Week 18 - Park Life
Stoke Park, Guildford. What a wonderful space this is and how lucky we are to have it on our doorstep. It has been a bit of a lifeline to so many people throughout the last year.
My panel this week shows just a fraction of the facilities and activities that make up the park.
We were so pleased to see the kids rugby back at last. There are football matches again and soon there will be cricket. The open-air gym is open, there are various fitness classes and personal trainers. No Park Run yet but, fingers crossed, it too will be back soon.
There are always people meeting up, talking and walking in the park, mums and dads with prams and kids on bikes. Some bring a picnic and even the occasional barbeque. And of course there are so many people walking dogs – every breed you can think of.
For some the park means tennis or bowling, Wild Wood or perhaps crazy golf. For others there is the play park, the paddling pool (not open yet but let’s hope), the duck pond or the skate park.
It is good to see the Daisy Chain Café, like so many businesses, adapting to the situation and opening an outdoors take-away.
And there is the pretty and peaceful flower garden and a place to buy ice-creams and teas.
Of course we have missed the big organised events like the Surrey Show etc. and hope they can return when normal services resumes.
Call us crazy but having been big fans of Guilfest over the years we were delighted to see the Legends Festival scheduled for August, so we booked tickets!!
Long live Stoke Park!
Week 19 - Fowey, Cornwall
We have just spent a delightful week in the charming town of Fowey (seemingly pronounced “Foy”) in Cornwall.
Although a little chilly at times the weather was mostly very kind so we were able to get out and about quite a bit.
The town is very old and quaint with seriously narrow roads that I wouldn’t dare to drive on. And those that do choose to drive through, face slow progress whilst dodging and waiting for pedestrians.
Fowey has loads of very individual and interesting little shops that are a delight to browse through. But the pavements are limited – so look both ways before you step out of a shop!!
Despite the seriously cool sea temperature at this time of the year the hardy Cornish folk think nothing of taking to the water for all manner of water sports and life here very much centres on the sea.
Week 20 - FITADOGS
Last week we were in Fowey, Cornwall helping our son and his fiancée move house.
A pretty tiring week and when most of the work was done I had an opportunity to get out with the camera.
A gentle stroll around Fowey produced images for last week’s panel. Not too taxing, right?
So then I asked our lovely, soon to be daughter-in-law Sami, if I could accompany her on one of her daily dog walks.
Sami runs FITADOGS and walks groups of dogs miles each day, uphill and down dale through the lovely Cornish countryside.
I had a great time and was able to get images of some super dogs for this week’s panel.
But running around with dogs, throwing sticks and jumping up and down trying to get in the right place for a photo before the dogs moved was a challenge. I was exhausted!!
I will have another go at this but next time I won’t tag it onto the end of such a busy week!!
Week 21 - Chilworth Gunpowder Mills
Along the Tillingbourne river, just outside Guildford lay the remains of the Chilworth Gun Powder Mills and the “Middle Works” (the central section of production) are accessible to the public.
Although I had heard of the mills before, in all the time I have lived in the area I had never got round to exploring them.
For over 300 years this was the site where gunpowder was manufactured, only ceasing production and closing in 1920.
The pictures in the panel show the remains of the
-1880’s Steam Incorporating Mills
-Side standing worn millstones used as accidental blast protection
-earth filled corrugated drums, placed to form blast mounds to absorb explosion energy
-expense magazine for storing materials between stages of manufacture
-mixing house and corning house (where an explosion in 1901 killed 6 men)
This is a Heritage Trail and there is great information available on site for an informed visit.
Week 22 - Celebration of Colour
For a very long time I have admired people who are confident enough to step away from average / normal / conventional and who dare to be different.
I can’t help but look when I see someone with bright unusual clothes, make-up or hair colour. So this panel is dedicated to a few of those who dare to be different and who embrace colour in their life - particularly their hair!
In my photography I have always been drawn to colourful subjects and have wanted to attempt this topic for a while.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank these lovely ladies who quickly responded to my FB request, who generously gave their time and volunteered to model for me. Thanks to Phoenix, Charlotte, Emily, Hannah, Vanessa, Danielle, Simone, Georgina and Vikki.
I think they are awesome and they look fabulous - I hope you agree.
I very much enjoyed meeting up with them. So much so that I think I might further pursue this project and turn it into something bigger.