Community, Photography

Friendly Friday Photo Challenge – Rails

Forestwood

Every second week, the Friendly Friday challenge is hosted here at, ‘StPA’ (Something to Ponder About) and can be found at the blog of my very adept co-host, Sandy, every alternate Friday, – The Sandy Chronicles.

This week the world continues its Corona freefall, so we could be facetiously say, the world is off the ‘rails.’

Weekly Friendly Friday Theme

Rails

This week I am asking you to show you me photographs of ‘rails.’ It could be a balcony, or a train line, something new or something from your archives, if you are self isolating.

Monday Mystery Photo

As rails are usually straight and narrow, we could say the universe has it under control and whilst we should take precautions, we don’t need to panic, if we are following basic hand hygiene and cough etiquette.

train

Rails can keep us from straying from the straight and narrow.

Bamboo grove arashiyama


The rails might keep us safe across the bridge

Or from falling over the edge.

geothermal-iceland
A world like no other!

This is one kind of challenge that is not risky for our health.

New to Friendly Friday or need a reminder about how to join? Post a comment below with a link and check the details on how to join here.

Thank goodness we cannot catch Corona via our computers!

I hope you are all doing okay in your respective countries.

Take care, everyone.

Published by Forestwood

A philosophic Aussie writes here at StPA, one who will readily admit to loving Scandinavia. I'm interested in global politics and what drives us to be who we are. Scratch the surface and you'll find a practical Environmentalist with an egalitarian bent, trying to unleash a little creativity via the written word. Scandinavian culture, literature and traditions are close to my heart, even though I'm Australian. Travel and courteous discussions greatly broaden the mind, so I travel if I can and am always up for a vigorous, respectful discussion. I'm an avid reader, a writer and I enjoy photography and crafts, particularly traditional art forms. I hope you'll find 'Something to Ponder About,' in my WordPress Community.

103 thoughts on “Friendly Friday Photo Challenge – Rails”

  1. Rails – I like themes like this where there are so many different approaches you could take. How are you? I love working remotely from home and today my employer gave us all permission to do that. So I’m happy staying home. And we already order all our food delivered to our done, done that ever since the boys were bone. Check that too. But my boys: still at daycare 🤔 And hubby can’t work from home. Hmm.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. My job is also one that for the most part, cannot be done from home. One cannot deliver physiotherapy exercises via telehealth. The kinders are all closed in Denmark, so will Finland follow suit soon, or are you doing okay over there? Things were fine until the US started falling over, and as we have so many visitors from there, including Tom Hanks who is in one of our hospitals at the Gold Coast recovering from the virus , the cases are now on the rise, including some politicians…… So you have plenty of toilet paper ??? Lol…

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Well Finland’s main export is paper so I think toilet paper won’t run out! Though I saw a post yesterday from our local (large) supermarket where bread, potatoes etc had all gone and people were lining up to get in… To close schools and daycare, the government needs to pass a special act and they are discussing it right now. Cases are on the rise.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Whoa…. from Monday all sporting gathering or events of over 500 persons are to be held audience free! ie the event will go ahead in an empty stadium. The travel industry is decimated. One company will close 100 stores. Flights are reduced. But hopefully all is only temporary if business can hang on. Schools are next, but not yet….

        Liked by 1 person

      3. We also make our own toilet paper – one of the few things that doesn’t come from China – and we still ran out. I snagged the second last pack at Coles today!

        Liked by 1 person

    1. hehe – we all get caught in the evil web of predictive text/auto correct! I think we are all getting in to the swing of reading over mistakes like this anyway, as I didn’t really notice them.

      Liked by 1 person

      2. I have three languages on my android and often swipe for words rather than type, and as such change languages inadvertantly mid word! Then auto correct has a melt down! So I too have the same problem with my fingers! I dislike typing long comments on my phone for that reason.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Pingback: Friendly Friday Photo Challenge – Rails – Brashley Photography

  4. WOW, what a great selection of rails. Thanks for hosting the challenge.

    I know this virus thing is getting scary. Here in the UK, we are self-isolating if we have a high temperature or dry cough. We’ve not got to the stage of if one family member has the disease then all members must self-isolate. That is due to come in the next few weeks. But reading today the scientists reckon that 60% of the UK population need to get the virus in order to herd immunity. Scary!!!

    As my other half says… if people are not going to get full pay and only SSP… and they are on the breadline already… they are not going to self-isolate, just in case they have it. Which is even scarier if you think about it. Especially if they have a lot of contact with the public and the elderly.

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    1. Very true, Bren. If wages are lost, then people will hide that they are infected. I have a lot of close contact with disabled folk working as a therapist, so I work in a high risk area. It is a worry as I have a respiratory condition. I do feel for the young people who will lose their income too, such as perhaps two of my children. They are lucky to have me to fall back on if they get stuck with paying the rent.

