Memories of our youth

Remember those summer days when the height of enjoyment was out in the countryside in one of nature's swimming pools.


Not much has changed at Eye Bridge near Pamphill in Dorset,










part of the Stour; that lovely river meandering across Dorset,










although I cannot remember ever being bothered by horses and traps - or whatever this is called?












Time moves slowly here. Must have done for whoever carved this otter and his catch from an old tree trunk standing on the riverbank and who didn't even leave his or her name.





As in country churchyards, names are a way of remembering some of those who passed this way,










like Connie and Frank to whose memory the plaques affixed to a seat on the riverside path here speak of a long lasting affection:










nice touch isn't it?

















Here's my long lasting affection, following in Frank and Connie's footsteps along the River Stour

What to do when it looks like rain

Cloudy skies!
haven't we just had enough of them this year.

But there is always something to do if you put your mind to it. Inside is where you need to be but I have to say shopping is not my idea of an alternative to anything.











There is usually a museum somewhere at hand and here in Bournemouth a half an hour from where we live is a somewhat unusual one: the Russell-Cotes Museum.

This is what it looks like from the outside.




and this is the garden as it appeared today.

You may have noticed that having decided to spend part of the day indoors, the sun has miraculously appeared.

Well, here we are and so to make the most of it.





This was once the home of Sir Merton and Lady Russell-Cotes who came here in the mid 1880s.

As you can see they were not hard up for a couple of coppers.

They were great collectors of fine art, some of which probably appeals to most viewers.

They even had bad weather in those days!







But the eye for beauty is always with us; certainly was in Victorian times. On the right is Venus Verticordia by Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

 Left is a more bucolic style of venus who looks quite happy and well-fed.




In a more modern style by a great artist - Dorothea Sharp who lived from 1874 until 1955 - is this lovely painting typical of her enormous output of fine art. Google her name to see so many fine examples of her beautiful work.    


These are just a few of a wonderful collection in the Russell-Cotes musuem. You can Google that too for much more information.


But you can't stay indoors all day when the sun is shining. Not far though to walk the few steps down to the pier and the joy that is Bournemouth.

Not all blue sky but enough to make a sailor a pair of trousers.







Of course, there are those who couldn't care less about getting wet. If there is water to walk through, a small boy can always find it!














That's enough blue sky and walking for old folks. Back to Broadstone for tea.