Salisbury - Uriah Heep

While 'Salisbury' is far from The Heep's greatest album (try for instance Demons & Wizards or Magician's Birthday) it does hold arguable their Magnum Opus by way of the title track Salisbury (click to take a listen). I know one person at least who will not argue with this. Today, this was the Wiltshire city I was heading for, but not before a look around Radipole.

There, the lack of mud could not have been the reason for the 16 Black-tailed Godwit and over 30 Common Snipe to continue circling rather that landing,

but they continued flying for the 30 minutes or so I was there.

Along the seafront while awaiting the No184 service , there was time to view HMS Dragon, one of the Royal Navies latest Daring Class 'stealth destroyers' swinging to her pick in Weymouth Roads.

The rest of the post is very much a pictorial of the fine city of Salisbury, with just one or two comments on the way!

In every great city there is at least one great building, for Salisbury as in many, it is the Cathedral.

Confucius say "man with big bag of gold not neces-celary loose his head".

This I discovered was a work of art by sculptor Shaun Henry and is entitled 'Man With Cup'. Part of a recent exhibition at the Cathedral, it was decided to display it on one of the external plinths usually the preserve of a Saint. There was no finite time for its stay but the public seem to very much like it - I am in full agreement!

and some scenes around the city........

Ahoy there Shipmate, is that a JD Wetherspoon's over the road? I feel a Cider coming on!

I was taken by some of the Olde English Street Names hereabouts.

Finally, I would like to thank the Reverend John Travell (an apt name albeit a pun given some of the stories he was telling) for engaging me in some fine conversation, from Dorchester to destionation along with the other gentleman who was on the same service both way, for his help.

One Man & His Dog

The wind was at gale force all night, and that was only outside, and as daylight peeked through the curtains heavy rain started inducing me not to a 'slack hammock' (Royal Navy parlance for getting out of bed late) but a 'guard & steerage' (an authorised lay-in). These are few and far between in my hectic life so thought I'd knock the arse right out of it, getting up at 08:00. The chances of doing any 'sensible birding' were nil, and having a lunch date, thought it best to get a few outstanding jobs done. High on the agenda was booking a car for the late Christmas period and early New Year adventure (more of that later) and while doing so bumped into ex-shipmate Paul Petman who I haven;t sen in many a day. But there was more in prospect today than chores, such as meeting up with my friend Leslie Brown at the home of others I had not seen for a while, Michael & Wendy Honebon who were in turn entertaining Ted King (old ships) and his partner Vera Powell. The only down side to this was, previous arrangement not allowing for a dinner time session - let's hope we can do it soon guys!

The excellent Red Lion, Wareham was our destination, where even more ol' shipmates hove over the horizon in the shape of

John (Ginge) & Val Prince accompanied by myself and Leslie.

It would be easy to forget that this is a Public House rather than a high class restaurant as the cuisine, wine and service are of the best. Fish & Chips sound ordinary but you must try those at the 'Lion' as John & Leslie did while Val went for the Steak & Ale Pie and me for an all time favourite Lamb Shank. A red Chilean Merlot with the main course proved ideal, while sticking to the same grape, a white Italian Merlot with pudding just about put the cap on it for me, and with a bill somewhere in the region of £1.50 it was hardly worth running off!

A quick look around the town was in order before we left, but as Leslie had yet another party to attend this evening we simply looked at the Town Hall,

The Black Bear public house complete with

Balcony Bound Black Bear.

Some of the quaint streets and alleyways,

the River Frome stretching off to the east

and the sun setting below the same watercourse to the west.

Back to the High Street, pick up the car and home to complete the Blog, rejuvenated, I don't quite know what's on the cards for tomorrow, but you can bet it wont be NOTHING!