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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Saw this and was reminded that we hadn't heard from you in a while. Hope all is well.

Detail of the wooden carved pulpit at St James Church, New Brighton (George Gilbert Scott). Someone has tucked a stuffed toy mouse behind St Luke's vestments.

Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

“Being dead is just SO boring” #MemorialMonday Remarkably lifelike memorial to John Trevor, 1589, in All Saints’ Gresford.

John Trevor is lying on his side supporting his head with his left hand, resting on the elbow. In his right hand he holds the top of a cane or perhaps sword. The effigy is painted with excellent detail on his face and clothing. There are several coats of arms above. From a distance he looks like a bored teenager. Up close, in fairness, you see his eyes are closed and he looks quite peaceful.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Late medieval 'Life of the Virgin' window in the lady chapel of All Saints Church, Gresford. Mostly from around 1500, although restored with some additions by Clayton & Bell in 1872. #StainedGlassSunday

Medieval stained glass window with panels representing events from the life of the Virgin Mary. Latin scroll titles under each panel were added during restoration, along with some of the angels in the upper tracery. Nice, rich blues and reds. Photographed by my humble iPhone SE.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Not entirely sure what's going on in this scene from a 15th-century misericord at All Saints, Gresford - but suspect it is rather 'bawdy'. #Woodensday Note to Bluesky moderators: this was in a church, okay?

The official description of this misericord says that it shows 3 men in tunics supporting a pole, while a fourth 'man' performs an acrobatic feat. To my less educated eye, it looks as though the figure swinging on the pole with their legs in the air is exposing some female anatomy. All Saint's Church is in Gresford near Wrexham and is well worth a visit.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Dear Komoot, Are you completely certain that this half-mile section of the route you recommended is suitable for a road bike?

A narrow path through the Welsh countryside. The rut along the middle has a small stream running through it and is strewn with large rocks. The raised edges are too muddy to ride. This section descended quite steeply down to a larger stream, crossed by a footbridge. Bike got covered in mud and my cleats completely gummed up.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

When cycling unfamiliar routes, fingerposts are an invaluable aid to navigation. #FingerpostFriday

My green bicycle is leaning against a fingerpost showing a brown sign with the single word ‘LOST’. It is on a grassy road verge with hedge, fence and fields behind.
Lost is actually a barn conversion used as a wedding and function venue near Claremont Farm, Bebington, Wirral.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

@ruth-w.bsky.social Partially covered by some Elder saplings, but I found him! And thanks to @martintravis.bsky.social for alerting me to the disused Lever’s Railway cycle route that I never knew existed #Wirral

Primitive carving of a face in the sandstone of the railway cutting for the disused Lever Brothers’ factory railway, that has now been converted into a cycle path.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Colourful visitor to my hanging basket this morning. Enjoying the October sunshine.

Red Admiral butterfly with wings open, resting on a rather tatty hanging basket

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Pines on the shoreline in the English Riviera. #ThickTrunkTuesday Photo taken last Sunday in Torquay.

A group of three pine trees near the water's edge in the grounds of Imperial Hotel, Torquay. Their rich green foliage is set against the blue sky, with light, high cloud and a few contrails. To the left is a view across the bay. The water is calm and a beautiful blue. A small rock sticks out of the water. There is some pampas grass in the foreground.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Anyone else fattening themselves up in readiness for Winter hibernation? It's the start of Fat Bear Week in Alaska - when the public get to vote on their favourite #FatBear (see link in Alt Text).

'Chunk' - a very fat brown bear, who won the competition last year. He is in fast-flowing water looking for even more salmon to eat. Photo courtesy of Republic World. If you want to vote follow the link https://explore.org/meet-the-bears

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Here’s a zoomed out view of the location if you fancy finding it for yourself.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

After a recent trip to #LincolnCathedral, I’m happy to report that the world’s oldest tennis ball is still lodged in the mouldings near the Galilee Porch. Got stuck there in 1914 when a boy called Gilbert Bell was playing catch with his brother. See alt text for full story.