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      1. I had a doctor’s appointment this morning for my hip. Yesterday I got a call saying the surgery are now doing appointments by phone. I got my phone call… luckily for me it is an ongoing problem so they know about it. But what if you don’t know what is wrong with you. You can’t be examined properly over a phone.

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    1. Not being able to get an accurate diagnosis via phone consultations is a big problem, @Bren. There are bound to be serious conditions. I don’ t know whether there is an easy solution to that, either. Unless they get tested first to make sure they are clear of Covid 19 and then they can freely visit the Doctor for an examination.

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    2. That is a very different kind of rail. It Looks huge. It must be hard for the travel agencies. We can still plan and travel virtually – like to the Rhine with you today! Thanks for joining in with the challenge.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. In a world that currently seems intent on going off the rails, this is a most appropriate prompt. I like your first photo, the snowy scene seems reassuring.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. A ride on the Bernina Express rail journey is reassuring in terms of Swiss engineering! How are your supermarket stocks faring in your location, Ally?

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      1. Basic items like potatoes and rice are sold out. But other foods, like breakfast cereal and bread are available. There are some fresh veggies, but lots of fresh fruit. It’s rather random as to what has sold and what hasn’t. We’re fine. Are you?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. We are fine at the moment., thank you. Unsure what will happen with work as physical therapy programs cannot be delivered from home. Hopefully the closure of large gathering including many festivals and sporting events will curtail an explosion of case numbers. It seems inevitable that schools will close. The run on toilet paper supplies continues, (no pun intended). I snagged the second last pack today. There is a limit of one pack per customer. Panic buying on toilet paper and hand sanitizer instead of foodstuffs is mind boggling! [shaking head]

        Liked by 1 person

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    1. Handrails are a great rail to use for a post, Cee. We definitely need them to guide us along the path! I loved your pathways and handrails!

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  14. Love the forest one.
    Don´t know the status of toilet paper here, but hand sanitizers are nowhere to be found. But fortunately there is still soap available.

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    1. The forest is the bamboo grove in Japan. A serene and beautiful place if you arrive there before the tourist throngs – as we did.
      Good to hear that you have still got access to products. What a wild start to the year we have had. And it isn’t over yet.

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  15. Hi Amanda. Hope you’re doing well over there. Europe has gone fully crazy due to Corona fears. I can work from home fully but I am already so bored. Nice photos! Maybe I will find time to make a post on this challenge now that I’ve a lot of free time, at least for the next few weeks 🙂

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    1. Hi Pooja! I was thinking of you recently, and wondering how the new employment was going. Lucky you, working from home, albeit with the small problem of boredom. I hope you can make a post in the challenge as I would love to see your interpretation of the prompt. We are no better in Australia! And the Prime Minister provides little leadership going out in the community after having contact with someone with Corona! We also have Tom Hanks here in hospital with his wife who also have it. I expect many more cases in Australia now. Have you heard about all the rush on toilet paper here – people have been responding in panic that they may not have toilet paper! Toilet paper! Not food! Stay well and take care of yourself. We are lucky we have blogging to connect with others aren’t we?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hi Amanda. I had busy months at my new job, plus snowboarding during free weekends. Yes I heard about Tom Hanks! We over here tried to buy hand sanitizers but all of them are sold out. We don’t have them 😦 The last time I was in store rice and other dry foods shelves were empty but there were still toilet papers haha. Maybe Poles are a bit more sensible over here? From last night the country has gone into a lockdown with the borders closed for at least 10 days. Including all the air travel.
        Blogging is truly a blessing in times like these! Stay safe!

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      7. Totally, Pooja. And that wonderful sheeps cheese in the Tatras. I dream about that cheese! When all the madness is over and I finish work, I will return to Poland!

        Liked by 1 person

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  18. Hi Amanda, I think your Comments may be closed on your “About” page. I am visiting from Annika’s site and I greatly appreciate the Follow on my site. I love your word “cornucopia!” And you are right about Blogging, “…sharing one’s thoughts, embracing a global community, and making connections…”. I am curious about your “pearls of wisdom.” I look forward to reading more.

    Aptly said, Amanda, on Corona freefall and ‘rails.’ Very interesting photos and thought-provoking words. I especially like the forest one. It is interesting to read the comments from other parts of our planet. I live on Vancouver Island, West Coast of Canada and I think similar to the UK right now. My family’s philosophy: No panicking, prudent, prepared to self isolate, trying to keep immune system mentally and physically healthy. Thank you for a positive post, despite present challenges. I am glad our paths crossed, Amanda!

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    1. Hi Erica, I have been blogging for quite a while and comments are closed on posts older than 700 days to block spammers. Any posts in the last two years – is open for comments, so I would encourage you to leave them there. I am glad you mentioned it, though, as it is good to know if it confuses people.
      I have a regular Sunday sayings post wherein the pearls of wisdom are unpacked and dissected, depending of course in how each offering is received in the global community. And I love that I have bloggers friends from all over the world. It is a great way to become more informed at grass roots level.
      So you are just over the waters of the Pacific Ocean from me! I will wave at you, tomorrow. Lol. I usually walk to the beach (or at least the lake adjacent to the beach) each day with my dog.
      I think your family’s response to the health crisis is a good one, keep doing what you are doing. How do you ensure your immune system mentally and physically healthy besides exercise and diet?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I still consider myself new to blogging, approximately 1 1/2 years and I am still very much on a learning curve. For the first 6 months I did not even know I should have ‘comments’ toggled on. I greatly appreciate the kind, generous blogging community sharing their wisdom on how to navigate blog sites.

