Come away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o
Our British weather has been predictably unpredictable so far this ‘summer’, so when there is a sudden burst of heat it has to be grabbed with both hands. An after work trip to the coast was called for yesterday, with fish and chips from Crispys, Exmouth’s finest, a walk on the beach and the first Pimms of the season on the balcony at the Grove. Top this off with a stunning sunset at Topsham and todays return to rain didn’t seem quite so terrible.
In Wickham and Titchfield Haven, and taken with my android.
Said Viola in Shakespeare’s Twelth Night, I’d like this one please. It was a new addition at Dartington when I went for my birthday and I fell in love with it, who wouldn’t?
I don’t know if it is staying there, willow has a life of perhaps ten years but they often have artwork visiting for just a few weeks.
I popped to the beach ahead of the crowd this morning, just to see if it was peaceful there. What do you think?
This is for Ailsa’ travel theme,visit her here http://wheresmybackpack.com/2013/06/07/travel-theme-peaceful/
Sometimes you just know there is a reason for a photo don’t you? Three weeks ago I caught the train to Totnes instead of driving. On a sunny day there can be few train journeys to match it anywhere, the track follows the river Exe to the estuary, then passes through Dawlish and Teignmouth and heads up the river Teign. As always the train windows were grimy and the sun that made it so lovely caused glare and reflections but you’ll get the idea.
This is a small area of Gods Wonderful Railway, at Dawlish Warren, engineered by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, a masterpiece of construction in the 19th century. These photos were all taken at 10.04 am on May 18th, a fleeting moment. By 10.05 the scene had changed completely and will never exactly the same again.
Posted for the http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/06/07/weekly-photo-challenge-fleeting/
My actual birthday was Sunday and after a mix of gardens, music and culture in the fresh air it was time for a day beside the sea. Brixham in south Devon is a small fishing town, popular with tourists and I hadn’t been for years. Here are some photos for you.
I had forgotten, but even as a child Brixham has had a famous ship in its harbour, well a full size replica. It’s the Golden Hind, Sir Francis Drakes vessel, so as I posted about the man himself a few days ago I had to show you.
She’s lovely but I don’t think I’d want to travel the world in her, would you?
Exeter Respect is my town’s yearly celebration of diversity. It’s a gathering where the performers and creative artists get together with the community to say a big fat NO to racism and all forms of prejudice.
Respect has been around for about 15 years and gets bigger every year. Running for two days, about 20,000 people come to chill and play in the sunshine of this festival that is run by volunteers and is free for all.
‘ The Respect ethos is a simple one: racism and prejudice often spring from fear, and fear is often based on ignorance, so lets’ overcome ignorance by getting to know one another and sharing not shunning our cultures. One of the best ways to get to know someone is to enjoy yourself with them, hence our celebratory event and adoption of the old Commission for Racial Equality slogan: All Different, All Equal!’
This year Number One Son, Number One Daughter in Law and my Lush Grandbabies came to enjoy the day with me.
Today is my birthday and I’ve had a three day weekend of fun with family and friends. On friday I went to Cockington Court and Dartington and I thought I’d show you some of the flowers I saw, enjoy!
Perhaps you can help name the mystery flowers?
A few weeks ago I did a series of posts about Buckland Abbey , but I left out it’s most famous owner, Sir Francis Drake.
Buckland was paid for with Drake’s earnings – or plundering on his early voyages. The treasures he brought home to Queen Elizabeth 1 provided him with wealth and his title. Even though he had no children his heirs lived at Buckland for eight generations, until the 1940’s.
The most famous anecdote is of how he supposedly continued a game of bowls on Plymouth Hoe, saying that their was plenty of time to deal with the approaching Spanish Armada afterwards.
Artifacts relating to his journeys can be seen at Buckland, the most important being a late 16th century drum, decorated with Drake’s coat of arms, one of the oldest surviving in Europe, and possibly one of thirteen bought in 1595 for his last voyage. The drum is said to beat if England is in danger, most recently during the Second World War just before Dunkirk was evacuated, spooky eh?
In 1596, as he lay dying of dysentery, he is reputed to have asked to be dressed in his full armor. He was buried at sea in a lead coffin, near Portobelo. Here are a few of Bucklands Drake treasures.
Sir Francis is the knight in this chess set.
Plotting his course.
Across the oceans.
A beautiful golden miniature.
The drum, lets hope it doesn’t sound.
A scaled replica. 
The man himself.
Drakes Coat of Arms.
I’m just choosing one photo for Ailsa’s challenge of Costume because I think this guy deserves it for wearing armour that weighs a ton and still being able to stand up!
Check some more entries and post yours at http://wheresmybackpack.com/2013/05/31/travel-theme-costume/
Lucid Gypsy 