Buchaille Etive Mor

This 1969 postcard of the impressive Buchaille Etive Mor is in Scotland. This view is from the bridge over the River Etive on the Rannoch Moor Road.

I remember a spectacular train ride through Rannock Moor - about thirty years ago. We stopped at a platform with no buildings around. A few walkers got off to join the sheep, and as the train carried on I gazed out over many many miles of peaty moorland, heather, and darkening clouds, with a feeling of apprehension... Soon I would have to leave the cosy train and try to find somewhere to sleep for the night. The near horizontal rain meant that I would not be camping. I think I ended up in Inverness Youth Hostel.

The Great September Gale - 1903 - Weston-Super-Mare

I have three postcards dated Sept 10th 1903 from Weston-Super-Mare Sea Front. This one is Collapse of the Grand Parade. There is also Gap in the Weston Pier, and Breach in the Causeway.

The Illustrated London News featured even more pictures from Weston...

The Great September Gale - 'A Remarkable Effect at Weston super Mare: A Yacht Thirty Feet Long Carried Undamaged over the Promenade by a Big Wave' - - - 'Wrecked Bathing Machines at Weston super Mare ' - - - 'Part of Pier at Weston Super Mare Swept Away'

Riddlesdown Tea Garden

What better place for a cup of tea in the year 1906 but the Riddlesdown Tea Garden.

A fork in the road

We are at a decision point. Which route will you take?

As it happens both roads lead to the same place: Kenley Common. It now has an aerodrome with gliders where you can walk round the perimeter. Back in the days of this postcard I expect it was still a grazing common.

Which will you choose? Or have you walked far enough and will you go back with your friends to Kenley to enjoy some afternoon tea.

(Kenley is just South of Croydon and is a fine place for Londoners to go for a walk in the outdoors. Not only is there Kenley Common but also Riddlesdown.)

I'm sorry I can't dance

Lady: "Now Susan, I'm going to have a party soon
and I trust you will make yourself useful."

Susan: "I'll do my best ma'am
but I'm sorry I can't dance."

Posted in 1907.

Except Ye Lord Keep Ye Cittie Ye Wakeman Waketh in Vain

This Post Card was sent on September 11th 1905. The writer - now illegible - describes the scene... "This is an ancient custom still continues from the middle ages. The Hornblower blows the horn against the cathedral door by the Wakeman's House (now Mayor of the City) at 9 PM every night."

The ancient custom still continues over one hundred years after this postcard.We were in Ripon a couple of weeks ago, and although we did not stay long enough to see the Hornblower ...

we did see the City hall, where we read "Except Ye Lord Keep Ye Cittie Ye Wakeman Waketh in Vain"

Taking risks

I remember we would often stop and look out over Groby Pool from the ledge you can see on the postcard. One time it was frozen over and people were walking across it to the island but I didn't. I did want to go across but at a very early age I listened to the adults who said the ice might break.

South Nutfield, Mid Street

A postcard by F Frith Ltd posted on Dec 22nd 1905.

It Says

This Comes to wish you a happy Christmas. I thought you would like one of these cards. Nutfield is really a very pretty place. I know these Children in the road. They go to G W F's Sunday School...

Llandudno Promenade

The young man near the camera is rubbing his face with his hand. Perhaps he is tired or has something in his eye. He also has no hat. Everybody else has a hat. Where is he going? Where is he coming from? All lost! This was just a moment captured in time on a postcard. It was not supposed to be analysed - but every person in this scene had their own life and story and cares and none of it can be traced now.

Sir Joshua Reynolds - Seven Virtues

This postcard was posted in 1922, and Published by The Oxford Times Co, Ltd., Oxford.

The view is of the seven cardinal Virtues painted in 1787 from designs by Sir Joshua Reynolds. It comprises one of the windows at New College Chapel.