crapaudmatic

Liberty Wharf (Jersey) walk-through

2012-01-20T15:13:00.002Z

A casual walk-through of the half-deserted shopping center, on a nice day in the Christmas shopping season. Starts from the western end on what used to be a main road, and ends up in Liberation Square opposite the Pomme d'Or.

My roving reporter just held a camera in his hand as if he wasn't filming, hoping not to be noticed. Please excuse some blurry moments due to the stabilisation software used :)

Charing Cross BSOD

2011-11-24T10:15:00.005Z

It's always amusing to see the latest technology going wrong very publicly! The infamous MS Windows "Blue Screen of Death" entertained us on the Clock Tower in St.Helier at the weekend - which made a change from the frequent ones inside the CoOp nearby :)

(it was actually the usual deeper blue, but the screen is so much brighter than the ambient light that my shot was overexposed a bit)

For more examples, see... the internet :)
10 World Famous BSOD: Most Funny Blue Screen of Death at Awkward Places
30 Priceless BSoD to Chuckle About

Superyacht "Pacific" visits

2011-11-07T09:38:00.004Z

An impressive superyacht was moored at St. Helier over the weekend. In military grey it confused some of my friends and family, but the lack of big numbers on the hull and the large windows designed for admiring the views, were giveaways that it's a pleasure vessel!

It was launched in 2010 by Lürssen Yachts, and measures 85 metres (278 ft), according to various websites such as www.superyachttimes.com and www.charterworld.com

This scoop brought to you by Citizens' Media - there's nothing else about it in the news!

Gas Place - car park to Town Park

2011-10-30T20:18:00.005Z

Beating the local 'mainstream' media to it (they can't bring you pictures from a Saturday event before Monday afternoon, and if the TV news people do actually work on a weekend for a change, it will go to air in a very short bulletin at a random time when people are busy doing other things, like trying to avoid enduring some idiot clowning about with Oscar Puffin) like only Citizens' Media can!

First, let's revisit the carpark on its last day...

.. closer.

900 spaces lost...

.. no wonder businesses around here are giving up.

Last day amongst the last parkers.

A brickwork floor from the previous gas works.

So the JEP publish a letter on the opening day denying it was Stuart Syvret's idea, whereas he claims it was, as does the actual article in the same issue, written after speaking to the campaigners behind it!

It will be interesting to compare the ugly mugs of the politicians present on the opening day attempting to claim credit - with the actual voting record from the day when the infamous 'ringbinder' carried the vote.

This seems so long ago now!

The hoarding made this road more of a tunnel.

And work starts...

.. and several millions later...

.. here it is. With no underground parking that we all wanted.

An enclosed basketball court.

Good sized playground. One good fun piece of equipment span fast enough to threw off some children and resulted in a few twisted ankles, so expect it to be removed.

More pictures to follow, if I can be bothered to walk from the nearest parking the other side of town :)

Don't expect to be able to park nearby to enjoy the park - all the spaces around here are Residents Only. Local Spaces for Local People - and stuff the rest of us!

Remembering Gas Place car park

2011-10-28T14:45:00.001+01:00

As the new Town Park is about to be revealed, I thought why not look back at the car park as it was - it seems quite some time ago now.

It's almost as much fun taking pictures from Google Streetview as it as in real life!

From David Place

I don't really need to label these, as you'll either recognise the scenes or - if you're really bothered - you could take a drive in Streetview for yourself!

Coming soon, photos from the last day inside the car park, and the start of work to create the car-free park.

.. and at some point, the new park of course :)

Misc - west/harbour/art/hocq

2011-10-25T09:10:00.002+01:00

(updated Thurs 27th Oct - now with gun-toting squirrel!)

From the other side of St.Peter's Valley, there's a distant view of the new airport tower to the side of the church steeple. I found it an interesting contrast of old and new, YMMV :)

It's still green.

.. along the bay a bit, Kempt (Martello) Tower is having some work done.

A Tourist-o-scope at Noirmont...

.. and at the other side of the bay, as low down on the tide as it gets for this Condor - you can barely see it compared to the usual view from South Hill. It had been waiting in the bay for the water to rise enough, I believe 3.5m is required before it can come in.

Container ship Huelin Dispatch leaving.

GF stickers are still around, as are 5 or 6 of his larger pieces...

.. the shoe stencils too are still around...

.. joined now by gun-toting squirrels!

.. and GF's stencilling rival has decided to try placing a canvas artwork in town too. This one brightens up the Parade.

There were some "Power To The People" signs around the town centre during the elections - thanks to Tom for telling us where they point to : "The QR code takes you to islandpower.org, which redirects to channelonline.tv/channelonline_elections2011/ "

Finally, four views from a brief stretching of the legs I enjoyed at Le Hocq one evening in rather pleasant weather for the time of year...

.. right a bit, Seymour Tower in the distance...

.. right some more, the other out-at-sea tower, Icho.

.. and the low-lying 'headland' (is there a good word for that?) at Green Island.

Devasted Headland - a follow-up

2011-10-12T09:00:00.000+01:00

In a previous post a couple of weeks ago, I covered the story of
fire-fails-to-devastate-headland and the quote of the affected area being "the size of 14 football pitches". It turns out that 14 Subbuteo tables would be nearer the mark!

As Nick Palmer kindly commented, "I am very familiar with the La Pulente headland having flown over it in my hang glider for several decades. I was expecting our take off area and everything else to have been wiped out but, on visiting it, I was amazed at how small the damaged area was... The actual burnt area is at most the size of one football pitch."

This shot from September did show just about all the damage!

It didn't reach inland along the top of the headland, the dolmen "La Sergente" wasn't harmed.

The wooden fence/style/anti-mountain-biker-measure (for want of a proper word for it!) at the top of the first pic is near the end of the burn area.

Looking downwards to Petit Port and Corbiere...

.. and left a bit.

So, like the TV reports, it's easy to take shots of scorched gorse with the lighthouse in the distance...

.. while concealing the true extent of the damage.

I can only imagine that, perhaps, the fireman said that an area the size of 14 football pitches was at risk - and the reporters misheard or chose to sensationalise.

Sloppy! Would you expect that, before going to press (or to air), a good journo would call back the fire service after the event to double-check their facts?

RIP Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T10:00:00.000+01:00

Sad to see one of the giants of the I.T. world pass on. Apple products are so impressive, thanks to his vision and quest for quality.

Our local Apple store, "iQ", this morning.

(the huge scaffolding is at the old Victoria Club, now defunct)

Venturing into my usual "changes" territory, here's what it used to be, before iQ moved in.

Explore for yourself...

View Larger Map

While I'm raiding Google Streetview for pics, here's where they were before they moved...

