School Days!

Ahhh! Don't you just love school days. Hang on a minute. Have most of the children got their hands tied behind their back or is it just a variation of folding their arms?

Two new Friends!

I came across these two creatures at a garden centre on my way home this evening. The artist captured their spirits very well, I thought. Chainsaw art is often pretty good!

xx

Another Flying Bicycle

Poignant photos taken from dead Japanese Sailor

Following on from my last post about World War Two veteran, Arthur Schutter who served with the US Marine Corps on Guam, here are two photographs he brought back with him. They are likely to have been recovered from a dead Japanese sailor. Aside from a portrait of himself, the unidentified seaman carried a photograph of his children, the older twins dressed in navy costume. There are some words written on the reverse. It would be intriguing to find out what was said. Is there someone out there who could translate their meaning?

Thanks to Nicola Carpenter of the excellent Beneath Thy Feet blog, I now know what was written.

December 1943, first‐born daughter Reiko, second daughter Kazuko, first born son Tsutomu

For A Swell Marine!

Arthur (Art) J Schutter served with the US Marine Corps. He was a member of VFM (N) 534 - a Marines Night Fighting Squadron that saw action in Guam.  I acquired a collection of his photographs about a year ago. I was particularly taken with the pin-up poses by one woman who may have been his wife or girlfriend. My next post on the subject will feature his service on Guam.

This is Regina. She wrote: Good luck to a Swell Marine. Perhaps she was a celebrity?

The remaining photographs are, I believe, the same young woman. The more formal portrait (below) has the name Lillian Cola (or Cole) pencilled on the back. The photographer was based in Detroit.

Note the black pattern on the nylon. Was this a fashion of the time?

When I first saw this, I thought of Annie Oakley. Perhaps Lillian is in Fancy Dress?

Exposing both knees seems a bit risqué. I wonder what the neighbours thought?

Morning Dew on Spider's Web

I walked to the bird hides on Pinfold Lane this morning just as the fog was clearing. I used my iPhone 4 to capture these shots of morning dew on spider's webs that obscured the view! Isn't nature wonderful?

Mystery Photographs

I wish I knew where this trio of photographs were taken. There are some clues - a very distinctive pier entrance and a tall building and on the coast. Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

Update:
I think I have just discovered where it is - Southend-on-Sea Pier. I found this wonderful site on Piers (click here) which enabled me to confirm its location. The statue of Queen Victoria faces the pier entrance. That said, the building behind the statue does not appear to exist in contemporary photographs of the location.

Scooter Rally

You know how it is? You are rushing for an appointment and have just two minutes to spare, when you come across something worth photographing. In this case, it was a large scooter rally from Mod enthusiasts from the 1960s. Just time to grab these few shots and reflect upon the fact that the former Mods seemed rather mature . . . Oh, such chrome and lots of close-ups that were not to be!