@JanPV

110 Followers
334 Following
3.5K Posts
Welsh-Polish grandchild of forced labour survivors of the Nazi regime. The rule of law: all else follows from there. Former microbiologist, now wandering over and inside the mountains, capturing and writing about north Wales' heritage. Fellow, Royal Astronomical Society. I also fly and motorcycle.

These Ukrainian drone pilots were so good in a #NATO exercise that they wiped out the opposing forces before anyone knew what had happened.

Firmly reminiscent of Britain being so out of touch with the reality of war that they based their initial WW1 strategy on cavalry. In WW2, the British refused to accept Polish airmen and combat-experienced pilots who had fought the Nazis, forcing them into ridiculous basic training.

NATO: please learn the lessons, very well.

https://youtu.be/tl-jU8XUdhQ?si=ZzHUwzqjOEDdPps6

The Ukrainian drone pilots behind NATO's drill failure

YouTube

Welsh supercell arrives!

Yikes!

#weather #storm

Here's what you can expect from Natural Resources Wales and Welsh Water on a Bank Holiday weekend, when you need to report an environmental issue:

Nothing.

Nobody answers phone calls. If there is anyone there, they take so long they may as well not be there.

Britain. Money for the rich, no services for the poor.

#nrw #environment

It's little wonder the world is in the state it is when you see comments on FB, patronisingly asking why someone has claimed trees have flowers.

Jeez...

#nature

Last evening, we arrived at Mynydd Parys, just as very warm atmospheric conditions presided over a still cool Irish Sea, to see Cumbria, the Isle of Man, the Mourne mountains and the Wirral in exceptional clarity - the best I've ever seen in 15 years.

Also a modest amount of Fata Morgana visible.

Photos simply didn't do it justice, despite my best efforts to capture the moment.

#atmosphere #nature #optics #cymru #wales

What an interesting record - from 1284 - I came across this morning.

Details of events leading up to what was clearly a failed attempt by Edward I to mediate over succession and the right to collect taxes from the Duchy of Limberg:

https://www.jstor.org/stable/48577945

2025 drone footage of the area:

https://youtu.be/cqKorV7cGwA

#cymru #wales #history

Liverpool city centre today. 'Reform UK must be more radical. Change my mind', the sign says. A young lad with an Orthodox cross round his neck sits behind the desk.

The UK has gone completely nuts.

#reformu #fascism #farright

Selective, limited grass cutting began in the garden today.

As a reminder of how much difference not mowing obsessively can make to wildlife, a Goldfinch came to visit and pecked away at Dandelion seeds - the kind of thing people traditionally hate to see growing on their lawns.

Be kind to nature; use much less of your mower. It's just an illness, really.

#nature #birds #gardens #nomowmay

Railway experts, please your views on the rail type and their likely dating.

Context: here used as gateposts, with one showing clear acetylene or other flame cutting evidence. Along a mule trackway, no evidence of being a railed way, to an early 19th century manganese trial in a valley overlooking the Nantlle slate quarrying area.

I'm assuming the rail came from the Nantlle rail connections, but a date would be useful.

#rail #railways #trains

A somewhat difficult to interpret structure, currently thought to be related to game shooting activities (there are many hides around). Seems built atop earlier manganese spoil heaps. The four vertical stone posts, clearly to support a roof, have these lovely curves cut into them, into which timbers fitted. Never seen these anywhere before.

#heritage #mining #cymru #wales #eryri #archaeology