.. closer.

New cafe at Pont Marquet railway walk

2011-10-05T11:47:00.001+01:00

It has been open all season, so it's about time I mentioned it :)

A cafe right at the side of the countryside part of the railway walk is a nice novelty.

It's just past Don Bridge - in this pic you can see the Quennevais Precinct building behind it.

Close up

Looking back - showing how close it is to the road, which cuts through the railway walk here at Pont Marquet.

Sign at the roadside, for this "Off The Rails Cafe".

From Google Streetview, the area as it was before...

Explore for yourself...

View Larger Map

Parking is a minute away over the road in the parkland car park.

View Larger Map

La Collette Prom - update after the works

2011-10-04T11:51:00.003+01:00

In a previous blog entry I showed what the plans were for changes to the prom to provide emergency services vehicular access to the incinerator. My verdict? A job well done. The area's charm has been preserved, despite the incinerator's glowering presence.

Compared to how it used to look - we can see that a wall has gone and the parking has moved back towards the road.

Looking back, as it is now.

They've had some fun chipping away at protruding rock.

The view outwards is much the same...

.. even if the path has been widened. At least the granite sea wall has been well reinstated with the railings. Top marks here, from me :)

A bit of sea wall here is bare concrete, but then so was/is the stretch on the other side of the steps, so no complaints here.

.. looking back. What was a very narrow corner is now much wider, and the vandalised shelter has gone.

And so we head towards the reclaimed land section, where they've unfortunately denied access to the new seafront...

.. which is such a shame ...

.. as the view along the east coast is rather wonderful.

At least we get to go along a little bit.

Continuing along the path, it widens out at the back of the power station, where I remember railings and a few steps down to the rocky shoreline. Up to the right...

.. a path up to South Hill and the TA centre.

.. down on the flat, the cycle/peds path carries on under the incinerator's flue to emerge by Victoria Pier. A nice easy cycle route on the flat that I used to use many years ago (although it wasn't supposed to be a cycle path back then!) which was much more appealing than the incline up Route du Fort or to Colomberie, and far preferable to choking in the tunnel if we wanted to get to Funland :)
Back then the path took us along a concrete sea wall at the side of the power station, which is now very much inland.

From this wide area, looking back to Havre des Pas...

It hasn't been possible to snap this view with seaside railings in the foreground before. Should I claim a first? :)

View Larger Map

From the road, as it was before.

As close as it gets...

View Larger Map

Severe Tree Trimming on Gorey Common

2011-09-30T10:16:00.004+01:00

Pollarding is a pruning system (says Wikipedia) in which the upper branches of a tree are removed, promoting a dense head of foliage and branches. It has been common in Great Britain and Europe since medieval times and is practiced today in urban areas worldwide, primarily to maintain trees at a predetermined height.

But until new growth appears, it looks ugly as sin and dramatically changes the look of the area!

As it was...

See for yourself...

View Larger Map

Fire fails to devastate headland

2011-09-29T10:16:00.007+01:00

CTV reported "Fire devastates headland", "a large fire", "an area said to be the same size as 14 football pitches".

I expected devastation all the way from La Pulente to Petit Port down to the bunker on the headland point, by the sound of it. A scorched headland blighting the view from both directions.

View Larger Map

I was puzzled why they only reported with quite tight shots, not really showing the area affected in any clear way. No wide angle shots from a distance to put it into context and really show us the size of the 'devastation'. I assumed it was lazy reporting - hardly the first time. I mean, what - drive around to Corbiere and show us the view from there?!

So I took a look for myself...

Nothing to see from La Pulente, it's all green/brown here. No devastation visible, unless that's a hint of some bare gorse branches on the very ridge - but it seems to be on the wrong side of the tree compared to the shots from the other side...

.. so I took the trouble to head to the other side. Coming around from Corbiere to Petit Port, there's a small blackened patch to the right of the footpath...

View Larger Map

.. I'd bet it was "carelessly discarded smoking materials" from a right-handed idiot walking towards La Pulente.

From by the railway walk up near the old Corbiere station.

While there are flat-ish areas up top, where the path is routed it goes up to a ridge, and then quite soon drops down again to La Pulente. So if little damage is visible from the other direction, this must be about it.

The "14 football pitches" estimate puzzles me. In this picture from Google maps, I've superimposed Springfield pitch at the same scale near the area. The only bits I've seen burnt or untouched would struggle to cover 2 or 3 pitches!

The BBC also reported (www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-15058464) Crew commander Chris Powell saying "about 2296ft by 656ft (700 by 200 metres)".

OK, according to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_football_pitch standard football pitches are between 90-120m long, and the widths can double from 45-90m! "105m (115yd) by 68m (74yd), or 7140 m², is the preferred size for many professional teams' stadiums".

So if Mr Powell's "700 by 200 metres" size is correct, then it is indeed in line with 14 pitches. Just doesn't seem like it, somehow, does it? Overall I'm left with an impression of sloppy journalism. What a surprise!

Commercial Bldgs - meddling with the roads

2011-09-27T08:54:00.003+01:00

The road needed resurfacing, so the Anti-Parking Dept. has once again shifted priorities away from the many motorists to the few pedestrians.

View Larger Map

Here by South Pier the parking has come outwards a bit to provide a wider walkway / cycle route. I sense that some bollards may have to sprout up here eventually.

The dirt car park has been tarred up to make up for the loss of parking along the roadside due to a now excessively wide walkway. But, as the pic shows, we're used to pulling up there, and so people will just mount the kerb!

Life was simpler then :)

See for yourself...

View Larger Map

(and aren't the Sea Cadets hoping to build a new TS HQ here, moving down from the fort? Watch and weep as the new carpark goes, and the harbour mouth view with it)

A complete waste of resources at Commercial Buildings...

.. a new granite wall - for what good reason?

(from Pier Rd)

There used to be 'armco' metal barrier here, painted white, which was absolutely fine and drew no attention to itself. No, let's build an expensive wall instead!

How did we manage before?!

Alongside the Old Harbour, the path now meanders...

.. around the harbour wall steps...

.. despite there being no problems before, now we've lost two stretches of parking...

(as it was)

.. to make room for it.

If it becomes an official cycling route then I won't mind quite so much, but I've never had any problems along the road here, it's on the flat and it's no problem to keep up with the traffic (usually wind-assisted from a southerly).

Still, it's only public money, and it's made the route 0.0001% safer for the occasional visiting yachties walking into town.

Misc

2011-09-16T12:11:00.000+01:00

I've hardly taken any photos this year, so here are a few odds and ends which is just about it for the time being. If viewers were to actually comment, there'd be a better chance that I'd do more :)

St.Helier Harbour...

