Povey Prattle

More memories arising from my recent  dream. In west Bristol where Redland Hill and Westbury Road meet there was a place known as "The Glen".  My guess is that it was a disused quarry. When I was a child and youth  it was in daytime a peaceful oasis in a busy City: a place to wander, and perhaps to get a cup of tea or an ice-cream. By night the Glen was transformed into a lively and noisy dance venue. The Glen is now (I believe) the site of the private "Spired Hospital".  No more ice cream or dancing. Mum and Dad took my twin and I there when we were perhaps three or four years of age.  (Maybe our  older sisters were also with us). Down in the Glen we met a couple with their two splendid St. Bernard Dogs. My twin and I climbed onto the backs of the dogs, and were given short rides. Why in the world do I remember that? Glen Nook (a Tea Room?) The fine print on this picture, a postcard, refers to "Caroline's Glen"

More memories arising from my recent  dream. Sometime when my twin and I were aged between 3 and 6 (1947-1950)  Mum and Dad took us again to the Bristol Zoo, There we had a ride on the back of a Zoo favourite - - "Rosie the Elephant". These days I am not too fond of Zoos, but I do remember Rosie, who died in 1961. Rosie

I had a dream last night which triggered some memories. FIRST "Alfred" was a gorilla who lived (existed?) in the Bristol Zoo. Memory is faulty but I am as sure as I can be that I saw Alfred when he was alive.  He died in 1948 (possibly having had a heart attack when a low flying plane scared him), so I would have been four years old or younger if indeed I saw him in his ghastly cage. I certainly saw "him" many times in later years, for the taxidermists worked on his dead body which has been on display in the Bristol Museum for all these years. Alfred alive, in his cage Alfred in the Museum O

No one can remain insensitive to the inequalities that persist in the world!. No amount of peace-building will be able to last, nor will harmony and happiness be attained in a society that ignores, pushes to the margins or excludes a part of itself

My inner Englishman.1 So, in common with my heritage, I am drinking hot tea in this hot SRQ weather. It is more refreshing than any cold drink. To be sure I am drinking hot green tea with a trace of honey, not hot black tea with milk and sugar, but the effect is the same. My inner Englishman. 2 A huge storm came rushing through my SRQ neighbourhood at about 5:35p.m. today: -  thunder, lightning and very heavy rain. After an hour the storm abated and the sun shone. The temperature had dripped about 19 degrees F. The rain continued, but it was  a gentle rain, filtered through evening sunshine. So my dog Penne and I ventured forth, and walked through the sunshiney rain. I loved it, and I  felt that I was being very English. That made me happy.

http://twistedsifter.com/2013/03/most-perfectly-timed-photos-ever/