Photos from Bath, taken a couple of weekends ago. For those of you who haven't seen it before, it's a really beautiful city, full of Georgian architecture, and it's a World Heritage Site. I used to visit it regularly years ago, but we live a bit further away now so it's less often. I do love a day spent wandering there though.
Royal Crescent, in the top photo, is the most famous street. I like to try and imagine what it would have been like back in the day, with carriages going past and the wealthy entertaining in their glorious homes. There are more Aston Martins than carriages these days, and no maids and butlers, but it's still a pretty amazing crescent.
Crashing back down to earth with a sickening thud, I've had a horrible day wrestling with technology. What is it about websites that you need but can't actually log into or communicate with or contact in any way at all that make one feel so absolutely furious and stressed and totally helpless, all at once? Honestly, I really suffer from computer rage at times. I want to put everything in capitals and SHOUT. Except that there's no-one there.
It's deliberate of course. If there was someone there they might feel obligated TO BE OF SOME ASSISTANCE.
I'll leave you with some interesting facts that I've learned today, courtesy of the children. The Tudors used to eat herons. I'm assuming there used to be more herons about the place back then. While there are quite a few around these days, if people started popping them in sandwiches they'd soon disappear. Millions of years ago there used to be mushrooms that were taller than giraffes. And finally, at Roald Dahl's school the big boys were apparently allowed to cane the smaller boys. This regaled with the sort of delicious glee imparted by the thought of possibly being able to legitimately hit a smaller brother with a stick. Oh they were the good old days.
Great and funny post 😊. But remember: good old days used to be bad new days😃.
ReplyDeleteah, the good old days....can you imagine the abuse of such caning power? ;)
ReplyDeleteBath looks glorious. like something from a film set. which of course it is. on occasion, anyway. i can very easily envision Captain Wentworth strolling forth.....*sigh*
xo
I totally relate to the website that you can't get help with. Makes me mad too. That crescent building is amazing, are they private homes or what? ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteThose surely were the good old days. I can only imagine what they were allowed to do to younger sisters. If my afternoon is any indication, it must have been serious. I have always wanted to see the Royal Crescent, ever since I attended a lecture in Boston in about 1998 called "Jane Austen's Bath." They showed slides of the Crescent and other sites in Bath and they made it seem so interesting. I love the architecture and the whole feel of the place. Your photos are really excellent. I'm glad you went there; it seems like a very good place to go.
ReplyDeleteI love Bath and sometimes meet a friend there as it's half way between us. Sadly, experience has taught us to avoid the Christmas market - it's alternate breathing only and the queues for the park and ride are laughable! I saw a couple of herons in the garden yesterday; even if I weren't veggie, I'm not sure I'd like to get close enough to those beaks to pop one on the barbie. A mushroom the size of a giraffe though - think of all the risottos and stroganoffs I could make with one of those! xx
ReplyDeleteOH I DO KNOW HOW YOU FEEL RE COMPUTERS AND WEBSITES! Lovely photos of Bath I haven't been for a while but am due to meet up with a friend there at the end of the month. It is a lovely city isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of the giant mushroom. Not only useful for endless meals, but also a place to shelter under in heavy rain. Not so keen on the heron sandwiches, though. Your photos of Bath capture its beauty really well. It's our nearest city, and I often remind myself to stop and enjoy it when we're dashing around shopping. We do often just go for a walk there, though, and make the most of its many teashops and cafes. I'm glad you enjoyed your day out. I share your frustration with user-unfriendly websites so often designed, it seems, to keep the customer at arm's length.
ReplyDeleteCathy x
Beautiful photos of Bath, its a long time since I have been but it hasn't changed any. Children are just a breath of fresh air, if you take the time to sit and listen they come out with some real gems. You should write a book of all their quotes, it would make a great read.
ReplyDeleteLovely Bath. It's such a photogenic city and your photos are very good. Have you taken your boys round the Roman baths? My lot thought it was very interesting. I know exactly what you mean about faceless websites. Frustration doesn't describe it accurately and you definitely need a few capital letters. Hope your week has calmed down x
ReplyDeleteLove Bath. One of my favourite places. xx
ReplyDeleteI love Bath! Now that I live on the opposite side of the country we don't get to go so often - a beautiful place. And I know exactly how you feel about computers. They can be infuriating.
ReplyDeleteI love Bath, we've stayed as a family at Beckford's Tower (now a landmark holiday let) and it was great to leave the car behind. My daughter and I have also had two mini breaks there staying at a little old-fashioned hotel on Henrietta Street across from the park. We went to the theatre (David Haig in The Madness of George III - amazing), the Cross Baths to wallow in the Hot Springs which come out at a cool 42 degrees - bliss, the Roman Baths are fantastic - it is so much more than just the Baths, the Botanical gardens are good when you want to get away from the busyness, as is the walk around the skyline (buses mean you can just do short sections) and the bus out to Prior Park. A picnic on the grass in front of The Royal Crescent is a must for us. We also loved the Holburne museum, the costume museum where we dressed up, the American museum and the museum about the building of Bath, not to mention walking in JA footsteps. Oh and we also managed to avoid the shops, apart from the little quirky ones up from the Royal Crescent, both times. That, with a teenage daughter, was definitely a result!