.. and the Sea Shepherd that came over for the whaling conference.

Coastal Tours

Lots of boats - taking part in the Tour des Ports de la Manche.

At the marina by the New North Quay.

Gorey with the French coastline in the distance...

.. castle, closer...

.. Castle Green.

End of St.Catherine's Breakwater with the Ecrehos in the background, then the French coast.

Checkers before it morphed into Waitrose...

.. closer.

Our beautiful waterfront.

Ha.

One or two kites.

Where the VideoCenter used to be, on the corner of Hilgrove and Halkett Streets - with the dome of the market visible behind.
It would have made a nice open space, another square :)

At the Clock Tower at Charing Cross, a new videoscreen advertising device...

.. kind of them to tell us the Sterling-to-Sterling exhange rate is 1.000 (what about commission?!)

Aerial view of St.Helier, on display at Liberty Wharf...

.. which had yet to be developed at the time, along the an office block, the bus station, the Royal Yacht extension where the JMT depot was, and the new Weighbridge Square.

Three sides of the old burnt-out chapel have gone, leaving the grand frontage for more flats.

Through the Keyhole. Who would live in a place like this? :)

More GF Stickers

2011-09-16T08:40:00.000+01:00

I'm starting to get a little bored with the small stickers, but some much larger ones are starting to appear. This one by Tourism Towers...

.. and on a chunky pole nearby.

Back to the small stickers, two in Pitt Street...

.. which is more of a Lane if you ask me.

Oh, you didn't.

Castle Street

Another artist joins in, Conway Street.

No thanks, think of the acrid thick smoke, and I'd have to buy another. What a stupid suggestion :)

GF street art - the September stickers

2011-09-04T20:00:00.011+01:00

(Updated Mon 12th Sept - lots more)

Missing the GF art? Here are plenty to admire, that I've found this weekend...

(near the Town Church)

He's gone down in size - which makes them even more fun to spot - and harder to remove. Lots of them about, he's really gone to town with them (pun intended!).

(in King Street)

There are two types out there at the moment - these HELLO stickers...

(near the Pomme)

(most attractive, another at a previous site near the church)

.. but most of them use a readily available source of stickers...

.. Customs declaration stickers from the post office!

This one is along the Route Du Fort - a route very well plastered with them.

By the Town Hall, attacked already.

Parade.

Replacing an earlier cardboard work on a phone box in an open area.

Another by the Pomme.

The start of a little mystery. Doesn't look like his usual works, isn't signed, but uses the same mailing stickers!

(Conway Street)

Back to the Route du Fort...

.. it makes a change to be checking out sign posts now!

.. and phone boxes again, of course.

At a crossroads.

Nice. GF's?

No puzzle here.

By the HD park. I cut through to return to my veehickle...

.. and found this one the other side of the park.

.. and another customs sticker work...

.. along the way back to the town center, it's those knees again!

Hmmmm.

Colomberie...

Like it.

Hate it!

Can't be GF, surely? Are his mates copying his idea for a laugh?

Grenville Street.

Maybe it wasn't his idea? I'd seen this one way back at the start of all this and ignored it...

.. and farther along the same street, this one looks quite old and definitely not GF.

Alongside that one, another that really has been there a while!

So, back to Georgetown...

- it's all rather confusing.

Aha, I know where I am with this style...

.. I love this photo for the way there are the same colour tones in the car glass as the art itself.

One more for now, another callbox job.

The sheer variety of these blows me away. The enthusiasm for the art, for shape, form and colour is just wonderful for someone just starting out on what should hopefully turn into quite some career. I would not be surprised if the GF name ends up as well known as Tilling and Rolls in the island - and possibly elsewhere? Keep it up young man, you brighten up the place!

Update Wed 7th Sept

Found some more, mostly GF...

Near the Admiral...

.. and St.James.

Pier Road.

New Street.

I ignored the half-peeled away one inside a doorway in Union Street, and continued along to...

.. by the Magistrates...

.. and a nearby load of bollards.

Seale Street...

.. and another.

La Motte Street...

.. and another.

New Cut.

I saw this one at the Market ages ago and the style didn't seem to be GF - so the Hello sticker had me confused for a moment until I realised this one was for www.graff-city.com whereas GF gets his art supplies from somewhere else - www.monstercolors.com

Check out the awesome graffiti on their blog monstercolors.blogspot.com

Mon 12th Sept - lots more found in recent days...

I suspect this one is close to the artist's home :)

At the HD Park junctions

James Street

Lib. Square

Lib. Square

Lib. Square

Mulcaster Street

Mulcaster Street

New Cut...

.. quack on the back.

Conway Street

Conway Street

Conway Street on a shopfront

Lib. Square on a sign

Near Lib. Square, traffic island

Over the road from Lib. Square

Nice colourful larger one, heading into the tunnel

Weighbridge / Mulcaster Street

Mulcaster Street

A different artist, different Hello sticker

Another shopfront, Charing Cross

A small cluster at Samares...

.. 0n the inner road...

.. St. Clement.

More graffiti - the Running Shoe Stencil

2011-08-30T18:23:00.007+01:00

Just as I got bored waiting for more artworks from GF, something else has come along to give me something new to spot and collect :)

Starting from up at Rozel and heading clockwise around the coast...

.. at St. Catherine's...

.. and the Canoe Club - the only one I've seen that isn't on public property.

Still, they're not exactly huge, not horrendous damage, arguably quite hard to spot - so I don't find them too objectionable.

(It won't be long before the Pottery's sign will be gone)

Well, at least it could be painted over...

.. or scrubbed off...

.. but this one has damaged the previous artistic work a little.

I wonder if our tagging friend would have the spheroids to face these young ladies and explain why he felt he could add to their work?

At Green Island.

La Mare slipway.

.. and the nearby lighthouse bus stop.

At South Hill. I'll go looking around town and the west later on in the week...

Update - I've been out west and there are a couple on chevron roadsigns, but I couldn't stop and I've lost interest anyway :)

GF street art - the August batch

2011-08-06T19:01:00.028+01:00

(updated Mon 12th Sept - 1 new! Only 6 left)

Thanks to someone leaving this link on the comments for my first GF blog page - you might like to visit http://www.facebook.com/GF.ART and see how many I've missed! I reckon he must have placed most of them, taken the photo, and then taken them away again ;)

Here's an idea for you GF - print out a sheet of these 'QR codes', cut them out and stick them on any future artworks around town. Smartphone users can point their wonderfones at them and will be directed to your facebook URL :)

Be a trailblazer and take graffiti art to the 21st century!