        Exercise and diet is always a big one. Surrounding ourselves with positive, kind, supportive people, our tribe. I am still part of a 30 day yoga challenge at my yoga studio which began March 1st. The regulars are continuing to attend and I know it isn’t only because of the ‘gold star.’ Lol. I suspect this may end sooner than later and then I will just continue the challenge at home. You obviously enjoy walking, Amanda, and you likely incorporate many healthy behaviours as part of your day. I have always said we are all part of one planet and this health crisis reinforces how we are all in this together. I look forward to reading more gems and pearls of wisdom!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Thank you for your thoughtful response, Erica. Great to know another Yoga enthusiast. You are quite right – it is great for the immunity – and it is great that you recognize we are all here on this planet together. We all breathe the same air and as such cannot isolate ourselves from one another completely. (Covid quarantine measures excepted). Again, though, we can see how connected we are by how easily and quickly the virus spread. The connections are real. These far reaching connections then reinforce that we CAN collaborate more with each other, despite our cultural, religious, ethnic or personal differences. Working together – imagine what we could do?

        Liked by 1 person

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  23. ‘Off the rails’ certainly describes the current state of world affairs.

    Stay healthy! As the world goes into lockdown trying to contain this threat, let’s all be grateful we have the internet and the blogging community to keep us linked.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It would be hard for some people, I admit. A challenge to find all those things indoors that one never gets around to – like cleaning and decluttering cupboards, perhaps? ( not fun, at all), Lisa.

      Liked by 1 person

  26. These are strange times indeed. Here in Hawaii we’re dependent on products shipped from elsewhere. The usual ones are already scarce. A bigger issue is that tourism is our biggest industry and with travel falling off a cliff, businesses and jobs will soon follow. And the U.S. in general is still in the early stages of the pandemic. Things will probably get a lot worse before they get better.
    Still, the subject of my post has clearly gone through some tough times, so I can’t complain too much: https://grahamsisland.com/2020/03/14/long-john-mantis/.

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    1. Having a daughter who works in the tourism industry too, it is a big worry. How long can they hold on till things get better? Is Hawaii in lockdown?

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    1. I love hearing that you are finding a way through the quarantine – your spelling looks good to me. Rails or railing. I checked your post earlier and loved it. Cool cats rule.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you for your very welcome comment. The first is taken in Australia on the East Coast, the second is on the Express train through the Swiss Alps and the last, well the geysers should give it away. A tiny island with lots of volcanic and geothermal eruptions up north. Any ideas?

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      2. Bingo! You guessed right. Yes I did go on all those adventures, mostly as a solo traveller and also with my kids. Hubby doesn’t like to travel overseas, you see. Do you have a good travelling companion?

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      3. My hubby is a good traveling companion. He, too, grew up traveling all over the country with his family. And he and I both did some Europe before we met. We’ve only done a little since-our honeymoon and several states–but now with kids it’s more challenging. :/ Cheers to you and your many adventures! I’ll need to catch up to you. Iceland is definitely on my list! (As is Australia and New Zealand!) 🙂

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      4. “..he and I both did some Europe before we met.” Spoken like a veteran traveller!
        And lovely that you and hubby can look forward to many years of travelling ahead of you, after the madness settles. I can thoroughly recommend Iceland as a destination, if you like something very different from the beach resort style holidays! I like wintry cold landscapes as there is not many of them here, but then Iceland is summer is also spectacular. Like nowhere else in the world.

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      6. I feel similarly to you, even though we regularly went to the beach for the children’s sake – once or twice a year for a few days. In Australia, it would be a strange thing if you didn’t go to the beach and learn how to stay safe in the ocean surf. But now, we live just a hop, step and jump from the waterside – we moved last year, so going on a beach holiday seems like an oxymoron. Where do you like to go for holidays, usually?

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      7. Our “holidays” have typically been to visit family members we rarely get to see. Some day they’ll feel more like vacations than drudgery. 😉 My beloved Aussie friend taught us how to read the waves, so it made me smile to read that you all learn how to stay safe in the surf.

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      8. I am pleased to hear that you wouldn’t be one of those folks that have to be rescued from the rips!! Some people are not sure what to do and get into trouble. I knew well the visits to extended relatives that we all have to do in families. I am sure the older folks really appreciate it more than we do. I guess the advantage is built in babysitters?

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    1. My apologies, in the late response, as this went to my spam folder. I will go check out your post now. Many thanks for joining in on Friendly Friday.

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