My story started here when my father met my mother, washed up on its banks.
Mind the water, until you're big enough to swim in it!
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"Oh shall I see the Thames again?
The prow-promoted gems again,
As beefy ATS
Without their hats
Come shooting through the bridge?
And 'cheerioh' and 'cheeri-bye'
Across the waste of waters die,
And low the mists of evening lie
And lightly skims the midge."
John Betjeman
Cast iron Victorian Thames Path marker, Shillingford, September 2014
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some brilliant images here nilly. Lovely. jx
ReplyDeleteWe're promising ourselves a few river-based holidays soon; the Thames, the Leeds Liverpool Canal maybe - and definitely the Calder and Hebble Navigation!
DeleteWhenever I read John Betjeman's poetry I can always visualise and hear him - his words are beautifully complimented by your images.
ReplyDeleteI must admit to having a nylon elastic ruched bathing costume very similar to yours - it used to expand rather embarrassingly when in the water.
Though of course my "beefy ATS" had changed sex!
DeleteSmashing pics Nilly. I too had a ruched cossie, in a very bright red. Although I'm sure mine was in a heavy cotton. I had a black straw hat with a matching red band. Happy days.
ReplyDeleteJean
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I had several of those bathing costumes (how very vintage that sounds) and a straw coolie hat. Overcome with nostalgia recently I bought myself a similar '50s hat, dotted with colourful straw flowers - but Mr N laughs every time I wear it!
DeleteWe used to live near the Thames in Reading and your post took me back to enjoyable walks.
ReplyDeleteI also liked the poetry: instead of beefy ATS you had beefy blokes! The picture of the person walking along a narrow Thames Path with plants encroaching reminded me how surprisingly difficult it sometimes was to walk by the river.
My family photos were taken near Tilehurst, where you can reach the Thames by walking down Scours Lane. (Or you could in the 1950s & '60s!)
DeletePerfect pictures to accompany a lovely poem.
ReplyDeleteThanks Barbara - the older I get, the more I am overcome by nostalgia for places from my past.
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