As I've found some more today (Sat 6th Aug), I thought it was time to do a new blog posting for the August findings...

Another good find by Tom, thanks, on a bin near a park (Wed 3rd Aug)

(status - missing, between Sat 13th Aug and Sun 14th)

Another good find by Tom - thanks again! (Thu 4th Aug) - on the Route du Fort.

(status - missing, between Sun 7th Aug and Wed 10th Aug)

And there's another close by! Thanks, Tom - I wouldn't have spotted this if I hadn't gone to look for the previous one :)

(status - present, Sun 4th Sept)

And also today (Fri 5th Aug) I found this out of the way down by a couple of others in the Plat Douet cluster :)

(status - missing, between Fri 12th Aug and Sun 14th)

There's also a residue mark on a phone box at Snow Hill which makes me wonder if we've missed one there too :)

Also, a friend of mine said he saw some up at the Fort in the week, but I couldn't find any today so they're lost to us :(

Sat 6th Aug

Spotted in Central Town today, a great colourful one on a disused side of the payphones.

(status - missing, between Fri 19th Aug and Tues 23rd)

Tricky to snap in the middle of a dual carriageway, but luckily the traffic was light for a few moments so I could stop :)

(status, present, Sun 11th Sept)

Another attempt to make one last at the car park!

(status - missing, between Sat 20th Aug and Wed 24th)

Found at the other end of the Route du Fort (Wed 10th Aug) in a good sheltered spot visible from the road.

(status - missing, between Mon 29th Aug and Wed 31st)

Spotted by the Town Park site (Sat 20th Aug). Caught it just in time, was gone by the next morning. Maybe someone thought is was a bit Fuhrer-like and took offence?

(status - missing between Sat 20th Aug and Sun 21st)

Any more now might get a bit lost amongst the election posters starting to appear. Maybe GF could take the mick with some Vote GF art? :)

While we wait for more from GF, here's another take on street art -

- note the knickers around the knees, LOL

I've gathered together all the remaining ones left from the previous two blog postings so I don't have to keep re-editing those -

In the park, found by Tom (Tues 28th June)

(status - present as of Sun 11th Sept, badly faded)

Sunlight does that!

One more found in the town center, Weds 6th July on the phone boxes in Broad Street which are now cleaned of all their own promotional stickers too.

(status - missing, between Mon 29th Aug and Wed 31st)

I found this one on a bin in the familiar People's Park region, Sun 10th July.

(status - missing, between Wed 31st Aug and Sat 3rd Sept)

One by the park (found Wed 13th July) that has so many others.

(status - present Sun 11th Sept)

Spotted in the Parade (Thurs 14th July) - not visible from the road past the hospital - turn to the old toilets cafe...

(status - present Sun 11th Sept)

Inside a locked display (found by Tom, Fri 15th July) case near marinas.

(status - present Sun 28th Aug)

Spotted on another traffic signals cab. (Wed 27th July) - by the Howard Davis Park main entrance.

(status - missing, between Mon 29th Aug and Fri 2nd Sept)

New one noticed at the waterfront (spotted Sun 11th Sept)

GF graffiti artist still active

2011-07-13T23:16:00.026+01:00

(Updated Sun 7th Aug - all missing)

I've found so many more GF artworks today that it was time to make a new posting. The previous blog entry will still be updated as and when the inevitable removals are discovered.

This one was down at the Waterfront, until the hoardings it was on, around Castle Quay, were removed.

(status - missing, between Sun 24th July and Thu 4th Aug)

This one was on the marina shop (by the steam clock).

(status - missing, between Wed 27th July and Thu 4th Aug)

Was in the car-park area where they go missing really quickly.

(status - missing between Wed 27th July and Sun 31st July)

In Colomberie on the Blockbusters shopfront...

(status - missing. between Wed 27th July and Fri 5th Aug)

.. not far from this framed one, which was at what used to be Colomberie House.

(status - missing Wed 27th July, last checked Sat 16th July)

Again, in that car-park region, at the pedestrian island in the junction of Castle St and Commercial St.

(status - missing Thurs 14th July)

The next two were placed on Wednesday 13th in the early evening - on one trip around town they weren't there but the next time around there they were! How annoying that I missed GF placing them!

A bit farther along Seaton Place on a tels cabinet.

(status - missing Wed 20th July)

Near the corner with Gloucester Street.
I reckon Postie will take this away at the next collection.

(yes, it's missing the next day, Thurs 14th July)

Surprisingly far from the others, down in St.Clement, on a junction where there's nowhere nearby to park - so I had to make do with a long zoom shot from the traffic lights :)

(status - missing Fri 22nd July)

Apparently this had been in place for a couple of weeks.

(Thurs 14th July)

Another at Cheapside, side of AJ's shop.

(status - missing Sat 23rd July)

I was very surprised to find this one inside a shop yesterday. I'd be far too embarrassed to take a photo, so I alerted Tom, and thankfully he went and took these...

.. closer.

The shop in question (CoOp) said they were happy to keep it there, but, sadly, Tom reports...

(status - missing, Sat 16th July)

More found by Tom today (Thurs 14th July)

In the region of the old Library and Royal Square...

(status - missing, between Mon 1st Aug and Fri 5th Aug)

.. over the road...

(status - missing, as of Mon 18th July)

.. and another nearby.

(status - missing between Sat 6th Aug and Sunday 7th)

And, making four in this small area, one closer to the rank on the side of the old bank.

(status - missing, between Mon 1st Aug and Fri 5th Aug)

Placed nearby the subject matter, New Street.

(I couldn't find this, Fri 15th July)

Many thanks again to Tom, who has had great fun today! I'm very glad my tip-off led you towards your journey of discovery.

Fri 15th July
I didn't find any more today, but Tom did (thanks again!)...

Another phone box decoration, at the Weighbridge.

(status - missing, between Mon 25th July and Wed 3rd Aug)

Sat 16th July was fairly fruitless for searching, I only found this one, weathered and withered in Plat Douet Rd. on a bin by the school.

(status - missing, between Sun 24th July and Sat 6th Aug)

A big Hello to GF if you're reading this, and well done, I'm very impressed with your talent! I hope you sell loads :)

Tues 19th July

We now know who GF is - anyone sufficiently interested can work it out. I won't name him here as we don't want to make it too easy for any grumpy property owner to make a mountain out of a small amount of glue residue molehill!

Thanks for the messages Tom & "Like".

That's it for now, I may update the page when I notice any of the above works go missing, or maybe not :)
... the 'graffiti art' phenomenon seems to have come to an end, and that's that (although the "word on the wall" is that he intends - or intended - to continue with Street Art).

