This is my
1000th post here at SC4D. I feel like one of the regulars now and have enjoyed my time here. I’ve met some great people and made some new friends. And some of these I have met face to face and enjoyed a pint of beer (or three) with them. To now be part of a team (The NUTs), have met some of the BSC greats, to have some of my own creations on the LEX, and to have an MD here in the Classics section are all things that make me proud to be part of the SC4 community. And I guess I have your support and comments to thank for that - so a big THANK YOU from me.
REPLIES:Derry: Thanks for your suggestions. I’ll be trying those out! As for the rural shots - I look at my results and realise I need to take more lessons from you!!
Joan: It’s good that everyone has a different opinion on what to do with those towers. I’ll try em all. As for the farm, that is one of my early custom lotting attempts.
David: Always a pleasure to see you drop by. And yes, I know what you mean. I’ll give it one last go before moving on to see if I can get another elephant!
Matt: Thanks for that. And the IPON Summit has been fun, just something a bit different. Hopefully as we get more active more MDs will think of joining - including new ones that people might be thinking of starting
Maarten: And a fine small comment
Bat: Well not so long to wait this time!
Panther: Thanks my friend, it was a custom lot I made. I have to confess that it is a ploppable and not a growable.
Simpson: Thanks for a great comment.
Sebes: Hey, no worries. I wanted to see if it would happen! And I didn’t think of the hotel - I’ll have a look. As for the sunflowers....... Yes, I created a custom ploppable field of sunflowers. Great to make sunflower oil!! If you’d like them - just ask!
FrankU: Thanks Frank. I will try a few things with those towers to see what happens, and yes, I also like developing areas with many similar buildings. Much more realistic in my mind.
UPDATE 55 - 1st August 2008OK, the North Senna Towers will wiat for my final Charing Cross update. Today it’s time to look at the farming and rural areas of the borough of Charing Cross........
55.01 Overview:
This will help you get acquainted with what you are looking at!
55.02 Senna Farms Overview:
Charing Cross is famous for its flowers. Many of the flowers grown in Charing Cross are sold at the Flower Market in next door Kingly (remember the Flower Market?)
55.03 Senna Farms:
You can see how the farms roll down to the riverside.
55.04 Southern Farms 1:
You can see more of those famous flowers!
55.05 Southern Farms 2:
I really enjoy working with the TPW and ChrisAdams RRP culverts give new possibilities. If you look at the bottom of the pic you can see how I line up the river for the next tile. Once I get it lined up, those roads will be demolished.
55.06 Sunflower Farm:
This was the teaser from the last update. Everything you can see in this picture (apart from the SAM street) is a custom lot I put together. The farm yard and building used many of JMyers items and each of the fields was created as a ploppable. I find these very useful for filling in those areas when you want a particular field, or when Ag demand has dropped and you still want a farm. I really like the sunflower field - just because it is a bit different!!
OK, well that’s the farms. I’m quite pleased with them - but next time I do farms, I want to do them better. The Tea Cat is one of the masters (IMHO) so I’ll have to study his pics a bit more! Let’s move on to some of the other rural parts of the borough.
55.07 River Calton 1:
The River Calton is a man made river, designed to carry water across the plains of inner West End (for future updates). The river is very straight. The mouth of the river is home to many different wild life species. I enjoyed making this - BUT - I know the connection to the Maxis water is not right. I just don’t know how to make it better. Any suggestions are welcome.
55.08 River Calton 2:
Up river, it passes through farmland. I really like the way the Italia Terrain Mod works well with Chris’s RRP flora items.
55.09 Charing Country Park:
This is an area that has been left to nature. Many water birds nest along the river banks here. A few small parking areas have been placed to allow residents to enjoy the countryside. Let’s take a look through the park, starting at the large building in the top right of the picture.
55.10 Watersford Mansion:
This mansion is owned by the cult who worship the Great God Diggis. Their headquarters are in Watersford, so this building takes its name from their. All sorts of strange goings-on are alleged to take place in the ground of the mansion, and it is rumoured they are trying to make their own stream and pond in the gardens.
55.11 Nesting Grounds:
As we move through the park we come to the marsh area where many wading birds nest during the spring months.
55.12 Wind Power:
The main parking are and bus stop, where visitors start their trek through the park. The wind turbine provides all of the power used within the park. Many species of wild flowers grow within the park.
55.13 Small Lake:
This small lake is home to the Lesser Spotted Australian Newt. It is an animal that hasn’t been seen for some time but is reputed to still be around.
55.14 Parking:
Another of the small parking areas and some paths through the park. You have to watch carefully where you tread as this area is home to six different species of field mouse.
55.15 Saybus Rocks:
And we end our tour of the park at the Saybus Rocks. It is said that these rocks are much older than they look - but whether they have been here for thousands or millions of years is anyones guess.
I hope you enjoyed this tour of the quieter parts of Charing Cross. Next time will be our last visit to this quad when I’ll show you the waterside areas and we’ll see what finally happened to the North Senna Towers.
I’m now away on holiday for a week, staying in a small house beside a river in Norfolk, England. We’ll have a boat for the week to go exploring, so keep your fingers crossed for me that the sun shines. And maybe I’ll get some inspiration for some water scenes when I return.
‘til next time....................
