"All Fall Down"

I drove from Edinburgh to Bristol. The roads in Edinburgh are in a state of chaos, in part due to tram works, which made it particularly difficult to leave the city: both my favourite and second favourite routes out of town were inaccessible, and what with the Mound being closed and most of Haymarket too, I have to weave my way around the roadworks (heading west and then back east) before I could head south down the A701, through Broughton, past the Devil’s Beef Tub, onto the M74 and then down the M6.

It was a long drive, made longer by an accident that brought the M6 to a standstill – it was on the northbound carriageway, but they closed the southbound route too to allow the air ambulance to land and police and fire engines to get to the site.

It was, though, a great drive, despite the guilt that I was actually driving rather than in the train. (I couldn’t get to all the places I wanted to by train: I made full use of having a car.)

Six or seven hours later I was heading east along the A4 into Bristol, thinking fond, amorous thoughts brought on by Leigh Woods, ducking beneath the suspension bridge and heading straight to my hotel.

I checked in, dumped my bags in the room, and headed back down the stairs to move my car.

And I fell over.
( Humpty Dumpty... )

"All Fall Down"

I drove from Edinburgh to Bristol. The roads in Edinburgh are in a state of chaos, in part due to tram works, which made it particularly difficult to leave the city: both my favourite and second favourite routes out of town were inaccessible, and what with the Mound being closed and most of Haymarket too, I have to weave my way around the roadworks (heading west and then back east) before I could head south down the A701, through Broughton, past the Devil’s Beef Tub, onto the M74 and then down the M6.

It was a long drive, made longer by an accident that brought the M6 to a standstill – it was on the northbound carriageway, but they closed the southbound route too to allow the air ambulance to land and police and fire engines to get to the site.

It was, though, a great drive, despite the guilt that I was actually driving rather than in the train. (I couldn’t get to all the places I wanted to by train: I made full use of having a car.)

Six or seven hours later I was heading east along the A4 into Bristol, thinking fond, amorous thoughts brought on by Leigh Woods, ducking beneath the suspension bridge and heading straight to my hotel.

I checked in, dumped my bags in the room, and headed back down the stairs to move my car.

And I fell over.
( Humpty Dumpty... )

Bristol Cathedral

My hotel had a truly wonderful view across to the cathedral: it looked amazing.

( Read more... )

Bristol Cathedral

My hotel had a truly wonderful view across to the cathedral: it looked amazing.

( Read more... )

Visiting old friends in Bristol...

I woke up early and gazed at the cathedral in the dawn, and then slept some more.

When I finally got up, I was still unsteady on my feet. I walked around the cathedral, staring at the ceiling. It was astounding beautiful.

My ongoing confusion about charges to see around cathedrals was – well, ongoing: there was no charge at Bristol to either look or take pictures. Instead, I left a contribution: I had to go to the shop to get change, and the woman behind the cash desk expressed surprise and thanks when I gave five pounds; I didn’t think it was much for the hour or so I spent wandering around.

I had lunch, and then went back and dozed for the afternoon; then I showered and walked back to G.’s: a mutual friend, an old schoolfriend of mine – and his wife and three children – were visiting from New Zealand (the large number of visitors – not least children – explains why I was in a hotel rather than staying chez G.!) Children were paraded, adults sat around talking – there was a lot of talk of dying, or, more correctly, its aftermath: grief, emotions, and how people work through it.

A lot of wine was drunk – including by me, so I must have been feeling a lot better (though I also drank gallons of water – as if I were flushing something out of my system).

It was a very good evening, surrounded by old friends. I really must visit New Zealand again! Now that would be a good trip…

Visiting old friends in Bristol...

I woke up early and gazed at the cathedral in the dawn, and then slept some more.

When I finally got up, I was still unsteady on my feet. I walked around the cathedral, staring at the ceiling. It was astounding beautiful.

My ongoing confusion about charges to see around cathedrals was – well, ongoing: there was no charge at Bristol to either look or take pictures. Instead, I left a contribution: I had to go to the shop to get change, and the woman behind the cash desk expressed surprise and thanks when I gave five pounds; I didn’t think it was much for the hour or so I spent wandering around.

I had lunch, and then went back and dozed for the afternoon; then I showered and walked back to G.’s: a mutual friend, an old schoolfriend of mine – and his wife and three children – were visiting from New Zealand (the large number of visitors – not least children – explains why I was in a hotel rather than staying chez G.!) Children were paraded, adults sat around talking – there was a lot of talk of dying, or, more correctly, its aftermath: grief, emotions, and how people work through it.

A lot of wine was drunk – including by me, so I must have been feeling a lot better (though I also drank gallons of water – as if I were flushing something out of my system).

It was a very good evening, surrounded by old friends. I really must visit New Zealand again! Now that would be a good trip…