Another find....say fromage!

Clearing out a cupboard in one of the house bedrooms i found this piece on one of the shelves, a fantastic old camera with 2 of its original negative cassettes, made of what i think is mahogany with brass fittings. Just found out about the camera via the internet and it was made in 1889 (see document link below).

It's a bit worse for wear but very interesting to see how these things were put together. Really fascinating stuff!

The only makers mark is on the lense, James Woolley & Co Ltd, Manchester and the very regal name of the camera - THE VICTORIA 7 x 5.
More info on the company can be found at

http://www.mosi.org.uk/media/33870612/jameswoolleyandcompany.pdf

and the document mentions the camera on the 2nd page of the pdf

Pots and pans!

Another find in one of the gites, on the wall in the main house and the gites hang some very old original copper catering pans and lids, the one pictured above is in the Walnut store and i spotted the engraving the other day. it's a massive heavy weight pan, who knows what may have been cooked in it and for whom in the 1920's!!

The pictured pan is to the left of the clock case - and don't worry, we know there's no clock inside the case!!

Also spotted this lovely little thing near the bird feeder, after looking in the bird reference book realised it was a Sisken, the first we've seen here to date...ahhh! 

Nice one!

This lovely pic taken by Philippa yesterday, on what must have been the warmest day of the year so far (warm enough to sit outside in the sun for lunch), all the snowdrops that have been threatening to open up did, so Philippa armed with camera decided to record the event. No composing of pic, she just snapped away without even looking at the view finder and this was the result.....spring can't be that far away now!!

As well as the above, she also heard a rustling noise in the ivy/wisteria that's growing up the front wall of the house, on closer inspection she saw that one of our un-paying guests had also decided to make the most of the nice weather, the lizard posed very nicely for its pic to be taken!

Model of La Roque

For the first time since we've been here i visited Le Roque St Christophe, on the main terrace is this model of how the town would have looked in the Middle Ages. The main terrace that is visible today is the one about two thirds the way up this model with the church at the end right (with the bell carved into the rock above its roof), it must have been a fantastic sight!