May's photo an hour took place on Saturday 18th. It was a lovely sunny day and also the other half's birthday on the 19th so we headed to a local steam rally to have a look round.
**A note - I wrote the majority of the words to this post back in 2018 but never got round to adding the pictures. So just as a little look back (and because I'd already spent time writing it), for what it's worth, here it is. :-) **
Back in 2016 I think, the lovely Sarah Rooftops mentioned that she'd visited an exhibition/playground up in Aberdeen - The Brutalist Playground.
I thought "sounds interesting", enjoyed reading Sarah's thoughts and then left it as that.
Fast forward a year to 2017 and a poster pops up at the arts centre at my workplace - the very same playground, here, for the whole summer, and only a 10 minute walk from my desk. What are the chances of that?
Me and Lily promptly signed up for the first session of the summer to see what it was all about, on 28th June 2017 (4 years ago today). A week or so later I had an email saying that instead of a quiet opening, they were having a launch breakfast with free food and speeches from the architects - which we were both invited to!
We ended up visiting the exhibition about 12 times - we had to take various friends and family on different occasions so they could all have a go too.
How to describe the playground? Well, imagine lots of large shapes made out of foam or covered with foam (which represents concrete) set on a padded floor and surrounded by wall projections of the brutalist playgrounds of the post-war period.
It's fascinating to think that playgrounds years ago were often made with concrete and metal; I can remember concrete tunnels at some of my local playgrounds and of course, as a child you didn't give any thought to getting injured. I can't imagine any sort of places being built like that nowadays.
The whole exhibition was very well done and all very good fun - there's not a lot I can really say about it other than if it ever comes to your area, it's well worth a visit! It's usually free and although it's all a bit surreal, it's good entertainment and definitely something that kids (and adults) will enjoy.
I don't really like the word 'staycation'. According to Merriam-Webster the word dates back to the 1940's but I'm sure it always used to mean a holiday spent at home. Nowdays it seems like far too many people, the media, politicians, etc use it as a catch-all for simply having a holiday in the UK. Even the various dictionaries online, Oxford, Cambridge, Collins, all have one definition as holidaying in your own country. Surely if you're leaving your home to go on holiday, regardless of the destination, whether it's Greece or Grimsby, it's still *an actual holiday*. Not a staycation. I don't know, perhaps I'm just remembering wrong.
Anyway we actually did have a traditional 'staycation' over the Easter holidays - or a 'holiday at home' which I think is a much nicer phrase.
Normally we'd be in Wales over Easter at a place we've visited every year since 1987. I was only 4 when we first went and the owners of the site we stay at have seen me and my brother grow up, right through to the next generation - Lily- coming along on holiday too. We stay in 2 holiday cottages now though rather than share one with my parents.
Last year it just felt a bit strange staying home. We weren't yet a month into the first lockdown and we had great weather so just played outside and rebuilt the garden and veg patch. This year for Easter, with the 'stay at home' restrictions lifted, we were able to have some day trips. And although the guidance says 'minimise travel' there's nothing in England's COVID legislation restricting (domestic) travel so we were free to travel wherever we liked for whatever reason, provided we didn't break the 'gathering' bit of the legislation (as an aside, if you're on Twitter, Adam Wagner is an excellent person to follow, he's a human rights barrister who's been keeping track of the changes to COVID legislation since March 2020 (I think over 70 changes so far). He's also brilliant at answering people's questions about law and guidance and explains things in a really easy-to-understand way).
For our holiday at home, we ended up with rather good weather for the whole week really, a bit cold perhaps but at least it wasn't raining.
We did day trips to:
- Clevedon and Portishead, doing a 2.5 mile walk around the woods in Portishead finishing off with a playground, ice cream and fish & chips.
- the New Forest to see the ponies and tall trees and Southampton to see the huge cruise ships (of course we found a playground there too).
- Teignmouth to meet Andrew's sister, doing a 2.5 mile history walk around the town centre and harbour. We had ice cream, strolled along the prom, visited the playground and had fish & chips for dinner.
And took picnics:
- to Chew Valley Lake to see the ducks and buy an ice cream.
- on a 5 mile walk around the local area, crossing fields, going through woods and finding secret footpaths.
- to Westbury White Horse to see the grandparents where we had ice cream, found geocaches and did a 3.5 mile walk around the hill fort.
- to Burnham on Sea beach for sandcastle-building and more chips!
- on a 4 mile walk around the local area, following the old railway lines around the area.
We also had a family Easter lunch outside in the sun complete with Easter egg hunt and a (rather chilly) picnic in the garden later in the week.
I've written on here before about geocaching (back in 2017); it's quite an interesting and fun thing to do, especially when you're out and about in different places. We found quite a few geocaches while we were out on our day trips.
