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thanks Frank....I really enjoyed myself taking them.

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Well I was going to to go to Rawtenstall and get a day rambler ticket on the East Lancs Railway but my plans were thwarted. My newish lady friend is an artist who was looking for new material for her next exhibition and she loves old architecture, probably why she likes me. So we went to Whalley Abbey.
Then because she was a Nursing sister and did some extra work training to get a degree in mental health at Calderstones and Lango we had a run around there.
Next step is for her to paint the scenes we saw today in either oil or acrilic in time for a solo exhibition she is holding at Platform one gallery.

Can anybody tell me what the maximun size we are allowed for posting photos please. This re sizing is ruining them I think.

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This is one I took this afternoon

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Russell, there is nothing at all wrong with any of those shots.
They are beautiful... Tomorrow you should head off to Ramsbottom and the last day of the 40's weekend......a totally different experience.

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Thanks Margaret, you should see them printed on A3 photo paper, they are stunning quality and very sharp. They are resized by 60% to get them on here.

I have dozens of photos taken at the 40,s weekend on the East Lancs line over three years in a folder but for some reason I cant find them now. I have two external USB hard drives with all my work backed up but they are missing from there as well. I still have two hundred taken there on normal days.

I will probably take a trip over tomorrow if the sun stays shining.

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I hope you do Russell.
I think there is a brass band on at the church tomorrow, there is definitely a singer on.
I just take my shots down to 'small' in my editing program......I don't know (or can't remember) just what size this is.

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It seemed a tad quiet where I was, but then there was a lot going on elsewhere. (rear of The Hyndburn)

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I have never been to a 40's weekend at Ramsbottom before.
I think that last year we came through on the bus....but we didn't get off.
This time,thanks to Jen, I planned to be there with my camera.
I was amazed at how well the weekend is run...and how many of the locals immerse themselves in the parts....and get dressed up in costume.

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Max filesize is 500kb i think, I usually reduce to 1366x769 or 1024x576 pixels depending on photo, then reduce accordingly to get the 500kb. A little sharpening afterwards can help bring back the quality, but not as good as the original unfortunately.

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I sometimes think we are far too critical of our own pictures.Less so when looking at those taken by others.
Our pictures are to capture the essence of the moment...to be a memory, a reference point to an experience. To set it into our minds.
Anyway my vision is nowhere near as good as it could be(I have cataracts).

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I think sharpening or any sort or manipulation can spoil a photo.
I've seen some with colours obviously over done and unnatural.
Also giving too much contrast can spoil a photo.
I use 'bracketing' all the time and manual operation with a full frame camera and prime lens if possible. They are bigger files than cropped sensor cameras.
Adjusting ISO or exposure lock but when I used film it was much more challenging.

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It can indeed if overdone, personally, I try and get the photo the same as I saw it at the time, the camera can`t capture the same range as the eye can so post processing halps me with this. Bracketing isn`t an option for most of the things I photograph, usually things that move pretty quickly (damn inconsiderate birds).
No doubt sometimes I will overdo it, but it`s a learning curve and hopefully I get it right sometimes as well. :)

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For fast moving objects I use fast continuous shooting.
Usually out of ten shots one will be spot on.
Did you see the one I posted last week of the fast moving Southport speed boat.

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I did see the speedboat, it was a great pic, the movement isn`t really the issue other than it means you can`t bracket the pic, as far as I`m aware it`s only really for still subjects, also advisable to use a tripod which, while I do have, I very rarely take it out with me.

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The one I took of the blue tit before it entered the box I had a shutter speed of 1250 at 12 f.p.s.

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Both of you take great shots....however you do it.
Russell, some of the things you mention are beyond the knowledge of some folk(me).
We are not so technical. I guess I could learn it if I really wanted to but like many I rely on sympathetic editing. I will crop pictures, and sometimes straighten them......because doing this improves the composition slightly. I don't look at this as cheating, because it is still me being creative.

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Different strokes for different folks, whichever way you choose, neither is wrong in my opinion.

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Straightening and cropping is not cheating Margaret. I do it with many hastily taken shots but I don't like seeing photos which have been enchanced so much they look false.
I'm no professional although I've made a few bob with weddings and magazines but I do like to try to use the camera settings in manual to improve my skills.
I've some very good and expensive gear but I've seen photos taken with phones which are just as good sometimes.

