Halloween in Bristol and Bath

We went over to Bristol this morning. I parked in Trenchard Street car park - this was the view onto Park Row.

This panoramic view over the city was from the other side of the car park. 

Georgian architecture at the back of Trenchard Street.

There are lots of cafes around this part of Bristol, all of them with their temptations.

I don't know if this is by Banksy - it's on the site of one of his former pieces that became the focus of a street artist war. Whoever it's by, I like the Aladdin Sane flash on HRH:-).

Outside the Children's Wing of the Bristol Royal Informary. 

Across the road is a shop for the recent 80 Gromits event. 

Up the road this shop had a real Halloween theme - from cushions…

…to skeleton garlands… 

…to family groups… 

… to cups and mugs… 

… to tea towels and T shirts… 

 … to bejewelled skulls a la Damien Hurst.

They even had an advert for a green funeral director alongside all these skeletal items.

Lots of very old buildings in this part of Bristol. 

Lots of history in this building, now housing  this tattoo and piercing establishment.

Above, the remains of early advertising show it used to house a builders merchant.

You don't see stuff like this in sedate Georgian Bath! 

Impressive balconies above the main road on this old building. 

Great decoration on this pub. 

I liked the name on this house that houses Happy Hour Productions.

Outside the red house, a couple of blue plaques - one to Mary Carpenter aided (don't know how) by Lady Byron…

 … and one to an ethnologist I have never heard of before.

Back in Bath this afternoon walking Bella, this door decoration caught my eye.

The last leaves are clinging to this creeper.

The colours of decay. 

On a quiet country lane, a personalised numberplate on this Mercedes. 

Looking across the Charlcombe Valley towards our house.

This day a year ago, I once more did not post a blog entry.

When We Were Young(er) on my first trip to Greece in 1972, I visited Ios where I first slept on a Greek beach. This was the view.

Su's news story of the day (Bath Chronicle website - click on the title for the full story):

Bath told to prepare for wet and windy weather as storms return this weekend

Sunrise Glow, Mystery Seed Pods and New Neighbours

A lovely sunrise this morning - looking out of the back of the house.

A beautiful light. 

The top of the valley was lit up with a warm glow. 

Looking out the front of the house was equally stunning. 

Our vine was illuminated. 

Took Bella out for a morning walk, and enjoyed these nasturtiums. 

This plant has managed to grow out of the cracks in the pavement. 

These seed pods (about a couple of inches long) were new to me. 

They were underneath this tree - maybe one of my naturalist readers can enlighten me? 

Lovely skies. 

We have new neighbours just down the road - this was their moving van, but  Charlie the cat was not impressed.

In the sunshine, a big bumble bee investigated the bee box - didn't want to get too close to disturb it. We might have new neighbours closer to home!

Went out for an afternoon walk with Su (and Bella, of course) - the skies threatened rain (and delivered soon afterwards).

At St Stephens Place, we were taken by this gargoyle. 

This day a year ago, we were also up to see a spectacular sunrise.

When We Were Young(er) we inherited this bamboo teepee from some other beach sleepers on the Sifnos leg of our 1990 odyssey.

Su's news story of the day (BBC website - click on the title for the full story):

Do you walk like a flamingo, a duck or a penguin?

Sunshine, Bath Wanderings, Uni Treadmill and Pizza

A lovely bright morning.

Great to see the sun through the front window. 

It's the time of year when a mystery reflection puts this shape on a wall in the morning. 

Blue skies over Solsbury Hill. 

Lots of berries about - food for hungry birds as the weather gets colder. 

This pumpking has peaked a little too early for Halloween. 

We went down in to town and saw the lights up in preparation for the big switch-on on 12th November. Don't know which celebrity they've lined up to flick the switch this year. 

Historic Bath. 

We went to the Little Theatre and saw Le Weekend with Jim Broadbent and Lindsay Duncan - a most entertaining film.

Walked back up through town avoiding the crowds and noticed this unusual street name. 

This was the only structure nearby resembling a bridge - don't know how trim it is. 

There's a modest claim outside the excellent Wild Cafe. 

Coming up Quiet Street towards Milsom Street. 

That's how to advertise your business.

Caught the bus up to the Park and Ride - like the way that this establishment covers all aspects of tattoos from installation to removal.

Drove to UWE for a session with my Information Systems students, and enjoyed these Olympic themed paintings I hadn't spotted before. 

Left as dusk was falling. 

Went into Bristol to meet up with Frank and Bob for a pizza at Planet Pizza, before making my way back to Bath.

This day a year ago, there was no blog posting for some unexplained reason…

When We Were Young(er) on Zakynthos in 1989, I enjoyed being on the beach with my full beard and hair still on my head.

Su's news story of the day (BBC website - click on the title for the full story):

Gardening 'linked to longer lives'