I also found an app called ViewRanger which lets you plan walks and see walks other people have created. I'm sure it's one everyone already knows about and I'm late to the party but still, it's quite good. I think the app's possibly going to be retired at some point in the future but it seems to work well at the moment. We used some trails other people had created and also made some of our own. The trail we did in Teignmouth was rather good as it was created by the Royal Geographical Society and had lots of information about the history of the town that you could read or listen to as you followed the route. Anyway, it's an app I'd recommend.
The last holiday we had as a family of two (rather than a family of three) happened to be here...
That was the end of April 2015. It's taken me over two years to write about it. And Gavin and Stacey was first aired over 10 years ago (say what!?)
We loved the TV show and Barry is one of those places we'd both visited when we were younger but not really visited as adults so it was an obvious place for a weekend away. We kept it cheap and cheerful and stayed at Cardiff Airport Travelodge - which is only 2.5 miles from Barry Island and not actually that close to the airport at all. It also wins bonus points as there's a Toby Carvery on the same site!
It's relatively easy to find a list of various filming locations online and I popped them into a map in preparation for the trip (feel free to use the map if you want) :-)
We tried to visit as many as we could; some we only managed to do as drive-bys though and the weather wasn't exactly great which didn't help - but here's the shots I managed to take!
Gwen, Doris and Uncle Bryn's Houses
Pam and Mick's House
Stacey's Café Job
Nessa's Arcade Job
Nessa and Dave's Wedding
Nessa's Pregnancy Announcement
Baby Neil's Christening Party
Smithy's Drunk Pub Quiz
Nessa's Living Statue Performance
Gwen's Birthday Barndance Party
Gavin and Stacey's Favourite Chippy (Boofy's)
Dave Coaches' Bus Stop
Barry Island Fairground
Barry Island Beach
There's still lots of places we didn't get to though so I reckon that probably warrants another trip there!
Humans like a good love story don't they? And at the heart of every good story is always a good couple, battling against the odds, triumphing against adversity and riding the rollercoaster to culminate in a fabulous gooey lovey-dovey ending.
These are my faves complete with the lines that make them all wonderful...
Brown Bear and White Bear (Brown Bear's Wedding, 1991)
Bumbling Brown Bear is in love with beautiful White Bear but how to make her notice him? After a small amount of furry stalking she falls in love with him too and they skate away to a bear-shaped heaven. There's famous voices in this little gem as well with Hugh Laurie and Helen Bonham Carter playing Owl and White Bear respectively.
This is part 3 of 3 (the others can be found on YouTube as well) and the soppy bit is about 3 and half minutes in.
Brown Bear {writing a letter to White Bear}: Dear White Bear, your eyes are like stars and your fur is whiter than the moon. You have captured my heart. Will you look at the moon and stars with me, forever? White Bear {grabs her scarf and sends it on the wind to Brown Bear} Brown Bear {scarf floats through the window}: She loves me!
Jack Skellington and Sally (The Nightmare before Christmas, 1993)
I'm sure everyone would have this on their list but I reckon that's simply because, well, it's magical. When Jack comes back and walks up the snowy hill to her - A.MAZING. I also can't read these lines without hearing them sung in my head.
Jack {to Sally}: My dearest friend, if you don't mind, I'd like to join you by your side...where we can gaze into the stars. Jack and Sally {together}: And sit together, now and forever, for it is plain, as anyone can see, we're simply meant to be.
Sister Bernadette (aka Shelagh) and Dr Patrick Turner (Call the Midwife, 2012 and ongoing)
A classic will-they-won't-they story, I loved watching Shelagh and Dr Turner grow closer and there were certainly plenty of times I had "kiss her, kiss her!" screaming through my head.
Can't find a video of the ultimate moment, at least, I can't find one which hasn't been made into some kind of fanvid or had a soundtrack added to it...
{Shelagh's walking home from the sanatorium and Dr Turner's been driving round frantically trying to find her} Dr Turner: What if it had starting raining? What if you'd got lost? Sister Bernadette: I was lost. I got the wrong bus. Dr Turner: I was on the right road. Sister Bernadette: Yes. I know you so little but I couldn't be more certain. Dr Turner: I am completely certain. I don't even know your name! Sister Bernadette: Shelagh. Dr Turner: Patrick. Sister Bernadette: There. We've made a start.
Jack and Amy (Jack and Sarah, 1995)
I loved this film as a teenager, I mean, properly LOVED, fan-girling over Richard E. Grant and everything. I actually met him back in 2002 at the stage door after he'd performed in 'The Play What I Wrote' and he was just as lovely as you'd imagine he'd be (plus just as good looking!).
