and Exeter!

The verb “connect” is among the most versatile ones in contemporary usage. We turn to it to describe an emotional click with another person, but also to talk about the status of our (ever-proliferating) gadgets.The verb “connect” is among the most versatile ones in contemporary usage. We turn to it to describe an emotional click with another person, but also to talk about the status of our (ever-proliferating) gadgets.

Like many people I thought about my gadgets and photographed the connecting ones, including my last five years of mobile phones, just for fun. Then I started thinking about what connected really means to me, family and friends goes without saying, I’ve posted a few personal photos here on my blog, but that isn’t what Lucid Gypsy is about.

If you’ve followed me for a while you’ll know that I absolutely love where I live. I like to travel whenever I can afford it, going out into the world, meeting people and having interesting experiences is wonderful, but to live in my little part of the world is incredible lucky. So here are some random photos of my local area, a place that I feel a deep connection to. First of all, Woodbury, a little village five miles from Exeter where I lived for a few weeks just after I was born.

Church Stile Lane Woodbury

St Swithuns’ Church, Woodbury.

Wild orchids, down to earth on Woodbury Common.

The nearest beach Exmouth, is the one that most east of the Exe people choose, especially if they grew up in the days before mass car ownership. I’ve already posted lots of photos of Exmouth, and other places along the Exe and the estuary.

An Exmouth seafront evening

Some Devon Red Sandstone for Meg, at Orcombe Point beach.

Lympstone’s sandstone cliffs

Where two rivers meet, the Clyst joins the Exe below Topsham.

The old Lock Keeper’s cottage between the river and the canal.

The bouncy Swing Bridge near the quay.

Just a mile from the centre of Exeter is my area, Heavitree, it has its not so wonderful bits, like too many takeaways in the main street, but it’s full of history and very friendly.

Heavitree park, I remember ‘Nature Class’ being spent there when I was in Primary School.

Street art, created for the millennium.

Here is what it says.

Heavitree autumn

Summer at the Blessed Sacrament

We’re right in the city now. There is evidence that Exeter dates back to 250bc. It was also the most south westerly Roman settlement in Britain.

St Peter’s Cathedral

Exeter Quay

Castle Street

Fan Vaulting

Moll’s Coffee House

It may not be grand, except for the Cathedral, but Exeter, east Devon and a little village in Nigeria, there’s a photo here, are the places I feel connected to.