Sean Duffy

I was quite saddened to see the former Grove Court Hotel at Cleator almost demolished, earlier this morning. Originally built in 1907 as a Roman Catholic Infant School, the school became a hotel in 1987. Following a kitchen fire in 2009, the hotel closed and never reopened.  The school was small, with just two classrooms, and it was designed to accommodate around 100 children. The school continued to operate until 1968, when it was closed due to falling enrollments. 

Lambs are adorable. They are born with soft, fluffy wool that keeps them warm and protected. Lambs are also very playful and curious, and they love to explore their surroundings. Lambs are born after a gestation period of about 5 months. They typically weigh between 6 and 8 pounds at birth, and they are able to stand and walk within a few hours of being born. Lambs will nurse from their mothers for about 6 weeks, and they will then start to eat grass and other plants. Lambs are social animals, and they live in herds. The herd is led by an older ewe, who is responsible for protecting the lambs from predators. Lambs are also very protective of their mothers, and they will often bleat for their mothers if they are separated from them. Lambs are an important part of the agricultural industry. They are raised for their wool, meat, and milk. Lamb meat is a popular food in many cultures, and it is a good source of protein. Lamb's wool is also used to make clothing, blankets, and other tex

Monks Bridge is a beautiful stone bridge that spans the River Calder near Calderbridge in Cumbria. It is one of the oldest packhorse bridges in the county, and is thought to have been built in the 12th century. The bridge is a single arch, and is made of local stone. It is a popular spot for walkers.  The bridge is also known as Matty Benn's Bridge, after the the wife of a local land owner (Martha Benn).  The bridge is a popular spot for picnics and fishing, and is also a great place to simply relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside. If you are ever in the Cumbria area, be sure to stop by and take a look at this beautiful and historic bridge. Here are some tips for visiting Monks Bridge: The bridge is located on the Cold Fell Road, which is a popular walking and cycling route. There is a small car park nearby, but it can fill up quickly on weekends. The bridge is open all year round, but it can be slippery in wet weather. There are no facilities at the bridge, so be

St Bees is a beautiful village on the west coast of Cumbria. It is a popular tourist destination due to its stunning scenery, long sandy beach, and proximity to the Lake District National Park. The village is named after St Bega, an Irish nun who is said to have landed here in the 9th century. She founded a priory on the site, which is now a ruined abbey. The village church, St Bees Priory Church, is dedicated to St Bega and dates back to the 12th century. St Bees is also the start of the Wainwright Coast to Coast Walk, a long-distance footpath that runs from St Bees Head in Cumbria to Robin Hood's Bay in Yorkshire. The walk is one of the most popular in England and takes in some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. If you're looking for a place to relax and enjoy the stunning scenery of the Lake District, then St Bees is the perfect place for you. There are plenty of things to do in the village and the surrounding area, including walking, hiking, swimming, fishing, an

After much thought, I've decided that I will no longer be able to do a photo a day due to time constraints. I know this is a disappointment to some of you, and I apologise for that. I will however, continue to post photographs of  my local area from time to time.  I started this challenge as a way to force myself to be more creative and to document my life in a more meaningful way. It was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot about myself and about photography. But as the days went on, it became increasingly difficult to find the time to take photos every day. I have a full-time job, and am still dealing with the aftermath of my parents passing. As you can imagine, it's been tough juggling everything. I've been thinking about this for a while, and I've decided that it's time to make a change. I'm going to take a break from the photo a day challenge for a while. I don't know when I'll start it back up again, but I hope to do so later this year. I want to than

A photo a day. The heavens opened. I was travelling along a local road when the rain intensified. I pulled over to a safe place to grab this pic. Sadly, you can't make out the rain in the photo - but I think you will get the idea. Torrential is an understatement. 

A photo a day.  Rivers are swelling once more.  We seem to be having April showers in the wrong month ;) Here are some interesting facts about rain: The average raindrop takes about 2 minutes to fall from the clouds to the ground. The tallest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls in Venezuela, which has a height of 979 meters. The wettest place on Earth is Mawsynram in India, which receives an average of 11,871 millimeters of rain per year. The driest place on Earth is Atacama Desert in Chile, which receives an average of 1 millimeter of rain per year. Rain is made up of water droplets that are so small that they can float in the air.

A photo a day.  Also known as Pussy Willow.  A close up shot of Goat Willow seed pods. Early in spring, male flowers appear on branches – the soft, silky, silver hairy buds give rise to the alternate name of Pussy Willow. These turn into fluffy balls of pollen. Female flowers, on separate trees, are long green catkins that erupt into white fluff surrounding the seed in May or June. Goat willow is a small willow tree or shrub that is native to Europe, Asia, and North America. It is one of the earliest trees to flower in the spring, and its fluffy catkins are often used in decorations. Goat willow is a valuable tree for wildlife, and its bark and leaves have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. Goat willow is a deciduous tree or shrub that typically grows 6-15 meters tall. It has a rounded crown and smooth, gray bark. The leaves are oval-shaped and have serrated edges. They are green on the top and hairy on the bottom. Goat willow produces male and female catkins. The male cat

A photo a day.  Eating for two.  These ladies appeared quite eager to devour the treat left out for them. The red marking on their back indicates that they could be eating for two. 

A photo a day.  Bird bailiffs.  I totally understand the need for tree management, but does it need to be done in Spring, when birds are beginning to pair up and build their nests? The photo below is from one small stretch of a local bridleway.  Hundreds of branches have been trimmed from local trees, effectively evicting any birds that are beginning the nesting process. Why not cut-back in Autumn?  In a week, or so, the bird-bailiffs will return, to place the trimmed branches into a chipper. I'm annoyed. 

A photo a day.  Joy follows.  A walk with the ubiquitous Poppy. Buddha : We are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak or act. Joy follows them like a shadow that never leaves them. 

A photo a day.  Wath Bridge. Heavy rain over the past few days has swollen the local rivers. This is a shot at the double arched Wath Bridge, which was built in 1816 to replace the earlier Dent bridge. The fast flowing River Ehen is fed from Ennerdale Lake, with the River Keekle adding to its volume at Cleator. It flows through Egremont and then out to sea near Seascale.  The River Ehen is a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The river is home to a variety of wildlife, including salmon, trout, freshwater pearl mussels, and kingfishers. The River Ehen is a beautiful and important river. It is a popular spot for recreation and a vital part of the local ecosystem.

A photo a day.  Balance.  Carl Jung: "Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness."