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On another splendid September summer’s morning, Jackie drove us to Calshot and back.
Calshot Beach had just two occupants: the proverbial one man and his dog.
A woman was discussing the refurbishment of her beach hut. What had at first seemed a simple carpentry job had developed into a bit of a rebuild because of the discovery of dry rot and woodworm.
Betsy, at number one, was able to enjoy the sunshine outside her delightfully appointed summer house.
These huts threw long shadows in the sunshine.
Some boats were moored;
others sailed behind the cricket stumps – http://www.royal-southern.co.uk/News-Desk/ID/1037/Yacht-Clubs-meet-for-the-annual-Bramble-Bank-cricket-match-in-the-middle-of-the-Solent – (Info courtesy of quercuscommunity.wordpress.com), deep on the boundary.
A seaplane droned overhead.
Calshot Beach is on a sand and shingle spit leading to Calshot Castle,
first seen through boats old
and new.
These masts belong to members of the Calshot Cats yachting club.
Across the water lies Fawley Power Station.
I was not the only photographer interested in the scene;
and crossing a lead with fishing rods, a young man engaged in a tug of war with his dog.
Turning my attention to the water, I tracked a speedboat
as it sped past the Red Funnel ferryboat,
then yachts, with the Spinnaker (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinnaker_Tower) on the horizon.
Since the Olympics breakfast on 19th, I have been unable to face my favourite full English, so when we decided to lunch at the Activities Centre, I opted for ham, egg, and chips, which could be considered as breaking me in gently. Jackie chose vegetable soup and a baguette.
Whilst enjoying this, I watched silhouettes making their way along a distant sand spit.
Here is the history of the castle (enlargement should help).
We dined this evening on Chicken Kiev, Jackie’s piquant cauliflower cheese, and creamy mashed potato. I finished the malbec.
Great shot of the speedboat passing the ferry.
Thanks, Oglach
I like the beach huts. We don’t have them here. I remember reading a novel once where someone was suspected of living full time in a beach hut. From the looks of the one, they could certainly provide nice shelter.
There are a few basics, like plumbing, missing. Still, you’ve always got the sea, and it’s a “drop in the ocean”, if you get me…
Definitely not my cup of tea.
Betsy said that on the day the ferryboat ran aground she could have sold hundreds of cups of tea.
It is generally not permitted to sleep overnight in them, but further along, there is a private section to this beach where owners can do so. Those huts are larger, and better appointed.
They look like adult doll houses.
Yes. Some of them, especially at Mudeford, change hands for many thousands of pounds.
ah more memories; as a boy scout we went to the activity centre when it opened in the 70s for things like abseiling and rafting. Dad worked at a chemical plant that sat next to the Esso oil refinery at Fawley – I had summer job there once. Not sure if it still going. It wasn’t too far from the power station.
Thanks a lot, Geoff. I don’t know about the chemical plant, but I’ll look out for it.
It may have gone…
Jackie thinks its now called Exxon
Ah that would make sense
Another enjoyable post, it’s grey and dull as grey and dull as it gets today in Toronto, and the sound of Jackie’s piquant cauliflower cheese, and creamy mashed potato (not to mention the malbec.) sounds like the perfect comfort food. Cheers, Harlon
Many thanks, Harlon
Wonderful post Derrick – close to my heart – enjoyed it from start to finish.
I thought of you as I produced it, Sol. Thanks very much
Betsy is looking quite comfortable. I love the sailboat shot, Derrick!
Many thanks, Jill
Love the up-market beach hut – it’s almost as big as my tiny house! 🙂 The few that remain around here house dingy’s mostly. Many lovely photos in today’s offering Derrick.
Very many thanks, Pauline
The only cricket match I managed to watch and enjoyed was in the Trobriand Islands in Papua New Guinea. The men in our party played the local tribe. It was hilarious. We had no chance. They had their medicine man casting evil spells on us, war cries and victory dance every time they scored and whenever we lose a man. I was weak from laughing.
That sounds wonderful, Mary. Thank you.
I enjoyed this post very much, Derrick–the photos and the history of the castle. So many wonderful photos. I like the shadows of the beach huts, and I’m particularly taken with the sailboat and sand spit photo. It has sort of an Impressionistic quality.
Those chips look really good. 🙂
Many thanks, Merril. I took half a dozen shots of that scene, and published the one I thought best.
As a kid, I used to participate in broadcasts on local radio from various places of interest. One of these was Calshot* Signal Station the [possibly now removed] structure next to the castle. I can’t now remember if, at the time, the station was a windowed box ON the castle top, this being before the days of respecting heritage of all sorts (those of you abroad, especially in countries of younger vintage than the UK, may break out in a sweat at the possibility of modern accretions on architecture older than the nation you live in, but Britain has just SO much of it, that only the most significant was accorded special status, back then: early 70s. So, even a castle built for Henry VIII might have been so treated. I rather think the castle as it is now has a Victorian restored face to it, so that may be one reason for its downgrading).
