Friday, 4 December 2009

Calm day at Havre des Pas

It was pretty good for mid-late October, the pool was like a mirror so I set off with camera to see what I could come up with. Here's the view at La Collette, first...







.. and the new incinerator....







.. from the pool...







.. right here.






First, a moment's silence for the death of the charming seafront at Havre des Pas. This typically Jersey hotel is going to be replaced by a SEVEN storey modern art-deco rehash monster.





But who am I to argue, I'm not the one making money out of it. Instead let's look wistfully out to sea and count our blessings.







The entrance







Outside and in







It's like one of them there "infinity pool" thingies.
















Is nowhere sacred?







More next time....

Monday, 30 November 2009

Changes at Devil's Hole

Here are some pics from mid August that I've been sitting on for a while, but I might as well publish them while I decide whether to carry on with blogging my pics. There are a number of reasons for a lack of motivation recently. The audience isn't exactly massive (although a small number of very appreciative supporters certainly helps) and a lack of feedback is discouraging, I've been more keen on playing with HD video lately, blogger.com still haven't sorted out an RSS feeds problem which is annoying me, and it looks like some proposed change to the Data Protection Law here may force me to give up if I can't be anonymous any more. In addition, my personal life has reached a level of stress that I'm only just managing to cope with, with no clearly visible light at the end of the tunnel that I could be reasonably sure isn't an oncoming train :)

Plus, I'm finding that I've photographed so much of the island that it's really hard to find inspiration for photo-missions any more.

It also hasn't helped that the weather has been appalling for my kind of photography for what seems like months, and I have become fussy about 'quality of light' as they say. A lot of this summer seemed to be very hazy, with poor visibilty to the distance - for a zoom lens enthusiast like myself that's a bit limiting.

Anyhow, I haven't given up yet, and I've quite a few collections of video clips from various days out that I've yet to edit together, so when time permits.... there should be more yet from this crapaud!





Ample parking at the Devil's Hole pub "The Priory Inn"...







Not far down the path, the pond (and view of the statue) needs a bit of maintenance.







That's a new bridge...








.. and over the other side of the hole...







.. a reduced size viewing area...








.. with new platform.







New fencing (small coastal viewing area removed, to my annoyance) and revamped rest area.






View looking to the west








Access Denied







Back in the days before 'elf-n-safety' when people were willing to be responsible for their own actions, there were a number of routes down into the hole over the years. I guess I'll have to learn rock climbing rope skills if I ever want to get down there now.

Saturday, 7 November 2009

Crapaudvision - Archirondel Cottage and bunker

A look around an old cottage at Archirondel on Jersey's east coast in St.Catherine's Bay. The property has been government owned for decades and rented out as social housing, but is now being sold on the open market. This is our last chance to have a look around and see the old WWII bunker in the garden, built by the German forces during the island's wartime occupation.

youtube.com/watch?v=kz4YkApJdTw&hd=1


Wednesday, 4 November 2009

Does blogger.com care any more?

See crapaudpinion.blogspot.com for one of the reasons why it has been a bit quiet here lately.

Yes, it has reached the stage where I just had to moan about it :)

Saturday, 17 October 2009

Crapaudvision - St. Helier Harbour

5 minutes of a selection of views of Jersey's St.Helier Harbour quietly going about its business at low tide one sunny late summer evening.

youtube.com/watch?v=UUINUFAkOl4&hd=1


Tuesday, 13 October 2009

On the prom near the Gunsite


Run a cafe in an old bunker and call it the Gunsite, and the whole area becomes known by that name.







Towards Bel Royal / Millbrook.







Looking back...







.. from the Gunsite Slip.







I wonder if Beaumont Tower will ever become known as the Gunsite Tower? :)






I find pink/red tarmac repulsive, but green is delightful :o)








Looking up inland for a moment, don't ask me why.







Dogwalkers and...







.. St.Aubin's Fort.







.. right a bit, secluded coves 'behind' St.Aubin.







Into the light... Elizabeth Castle.







Birds and stripes.






Damp beach ...







.. enjoyed by walkers....







.. and horseperson.

Wednesday, 7 October 2009

Crapaudvision - St. Aubin views from bunker

Up from the railway walk into woodland we reach an area burnt by a recent wild fire which has made accessible an old WWII german occupation bunker. Good views over the church on the hill, village and harbour. I hope they keep a pathway clear and don't let the gorse regrow to this historic lookout point...

youtube.com/watch?v=AN-hcb2m-2k&hd=1

Sunday, 4 October 2009

Crapaudvision - A line in the sand

Organised by the National Trust (Jersey), this human chain along the length of the "5 mile" St.Ouen's Bay gave thousands of proud islanders a chance to show how much they care about Jersey's beautiful coastline - and to say "STOP!" to any more overdevelopment that would spoil our gem of an isle.

youtube.com/watch?v=CFEtWwyDvyk&hd=1



Well done to all who took part.

Thursday, 1 October 2009

Misc from September

I might as well publish these before they get too old :)


A recent furze fire at L'Etacq...








.. closer...







.. slightly blurry but it was rather distant.







How green is my valley? Mourier, in fact, from the cliff path.






I wonder if I've ever noticed before that there's nothing behind the facade here in the middle at Chambers, and then forgotten... only to rediscover it... possibly a few times? :)







C.T. Maine the jewellers, by Hamons, is going to close after many many years....








.. closer...








.. above the door.






A quick grab of the scene at La Rocque which caught my eye for some reason - the colour of the patch of drier sand.






Slipway cafe at Bel Royal at dusk.






Good for a giggle if you have my sense of humour - if the shutters actually closed, how much of the windows would they cover?







.. nearby, the scaffolding has come down from the new tower...






.. closer.








Ann Court coming down too.

Sunday, 27 September 2009

Crapaudvision - Jersey Marathon Finish

The scene at the Weighbridge as the first runner crosses the line and the 2nd and 3rd are on their way to the finish....




A slight rush-job - the video was edited and started uploading within an hour of leaving the place... and was viewable while some runners were still on the course. Isn't the Internet Age a wonderful thing? :)