It seems that Martin’s Bear has climbed to the top of the world to wish me the compliments of the season. How cute is that? 
10 Comments CherryPie on Dec 23rd 2010
This year’s visit to Bruges took place one week earlier than my last visit to Bruges, it was quite a surprise to see that Autumn seemed far more advanced than it was on my previous visit. These pictures outside the Gruuthuse Museum illustrate my point perfectly.
The seasons shift in mysterious ways, which reminds me of the early snow we are experiencing this year. Today I woke up to another 4 inches of fresh snow on top of the previous snowfall and the snow was still falling. I had to decide if it was safe to go into work or not. I made a quick call to a colleague who advised that my work place had only a small amount of snow despite the higher altitude. I had no choice other than brave the elements. The roads were pretty poor but navigable and luckily there was hardly any traffic on the roads.
8 Comments CherryPie on Dec 23rd 2010
The Gruuthuse Museum is to the left of the first photograph and behind me in the second photograph.
Since 1955, this former palace has been a museum of decorative arts, recalling life as lived – mainly by the high and mighty – in Bruges from the 13th – 19th cebtury, There are 2,500 objects in the house, including paintings, sculptures, musical instruments, lace silk, tapestries, furniture, weapons and glassware. Highlights include the upper-floor oratory, a 1520 bust of the young Charles V and a guillotine (which was used). *
The oratory was my favourite room, the view was quite fascinating:
Lodewijk van Gruuthuses’s oak-panelled Gothic oratory dates from 1472. this is a private chapel that abuts the adjacent Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk, and afforded Lodewijk and his family and undisturbed, overhead view of the altar and the tombs of Duke Charles the Bold of Burgundy and his daughter Duchess Mary. the family’s motto, Plus Est En Vous (There Is More In You), can be seen above an arch in the ornate reception hall. *
*From Insight Guides Bruges – Smart Guide
2 Comments CherryPie on Dec 22nd 2010
This photo was taken in the courtyard outside the Gruuthuse Museum which we visited after the rest of the walking tour was postponed. I think this picture illustrates just how much rain their actually was. I will be posting more information on the museum in the next few days.
This photo marks the half way point of my 100 reasons to be glad. I fully intended to post all 100 photos this year, but circumstances have overtaken me. My year started with sad complications and one way or another the complications have increased over the year. I have so many thoughts, ideas, photos in my head but my time for putting them on paper has been taken over by events.
I even have my next 100 photos challenge lined up in my head, which is a different challengefor me, but now I am getting ahead of myself…
12 Comments CherryPie on Dec 21st 2010
The snow hasn’t lifted since last weeks snowfall and over the weekend it didn’t get above freezing. Yesterday it was still -10 at mid-day. I didn’t worry too much about it because I stayed at home to keep warm so I could fight off my lurgy.
But today I had to make my way into work. The roads were bad on the way into work and I was late! It has remained below 0 all weekend.
Later today it started snowing again with what I call ‘thin snow’. It was my cue to leave early but I had to hang on later than was wise because of being late this morning. When I left work the roads and traffic conditions were appalling. Slush on top of ice and slow moving traffic in all directions. It took me 1 hour 15 minutes to get home rather than the usual 15/20 at that time of day. By the time I got home there was 2 inches of fresh snow.
The forecast for tomorrow is grim and I need to figure the best options for me to get into work in the safest way.
14 Comments CherryPie on Dec 21st 2010
2 Comments CherryPie on Dec 20th 2010
It takes a lot of imagination to be a good photographer. You need less imagination to be a painter because you can invent things. But in photography everything is so ordinary; it takes a lot of looking before you learn to see the extraordinary.
David Bailey
12 Comments CherryPie on Dec 19th 2010