Despite living only 5 miles from it, I’d never heard of St Andrew’s Castle.
*note that auto-correct insists it’s Chalcot, twice in one caption, early on
Thanks a lot, Paul. WP interference corrected. The other thing it kept doing was altering it to Cal shot
I liked the interior view of No. 1 and the long pointy shadows they project. This is my first glimpse inside a beach hut and it answered the many questions I have wondered about concerning them. Though they must all be different, I can certainly see how much one would add to the beach experience. Fascinating. Love the shot of the man and the big pug pulling against each other. Who owns who is the question.
Many thanks, Ginene. Good question. 🙂
The speedboat shot is wonderful… 🙂
Thank you, Maniparna
I love the beach hut idea…I don’t believe we have them here.Somewhat akin to the current rage of “tiny houses” albeit even smaller. Perhaps I might build one like that to retire in during the coming of old age..and one for my spouse with a breeze way… 🙂 Pleasant post, as ever, Derrick!
Many thanks, Cynthia G.
You made me laugh again to hear your post-Olympic breakfast blues. It’s probably a good thing. I did read that post with close attention but didn’t ‘like’ it as I didn’t think I ought to encourage you to eat another!
Many thanks, Susan 🙂
Whenever I see those beach huts I am reminded of a song from the early 1960’s, composed by Malvina Reynolds and sung most famously by Pete Seeger:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUwUp-D…
Sorry…the song is called “Little Boxes” and is on Youtube. I have come to the conclusion that I can’t do such links on your site, Derrick. I apologize.
People still sing that song occasionally at my folk club.
I gather you can post links, by copying and pasting the cyber-gobbledygook in the address-bar (beginning “http://”). Usually, if you triple-click it, the whole lot is highlighted, including the bits too long to show in a single view. Then paste that into your reply. On Facebook (“other websites ARE available”), that makes the image appear as well, but it doesn’t matter if that effect isn’t replicated here.
Thanks, Paul. I do that copying and pasting bit on my own site and on a couple of others, and it works perfectly. This is the second time, though, I have
had trouble on Derrick’s site.
On WordPress, you can give the link address only if you keep it within the
message. If you give it its own line, you embed it, and get the actual video itself. I’ve tried both, here, without success. (By carefully reasoned choice, I avoid Facebook. 🙂 )
Thanks, Paul
And I should say: I know exactly what you mean about the connection. Places like Brighton, a popular resort some way east of us, the line of huts stretches for MILES. From the ‘sea’ road, you can’t see the sea along great portions.
Never mind, Cynthia. I know the song well enough. Thank you.
Quite so, Cynthia J. Thank you
French fries!!! 🙂
Pretty good, eh? French fries are spindly little things 🙂
They don’t look spindly to me. They look big and fat and soft. I think I’m in love. 😀
🙂
Great shots and story as always, Derrick 🙂
Greetings from Romania. We have a sunny morning here, too
xo
Thanks very much, Monica
😀
That poor fellow and his dog obviously have very different ideas about where they’re heading.
Absolutely, Bun. Thank you
I took a ferry at Southhampton to the Isle of Wight a few years ago. Sorry I didn’t spend more time poking around the beaches. They look lovely. My favourite two photos: The shadows of the beach huts look like a picket fence; the dog tugging away from his human. I have a small 13 pound fluffy white mutt who does this, too, despite all efforts to rein him in, he just seems to like the tension. I can’t eat eggs anymore but you sure do make them look tempting.
Many thanks, Susanne
Just to let you know I am able to forward your post on a cell phone picture message. I hope you don’t mind, Derrick!? I will hold as a draft just in case, if not okay. . . 🙂
I thoroughly enjoyed this post! The lady in hut One has quite a special place and the castle and beach photographs were spectacular!
Very many thanks, Robin. I am honoured that you should wish to forward the post. Please do.
Great captures, Derrick. The “one man and his dog” had me singing “went to mow a meadow.” 😆 Your lunch looks delicious, and a very good compromise.
Many thanks, Sylvia
Love these beach pictures. It looks like a lovely place to sit and take in the sights and sounds.
Thank you, Lynn
Nice bit of history and photos.
Thank you, Sherry
The beach calls to the soul no matter what time of year or weather, I think. Such a peaceful post.
Many thanks, Mommer
Beautiful photographs! The one with the dog lead and the fishing rods is stunning. I enjoyed the walk as if I were there myself :).
Many thanks, Inese. I saw the potential for that photograph and waited. I could have imagined such a happy result.
Brilliant composition.
Your comment on Playground Bully disappeared as I tried to respond to it – so thank you for that, too
Ah, sometimes happens with me too. All these comments go to the trash folder, and can be restored.
Thanks. I’ll follow that up
Great photos Derrick, I swear you get better and better!
Many thanks, Quercus