TO PAINT...

...NOT SO GREAT SKY TO PAINT...