As regular readers will know, every now and then I can’t find a theme that will support an entire blog and, in such cases, I just raid my image archive and see what I come up with. This is one of those days.
I walk across Gilbert Bridge almost every morning and in mid-June I noticed this pigeon squeezing itself into a corner by a pillar …
At first I thought it was unwell, but then a few days later I noticed it had a companion …
Then, over the next few weeks, they both started appearing with twigs in their beaks …
I cannot claim to be an authority on nest building (or pigeons, for that matter) but I didn’t think that location was viable and, sadly, one month later no progress had been made …
And, frankly, there was barely room for the two of them never mind a nest as well …
It was also obviously looking a tad unhygenic, but I don’t think that tends to bother pigeons.
Now they seem to have abandoned their efforts but obviously I will report back if they return. Pigeons get a very bad press, which I think is rather unfair. If you want to know more about them (and some of their gallant ancestors) click here for my blog ‘What do pigeons do all day?’
One day I found this little poem by Terry Ryan pinned up alongside a church door:
Every time I pass church
I stop and make a visit
So when I’m carried in feet first
God won’t say, “Who is it?”
Wherever we travel I head for churches and churchyards at the earliest opportunity and am usually rewarded with interesting sights. In Italian churches, it’s common to see votive limbs (or other body parts) particularly in the form of metal or wax replicas. They are placed there to express gratitude or to seek divine healing for specific ailments. I came across these in a church in Sorrento, I think they are rather beautiful …
Nearby were some extraordinarily detailed representations of the Nativity …
They were accompanied by scenes of people going about their normal business (plus some hovering angels) …
Not sure what this represents – probably a religious festival …
I think it’s so lovely in Italy when forthcoming funerals are announced on notice boards along with some details about the person …
Back in the UK, the Wedding Routemaster parked up behind St Lawrence Jewry …
The King’s Birthday flypast …
At St Giles Cripplegate, John Milton meets a double bass travelling case …
The Honourable Artillery Company on their way to provide a gun salute for President Macron’s State Visit …
A surprise in St Mary’s Church, Tenby, the man who invented the equals sign =
Nearby in St Nicholas’ Chapel is the tomb of Margaret Mercer, wife of Thomas ap Rees of Scotsborough. Margaret died in childbirth in 1610 at the age of 30, having already borne ten children. The seven children who survived her are shown beneath her effigy, while above her is a likeness of her husband in a kneeling pose. The memorial is beautifully restored and repainted to emulate its original richly decorated appearance …
I really like authentic, handwritten signage …
Here’s what it refers to …
On our way to Tenby I stopped by one of my very favourite War memorials. It’s on Platform 1 at Paddington Station …
The memorial consists of a bronze statue of a soldier, dressed in heavy winter clothing, reading a letter from home. One commentator imagined that the home-knitted scarf may have been a gift from his mother or sweetheart and I can’t help but agree. The sculptor was Charles Sargeant Jagger (1885–1934) and you can read more about the background to the sculpture here.
Since we were treating ourselves to a first class ticket we could use the Paddington lounge and it’s well worth a visit. Alongside the modern area is what was once Queen Victoria’s private waiting room …
Some of the original wall decoration remains …
There are also other items of rail memorabilia …
I believe the furnishings aspire to suggest ‘Gentlemen’s Club’!
The lounge is also on Platform 1 and is tucked away behind the memorial.
This summer, the Barbican has invited audiences to step into Feel the Sound, a new multi-sensory immersive exhibition that transforms how we think about sound. ‘Taking place across the Centre, visitors can explore how sound shapes emotions, memories, and even physical sensations. Feel the Sound challenges us to listen not just with our ears, but with our whole bodies – redefining what we hear, how we feel, and what we think we know about ourselves’.
For example, there is this display as you walk through the Centre at ground level …
As the sound background changes so does the image …
And what are these people looking at in The Well …
This is what’s happening …
And what I saw when I looked down …
And at Citypoint …
And finally, in Cardiff, just when I thought I’d seen it all …
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