Oh, East Lancs trip is off today unfortunately.

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I am sorry to hear that Russell, although today doesn't look as promising weather wise.
You are right about pics using other devices. Although I don't have a smart phone, I have taken pics with my iPad and mostly they have turned out OK.
I know you have some very sophisticated photographic gear.....and you use it to very good effect.
I like my little pocket camera(Fuji finepix 660 EXR). It is always in my bag, because you never know what life will present you with.

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Just one for fun this morning, I took advantage of people feeding the birds at Stoneyhurst yesterday.

And an action shot taken on Southport pier.

I also have a pocket camera Margaret, its a Panasonic Lumix with Leica lens which goes every where with me. That's always set to "auto".

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A bit of a change from me today (mostly), decided I`d do some long exposures, so I dusted off the tripod and armed myself with the 10-20mm & 10 stopper. That soon went out the window when I passed the motorway and decided I`d have a go at panning.

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Great stuff as usual......a selection of vintage vehicles too.
Love the pooches and the cygnets the best though :)

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Thanks Margaret, the vintage cars were just about all I could keep up with, the faster cars ended up just a blur.

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More from Saturday...I told you I took a lot of pics.
1) tinned grub
2) Post office telephones van
3) Rene Artois and his knockwurst
4) Rene, Edith and Officer Crabtree(his french was just terrible)
5) Austin Seven
6) Catching up with the War Time news
7) Babies in Prams(dollies really). I remember going for coal bricks with the push chair type thing in the background(makes me feel ancient)
8) The cup that cheers, but never inebriates....the kit to make a brew.
9) Foxy Ladies - heading in the direction of the watering hole.
10) Daddy says 'when the war is over we will have a car like this'(just my imaginings)

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In a way in sorry I didn't get there but I've been before three times but I would like to have replaced the photographs I took last time.
Great stuff Margaret.

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With my friend living in south Lincolnshire for many years and coming from Todmorden originally she had been missing the hills and lovely views.
As she has a fascination with dry stone walls and loves to use them as subjects in her art we decided to go through Barley to the top of Pendle and return to the Pendle Inn for a great lunch. Great to have a second driver when I get a taste for the grog.

Lastly we came through to Sabden and over the nick for one last photo.

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Thanks Russell.....hope it gives a flavour of the day.
I would have gone today....but no buses from Accrington....and grumbleguts wouldn't drive me.

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A new area for me today, up through the college grounds to Higher Brox Farm then back down a slightly different descent and then through Broad Oak Works.

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Lovely - especially the sheen on the buttercups :)

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Just realized I have one more space for today's photos.

No need to guess where it was taken.

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Did you lie down to take that Russell ?
It is a very different view...I like it.

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Pinching my walks ? Heh Great Shots Dave

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It actually started on Saturday going up Plantation Street and through Spire Farm, then straight across through the stables then through a couple of fields full of black sheep and eventually having to exit onto the lane for Higher Brox Farm through a garden and going through their back gate. Then at that point we were in an area we hadn't done before so ended up by going through the "V" shaped style and eventually ended up going through the college grounds. I then decided to return today to get the buttercups before they were cut down.

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No Margaret, I was still stood standing still.
It's the highest arch on the Whalley viaduct where it crosses the single track road to Whalley Abbey.
We drove out that way and I just grabbed the opportunity for an unusual view.

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Ive just been looking through my old camera stuff to see if there is anything I could sell.
I came across an old Nikon lens from my old film camera days. I was about to ditch it when I thought I would try it on my DSLR and was surprised it still focused and took reasonable pictures. It must be well over 20 years old.
Nowt special but it worth hanging onto.

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It is a very effective shot.

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Was this the stables and back gate you went through?

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It was although I came through the other way and the footpath sign was right in the middle of the gate. The stables were right opposite the Spire Farm path.

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I went down to the 40s weekend on all 3 days ... i took camera .. i took around 1000 photos .. i take too many photos ... im not going to say what happened to me in rammy yesterday .. just lets put it this way the spugster was laughing and i was cursing .. and complaining ... but i did get bought a second ice cream to make up for it .. when i get the photos sorted .. i will put em up ...

