Roadside Stalls No 2

The drive home along some winding north Dorset roads yielded this treasure trove of locally grown apples from a smallholders orchard...

Gone, but not forgotten

Elements of the landscape or items that form part of a buildings structure should never be taken for granted. It's easy to do so as these things we have likings for just tend to be in the background giving us comfort as we go about our everyday business.

One such example is my post box - not a local post box for me, but one I have passed, admired and visited often on my travels. I have liked it so much that I reserved it for the posting of my extra special mail. 

I remember the time the bees took over the box - I watched them for a considerable time as no vehicle or pedestrian came down that country lane. It formed part of an old tumbling cob farm out-building. I have a liking for the building as well with its corrugated iron and general untidiness.

I shall post my special post from this box no more.......it has gone, but certainly not forgotten. 

How much?

Nay, not on these licensed premises Mr Wilks!

A goodly array of street furniture

Be I Hampshire, be I bu%%ery, I be Isle of Wight! So the ditty goes. I love the IoW and have spent some very happy times there following in the footsteps of Barbara Jones and Pennethorne Hughes. There are treasures around every corner and if, like me, you like furniture of the street type then I am sure you will like these. It was very warm back in August and I seem to recall we also stumbled across the delightful Jolliffe's of Cowes on our way for some superb fish & chips. 

Underfoot

I suppose in some ways this follows quite nicely from my post before last relating to town furniture. A trip to London is a pleasure - it's always nice coming home to the quiet folds of Dorset afterwards, but there is just so much to take in. I never know which way to look. A recent trip yielded a few surprises....................it is nice to know there is a little slice of West Dorset in Soho and Covent Garden. These (Spring Forge, Puddletown) iron covers can be found in quite a few places across town.

There was another one too (road gulley cover), which I am kicking myself for not photographing. In Soho, not too far from the interesting looking shop that is DV8, was one from the Gundry Foundry in Bridport. Also, some from Cannop in the Forest of Dean. Next time perhaps.

Thames Conservancy

This delightful piece of ephemera dates from 1955 and was unearthed from a market stall "off manor" as they say - I enjoy picking up items off my home turf and this is one of a few  items found recently. You can just imagine famed man of the Thames AE Hobbs reading this and thinking "not likely, there be big trout and perch in those weirs". Fancy another pint of Brakespear Albert?

Now and then

April 2016

I've mentioned a few times about my route to the river - it's a regular route even when not going fishing. I get used to it and notice the changes week by week. One change more than any other. One of my favourite Dorset directional signs - in three years it has succombed to the ravages of the weather and possibly the mechanical hedge cutter. It lost its finial long before I "noticed" it as a favourite sign - it may be in the hedge or buried in the verge, but I fear its days are over.

March 2013

Go Slow

British Railways (Eastern)