I headed out on a hot and humid afternoon, arriving in Salisbury for a wonderfully clear sky, albeit with humidity still high and with a first stop at the cathedral. My late mother always criticised me for returning from parts elsewhere - home or abroad - with pictures that had "no people in them!" But I like looking at architecture and buildings and often appreciate their beauty. Here are some of the cathedral, which had a major part encased in scaffolding. Richard Jay Parker told me later that day that this had been the case for years, so who knows when the work will be finished.
There were plenty of German and Italian tourists taking in the scenes at and near the cathedral. The Italians liked to ensure they got a receipt for their purchases in the local shops for some reason... I hope they saw the ducks too. That lot had innovative ways of staying out of the local waters:
But my foremost impression was that the local people were very friendly. On seeking help to find my bank for some cash, a flower-seller and I got into a conversation about how to minimise risk on card fraud (topical for me, but he provided the direction). We were of like minds, preferring cash-back from a supermarket to using an ATM, so the next thing I knew I was given directions to the nearest Sainsbury's and Tesco. I wish I knew the name of his business, so I could recommend it. The man was extremely helpful and had a great sense of humour. His flowers looked extremely good too.
But after cash achieved, along with a change of T-shirt, having arrived perfectly co-ordinated only to manage to get splashes of iced latte on a white T-shirt, it was on to the main event with a little more confidence in a blue T-shirt (a slightly more subtle co-ordination, but without the embarrassment of dribble stains that weren't actually dribbles anyway, just condensation in the wrong place). The book launch party at Waterstone's:
This is near the end of the event, with the author looking chuffed on the left (as well he should) and one of his friends, Tom (a former publisher, now writing his own tome) on the right. More on this event and the book later. Richard's got a keen tour this weekend with his Curzon Group, signing at Manchester airport on Friday between midday and 2pm, as well as East Midlands from 05:30 to 10:30 on Saturday, more details here. After an inauspicious launch (veering on the controversial), the group has come on leaps and bounds with its own innovative PR mechanisms and growth of authors; so it deserves a look and signing event and a treat...
Airports while in season? Yes. Asda and similar later? Possibly yes. These guys know commercial opportunities when they see them, so good luck to them!
Above all, good luck to Richard after a decade of writing because he wanted to break through into the fiction world. More later, as previously said, on the book and his trajectory.
Thanks for the nostalgic trip (for me) to Salisbury. Have been there twice and would seriously love to go again. Maybe one day?
Cheers,
Brian
Posted by: Brian Kavanagh | 30 August 2009 at 04:07
Thanks Dorte. I was quite pleased with the pictures. For once I managed to avoid camera shake!
Posted by: cfr | 15 August 2009 at 01:21
Oh. Do you mean to say that the cathedrals of this world are not MEANT TO BE encased in scaffolding?
Beautiful pictures - especially the ones without people in them ;)
Posted by: Dorte H | 14 August 2009 at 17:25
It was great to visit, albeit quickly, one of England's "tourist spots" which lived up to expectations. Thanks for your comments, Norm and Clare.
Posted by: cfr | 14 August 2009 at 11:26
Great photos CFR, definitely helping out our tourist industry.
Posted by: Norm | 14 August 2009 at 10:31
Nice post, Rhian. Great pictures of Salisbury cathedral, and interesting to hear about the Curzon Group. Best of luck to your friend Richard and his book.
Posted by: Clare D | 14 August 2009 at 09:34
Thank you, Corey.
I always feel that I don't explore my own past with anything like enough vigour...
Posted by: cfr | 14 August 2009 at 08:17
Those photos look precisely what this Yank always imagines England to look like. Glad to know my dreams have some basis in reality.
Posted by: Corey Wilde | 14 August 2009 at 03:01