Wednesday 1 October 2014

OH SHALL I SEE THE THAMES AGAIN?


 
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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10 comments:

  1. some brilliant images here nilly. Lovely. jx

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    1. We're promising ourselves a few river-based holidays soon; the Thames, the Leeds Liverpool Canal maybe - and definitely the Calder and Hebble Navigation!

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  2. Whenever I read John Betjeman's poetry I can always visualise and hear him - his words are beautifully complimented by your images.
    I must admit to having a nylon elastic ruched bathing costume very similar to yours - it used to expand rather embarrassingly when in the water.

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    1. Though of course my "beefy ATS" had changed sex!

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  3. Smashing 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.

    Jean
    x

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    1. 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!

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  4. We used to live near the Thames in Reading and your post took me back to enjoyable walks.
    I 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.

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    1. 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!)

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  5. Perfect pictures to accompany a lovely poem.

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    1. Thanks Barbara - the older I get, the more I am overcome by nostalgia for places from my past.

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