ReplyDeleteOooh, I wonder if those giant mushrooms were edible, just imagine what a feast that would be. I've never been to Bath, it's on my list of places to visit, the architecture looks stunning. Hope you got the technology sorted out, it's the thing of nighmares for me.
ReplyDeleteBeing the eldest child, I can see the appeal too haha.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant post CJ - you're not alone in wanting to shout at your computer in capital letters ! I do it all the time :-)
ReplyDeleteLove all the interesting facts too .... and also all your beautiful photos of Bath, but I'm probably a bit biased there !!
Kate xx
HERONS? Heck, what next? Larks?
ReplyDeleteOh...
This has made me think of those gruesome multi-bird roasts they used to have at posh gaffs in the days of yore. On the outside was a swan, I think, and right in the middle a tiny quail or sparrow. It gives me an urge to eat nothing but courgettes for some weeks. Lovely to pop back into blogland. I'm determined to stay this time.
I not that keen on Bath, perhaps its the colour and uniformity that lacks appeal.
ReplyDeleteI sympathise about the websites The paragraph made me smile. Flighty xx
Your blog has revived some of my memories of long ago, for not only did once live near Bath but I also followed my profession there too and in the lunch breaks I could be found wandering around the streets admiring it's architecture.
ReplyDeleteI shall return :)
Well, those are fascinating facts aren't they! I am glad that we don't have giant mushrooms any more, or the need to eat herons! Ugghh!! Hope that you got the computer thing sorted, although I fear that your ire means that you didn't, it really is sooooo frustrating isn't it!! xx
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to go to Bath. I blame Persuasion, the movie. Your photos are lovely and just make me want to go more. Technical Frustrations are horrible as are Customer Service ones or rather lack thereof. Put to the two together and it's scream worthy.
ReplyDeleteBath looks grand! And an awful lot less busy than London. I hope you haven't bashed your laptop against a wall. I have come across these roundabout webpages before, agonising and a bit like the automated phone lines that dead end on you after choosing various options for the past 12 minutes. Keep smiling! Love the snippets of conversation you share with us, it is good to see that other big brothers quite fancy the idea of little brother caning. xx
ReplyDeleteHow funny, I went to Bath last week. The bits I did see were just beautiful. I really should like to go back again soon for a proper look but it's a beast of a journey from here.
ReplyDeleteI must be peckish because all I can think about now is how herons might taste. Like chicken perhaps?
Hxx
I loved Bath - especially *the* Roman baths. I was glad that my daughter was driving, not I, because we went 'round and 'round looking for sights we wanted to see, like the Royal Crescent!
ReplyDeleteGosh I hope you have sorted your technology problem. I do agree that computers can definitely make you see red! I bet Bath was beautiful in Autumns mellow light. Very much one of my favourite cities...I love walking by the river to the weir and obviously the Baths! B X
ReplyDeleteWell those facts are just fascinating, see you learn something new everyday. I am sure my oldest would have loved to have legally been able to cane his brother, as it is his brother got wrestled, pinned, tackled and I am assuming hit quite a few times and it wasn't legal in our house.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
Beautiful photos dear C.J., Bath looks like a fabulous place, I really like Georgian architecture. Thanks also for those interesting facts from your boys, I never knew. ;)
ReplyDeleteI too hope you were able to sort out your computer problem, they sure can be frustrating as we rely on them so much now.
Have a great weekend!
xoxoxo ♡
Thankfully, I don't think I'd be able to get a heron in the oven - are they classed as game do you think? Wonderful pics of Bath, I'm long overdue a visit. Have a great weekend CJ xx
ReplyDeleteI'm rather proud of myself, as I recognized Bath in the pictures before I read that that's where they were taken. I spent a lovely day there two years ago when my cousin, friend and I were in the Cotswolds. Such great memories! You're lucky to live nearby.
ReplyDeleteAs for technology, I'm with you. After the latest Apple update I lost two years worth of journaling I had done on an app called Day One. It made me want to cry. Or say bad words. Well, actually I did say bad words. I hope you get your problem sorted out.
I feel your frustration. I have often had to message your password is incorrect when I know full well it isn't.
ReplyDeleteI love Bath too haven't been there for ages! I learn some much information from your children too. I glad we don't have to eat Heron! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteInfuriating websites and information gathering are my pet hates. Why do websites need to know everything about you? It's enough to drive me away! I remember visiting Bath a while back; lovely city, fabulous places to visit and excellent tea rooms if I recall correctly! And I think there's a department store called Jolly's. I love that. Puts shopping into a whole new perspective! I'd love to know the context of those conversations with your boys - or are those random thoughts? Kids are great, aren't they?!
ReplyDeleteHerons? Wow. I'll tell Angus that, it'll tickle him no end. He is full of facts and collects them. I share your computer rage. I often suffer from the same at work. I used to work in retail where there was a permanently staffed and helpful IT helpdesk to sort out your every problem. Not in education. You fend for yourself. x
ReplyDeleteHey CJ,
ReplyDeleteComputer glitches here mean that I am constantly being 'updated' which then buggers up my computer, and then. Have to wait for Marc to put it right. I am now begin on my blog reading. The upside is that I have three posts of yours to catch up on. Tell your boys that the Romans used to enjoy roast dormouse. I had no idea about the mushrooms, so have banked that.
Leanne xx