I liked this frieze above the windows of Rochdale Museum:-

Also these stained glass windows which seem to be on someone’s extension:-

Across the road from the Museum was a green park-like area with this iron pedestrian bridge:-

Nearby was this statue of John Bright:-

This spire-y thing is by the side of the road. I’ve no idea what it’s for:-

The town centre has this statue of sheep (rams):-

And spot the dedication on the bridge (which I ought to have placed in yesterday’s post):-

Until recently the River Roch through Rochdale town centre had been covered over for decades – almost a century. It’s been opened up now and the river looks well. A town always seems better for a river running through it.

Bridge in Rochdale town centre, Art Deco former Regal Cinema, now The Regal Moon, in background:-

Bridge in Rochdale town centre from opposite side, Town Hall in background:-

Rochdale Town Hall and Square:-

One side of Rochdale Town Square (to the right in previous picture):-

Rochdale’s most famous daughter is perhaps, Gracie Fields. There is a statue of her, complete with old style microphone, in the town square:-

Different angle. Town Hall in background:-

The Rochdale trams are colourful; well, bright:-

We couldn’t go all the way up to the Pentland Firth and not visit Thurso, the northernmost town on the British mainland.

This bridge over the river Thurso takes you from the east (left in the picture) into the town centre:-

The War Memorial is located in Sir John’s Square. Dedicated to “those from the parish of Thurso who, in the war of 1914-1919 laid down their lives for God and country and the cause of freedom. We thank God on every remembrance of them.” The 1939-1945 plaque lies below the dedication:-

North face. Great War Names:-

West face. Great War names:-

South face. Great War names:-

Detail:-

The Waterpoort is the old entrance to Sneek town centre by canal. I suppose it functioned as a sort of mediaeval toll gate as well as the entrance to the town.

Canal with Waterpoort in distance:-

Bridge and Waterpoort behind:-

Waterpoort from canal basin:-

View from Waterpoort:-

Waterpoort clock from town side:-

Photos from March 2017. Gap finally closed.

From South Queensferry:-

New bridge in full, Forth Road Bridge to right:-

From approach road to North Queensferry, Forth Road Bridge in background:-

Northern support pillar and cable stays:-

Northern cable stay tower:-

All three cable stay towers:-

South cable stay tower and support pillars. Work still being done where gap was closed:-

There are two bridges over the burn at Kemback. This one is up the village a bit:-

This one is just by the junction of the road which goes to Cupar eventually:-

While we were coming back down from the church these aeroplanes flew overhead:-

These were taken in late December 2016, so I’m a bit late getting round to posting them. The first three are views from North Queensferry, the later ones are from South Queensferry.

North support pillar:-

North cable stay tower:-

Central and south cable stay towers:-

Last gap in bridge:-

Close up on final gap. This is the one where I heard the support pillar’s foundations had been a bit suspect:-

Looking over Port Edgar Yacht Club:-

New bridge in full (except for last gap):-

Three Bridges Panorama. From left, Queensferry Crossing, Forth Road Bridge, Forth Bridge from South Queensferry side:-

We’ve been to the New Era exhibition of Scottish Modern Art 1900-1950 at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Modern Two.)

It’s not quite as good as the previous exhibition True to Life (for which I see some of the links to the paintings are no longer working) but there is still some good stuff there.

More so in the first two galleries. The pictures became darker both in tone and appearance as the galleries wore on.

Stanley Cursiter’s “The Regatta” is particularly striking with its bold slabs of colour:-

Cursiter’s “Rain on Princes Street”:-

J D Fergusson is more usually reckoned a colourist but though not an official war artist he was allowed to paint Portsmouth Docks during the Great War.

Another evocation of war is in Eric Robertson’s “Shellburst”:-

So too does Keith Henderson’s “Camouflage Hangars and Gas Gong”:-

The caption for Edward Baird’s “Unidentified Aircraft over Montrose” is odd as it says the bridge at the lower left has since been replaced by a suspension bridge but the one depicted is clearly exactly of that type:-

William McCance’s “Study for a Colossal Steel Head” is very modernistic:-

This is a bridge on the road into Fortingall:-

As well as some Arts and Crafts houses –

some with thatched roofs

– the village has this idiosyncratic building:-

It also has a unique claim to fame. It is home to supposedly the oldest living thing in Europe, the Fortingall Yew, which can be seen to the left of the church in the link at the top of this post and here:-

The plaque informs us that The Tree Council designated this one of fifty Great British Trees, June 2002:-

The village of Kenmore lies at the foot of Loch Tay in Perthsire.

Main street left. Taymouth Castle gates are behind you in this view. You can just make out the War Memorial at the far end of the street in front of the kirk:-

Main street right:-

Main street reverse view. Gates of Taymouth Castle middle centre. The War Memorial is directly behind here:-

Looking down to foot of Loch Tay:-

Foot of Loch Tay:-

Near Kenmore a reconstructed crannog has been built out onto Loch Tay. This is the view of Kenmore from there:-

The outflow from Loch Tay is the start of Scotland’s longest river, the silvery Tay. This lovely bridge spans it:-

River Tay at Kenmore:-