Margaret we were in rammy yesterday and saw a 484 bus come through ...

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Yes, it was running, but only to Haslingden.
I would have had to get the X41 to Haslingden and co ordinate the times. In the end I decided that it was too much hassle.
Himself could've runt me to Rammy...but he wouldn't ,so I wasn't chuffed

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That should read 'run'(blooming predictive text).

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There is no worse woman to cross then an "unchuffed" one. I know from experience.

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Russell......you are spot on there.
I was like a caged lion all day. I kept thinking what I was missing...and not liking that I was missing it.
A Happy wife = a happy life. Not a hard equation to grasp is it?

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Don't I know it! :D

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Son, it is one of the very first lessons a mother should teach her son.
That way the whole world would be a sunnier place(even when it is raining).

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Let me think ... there, that didn't take long. I just don't see it. But there again math was never my strong point.

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Today's Jaunt

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Is that a mandarin duck?

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I believe it is .It was on it's own on the canal near Salterforth

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That's a good find, according rspb, the only wild ones here are reserve escapees.

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It is lovely Frank. I have only seen those in zoos.......and at a bird sanctuary in Queensland.
Some fantastic reflections in your shots today.

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I took a photo of a similar duck swimming happily with "ordinary" ducks a few weeks ago Bourne Abbey in South Lncolnshire.
I'll try to find the file or see if I can see it again next week.

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I just hope he or she has a mate.
It must be very lonely to be the only one of a kind.

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According to RSPB, there are 2,300 breeding pairs in the UK..... I also now that the one pictured is male....females have dull brown plumage.
Amazing what Accyweb teaches you.

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The duck, back of Bourne Abbey. I'll have another look on Tuesday to see if it is still around or has a mate.

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No it ain't. I love it:alright:

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I've just been playing around with a new lens it's a 300mm with macro facility.

I resized a photo of a flower, no idea what it is, about 6 inches across.
The file was 3.7 mb so I resized and finished up with the following background effect.

Unusual to say the least.

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Same lens at 25 feet away from lantern dog.

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They are showing as 4928X3280, you`ll probably get better results by lowering the resolution.

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I was only messing Gpick.
I resized by 40%. I don't know if you have a full frame sensor camera or the usual crop frame but full frame files are bigger. I have a Pro Nikon Df full frame.
The original flower photo was really good with a nice clear background.
I had to dash of because I'd been booked to do the photos for a wedding.

The new lens only arrived an hour before I was due out but I didn't use it for the wedding.

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Love the flower....I think it is an allium(garlic).
I am sure Davemac will correct me if I have got it wrong.

Today in pictures
 

Yes it's a crop, still produces 20MB RAW files & 8MB ( I think ) jpg so takes quite some reduction.
The Nikon df is a lovely looking camera.

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I was about to scrap the photo MARGARET but my artist friend wants to frame it and add it to her exhibition. She says the background, even though it was never meant to be like that, is very effective.
She has a solo exhibition in October and likes a few of my photographs which being large files print out lovely on A3. Hopefully other people will like them enough to buy one.

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It's not the looks that matter gpick, although I agree it has a nice retro look.
The camera is a serious bit of kit. No flash, video or sound. It has external flash for whatever gun you want.
Trouble is with pro gear is you need quality lens to make it worth while and that's not cheap.
The one I tried yesterday is going back Monday, It lacks VR which is needed for hand held zoom shots.

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Partially right Mrs P. it is Ornamental Onion, although not the Garlic (Ransoms) variety.

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I knew you would know Dave.
A neighbour has some of these in his garden. I love the shape and the colour......I haven't been to sniff them though, so i don't know if they smell pungent.

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This is the flower undistorted by too much resizing. The other is next to it but I don't know if it will turn into the same colour. Yes I know its slightly out of focus, I was dodging my sprinklers. My wonderful gardener will be her in the morning and I just let her get on with it.

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Hi-Ho Hi-Ho its off to see the jam jar window we go.

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Where did you see the jam jar windows Dave.

