These little fronds of leaves are beautiful enough even when they are just green, but look what this one has turned into.
In one way I will be glad to move into September. The tourists are becoming a bit much now. I have never seen the town so crowded and this year there are many visitors who would normally be elsewhere. Lots of Indians for some reason. No Americans though. I can't say I miss them - last year I got into an argument with a drunken redneck who tried to tell the pub what a good job Trump was doing, and when I had enough and went to leave, he blocked my way and demanded a fight. Someone else pulled him off and I left unhindered. I wasn't even giving him my opinions about world politics.
Following on from reading H V Morton's 'In Search of England' I have bought a copy of 'In Search of London'. I am only a few pages in, but I love it. It has everything I want, including a good dose of childhood nostalgia. It was written in the same year I was born, and I remember the weed-strewn bomb sites before the developers began rebuilding.
There is a link between the top two paragraphs. When I am walking through - or just sitting down in - Bath now, I become overloaded with all the hundreds of faces, clothing and personalities on the pavement going past in both directions. This is what I remember happening in central London when I visited from the provinces.
The difference is that - on a day trip to the metropolis - there is no escape from the throng, whereas I am always within a short walk from home and closed doors here. I am almost looking forward to the second wave.
I was born in the same year as you Tom and was always going to London ..... I remember the many bomb sites which remained for years. I think I need that book ! XXXX
ReplyDeleteIt's a great book - so far. When H.I. has read it I could send it to you, but you won't tell me your address...
DeleteI’d love to have a serious discussion with someone who supports Trump. It completely boggles my mind that people think he is “a good guy who tells it like it is”. I could understand sOmeone who said that they are republican, could not tolerate the demon rat policies and so voted for him...as long as they could say which policies they were supporting. The Republican Party hasn’t even published a manifesto this time...but you can a,ways read the Texas Republican Manifesto.
ReplyDeleteYou will never have a serious discussion with someone who supports Trump.
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DeleteRather like with someone who supports Brexit.
DeleteNot quite. It is possible to have an ordinary conversation with a Brexit voter, so long as you can control your anger and despair.
DeleteIt is lovely to walk indoors and shut the door.
ReplyDeleteIt gets better with time.
DeleteLeyburn has been much the same with tourists Tom. This week end the Caravan Club have a rally here as they do every year - the vans are placed far apart and no doubt everyone is enjoying it but the temperature is only sixteen.
ReplyDeleteI could cope with distanced camping. Sounds like wild camping is too intimate these days.
DeleteIt is a relief here now English schools are back as well as those here, and they have all gone home!!
ReplyDeleteI may find a few parking spaces this month.
DeleteHelp me again--what is the second wave coming?
ReplyDeleteNothing changes here, except all the Americans are still here, and too many of them are putting up the wrong signs.
I mean a second lockdown in the event of a second wave. I think that Trump is relying heavily on the armed militia of renegade Republicans now. Some of them even wear camo.
DeleteYes. Thank god we are not an open carry state. I just feel safer when the guns are out of sight. How's that for illusion.
DeleteI cannot believe I haven't already had any of his books pass through my grubby mitts. Just googled and see on the HVM Society website that he wrote a tonne of books that all sound rather up my alley. A dapper-looking gent christened Canova Vollam can only be a source of reading delight! Off to rectify.
ReplyDeleteThe London one is much better written than the England one. It is almost 30 years later and he isn't quite so whimsical. The England one is like a Powell and Pressburger film in a book.
DeleteJust bought online a second-hand copy of England 5 mins ago, so it'll be a good start. There wasn't a decent looking London selling locally for me here, but happy with whimsy any day. Will report back eventually.
DeleteIt's charming.
DeleteLife behind the closed door is the only thing we have going for us.
ReplyDeleteThere is always Naturism...
DeleteYes H.V.Morton's books about England are a good read. A mixture of facts and poetic interpretation.
ReplyDeleteMixed well too. Coming from a long line of Londoners but not one myself, I have always been fascinated by the place. I remember the first time I smelt roasting coffee was in a London street.
DeleteThe Algerian Coffee Shop on Old Compton Road. Like so many of their coffees.
DeleteI have been there many times.
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