GF's Mysterious art in St.Helier

2011-06-27T08:59:00.026+01:00

(Updated Sun 7th Aug - all missing now)

I noticed these appearing around town this weekend, and it has me rather intrigued. It was an enjoyable scavenger hunt to have a good look around to try to find as many as possible. See if you can find any that I've missed!

First I noticed this one, possibly due to the jaunty angle which caught my eye.

(status - missing between Wed 27th July and Sun 31st July)

It was here where a row of buildings are planned to become a major new office complex (privately developed by Le Mas.) - hopefully rescuing the Esplanade car park from its unwanted demise in return for taxpayer funded offices.

This one would probably have faded in the sun quite quickly...

(status - missing, as of Weds 29th June)

.. opposite Tourism Towers.

Another splash of colour...

(status - missing, as of Tues 28th June)

.. not far from the town hall, Seale St.

One by Foot's old HMV mural has been attacked already...

(status - present but damaged, as of Fri 15th July, missing totally Wed 20th July)

.. but just around the corner another lives on. I like the way this photo turned out - decaying paint has such a delightful organic quality :)

(status - missing, as of Fri 1st July)

It's not just walls getting the new adornments, "street furniture" gets it too...

(status - missing, as of Wed 29th June, was on phones cabinet near Pier Road car-park)

.. one of the hardest to spot as it blended in so well with urban notices. Was thought missing, but as of Saturday 2nd July, it was still there but moved onto the wall.

(status - missing, Wed 6th July. Bottom of Pier Road opposite Town Church)

This one was easier to spot - so out of place on a traffic sign!

(status - missing, as of Tues 28th June, was at Seaton Place / Sand St.)

.. closer.

This one made an audacious appearance in the precinct on BhS.

(status - missing, as of Thurs 7th July)

It makes a change from spray paint and permanent marker pens to see genuine art glued to the townscape, I hope they manage to stay in place for a while as it brightens the place up a bit in a whimsical way. I tried prising off the one that was already damaged and it seems to have a good strong glue holding it in place, so they're not going anywhere in a hurry. I wonder if it's part of a promotion for some enterprise (reminds me of the little pink figurines that popped up around the island a few years back when the iQ people launched a shortlived magazine), or simply guerrilla art and GF (?) is Jersey's answer to Banksy? It would be awkward for the artist to own up to it if the property owners are annoyed at the glue damage vandalism!

Update - Tues 28th June - I see Tom has found some more...

At Westmount, on the hairpin bend with a great view.

(status - missing, as of Weds 29th June)

Lower down the hill by St.Helier House...
(I think "GF" must live around here somewhere!)

(status - missing, as of Sat 23rd July)

Near the playground.

(status - missing between Wed 27th July and Sun 31st July)

At Cheapside/Westmount Hill - on a phones cabinet.

(status - noted missing Wednesday 6 July, engineer spotted working on the open cab.)

In the Parade on the hospital...

(status - missing, between Sat 6th Aug and Sun 7th)

And I found some more - I won't say where because it might be inviting theft :)

.. and another in the Parade, side of the photographer's studio shop.

(status - missing, between Wed 27th July and Thu 4th Aug)

On a bin near the take-away in Seaton Place, at corner en-route to Seale St.

(status - noted missing between weekend and Weds 6 July)

On a car-park near a phone box.

(status - missing, between of Sun 31st July and Wed 3rd Aug)

I spotted this one today (Thurs 7th July) on Spar as I drove down Mulcaster St. - I had to go around the block to catch it :)

Roughly a mirror image of an earlier one, odd to see one of these pairs separated.

(status - missing, during daytime Wed 3rd Aug)

Nice to see they're still appearing - even if it's on cheap board and not canvas (like my favourite one now missing).

Spotted this one near West's Ctr., Sat 9th July
Good to see GF has spread his/her wings a bit farther north :)

(status - missing, Mon 11th July)

Spotted this one on the same cabinet as an earlier one in Pier Road on Sat 9th July, by the evening it had gone.

(status - missing as of Sat 9th July)

Not surprised it went so soon, being flimsy cardboard!

Another flimsy cardboard one, surprisingly far north of town, on the boarded up workshop by Gas Place, spotted Sun 10th July. Matches the background so well I've cropped it close.

(status - missing next day, 11th July)

Spotted Mon 11th July on the old JEP building in Charles/Bath St. but I wasn't able to snap it. So I alerted Tom who managed to save it in time, as it was being thrown away!

(status - no longer in place, but in safe hands if GF wants it back!)

We both prefer what was on the back!

Many thanks to Tom for the photos.

Another cardboard one, found on the opticians at Bath St. / Hilgrove St, and photographed by Tom, Mon 11th July.

(status - missing, between Wed 27th July and Fri 5th Aug)

And one more found and photographed by Tom, Monday 11th July. Phone box, near the park again.

(status - missing between Wed 27th July and Sun 31st July)

I found this nice and colourful orange effort up quite high at the Sand St / Seaton Place junction, Tues 12th July.

(status - missing by lunchtime Weds 13th July)

The same day I spotted this one on a phone box in the Parade, probably won't stay around for long.

(status - missing as of Fri 22nd July)

Another from Tom, thanks! On a traffic signals cabinet somewhere along the waterfront by Les Jardins de la Mer

(status - missing in weekdays 18-22nd July)

It seems that they go missing quickly from traffic signs, bins as they're emptied, postboxes during collections, and equipment cabinets when engineers turn up to work there. And houseproud property owners of course! Your best bet is art-friendly wall owners, vacant properties, and phone boxes seem to do fairly well as they don't need all that frequent coin-collection and cleaning. It has certainly opened my eyes to the possibilities, and how long flyers can expect to remain on urban features - at the moment I can't pass roadside equipment cabinets without checking them out!

Crapaudvision : 'P1 Superstock Powerboat racing'

2011-06-14T11:13:00.003+01:00

Bored of still photos for the time being, I've gone back to video :)

http://youtu.be/CUQK4uqY2mk

What do you prefer, video or photos?

Prom - La Collette / Havre Des Pas

2011-02-16T08:48:00.001Z

Photos taken last year, Autumn. Here's the prom showing a shelter that has since been demolished...

.. and the "insane-erator" :)

.. connected to the JEC chimney via this pipework.

In the more scenic direction...

.. a seafront cafe...

.. has been painted very brightly.

Near an old shipyard open space...

.. is a new block of appartments...

.. featuring a new artwork....

.. Bait Ball.

Looking outwards...

.. and a close-up - especially for regular blog reader Dottie :)

More of the prom...

.. and left a bit.

Around the old Bistro La Rocque

2011-02-09T11:44:00.000Z

In Grouville there's a short stretch of main road with an actual sea view...

