Fort Albert, IOW

This is Fort Albert on the Isle of Wight, which was a quick hop and a skip from our holiday chalet. It was built to defend the western approach to Portsmouth (some say why bother it's only Pompy!!) It planned to house 29 guns in four tiers, and was among the last gun-towers constructed in England. It was one of the Royal Commission forts built in the 19th Century as part of Lord Palmerston's defences against the possibility of a French attack from Napoleon III. Designed to defend the Needles Passage, it was completed in 1856, after 4 years of construction and enhanced by the Royal Commission with batteries on the cliffs above. However the fort became obsolete by 1858. In 1886 it was chosen as one of the UK locations for the Brennan torpedo which had a range sufficient to close the strait. This too became obsolete, and was dismantled in 1906. After this, only small guns were mounted on the fort. The fort was altered during World War II, when it was used as an anti-shipping observation tower. It was closed to military use in 1957. Now it's been converted into luxury flats. I'd like one!

Sunset on the island

I have just had a wonderful weekend on the Isle of Wight with some very good friends. We stayed near Freshwater in a little chalet, overlooking The Needles. The sunsets were quite beautiful as you can see. I just wish I had had my NIkon rather than just my iPhone!

Photoshop

Today I have been having a go with Photoshop.  It's ages (years) since I have done anything and have forgotten everything I did learn, so today I thought I would set myself to radial blur task.  In the end I couldn't quite get the effect I wanted, but I ended up with some cool photos anyway (for a beginner!).

Gardening

I love gardening, for me it's very therapeutic, but this year I don't really have the money to spend on doing the garden up with pots and baskets, and my water bill is extortionate already (and there is a hosepipe ban), so it will have to stay bare!  It's looked colourful in the past though .... and hopefully when things are better I can do the same again.  I will probably relent anyway, I just love the colour!  I might just get some calendula seeds etc and chuck them on the soil and see what comes up.

Soph

Jon

Maisie