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Much of a muchness
Things that make you go 'hmm'…
Spring has sprung!
Posted by on March 31, 2008
Well, the sun is shining, the clocks were turned forward an hour over the weekend and so the evenings are suddenly lighter and the sun has come out – an altogether more optimistic feeling is in the air. So to celebrate this happy state of affairs, here is a my Spring book.
It was a lovely weekend. I went to a private view at a local gallery on Friday night with some friends and we had supper afterwards which was very pleasant. All day Saturday, it bucketed down with rain and it was accompanied by very strong winds, so I stayed holed up at home but did venture out for dinner with a friend in Weymouth on Saturday night. The diet was shot to pieces as we had some amazingly nice food and wine (and lots of it!) It ended being a very late night, lots of talking and forgetting the time and as the clocks went forward on Saturday night, we effectively lost an hour’s sleep too.
On Sunday, we awoke, feeling surprisingly chipper, to find wall-to-wall sunshine and decided to go for a long walk with some friends. It was a glorious day, warm and sunny all day so our walk to the coast was spectacular. We drove to a village called Chaldon Herring and walked to the coast at a place called Daggers Gate, so called because
“The gateway ‘Daggers Gate’ is believed to mark a witch’s grave, and is said to be haunted by her ghost. It acquired its unusual name in 1789, after farmer Sam Varnell was stabbed and killed at the spot by the daughter of the supposed witch.”
Here are some photographs I took yesterday.
I took this shot of the road sign because we all had a very childish giggle at ‘Scratchy Bottom’ which is actually a swathe of farmland which has been in use for over 4000 years, just above Durdle Door. Here are a couple of photographs I took last year of Durdle Door, one taken from the beach and the other from the sea.
This is the stretch of coastline we were walking above – we didn’t walk to the path which runs closer to the cliff edge as it is VERY steep and we only wanted a gentle(ish) walk :-)
I did take another road sign shot which also caused much merriment. What goes on down this bridleway is anyone’s guess. I’ll leave it to your imagination…..
As with all good walks, we ended at a pub and had a lovely Sunday roast dinner. Marvellous! When I got home, I crashed out and had a ‘Lost’-athon – I watched three episodes that I had recorded while I was away in Switzerland, back to back. It was as inpenetrable as ever but very enjoyable nonetheless.
Much of a muchness 
That third photo, seaview.jpg, would make a great computer wallpaper. Beautiful!
I love those wooden signs, especially Scratchy Bottom. I might even use that, or a variation, in my novel. I just love it. Also, I think I need to take a visit to Permissive Bridleway, for research purposes of course. :)
I was disappointed with the photograph – it actually didn’t do the view justice, it is a gorgeous coastline.
I’d love to read one of your stories set in Scratchy Bottom ! Excellent idea! I think you could write a whole story based on Dorset place names. Here’s a list of one’s I find funny
Piddletrenthide
Shitterton
Droop
Slepe
Toller Porcorum
Ryme Intrinseca
Puncknowle (pronounced Punnel)
Melbury Bubb
Whitchurch Canonicorum
not to mention Happy Bottom near Corfe Mullen
:-)
What a wonderful weekend! I wish mine was a good, but it was cold and windy Saturday and snowing all day Sunday. Spring visited us for a while, but she’s definitely decided to head South for another week or two. But all of my plants are returning, so that is a happy thought.
I miss the sea. I wish I lived close to it. In less than two weeks I get to go to San Francisco, California for a long weekend. I look forward to smelling the salt air the moment I step off of the plane.
Beautiful pictures, as usual. I love the road signs! So amusing!
Oh, I forgot to mention I like this book and it reminds me of something done by Andy Warhol.
Spring makes me feel so cheerful – sorry your bad weather seems to be hanging on but at least your plants are showing that Spring is on the way.
Hope you have a great time in San Francisco – somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit. I love living by the sea, I never tire of looking at it and walking by it.
Paul – Glad you like this book – it is a very jolly paper and I hope Andy would have approved of it :-)
i love the new book. it’s very warhol-esque.
the photos are gorgeous too. makes me want to travel again!
YES!!! A Spring book…I love it! :) And I agree with the other posters who said it’s Warhol-like.
You live in an amazing area – gorgeous scenery, both the rolling land and the water that stretches on forever.
You have such a great way with words – “bucketed down with rain” – are you a writer in addition to your other talents?
We started watching Lost (on DVD), and I rather liked it, but couldn’t get dh interested, so we switched to Heroes.
Glad you had such a grand weekend!
Ooooooh! I want to go down the Permissive Bridleway with Johnny Depp! He would not regret it. In America we have places like Skunk Trot and Toad Suck (Arkansas), Chunky and Hot Coffee (Mississippi), Sweet Lips and Finger (Tennessee) and Lick Run and Intercourse (Pennsylvania) … LOL! I love your Spring Book (the ribbons especially) and this post too!
gorgeous book Diane !!!
and very spring like….
had to laugh at the street signs….I couldn’t imagine living in Shitterton Street……
the photos are beautiful and I think the street signs would make great covers too …especially if you were to use them as address books :)
great photos and funny video :-)
Nice views. :)
Suburose – glad you like the book! It hadn’t occurred to me that it was Warhol-esque but so many people have mentioned it – it must be :-)
Any time you want a tour of Dorset, just let me know….
Teresa – it is a jolly book isn’t it? Must be the sunny weather we are having making me feel that way! I am lucky to live where I do. I was only thinking on Sunday, how fortunate I am to live somewhere where other people pay to come on holiday.
As for being a writer – I don’t think so! Coming from Manchester where it seems to rain A LOT, we have lots of ways of distinguishing rainy days – bit like that book ‘Miss Smilla’s Feeling for Snow’ – only in my case, 101 words for rain :-)
I love Lost and Heroes – in fact anything vaguely sci fi and/or silly :-)
Jenny – Glad you enjoyed the book and the post. Those are silly place names – maybe we should start a competition to find the silliest…..
I’m sure Johnny Depp would have a fine old time with you down Permissive Bridleway :-)
Kim – thanks – and what a great idea! Hmm, set me thinking now :-)
Thanks for the latest update to the 101 Artists Blogs – you made it to No.1 – hurrah!
Nurse Myra – Glad you enjoyed them :-)
Dunn- yes they are – my photos don’t really do the justice….
I have to say that sci-fi is a staple of my literary and entertainment industry diet too. :) Silly makes it even better! I love comedic stuff. Have you ever watched Joss Whedon’s Firefly series? Talk about a fun marriage of sci-fi and silliness (well, some episodes are serious and dark, but many are very funny).
No, I’ve never seen that but will look out for it if you recommend it :-)
Hope you like it if you find it. It’s really clever, and Nathan Fillion’s cute. ;)