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I like the first one the best Russell.
I can see why your artist friend wants to put it in her exhibition I can see it printed out on canvas. A good focal point for a room

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Its an oddity that's been around for as long as I can remember, there is a footpath that runs between what used to be Martholme Grange and Wilsons' Playing field. If you start at the Martholme end you encounter a small hamlet of houses the first house on the left just as you turn the corner has the window.

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.7825.../data=!3m1!1e3 this link will open google maps and you can see the small hamlet and a sharp turn left

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That is a private road gated at the Whalley road end as you turn left at the gate to the playing field. The sign is there but the gate is further along.
Going down from that end the first house on the right has big gates.
Opposite is a large stone house called The Stables where my friend lives.
Next door is a house with a long barn attached which is protected.
It was built in 1500 and something. I've put photos in here of the old wooden beams inside.
Next time I'm down I'll take a walk to see the bottle window.

We were sat outside a few weeks ago and two smartly dressed gentlemen stopped in a car.
Their Sat Nav had sent them that way to Padiham. They turned around.

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You are right it is a private road but it is a public footpath as well, a number of years ago the gates were closed and locked, however the footpath now goes behind the properties you described and comes out behind the gate further down. I didn't use that way, I started my journey from Mill Lane which is just in Gt. Harwood.

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The residents don't object to the odd walkers, there are a few locals from the estate off Whalley road who regularly walk the dogs and stop for a chat.
I've never walked far past the gate with my friend and her dog. I'll make and effort when I next visit.

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Today was a relatively short outing, it was walking the fields that are on the perimeter of St Mary's Burial Ground, the main reason being that the Buttercups that abound at the moment will soon be harvested and wrapped in black plastic to feed the Moo Cows later in the year.

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Just a couple from a visit to Richmond Waterfalls at the weekend.

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Its been a while since I visited Haworth Park, so today's the day.

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Love the colourful mosaics.

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Poor Duke`s been in the wars, jumped in the canal like he does, came out covered in blood. Severed two ligaments. Down to the vets for an op but back home now. Been groggy for about an hour now but has just lifted his head wagged his tail.

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Awww, poor lad. give him a hug from me. He looks really downcast.

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Thank you Margaret, he's getting lots of attention, though I don't think he knows much about it, he's still out of it from the anaesthetic.

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Poor old fellow. Hope he gets out and about soon. It will be hard work trying to get him to rest

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I'm sure he is.
They are like your children.....I hope he is soon feeling better.
Like his camo bandage:)

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Thanks max, pre meds wearing off and he's perking up a bit now. Don't think he knows what's happened.

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Poor lad :(
Hoping for a fast recovery

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Thanks turtle.

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Hope your daft Mutt recovers quickly, nothing quite so sorry looking as a poorly pooch. :)

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Thanks Dave, he's up and about this morning but still looking a bit down in the dumps. [emoji852]

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It can knock you sideways when your companion is ill and more so when an operation is involved, glad things have turned out okay, it will be a time before he is jumping in the canal again, perhaps he could throw a stick and you jump in until he is better.

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Today was Martholme Lane to Martholme Lane with a bit of the railway line thrown in.

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We are fledging

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Well I tried my best to find the Maderin duck at Bourne Abbey and memorial gardens but to no avail.
Its pals were there though.
I took the last one for a screen saver.

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I love number 5 Russell...it reminds me off a trip to the Cotswolds with Ma.

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I love the Cotswolds Margaret.
It's years since I was last there but I spent a fair bit of time around the area.
I have a few plates etc from Borden on the water in my cupboard.
Never took photos there though. I was too busy working.

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It was Burton on the water that your picture reminded me of.
I took Ma over one of those little bridges and she thought she was going to end up in the river Windrush. I told her it was only 18 inches deep....she said she could drown on a wet flannel. She swims like a tin of salmon......right to the bottom.

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My memory failed me when I tried to remember the name of the village, yes it was Burton.

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This is the picture of the bridge that Ma didn't want to go over...and I know it is nothing at all like that bridge in your shot...but it brought back that memory(from 2009).
Two views of the bridge....note there are no walls to stop you from falling into the river.

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hope hes doing ok xx and he gets better soon xx

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Thanks, he had a check up yesterday, wounds healing ok but looks like he'll lose some movement in a toe or two with the ligament damage. It won't affect him too much though.

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Good to hear that duke is on the mend.