.. by a slipway, by the third in the Grouville line of 1780s coastal defence Round Towers...

.. closer, the first two towers can be seen.

Looking North, coastal views all the way to Gorey Castle...

.. and the building site where Bistro Rocque used to be - still visible for now on Google Maps

Farewell great restaurant :(

Farther along the coast, Fort Henry on the golf course.

Historical stuff at the slipway.

Modern replaces Traditional at St.Catherine

2011-02-01T12:11:00.001Z

There used to be a traditional Jersey cottage by the tower at St.Catherine...

.. but it was bulldozed and...

.. replaced by something that many say is totally out of keeping with the area.

I'm reserving judgement until it's completely finished...

.. the area is very quaint and olde worlde, but...

.. there's room, in my view, for tastefully done new homes...

.. that are up to date.

Nosing through the windows...

.. I'd be more than thrilled to own such a place myself!

(pics taken on a nice day last year)

New Bird Hide near St.Ouen's Pond

2011-01-25T17:02:00.001Z

By the green/white house, over the road is an area of parking where an ice-cream van plies its trade in the warm months.
If you hop over / past a low section of wall, through a gate, and along the side of a small field or two...

.. there's a newly rebuilt bird hide.

The entrance...

.. the interior...

The nearby pond to the east...

.. and a view over wetland, toward St.Ouen's Pond to the north.

La Collette changes for "emergency access road"

2011-01-19T13:03:00.000Z

I had been concerned about the proposed works to be carried out here to allow fire appliances through to the new incinerator...

.. but this new notice explains all...

.. and it looks like the authentic Victorian Seaside railings and granite will be preserved.

What's happening and where...

.. and all is explained.

So it's not so bad. I'll find something else to worry about ;)

Royal Bay of Grouville - along the prom

2011-01-17T11:02:00.001Z

Some spare photos from a walk along there last year...

Looking southwards from the start of the prom by the Golf Course...

.. the other way, northwards to Gorey...

.. and the famous castle.

A Jersey Round Tower

Another look along the beach to the south.

There used to be a bridge here, with steps, over a narrow slipway...

.. but it has been re-engineered so that the prom is more wheel-friendly.

Misc - pretty random

2011-01-11T10:01:00.000Z

A random selection of recent odds and ends...

The old pool up at the fort is getting more and more vandalised.

.. nearby, the new electric substation at the reversing bays (quick snap from the car, sorry about the poor quality)

.. again I couldn't be bothered to get out of the car, but it's passable. Taken from Gorey.

The old Drive-In site is being cleared.

Banners announced the coming of digickle telly. It's been really good to have more choice and such a clear picture - I wouldn't go back to analogue! I'm glad we weren't the last region to change over!

Too many cars are silver!

A few moments earlier the foreground was sunlit, but hey. Can't win 'em all! (or any!)

St.Mary's Church, sunlit with dark cloud background..

.. closer.

What a couple of cows.

Warm sunset on one side, and very blue Christmas lights starting to show up in the shaded road.

Roches Douvres lighthouse

2011-01-10T09:14:00.000Z

The tall lighthouse at the Roches Douvres can be seen from Jersey's West coast (and Noirmont) on a clear day ....

.. slightly to the left of our own Corbiere Lighthouse, as seen from the main road... taken here from by the old station house at the top of the hill. The old station is 26.6 miles from the RD light.

A Google Map showing where it is, at
49° 06′ 18″ N 02° 48′ 50″ W
or 49.104444, -2.815247 if you prefer decimal format.

An English wiki page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roches-Douvres_Light

- and a French one...
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phare_des_Roches-Douvres

.. from where this free photo was found. This is looking towards Jersey - we see the 'lump' on the horizon to the left of the column.

The top of the light tower, with some kind of radio navigation system?

.. and the lower part.

I heard one of the Chris presenters on BBC J mention the light he spotted, some months ago, and a few listeners let him know what is was. Perhaps someone could direct him to this blog entry for me, if you think he'd be interested? Thanks.

A Green White House

2011-01-04T18:01:00.001Z

They've gone and painted it sickly green!

I think I prefer it white.... :)

It is to remain mucus green for a year or so as a publicity stunt to promote green issues (regardless of planning laws?!) and many commentators amongst the public have already criticised this move. However, it has become apparent that it needed painting anyway (it really was looking quite tatty before this repaint) and the scaffolding used in the process was donated, as was the paint and labour, so the NT(J) haven't wasted the organisation's precious resources!

Presumably it will need a repaint again by the time a year has passed, so there's nothing much lost. Except perhaps for the recent Holiday Lets scheme (will a green version have less appeal to potential short term tenants?) and the Wedding Business. How many brides and grooms looking to have wedding photos taken there this year are going to be really irritated? :)

Festive Greetings from the Crapaud

2010-12-18T12:28:00.003Z

Here is my Christmas video production for you ...

(click here)

Best Wishes for a Happy 2011!

Liberty Wharf - just before completion

2010-12-09T14:55:00.008Z

Pictures taken a few weeks before the shopping arcade opened (a year or three late!), thanks to an Open Day.

The location, the old "island site" by the harbour, as seen from the old Albert Pier.

Before work started, it was all a bit of a mess...

.. which had previously been an abattoir.

The development plan (quite large - can be zoomed in)..

... shows a long arcade roughly parallel to the Esplanade (and old railway line) with two spurs off in a harbour direction, making a back-to-front F shape.

I have tastefully added a yellow blob above the gates where the two internal passages emerge - although these are not open to the public but are merely emergency exits.

The main entrance is in Liberation Square (opposite the Pomme D'Or) in the middle of the old Tourism building...

.. looking back...

.. just outside.

Venturing inside, the first area is a covered space behind...

(looking back)

.. the pasty shop.

Maybe this close-up plan will help? :)

The shop coloured pink in the plan above (a block that used to house the public conveniences)...

(looking down the side of that shop block)

( ... heading towards the Steam Clock White Elephant area)

A quick look inside that shop...

Cows - how apt for a prior slaughterhouse area!

If you had entered this place from the gateway between the old Tourism Building and the old toilets, this is the view towards...

(looking right) ... the covered (half covered!) area behind the main entrance.

The other side of that shop, is a small yard behind what is now a youth club....

.. again the distant view is in a Steam Clock direction.

This area will be part of a nightclub with terrace above the shop in the old toilet block...

.. the nightclub under construction.

Let's look down the main long passageway then, with the nightclub-to-be on the left, having left the covered area with what is now a Costa Coffee on the right ...

.. looking back.

The first spur off to the left - leads only to new toilets.

