Photo-a-Day  (Monday, 8th April, 2024)

Cross Farm in the foreground looking idyllic in the sunshine.

I like this one, a clear bright day but moody sky. A view we've all seen over time, but never get sick of seeing it. Nice one Colin.

Who needs the lakes when you have a view like this. The farm from that distance looks like it is kept tidy and well maintained

Cheers Colin , this is a fine picture of the place I love most .
Playing on the radio this morning has I opened PaD ,

' Bows and flows of angel hair , and ice cream castles in the air ,
And feather canyons everywhere , I've looked at clouds that way ' ..
( Joni Mitchell )

Good photo Colin I’m chilling out today shattered, if you’re up for a treck up to the Pike give us a shout.

Another sign of wind and rain… and more to come. Thanks Colin.

What an absolutely lovely view, and I agree with PeterP that it all looks amazingly neat and tidy and well-kept. We have the film "Spring and Port Wine" in which Rafe Crompton, (James Mason), goes for a walk in the Bolton countryside near his home and says, mystified, "Why people want to go abroad...", and I totally agree with him. Yes, we have rainy days and snow sometimes, but views like the above are all I want and on a pleasant day are second to none. Of course that's just my view and I know most people like to see other countries. Thanks, Colin....perfect!

Thanks all for the nice comments, it’s hard to get a dry clear day at the moment, I was fortunate on that day.
Hard to believe that there are so many beautiful views within walking distance of Standish centre. Just hope the developers don’t get their hands on these green fields.

John, thanks for the kind invite, but on the best of days that would be a trek too far for me and the weather is not very promising, yet again!
Perhaps another day in Horwich or Westhoughton, they are on a bus route!!!!

Very nice photo, thanks.

Born in Wigan brought up in Blackrod now living on the Netherlands never get fed up of seeing this view this view was what I saw every morning as a child

Thinking of the Pike and Winter Hill this reminds my of The Winter Hill air disaster that occurred on 27 February 1958, when the Silver City Airways Bristol 170 Freighter G-AICS, operated by Manx Airlines on a charter flight from the Isle of Man to Manchester, England, crashed during heavy snow into Winter Hill, 35 people died and miraculously 7 survived but were injured.

Colin your right about the weather it’s looking like I just replaced a rotting concrete post for my neighbour Margaret in time before the recent high winds.

Veronica I hope I’ve not stepped out of line but looked up your nice paintings and forwarded photo of a cute chipmunk asking if you could perhaps copy to WAG .

Lovely photo of a very familiar sight, the farm look clean and tidy too. Thank you Colin.
Where is all our regular people today.

What a lovely photo can somebody please tell me whereabouts it was taken as i would like to have a walk round were it is.

Beautiful view of hills and sky and the bright green fields. Love it.

I used to go potato picking for this farm in the fields across the road from here. The script was you reported to the farmyard near the barns and the farmer came out and picked who he wanted for the day, the rest went home, try again tomorrow. You then piled onto one of the trailers and then were taken to the field to begin work. It was very hard work and I remember picking in the dark with the tractor having its lights on. They certainly got their monies worth out of us. A good, familiar picture Colin, I too hope we don't see another housing estate here.

Julie, if you know Standish at all, take a walk along Preston Road (A49) from Pepper Lane towards Coppull.
The view is on the right once you have passed the last row of houses. Make sure it is a clear day though!
Hope this helps.

WN1 funny you should mention potato picking, I was asking my wife this morning why the school holidays had been shortened in October. She said that it used be potato picking season for school children but not anymore. These days you can’t even get them to pick up litter!

I don’t remember a Chipmunk John. Where did you see it? Was it online F/B WAG? I am more for landscapes but we did once do a Harry Hare! There’s a lot better than Harry if you were to scroll down more…..I don’t think it would be appropriate on here though John.
I will forward you a few if I had your email.

Sandra, Yes there is a distinct lack of certain names, the anonymous and numpties, but give it time!

Julie , the road shown in the picture is a private one . They are not too keen on walkers going down there . The best thing to do is go down Langtree lane as far as the hall then turn left into the open fields that lead to the rear of the farm .
There's also access from a track by the Olive Gardens Restaurant at Seven Stars at the bottom of the hill on Preston road . Unsurprisingly the ground is extremely muddy at the moment with all the rain. . Part of the land near Hic Bibi is flooded .

If you go to Westhoughton Art Group and go to the magnifying glass and put my name in you can see most of my work John or anyone else feel free. I think you would get in with my first name. Thank you John. We are amateurs.

Colin, I mean the genuine and honest ones and not the fakes.

Just beautiful Colin....not a sign of ' dark satanic mills' . Lancashire has some really inspiring views, a green & pleasant landscape.
PS...Poet, thats one of my favourite songs !

Yes, Irene and Maureen are missing amongst one or two others.

Ken (in The Netherlands) good to see you posting. I always think of Blackrod as being Wigan but of course it’s now in Bolton.
The Ridgeway is still open, I remember it in the days of Steak Canadienne and Chicken In A Basket.
Send us some tulips.

Helen, Beeston Bump, I’m not being rude.
Norfolk is very flat, some parts like the Fens below sea level.
Is Beeston Bump the highest part?

Irene has commented early this morning. Some of us oldies get up early ;o))

Colin , it is a lovely heart wrenching photo.. my hubby and myself used to go to Rivington a lot.. it brings so many memories back. With bags on our backs for our sandwiches and coffee.. we would walk all around Rivvy, feed the Llamas we walked for miles all around the area.. read everything about Lord Lever.. but since I lost my hubby when I see Rivington it’s a mixture of joy and sad memories.

Thanks V, sorry Irene to have overlooked you. XX, one for each!

Maureen nobody can take your memories away and they will always be with you. xxx

Thank you Veronica.. and your paintings are lovely.

Thankyou Colin Taylor i will go explore how nice it is.

So are yours Maureen. xx

Maureen, I can fully understand mixed feelings of places once shared with loved ones. Not easy to revisit. I am sure I speak for all when I say Take comfort and happiness in having had the wonderful opportunity to share those things together. X

"I always think of Blackrod as being Wigan but of course it’s now in Bolton."

I always think of Blackrod as being Blackrod, a place inbetween Horwich, Aspull and Adlington.
I believe it's been called Blackrod for a long time.

I agree Maureen, I have some lovely memories of Rivington. We went up there all through our teenage yrs, and we'll into married life. Hail rain and snow. Veronica is right, no one can take your memories away. Surely we must have passed you on our treks. We have even been to the pike, with a baby, Pram, and a dog. Xx. Thanks for the memories Colin.

I never had much time for the Bible Maureen, but Psalm 23 speaks to me.

Colin...Beeston Bump is a mere 63 mtrs above sea level....though if you climb to the top it seems pretty high & steep to me, its right above the beach which is eroding rapidly.
The highest point in Norfolk is Beacon Hill, known to locals as Roman Camp & that is 105 mtrs above sea level....I find its easier to picture it when its 344 ft & it seems very unlikely that the Romans ever camped there, though they did land futher down the coast.
People tend to think Norfolk is flat as a pancake but if you have cycled along the coastline you might change your mind about that. Its The Fens that are flat & they are in Cambridgeshire, not Norfolk.

Thank you D'Tease..I do believe in the power of prayer.

And Maureen you have something else that must be a great comfort - his recording of a wonderful singing voice..I was bowled over listening to ‘Love Letters in the Sand’…