http://worldroots.com/brigitte/royal/pitt3.jpg

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.”
William Pitt

http://www.xabusiness.com/chinese-paintings-zoom-in.asp?img=/chinese-paintings-picture/chinese-prints/ps-yjb0066b.jpg

春节快乐！Chun jie kuai le

春节好！Chun jie hao

http://eclectict.blogspot.com/2004/11/intervowen.html

http://img490.imageshack.us/img490/1128/deathstarclangerswallpaper7tz.jpg

An old North Oxfordshire saying about our local churches…

Adderbury for strength,

Bloxham for length,

Kings Sutton for beauty.

http://www.fresh99.com/parachuters.htm

http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=301692

From the page: “Title: The War Machine
Name: Ted Terranova
Country: USA
Software: 3ds max

Here is the story which describes the image…

While searching through the archives of the Royal British Navy I made a Spectacular discovery. I had uncovered the long forgotten field reports for a prototype war machine developed by the Yorkshire Iron Works.

Apparently the British navy was concerned with the widespread use of railways and motorcars to transport goods and military material. The admiralty feared that with a lessening importance in naval commerce the British navy’s role in future conflicts would be reduced so they decided to develop a land ship! I found no plans for this war ship but there was a single rendition of the great machine quelling a rebellion in one of Britain’s Far East colonies. One can see its massive arms smashing through the walls of the local stronghold; the rebelling forces cringing before it%u2019s might. Designed in the tradition of great British warships, the captain and officers rode high atop the vehicle, directing the combat from ornately decorated balconies befitting their status. Lower down the machine was built of simple riveted iron armor. Huge pipes twisted together to harness the massive steam pressures generated by the monstrous boilers that moved the great machine. The crew in these lower levels was not as lucky as the officers above. Here they either shoveled coal into the great furnaces or manned the gigantic long-range cannons. It must have been a fearsome sight on the battlefield.”

All a little bit fanciful but the Union Jack caught my eye.

From the Daily Telegraph…

Germans give chimney sweeps the brush-off
By Kate Connolly in Berlin
(Filed: 26/12/2005)

In his top hat, white tie and brass-buttoned uniform, and dangling a brush on a chain over his shoulder, Erhard Feller might have walked off the set of a film about Victorian England.

But the 51-year-old chimney sweep is a vibrant part of working life in modern Berlin and the uniform is standard for him and his 8,000 colleagues across Germany.

Even though most German chimneys are too thin for Santa Claus to squeeze into, Christmas is still the busiest time of year for Mr Feller, who travels on a motorbike between the 310 properties he is responsible for.

The few remaining households with fireplaces and wood ovens are keen to ensure they are in working order during the winter break.

The chimney sweep has a reputation as a bringer of luck. But an increasing number of Germans are angry that the sweeps have a monopoly and they are forced to pay for their services, whether they have a chimney or not.

http://www.cuteoverload.com/

http://www.olegnovikov.com/gallery/cityscape/cs011.shtml

Hongcun Village, Huizhou Region, China（中国徽州宏村）

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/6654/image0944vn.jpg

Paris au Printemps.

http://www.glasgowmuseums.com/onemilliondaysinchina/exhibition/

The Eight Taoist Immortals

Although the One Million Days in China exhibition which ran at the Glasgow Museum is now finished, the online exhibition remains. One Million Days in China ran at The Burrell Collection from July 2004 to February 2005, and explored and celebrated 4000 years of Chinese history and culture through Sir William Burrell’s world-class collection of Chinese art.

http://www.weathervanes.co.uk/Lords.html

http://www.yodaboys.com/deermouse.html

Twas the Night before Christmas Poem by Clement Moore

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her `kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, `ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=175006737

I never used it anyway…

From the page: “Microsoft To Mac Users: Ditch Internet Explorer Now

Microsoft told users to switch to another browser, as support for IE on Mac will end this month. “

http://www.banksy.co.uk/indoors/02.html

http://images.art.com/images/products/large/10103000/10103851.jpg

“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.”

There are places I’ll remember all my life
Though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain

All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I’ve loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new

Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life I’ll love you more

Given today’s date I thought this was appropriate, my old family home, gone forever, changed and not for better.

Incidently, I have heard that ‘In My Life’ was Paul Mc Cartney’s favourite ‘John Lennon’ song.

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/1285/1955tianjin011uv.jpg

More visions of China.

The Yorkshire Dales, beautiful any time of the year.