The second spur contains small retail units on the left, and to the right...

.. this area is part of M&S, with furniture in here now.

This was shortly to become the entrance area to M&S, at the western end of the arcade. Outside here is what used to be the main road heading west - now populated by a large office block, the dangling swimmer artwork, and the new Tourism Tower around to the right.

Vacant units on the harbour side...

.. and one on the Esplanade side. It was practically dark in here, so a 1.5 second exposure, hand-held, steadied against the door, is naturally a little blurry!

.. nice beams up in the ceiling here.

A little bit too much of a reminder of what used to go on in this building complex.

I still feel a bit uneasy partaking of a leisure experience in an old slaughterhouse! It doesn't seem to pay much respect to the suffering of all those animals despatched here. Where was their Liberty?

DB9 Superyacht

2010-10-29T14:37:00.001+01:00

A couple of weeks ago a superyacht called DB9 passed by and stopped in St.Helier Harbour. It is a 52m / 170ft PJ170 initially called the PJ-501
(see this webpage).

Another vessel was there at the same time...

.. the tall ship "Christian Radich" (English language website)

Misc

2010-10-18T14:03:00.001+01:00

I'll start with the picture postcard shots today.
Here's Anne Port looking colourful.

.. having come around the coast from here...

.. Archirondel's old Round Tower...

.. closer.

Building work by Gorey's Castle Common...

.. and a view over the Royal Bay...

.. the harbour, closer.

.. and pier.

There's a house up in the top right that looks like it is falling over! ...

.. those crazy architects, LOL!

I took a walk to investigate...

.. looks fairly normal close up.

Meanwhile back at Gorey, an initiative to provide a cycle path on a wide main road where I really can't see there was a problem or a need for it...

.. but it provided work for someone, I suppose, in these difficult times.

I shall wait to see when I first see someone cycling here on this short stretch!

.. closer.

At the bottom of the coastal end of Plat Douet Road, an old commercial premises...

.. being felled to make way for... have a guess...
.. more new flats!

Top of Welly Hill - looks far more open than it used to, must have had the tree killers in...

.. now you can see the ironmongery on top of the 1894 Maison St. Louis weather observatory.

I noticed a new sign the other day...

.. at a higher tide.

There's one by Port Control too.

.. farther, instead of "closer" for a change :)

The Branchage filmfest Spiegeltent was here again this year. (3 words in a row that upset the spelling checker!)

A view down Kensington Place with a hazy Noirmont in the distance.

New Digital Telly aerials going up at Fremont Point, gives us a chance to see how big that white thing is...

.. here's a bloke with a head for heights, for an idea of scale!

Nearby at Wolf's Caves, the old pub (later to become a Worship Centre) is being ripped apart, like several abandoned vehicles in the car park.

Pot du Rocher - circular walk

2010-10-13T16:37:00.000+01:00

Today we go for a walk around the Pot du Rocher (means rocky cove?) area in Trinity, between Bouley Bay and White Rock/Rozel. These photos were taken earlier this year before the greenery arrived!

Heading down the main road from the Zoo area towards Rozel, there's a handy parking area down a track, just before the old La Tourelle...

This parking is close to the L'Etacquerel Fort, but we're going to take the main road route first, and do the cliff paths last...

A recently new stone marking the gift of land to the NT(J) as "Le Don Berni".

Nice way to include an old gatepost into a wall - don't bother making it level!

At this residence named after Pot du Rocheur, head down the track and don't worry about it seeming to intrude on their privacy - it is a Right of Way!

The track continues...

.. becoming a footpath to the west of a few parallel long strips of fields.

At the end of the path before steps to the left, a small patch of woodland has been stripped down to bare ground by two-wheelers.

The path descends down some steps to join the main coastal path, with a view over to Bouley Bay.

Heading to the east, away from Bouley Bay, and the path meanders along to a headland with a house with a view...

.. I have had a request to show how this house looks these days, so here are a few photos...

The footpath crosses over the driveway...

.. what a view they have!

From the rock above the house, looking back.

.. looking over Bouley Bay - see that round thing in the water?

- that's an old boiler from some shipwreck.

The hotel at Bouley Bay...

.. and Fort Leicester by the pier.

In the other direction, the next headland features the companion Fort...

.. known as L'Etacquerel Fort...

.. closer.

.. and the lie of the land towards La Tourelle, and...

.. White Rock, with...

.. Les Ecrehos in the distance.

Looking back along the path to that good viewpoint headland above that house.

If you keep to the right of the paths from here onwards, you'll head inland to the car park from whence you started.

And here's a Google Map of the route, if it helps, should you wish to have a go. It's a nice walk!

La Rocque

2010-10-02T16:13:00.001+01:00

We had a nice walk along La Rocque a few weeks ago when the weather was still good...

The house with the tower...

.. and brightly painted out-building.

Seymour Tower

This stone bench wasn't here last time I came down here.

The tide was well out...

.. and people were enjoying the "lunar landscape"...

.. I'm glad they never build an airport here, LOL

The refuge tower for walkers caught out by the tide.

Along the breakwater, looking back.

Misc - including Distant Views

2010-09-19T14:10:00.001+01:00

We begin today's magical mystery tour with a look at the Zoo and how the planters in the carpark have been removed and hoarding is about to go up for a new cafe and visitor centre.

A clear day and a view of St.Peter Port on The Other Island...

.. and Sark - where I've never been, yet. Is that one of those harbours with the archway in the rock?

People still enjoy the Ronez Loop Road - karters SHARE this land PLEASE!

Looking left to Sorel Light... and the different colour patches on the sea from clouds casting shadows.

A French ferry passes by the North East of the island, wit Les Ecrehos and France in the distance...

.. again.

Sporting action at Sorel...

.. I'm more of an landscape photog than an action one :)

The Fremont Point mast, being readied for the onslaught of Digital. See that speck up there? ....

.. that's these lucky guys! I'd love to see the view from up there!

Down South now, and a small bit of France visible in the distance from Noirmont on a clear day. I think it's the Frehel/Plevenon area, some 34.5 miles away (map) if my bearings are correct :)

Looking over towards town. and it all looks very green with the gardens at South Hill and Grouville Hill - the urban sprawl of Georgetown and Longueville hidden away in between.

From a distance Victoria College sits amongst the hospital, the Grand, Cyril Le Marquand House and West Park.

More of The Waterfront takes shape.

These old West Park toilets are usually closed, so when I found myself alone in here after the air display, I couldn't resist a quick snap. They don't make them like this any more!

The old road surface of the Esplanade has been uncovered recently, due to building works nearby. I used to drive along here... ah the nostalgia :)

.. to the right, and those metal men have been removed after vandalism.

