Friday 6 July 2018

Rock










A random selection of photos from out and about. The last one was taken the other evening as I supervised the Cubs. They were down by the river looking at Interesting Cliffs and hitting rocks with things to see if they could find fossils.

Bob Dylan visited here once. Four months before the bridge was opened. There's a photo of him standing at the ferry terminal - long gone now. You can just about see the new bridge in the background.

Bob Dylan by Barry Feinstein, Aust Ferry, 1966
It's been voted one of the top five rock photos of all time. He'd been having a difficult time on tour. Waiting for the ferry to Wales he had plenty of time to think about things. A few weeks later he broke his neck by crashing his motorbike at Woodstock and spent the rest of the year recovering.

Anyway, things were much less gloomy down there with the Cubs on a hot July evening. The sky was blue and the air was full of pollen and bits of flying rock as the Cubs took it upon themselves to hack open all the boulders in the hopes of finding an ichthyosaur.

Gromits are back in force, in various locations, a trail of over 60 to try and spot. I accidentally typed 'trial' then, instead of trail. I fear it may be a bit of a trial if I am expected to find all of them. I shall try and limit us to just a few. My favourites are the ones out in the country a bit, where you can do a nice walk and find a Gromit at the end of it. Pounding the city streets looking for Gromit after Gromit can get a bit wearing.

I fear I am not very city-hardy any more. I popped in to Bristol the other evening for a writers' meeting. People everywhere! But it is good for watching. So many colourful, interesting and beautiful people. I love it for a bit, then I need to go home and have a sit with a damp flannel on my forehead for an hour.

Are we watching the football? So many ways to get a ball into the back of a net, and I have seen them all. I shall say nothing more about it, but enjoy the match if you're watching. And either way, have a good weekend.

18 comments:

  1. What an interesting photo. I know what you mean about being in the city, as much as you might enjoy certain things, they can be most wearing.

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  2. Good post and pictures. Grommit spotting sounds like fun. I have no interest in the football.
    Thanks, and you too. xx

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  3. I’m a sit in the corner with a damp flannel sort of person too. Much prefer people watching in the country even if you have to wait an hour or two between passers by. I cope well with that. Hacking bits of rock with small boys sounds like you were living very dangerously :). No gromits here yet, I’m sure they’ll arrive. Enjoy your Saturday afternoon; I’ve scheduled a very long walk lol. B x

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  4. I love the Gromits, how cool. I think I'm kind of a suburb person. I like having the city on my doorstep, but I don't want to live right in it. I think I'd be bad at living in the country; I'm afraid of so many things in nature. Ha. We've been watching the World Cup. I think it's back on today so I'm sure they'll have it on. I hope you have a good weekend!

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  5. I feel that way about London now. We lived there for 7 years, but now I can just about cope with a day trip. I do like a nice bit of fossil hunting but have only ever found ammonites, sadly no ichthyosaur. Enjoy the Gromit trail! xx

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  6. I’m not a city girl either neither am I a fan of football or tennis. In fact I’m not a fan of any sport. Maybe due to PE lesson made so scary when I was at school. Why are so many PE teachers closet sadists?

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  7. Definitely not a city person either. Even a small city is enough to do me in. We have to go into a fairly largish one every week for girl-child's therapy and i invariably come home with a tension headache. Driving in such populated places makes me very anxious...so many unpredictable people who might just step off a curb!! It makes driving on rural roads late at night seem tame in comparison....you only get the odd kamikaze wild creature.

    I would definitely fancy a Gromit hunt at the end of a nice country walk.

    Not watching the football....that was a thing I only ever did with my Grandad so have lost all but a passing interest. I have England in our family pool so there's that.

    A writer's meeting!!! Brilliant!!! So jazzed for you!! xoxo

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  8. I got a kick out of envisioning all the cubs smashing rocks into smithereens. I had no idea what a Gromit was, I even googled it.. none to be found.. then I clicked on your link and AHA.. cute critters! I think your writer's meeting sounds interesting and encouraging for you. I think you'd love living in the countryside. I sure do. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  9. I’d love to find a gromit at the end of a walk. Running a half marathon tomorrow. They are screening the footie at the village hall next to the finish line just for the runners. Xx

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  10. I remember trips on the ferry as a child on the way to visit relatives in Wales. Sadly, not on the day when Bob Dylan was there. Though probably as a child I wouldn't have had a clue who he was! Ah, dear Grommit, so sweet. Actually he looks a little like a less shaggy version of Bertie, don't you think? Same floppy ears ....!

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  11. I'm currently sitting around for my first Open Studio weekend and popping my head in occasionally to see the footie when something exciting seems to happen (England one goal up at the moment). I find it all too tense!

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  12. Sounds like summer is lovely in your parts. I don't live where there are ferry's it sounds so wonderful to take the ferry someplace fun.

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  13. I really like your format of having your photos first and then your narrative. You really have a nice take on blogging. And...you make me long even more to visit England. Those rolling hills!

    I'm happy to hear that you are going to the writing classes. You are already ahead of the game. I wish I could get my mojo up again, but up until March of this year, my deadlines were stressing me out so badly. Now I'm thinking of working on compiling some short stories. No deadlines!

    Sending love across the miles, CJ,

    Jane x

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  14. Sorry, but the Gromit's have been all giddy and excited and I simply can't read the rest of your blog right now. I LOVE the two you have found, I want them, I need them....haha. I love Gromit (it was my first dog's middle name).. I still adore cities but I see that I spend much more time in the countryside, hiking - no one cares what you look like (including yourself) and makeup looks so silly. Haha

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  15. As I am Living in a city, it probably sounds daft when I say I don’t like cities much.... But I only go into the city proper once a year, if at all. It feels quite sedate in our neighbourhood, not at all like living in a city. I am drugged up to my eyeballs with painkillers and may not make much sense! Fossil hunting with Cubs sounds fun. I hope there were no injuries! Have a lovely week xx

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  16. I'm not a city person although this is where I've washed up. Have just spent a few very tranquil days on the coast with my brother and his wife, so good to get away, al fresco garden meals, beach walks and, best of all, no football. Or watering. Or weeding. Lots of sunshine and good chat. Best holiday ever. Did the Cubs find any dinosaurs?

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  17. I loved seeing the Dylan photo, and yours of the bridge. I remember it being built, when I was a little girl, and walking across soon after it opened. My dad was at the opening, with a group from the school where he worked. Like you, I enjoy little forays into cities, but am always glad to return to my present valley, in the North Downs.

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  18. Ah CJ, had a little snigger imaging you rushing about like SuperWoman trying to get it all done whilst the house was still. I recall those days. To be truthful I still relish them now. Mine are all home again. They youngest is done with University and now has the hard task of looking for work. The oldest knows which way his bread is buttered and I can't see him moving out anytime soon.
    My biggest boy (hubster) is the most helpful round the home, he loads the dishwasher and cuts the lawn.
    I like visiting cities, but I like coming home again too. Lovely to hear about your week.

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