Guess where we were yesterday? A there-and-back crossing of the Prince of Wales Bridge, which spans the Severn Estuary over a total distance of 3.2 miles. We were off to see a friend living near Ebbw Vale and taking him for lunch at Abergavenny – famous for its annual food festival.
We had a more modest lunch and a walkabout. Memories came flooding back when l spotted a former Burtons shop – now converted to sell hiking and camping gear. Above the windows on this corner plot were all the towns and cities in which Mr Montague Burton had a store.
However, l could not find my home town of Weston-super-Mare where, as a youth, I played snooker (badly) in the rooms above the tailors. Was there a snooker hall above every Burton’s shop floor?
In my absence, a couple of incoming emails to mention. The dry weather continues to concern us. We had a road diversion in Wales where a grass fire was still smouldering and the air thick with the smell of smoke.
I am hoping for rain in the next couple of days. As is Paul Bennett, who writes: ‘I was in our communal garden yesterday digging out the dandelions.
Isn’t it amazing that in our burnt, dry lawn some luscious green dandelions are still popping up?”
Tenacious plants indeed. Used for food and as a herb for much of recorded history, and an early source of nectar for our flying pollinators.
Meanwhile, Suzi Mutter writes: Walking up Bathwick Hill, I noticed that they are working to put a crossing in where the old boundary stones at Soldier Down Lane were.
I was wondering if these big stones in the photo that have been put aside are the actual stones to mark the top boundary of Bathwick.
Do we still ever walk the boundary?
I used to see bits of stone deep among the shrubs that grew there and wondered if you had any info about them.
Can anyone help?
Widcombe Association organised a Beating the Bounds at least once, possibly twice. The one that went all the way round was led by none other than Lady Margaret. At one point it went by boat and another section from Widcombe Hill was led across fields by Nick Steel and his Pramophone. Loads of people came on it and it included a fete at Paragon School. Natural Theatre provided characters en route such as a garden gnome fishing in the river. I seem to remember the route passed under the arch on Popes Walk while her ladyship’s butler served her a cream tea on top of the arch. Awesome logistics by whoever organised it all !