Connex have a big new white bus...

.. it is rather long.

Finally, some dusk shots from South Hill playground carpark...

Walk : Esplanade to the Tunnel

2010-08-28T21:53:00.002+01:00

The Liberation Station (ugh!) area in the evening...

.. seems like many years since this was the west-bound route from the tunnel to the Esplanade...

.. looking back, with the bottom of Castle Street in the distance.
Look carefully and there's a sculpture of...

"Jersey Girl" (by artist Rowan Gillespie) dangling above...

.. closer.

And, at night...

.. it's lit in blue from below.

Here's someone else's video of the unveiling, with good old Sadie singing...

Over the multi-lane highway then...

.. to admire the floating gin palaces at high tide...

.. closer.

A high enough tide to raise the old ferry ramp up high.

Towards the Needle.

The marina again...

.. and again.

In the other direction there's not a lot you'd recognise if you left the island in the 80s or before.

The Old Harbour and Commercial Bldgs may look more familiar though.

.. over the water to the yacht club.

The infamous Steam Clock.

The Tunnel. People have complained recently about the lack of lights inside, and it does appear to be very randomly lit!

Misc

2010-08-24T21:28:00.005+01:00

A nice low tide at the harbour...

.. I think this is known as "rats corner" .. ?

The Albert Pierhead

Not far away, the new incinerator continues to take shape, with shiny exhaust pipe to the power station's stack.

From the South.

Those kart people would have you believe that few people use the Ronez loop road, but I was there and so were THREE other cars - even on an overcast day with no great view of the distant coasts at the time! So PLEASE don't let them steal this public road for their own selfish permanent use!

More planning madness...

.. a massive gated community takes shape...

.. and luxury house.

The newly uncovered bunker at Noirmont - complete with original wall decoration and lino on the floor...

.. and a more recent inscription on the ceiling of the escape shaft! (Shaft being the operative word)

A model of the tunnels at St.Aubin gives a good idea how large they are...

.. and here's a map of German railways on the island during the occupation, for what it's worth.

Lots of plane trails to the south of Noirmont. Maybe it does affect the amount of sunshine we get?

Battle of Flowers - Floats (misc)

2010-08-15T14:03:00.002+01:00

A few things that caught my eye on the floats at the sports field at Bel Royal in the evening... unfortunately the sun wasn't out, so the colours don't zing like they could have...

(and I didn't take any pics in the daytime parade)

Battle of Flowers - Moonlight Parade 2010

2010-08-14T16:03:00.000+01:00

As usual it was a far better spectacle in the evening, with more atmosphere. The crowd was actually cheering, waving and dancing a bit - whereas it just doesn't generate the same enthusiasm in the cold light of day.

Well done to everyone. Here are a few bits from some video footage I shot, which I might get around to editing together for the YouTube channel at some point... don't hold your breath though!

By far the best float, the Optimists were "Rollin' on a River" and the whole float was rocking! Brilliant, just brilliant!

Misc - A Westmount Walk

2010-08-13T13:01:00.000+01:00

A circular walk around Westmount, from the crem down to People's Park, along various back Streets and up the hill again... looking out for things to catch my eye...

That's the crem.

An old gas lamp bracket rusts away quietly.

St. Thomas' Church and Victoria College, seen over a field.

Looking over towards the archive centre, the majority of buildings are comparatively modern, apart from the long terrace in Grosvenor St.

Our lovely Waterfront ;)

The Battle funfair on People's Park rests until the 2pm opening.

You don't see so many of these nowadays - most phone lines are now underground instead of overhead.

Cheapside is going to need a BIG makeover before it's ever pleasant!

A closed shop. There will be more soon, I reckon.

Who's that perched up on Sacre Coeur? ...

Why it's Him of course...

.. look's like He's struggling to keep balance, saying "whoah...!"

Heading up New St.John's Road, there's a brief glimpse of St.T's

.. and from some steps from the corner near the top of the hill, a view over town...

.. in all its glory.

.. tower blocks are so delightful.

Looks like a before-and-after makeover sort of thing.

Thanks for the tip!

Towards Green Island.

Looks way too recent to be from WW1

Well, that was different. I might do some more town walks one day. TTFN

Westmount Quarry & Jewish Cemetery

2010-08-09T15:35:00.005+01:00

There's a secluded Jewish Cemetery tucked away (map) in Westmount Quarry (which is due to be developed). From the entrance...

.. go ahead keeping right...

.. and this gate awaits. It wasn't locked...

It's a long & narrow rectangular plot, with no other entrances.

On the right...

.. and the left.

Looking back from down at the end.

An ex-Senator of the States of Jersey lies here.

Elsewhere in the quarry...

This 1929 building is to the left of the entrance, behind the boarded up house on the main road...

.. and it is being used as an artist's workshop.

As the road bends to the right (North-East) you get a glimpse of the expensive making-safe works carried out to the cliff.

Some people enjoy photography in abandoned industrial sites.... I can see the appeal but there's not much scope over here where almost every square foot of land is managed by someone quite closely. This will have to do!

Misc - including Dairy Move

2010-08-06T13:20:00.010+01:00

Ronez Point from Egypte...

.. and the "loop road" before the Kart people commandeer it to their own selfish ends and prevent us driving here again.

That's a ship...

.. and that's a boat.

That's a ferry...

.. and that's a lifeboat...

.. entering the port.

From South Pier...

.. closer.

Commercial Buildings, etc.

The increasing bollard-ification of Town. Now Seale St down the side of the Town Hall has prettier pavements (wow, worth the expense?!) although it's still an ugly dreary wind tunnel of a road.

Dairy Move

The old Five Oaks site is due for demolition, to be made into a Gated Community where the rich can try to avoid the injustice in society that they have caused.

It's a sign.

Meanwhile, from two parallel roads by the RJA&HS in Trinity (what a waste of land!), here's looking at the new dairy...

.. and some cow art to cheer the place up a bit.

Metal Men

2010-08-02T09:00:00.001+01:00

New £80,000 cast aluminium figures by Marielle Neudecker, recently unveiled at 44 The Esplanade. 2.5 Million Light Years is the farthest the human eye can see unaided, apparently.

These are part of the "percentage for art" scheme whereby the Planning Dept. bribes developers into providing a cheap thrill for passersby otherwise they don't get their plans for dull offices or flats passed.

There was mention of another new one on the radio today at Havre des Pas, where an Anthony Gormley figure will be planted on the rocks near what is currently the Fort d'Auvergne Hotel - as it that excuses the plan to demolish the hotel and replace it with a massive, towering, SEVEN storey blot on the coastscape shading the beach of an evening!