Close-up of a tennis ball, blackened by time, lodged in the arch mouldings of Lincoln Cathedral. I have indicated the ball with a yellow arrow.
The story of the stuck ball became a family legend and whenever they visited Lincoln, Gilbert’s relatives would check to see it was still there.
In 2005, the story surfaced when his nephew, David, wrote to the cathedral asking (jokingly) if they could please have the ball back.
It predates the tennis ball in the museum at Wimbledon (dated 1916) and is thought to be the oldest in the world.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

TIL that Captain Hastings co-wrote and performed the theme tune for kids TV show, Rainbow. #Poirot

Huge Fraser in role as Captain Hastings, with David Suchet as Poirot, from the 1990s ITV series. He plays the flute and was in a folk band “Telltale”. He has a co-writing credit for the Rainbow theme tune, and some other music that appeared in the show.

Zippy, George and Bungle with Geoffrey Hayes from a “Rainbow” publicity shot.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

A bit like one of my unfinished bike renovation projects. #Abandoned #NatureTakingOver

An old abandoned car, possibly an Austin A30, reduced to a shell with plants growing over it. Photographed last month in Cheshire.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Angels in the architecture: one of the carvings adorning the remarkable hammerbeam roof of St Mary’s Church, Cilcain in Flintshire. #Woodensday

Oak carving of an angel holding a shield

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

A “Tin Tabernacle” in North Wales for #AllMetalMonday. St Andrew’s Mission Church at The Wern, erected in 1892. Made from corrugated steel, these chapels were ordered from a brochure and delivered as flat packs. Sadly now disused.

A small, simple chapel made of corrugated steel. It has a porch and small pointed steeple. The roof is green; walls are grey with brown rust. A fence lies in front with a holly bush growing through it. A red bike is seen leaning against the fence. The sky behind is blue. Photo taken yesterday.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Love the double-barrelled village names in this part of Wessex. I think some sound like characters in a PG Wodehouse novel: Charlton Musgrove, Kingston Deverill, Norton Ferris, Compton Pauncefoot, Milton Clevedon, Maiden Bradley #FingerpostFriday

Traditional fingerpost on a back road between Maiden Bradley and Frome. The post is black with a pyramid shaped finial embossed SCC. Posts are white with black lettering. The sign post is in front of a green hedge. The sky is blue with a few fluffy white clouds.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Dylan van Baarle keen to remind everyone that Soudal Quick-Step have been renamed Fix-All Quick-Step for the #TourOfBritain #ToB2026 #Lincoln

Soudal Quick-Step at the team presentation in Lincoln before the start of Tour of Britain. The rider at the end has brought a large inflatable model of a stick of bonding glue onto the stage.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Did the Tour of Britain “Ride the Stage” sportive yesterday, from Thirsk in beautiful North Yorkshire. Only just noticed that the hotel we stayed at displays a Cyclists’ Touring Club plaque. It was designated ‘cyclist friendly’ in 1890.

View of the Golden Fleece hotel in Thirsk showing front entrance, bay windows and pub sign, which includes a gold-coloured sheep suspended by a band around its waist. There are flowers above the windows and a hanging basket. There CTC plaque is attached to the wall.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Bratton Camp hillfort above the Westbury White Horse. A Neolithic long barrow lies within the earthworks. It was a steep climb on my bike but worth it for the view. #HillfortsWednesday

View of front part of the hillfort earthworks above the Westbury White Horse seen rather obliquely from behind. My red bike leans against a bench in the foreground.
The grass is yellow and dry. An impressive white, fluffy cloud hangs overhead. Photo taken last Thursday.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Weather-beaten and moss covered bridleway sign in North Wales #FingerpostFriday

In the foreground, to left if frame, is a wooden bridleway sign with a horse shape cut in relief and painted white (although much faded). There is also a circle filled in white. If you look carefully you can just see the place-name ‘Cilcain’. The sign is pointing to the right. The grass along the path below the sign is yellowed by drought. There are patches of purple heather. In the background the ferns still look green.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Here's one from St Lawrence's Church, Church Stretton, Shropshire.

