We need more

[TheGreenAnger]

Re Tom Campbell-Black:
Taken by me at Speke ca. 1959. No-one has been able to identify the figure in the photo as a member of staff.
<a href='https://postimages.org/' target='_blank'><img src='https://i.postimg.cc/L4ZWM0km/CAPT-BLACK-PHOTO-001.jpg' border='0' alt='CAPT-BLACK-PHOTO-001'/></a>

Suitably wraith like on a typically wet Liverpool day. I would say that the figure looking mournfully out over the airfield is Campbell Black's spirit, contemplating the lost women in his life, namely Florence Desmond and Beryl Markham!

Personally, if I was a mournful ghost, I would have missed Florence Desmond more, probably because I am a shallow type who values pulchritude over the ability to fly an aircraft and write well, although there are some who think 'West with the Night' was ghost written. There's that ghost thing again.

[CharlieOneSix]

........Personally, if I was a mournful ghost, I would have missed Florence Desmond more, probably because I am a shallow type who values pulchritude over the ability to fly an aircraft and write well, although there are some who think 'West with the Night' was ghost written. There's that ghost thing again.

I met Florence Desmond once - in her later years in 1970 when she was married to Charles Hughesdon. A charming lady. Hughesdon at the time was heavily involved in the insurance of helicopters. For many years he threw open the grounds of his home, Dunsborough Park, in Ripley, Surrey. for an annual Helicopter Garden Party. We operated the Port of Bristol Authority Bell 47J2 at the time so I took the PBA General Manager and his wife (both on the left in the photo) plus the late first Mrs C16. A great day out!

An obituary of Charles Hughesdon....
Charles Hughesdon 1909-2014

[bob2s]

For those of a nautical bent.

[TheGreenAnger]

A fascinating video bob2s and reminded me of the salvage (refloating for scrapping) of the Costa Concordia by a Smit team under the management of Saffer Nick Sloane (acquaintance and good friend of my maritime lawyer friend JW).

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2014/12 ... ia-salvage

[TheGreenAnger]

I watched this Netflix documentary last night. Hard watching due to the scars, both physical and mental, this dreadful tragedy had on the survivors, and their families and those of the deceased. The actual footage of the disaster is extraordinary, beautiful in a dreadful way, and makes me determined to visit New Zealand which is clearly a beautiful country.

https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/a422 ... rue-story/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Whak ... d_eruption

[Woody]

I watched this Netflix documentary last night. Hard watching due to the scars, both physical and mental, this dreadful tragedy had on the survivors, and their families and those of the deceased. The actual footage of the disaster is extraordinary, beautiful in a dreadful way, and makes me determined to visit New Zealand which is clearly a beautiful country.

https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/a422 ... rue-story/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Whak ... d_eruption

I actually visited here in 2005, you landed on the island and had a guided tour of the volcano including going to the edge of the crater, which was full of acid, remember being told that nobody knew when the next eruption would be

[Woody]

I think I’ve posted this before, but it’s always a fun watch

[TheGreenAnger]

I have looked down into the crater of Vesuvius on two separate occasions, but given the long periods between eruptions there, the odds of being incinerated on any random day are pretty low. Whakaari is consistently active, like Mt Etna, and getting that close to the crater is akin to playing Russian roulette, ultimately this disaster was bound to occur. The people of Naples, on the other hand, who have built on the sides of Vesuvius are also taking a very big chance over the longer term, because the volcano will erupt again and the result will be a huge disaster. Humans are basically foolish optimists.

[TheGreenAnger]

I think I’ve posted this before, but it’s always a fun watch

Very cruel using cute poodles as crash jet dummies! No wonder there was a likelihood of puddles!

Sorry, I conflated the end of the last story with the one about ejector seats and amused myself, at least!

[llondel]

I have looked down into the crater of Vesuvius on two separate occasions, but given the long periods between eruptions there, the odds of being incinerated on any random day are pretty low. Whakaari is consistently active, like Mt Etna, and getting that close to the crater is akin to playing Russian roulette, ultimately this disaster was bound to occur. The people of Naples, on the other hand, who have built on the sides of Vesuvius are also taking a very big chance over the longer term, because the volcano will erupt again and the result will be a huge disaster. Humans are basically foolish optimists.

I've walked across the crater of Kilauea Iki. In theory it's active, but hopefully there would be enough warning to get out if someone turned the heating up. Given the broken-up nature of the crater floor, it's not fast, although I guess on full alert the adrenaline might help.

[TheGreenAnger]

Strangely relaxing and beautiful....

[Karearea]

There are some interesting videos on this YouTube channel: Beauty of Africa

Videos captured the last few days of different cities and towns across Southern Africa to showcase the weather conditions and activities across South Africa today and surrounding countries.

https://www.youtube.com/@SAtoday/videos


Each one contains a number of brief 10-30sec. clips of video illustrating a variety of weather, clouds, skies, landscapes, geology, culture, seascapes and beaches, rivers, dams, floods, flora and fauna, agriculture, traffic, transport, cities, ports and roads, in this vast and fascinating region.

This is the latest offering, runs 18:10

[TheGreenAnger]

I know so many of those places.

Clearly a large low pressure area over the country... lots of rain....

Never had a cheetah jump up into my bakkie mind you!

[Woody]

A seasonal addition

[Karearea]

1960s England, Cars Snow and Christmas [14:56]

8mm silent cine film home movie.

[TheGreenAnger]

A luta, and the rains, continua...

[TheGreenAnger]

Vienna Blood!




I have become addicted to the series.

[TheGreenAnger]

[TheGreenAnger]

[TheGreenAnger]