You can actually watch the whole movie on YouTube but can I find a clip of the ending? Of course not.
Amy {to Sarah, the baby}: I missed you. Jack {to Amy}: I missed you too. Amy: Oh, I wasn't talking to you but I'm flattered nonetheless. Jack: That is, we, we missed you. Both of us. We want you back. Amy: My rate's gone up. You can't afford me. Jack: *Not* as a nanny. Amy: In that case, you certainly can't afford me!
Dr 'Mac' Macartney and Caroline Todd (Green Wing, 2004 - 2007)
I'll admit, I only discovered Green Wing last autumn but it's quickly shot into my list of all-time favourite TV shows as well as all-time favourite romances. I know a lot of people like the very first kiss between Mac and Caroline but I much prefer their "proper kiss". I'm not a fan of the word 'squee' but it's highly appropriate when you're watching that scene.
I don't mind people adding their own soundtracks to clips on YouTube but I really wish they'd upload the original clip as well! Instead you'll just have to click here to watch the whole Mac and Caroline saga from start to finish (and drool over Mac of course...).
{discussing under what circumstances Mac would actually kiss his ex-girlfriend} Caroline: Even if she was the last person left on the planet? Mac: Where am I then? Caroline: Oh no, no, there's two of you, one of them's you and Holly is the only woman. Mac: Okay. If she's the last woman on the planet, I would kiss her and fall on my sword. Caroline: You have a sword? Mac: Yeah, it wouldn't even be a proper kiss. Caroline: What's a proper kiss? Mac {swoops in to give Caroline a "proper kiss"}
Joe Harper and Nina Raymond (In the Bleak Midwinter, 1995)
A bit of an obscure one, this was a black and white Kenneth Branagh film about a group of eccentric actors putting on a production of Hamlet at Christmas. It's incredibly good and stars all sorts of famous faces but for some unknown reason, it's never been released on DVD this side of the pond. Nina is the actress hired to play Ophelia, a short-sighted, ditzy but sweet girl who captures the heart of Joe, her Hamlet and director of the whole show.
{dancing together after the first successful performance of Hamlet} Joe: You know, despite my immense purity of soul and being cleansed by my art, I'm still going to get depressed and mad. Nina: Yes but we can get depressed together, that's fun! Joe: Aren't you always going to be optimistic? Nina: No, I'm going to be miserable and fat and have a huge saggy arse. Joe: Ooh lovely, you can just feel it starting...
Hubie and Marina (The Pebble and the Penguin, 1995)
Happy Feet is good, but this is the film that really pioneered the way in penguin love stories. Based on the true mating rituals of Adelie penguin in Antarctic where all male penguins have to find their one true pebble to present to their mate, Hubie (the hapless star) has fallen in love with the most beautiful girl of all, Marina. Drake, the horrible penguin wants Marina for himself though and tries getting rid of Hubie for good. Cue lots of adventures across the high seas, picking up a crazy friend along the way and a struggle to get back to the South Pole before the end of the mating ceremony. It's a musical with songs by Barry Manilow but don't let that put you off, they're incredibly catchy choons!
{gives Marina the pebble he's been carrying around for the entire film} Hubie: Like it? Marina: I love it! Hubie: Good. Marina: But don't you know, it's not the pebble, it's the penguin. I love *you* even more...
Laura Jesson and Dr Alec Harvey (Brief Encounter, 1945)
This was a fairly obvious one methinks: forbidden love, romance and steam? Ticks every box. Beautifully shot, evocative and a heart-breaking storyline, this is one classic romance everyone should watch.
Alec: Oh Laura my dear, I do love you, so very much. I love you with all my heart and soul. Laura: I want to die. If only I could die... Alec: If you died, you'd forget me. I want to be remembered.
June and Peter Carter (A Matter of Life and Death, 1946)
I love Powell and Pressburger's films and this one and The Red Shoes are my favourites. Peter Carter is a British pilot who's about to die and on his way down he contacts June, an American radio operator who appears to be the last person he'll ever speak to. Little does Peter know though, Death (in the form of the guide, 'Conductor 71') gets lost in the fog and Peter overstays his welcome on Earth leaving him time to fall head over heels in love with June. The Other World wants him though and he has to fight for his right to stay alive, complete with celestial courtroom, lawyers and a stairway to heaven. It's brilliant. Utterly bonkers but brilliant anyway. David Niven isn't half bad to look at as well.
This is the start of the film - possibly one of the best opening sequences ever. If you'd like to watch the whole film, you can do so here.
Far too many brilliant lines to mention although this one from the courtroom is rather good: Doctor Reeves {in the Other World}: Yes Mr Farlan, nothing is stronger than The Law in the Universe but on Earth, nothing is stronger than Love.