A sheila-na-gig carving in stone relief that has been reset in the wall above the north door of St Lawrence's Church. Photo my own.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Was inspired by Andy Marshall @fotofacade.bsky.social to include a visit to Frome on my bike ride today. It didn’t disappoint. Andy’s photos do it better justice than my old iPhone effort. He failed to mention how steep the cobbled climb up Catherine Hill was though. (See Alt Text for link).

Photo of the view from halfway down Catherine Hill, an old cobbled street with lots of quirky independent shops. A narrow building with prominent white windows projects out from the right. Behind this is a more level pavement, separated from the main street by iron bollards and railings. There is a fancy old street lamp - one of many on this street.
Andy Marshall’s photographs and impressions are at https://www.digest.andymarshall.co/andy-marshalls-genius-loci-digest-1-may-2026/

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

View of Moel Arthur hillfort from Offa’s Dyke - across the Clwydian hills. #HillfortsWednesday #HillfortWednesday

The round, green hill that is Moel Arthur is seen in middle-distance, with the ring of the hill fort earthworks running round its top. In the foreground is a way-marker wooden post with an arrow and acorn symbol. The grass is yellowed by the sun but some bright yellow gorse can be seen.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Sheep sheltering in the shade of a tree on a Welsh hillside (last week). #ThickTrunkTuesday

Isolated green tree with several sheep beneath it. The grass is yellowed. A low, stone wall runs along beside a gravel path. Patches of bright purple heather line the path.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

So much TV coverage related to the eclipse. Even ITV3+1 is showing Classic Corona.

Photo of the programme guide on my TV. ITV3+1 is showing Classic Coronation Street but it has been abbreviated to Classic Corona with hilarious results.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Sweet Chestnut - reaching out in all directions #ThickTrunkTuesday

Photo of the main trunk of a Sweet Chestnut tree seen last week in Bulkeley Woods, East Cheshire. It splits low down into 4 large boughs, which send out branches in several different directions. The tree is in leaf but the floor is covered by last year’s leaf fall

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

The 17th century Hurleston tomb behind St Peter's Church, Plemstall. An isolated church, said to be on the site of St Plegmund's hermit dwelling. Back then, the site would have been an island surrounded by marshland and was known as the 'Isle of Chester' #MementoMoriMonday

Photo of the south side of the Hurleston tomb made from sandstone and depicting a skeleton with knees slightly bent. He holds the stem of an arrow as if stopping it from piercing the body, or pulling it out of the rib-cage from whence it would have pierced the heart and/or lungs. In his left hand he appears to hold the stem of an acanthus leaf. The sides are decorated with acanthus decorations and the cover has a spiral rope design. On the other side, the skeleton represents his wife. She holds an hour-glass and has an arrow directed towards her pelvis. There is a memorial plaque - added later - that reads:
"In this vault lies the body of Elizabeth, wife of Charles Hurleston,
of Newton esq., youngest daughter and coheir of Thomas Lander, of
Newhall, in the County of Lancaster, esq., by Elizabeth, daughter of
Edward Downes, of Shrigley, in the county of Chester. esq.)
(She was beautiful) in her Person,
Distinct in her Behaviour,
Dutiful Daughter in her Observance,
And had the (.........) long night,
A Happy Mother
She dyed the 19th of November 17(27), aged 32."

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Walkers may wonder why the ivy grows so lush and green round here, not realising it’s a favourite spot for local cyclists to take their “nature breaks” #FingerpostFriday

A bicycle rests against a white wooden gate. To the right is a footpath fingerpost in front of a hedge. Behind lies a field with a small copse of trees in the distance.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

These were the four I listened to on repeat as a child. Tubby the Tuba was my favourite but I was totally absorbed by The Snow Queen every time. Wend Craig one quite progressive (in retrospect): folk tales from around the world.

Cover of vinyl LP of The Snow Queen read by Cathleen Nesbitt

Wendy Craig reads In Front of the Children

Disney LP of Hans Christian Andersen stories

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Blackberries already ripe in northern England. I’m no expert but this seems quite early.

Photograph of a small cluster of blackberries. Some of them are ripe. In the background is a wooden fence.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Huge Victorian-era boiler - on display outside University of Liverpool's Energy Centre. Of course, in London this would be offered as quirky AirBnB accommodation.

Large black iron boiler chamber with doors propped open at each end. This was taken from the Victorian boiler house of the original Royal Liverpool Hospital (1886–92) designed by Alfred Waterhouse. The boiler house was redeveloped to contain part of the impressive modern Energy Centre for the University.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

What a necessary hydration break actually looks like #Cycling

Swiss rider, Marlen Reusser (Movistar) at the finish of the Tour de Suisse after a hard climbing day on Col de Croix. She wears the yellow jersey as leader of the race. She is sitting against a hoarding and pouring water over her head, looking completely exhausted. She took the overall win in style by winning this final stage of the 5 day race.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

I have a hybrid car. The challenge is to drive it efficiently so it runs in EV mode as much as possible. When driving on the motorway, my cycling instincts kick in and I find myself drafting behind high-sided trucks. It means cruising at only 60mph - but I enjoy imaging how many watts I'm saving.

Photo of a blue and white HGV lorry in the middle lane of a motorway. Chosen because it has my surname emblazoned on it (it's operated by O'Toole Transport - no relation). Picture blatantly stolen without permission from 'Harry's On The Road' Flickr account (sorry Harry!)

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

My money on Juan Pedro Lopez. He once passed me at incredible speed on the climb north of Barcelona.

Press photo of Juan Pedro Lopez from his Trek Segafredo days - in the pink jersey.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Our ancient Celtic ancestors held forest glades sacred. They say Norman Christian church builders capitalised on this by creating the same feeling in their cathedrals: tall, thick columns, branching above; dappled light through stained glass; hushed awe. Is this why they resonate with us still?

View of the nave of Tewkesbury Abbey taken by my brother with a wide angled lens. Shows the thick columns and roof vaults. Wooden chairs are set out for a service.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Watched Lauren Dickson win the Lincoln International GP last year but had no idea she was destined to become MVP for Demi Vollering at #GiroWomen just one year later.

Carl Lawrenson interviewing Lauren Dickson on the podium after Lincoln GP cycle race in May 2025. She wears her Handsling Alba jersey (the Scottish team she rode for then) and holds a posy of flowers.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Introducing Lewis, the leucistic Blue Tit - a regular visitor to our garden feeder. #Birds

A juvenile blue tit who completely lacks any blue pigment. His belly is yellowish and the feathers that would normally be blue are a very light brown - including his eye stripe. This genetic abnormality is known as leucism. He is sitting on the sunflower seed feeder with ivy in the background. I know he’s a blue tit because I’ve seen his mother feeding him.

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Happy reminder of one of my finest hours. Was it really 28 years ago!?

Me at the John O’Groats sign with my burgundy Raleigh Royal bicycle at the end of an unsupported, solo charity LEJOG ride - raising money for hospital equipment. I am wearing a yellow hi-vis rain jacket. 28th June 1998

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Is this one for #FingerpostFriday? Or is it a concertina-gate stile to delight @lakesstiles.bsky.social? No, it’s actually just a blatant attempt to show off my beloved 1974 Harry Quinn #SteelisReal

Photograph of very lovely duck-egg blue steel framed road bike from 1974 leaning on a hedge. In front of it is a gate with 3 connected slats that you need to lift up to pass through. This seems to be called a concertina gate stile or sometimes a lift-up gate. Beside this is a footpath fingerpost with traditional black and white striped post. Concertina gate stiles seem to be quite common in Wirral

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Paul O'Toole @endodoc.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

When the outlook is bleak, try looking up #ThickTrunkTuesday

Oak tree in full leaf photographed from below, showing the texture of the trunk and the bright green canopy

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