CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE. THOSE IN GROUPS ACCESS GALLERIES THAT CAN BE VIEWED FULL SIZE.
Those who have read posts from April 2014 onwards will know that we moved into a house that had suffered from much bodged D.I.Y. We are only putting this right at a very slow pace.
Here is our badly painted crooked mantelpiece made from a bit of wood trimmed with beading. Note the gaps behind the tiles stuck onto the walls, and that between the shelf and the wall.
We can’t stand it any more, so we travelled to Ace Reclamation in West Parley to investigate surrounds created from reclaimed timber. We are now to submit a measured drawing to have one made for us.
Our morning was spent in heavy rain. Here is the entrance to the architectural salvage outlet. The staff member waving in the distance is acknowledging the postwoman who has just delivered the mail to
an old postbox which serves as Ace Reclamation’s letterbox. This is what that looked like through our car windscreen.
Readers can already imagine that I wasn’t about to make a complete inventory in the rain, however I did what I could. This yard is a wonderful repository of artefacts and materials. There are garden ornaments and furniture galore, some of which, on past visits, has found its way to Downton. Figures in stone and bronze, a giant cockerel, carriage lamps, urns, tiles, timber, rust, telephone boxes, a suit of armour, a mangle, a garden roller, gargoyles, can all be found therein. You could enjoy happy hunting in reality, or, if you’d prefer to stay dry, virtually, through searching through these photographs.
The wooded areas on either side of the long, unmade, road, the potholes in which give a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘off the beaten track’, are waterlogged.
The ditches are filling up fast,
and flooding a paddock,
in which stood three damp horses, two of which were a sandy colour I have not seen before.
Mind you, the gorse glowed a grateful golden yellow.
On our way home we visited Friar’s Cliff Café for brunch. There was just one other customer couple who had braved the blustery seafront to reach the comfort always available there.
This was the sea through the rain-splashed window.
Anyone who has seen a photograph of a Friar’s Cliff Café breakfast will not be surprised to learn that a selection of small Asian snacks, such as samosas and spring rolls, more than satisfied us for our evening meal with which jackie drank Hoegaarden and I finished the Cahors.
oh those scenes are sooooo familiar; glad to know the Forest still gets saturated and ponds from everywhere.
🙂 Thanks, Geoff
I love the picture of the. man waving. It really does capture the idea of wet weather.
Many thanks, John. That was a real stroke of luck
Love the ripples…
Thanks, Mary. I’m pleased
If I ever get to England I suspect I shall have to dine at the Friar’s Cliff Cafe! 😀
Definitely. Thanks a lot, Widders
Rain! I am very familiar with it! I would spend hours in that place too – perhaps I should come and stay awhile…. when the rain stops…….
You’d would be so welcome, Pauline. Thank you.
I’ll pop Siddy into a back pack and start swimming tomorrow
🙂
Ace Reclamation looks like a fun place to visit–though maybe not in the rain. Though the rain made for some great photos, Derrick.
Thanks a lot, Merril. Yes, the rain did add enhamcement
I may not comment regularly Derrick, but I always enjoy your great photography, they are always different and you cover a lot of interesting great subjects.
Cheers
Many thanks, Ian, I always appreciate your catch-ups
The best thing about ‘junk/antique’ shops is walking out empty handed, leaving all the old junk/antiques behind, I can’t stand mess and dirty/grubby looking things; which must make me something but I know not what! Odd perhaps! 🙂
XD
Not even a teeny bit of rust? Thanks, Brian
No, not even that 🙂
Derrick – Ace Reclamation looks like a very good place to go snooping. I bet it gets Jackie in mind of the Spring gardening season – perhaps you need a red telephone booth for a bit of height. : ) We have neighbors with 2 of those armoured guys standing outside their door – both painted a bright blue!
All very tempting, Jodie. Thanks very much
: ) lol
I could spend hours browsing Ace Reclamation. What a great telephone booth! Wonderful picture, Derrick. I loved the glowing gorse.
Thanks very much, Jill
I’d go crazy with the checkbook in a place with all those antiques! Rain or not – I’d be broke by the end of my visit!!
Thanks, GP. I’ve used mine a few times there 🙂
What a miserable day, and what a dedicated photographer you are creating this reportage 🙂
The rising water looks dangerous.
Thanks very much, Inese. The water can be so.
I was so proud of myself when I identified the small yellow flowers as gorse before I read your caption. Gorse is not something we have in Maine. The shot through your car window is so nice. A big photo? And, looking forward to seeing the new mantel.
Many thanks, Laurie. I’m glad you think the window pic worthy of enlargement
I love the picture through the window, very unique
Thanks very much, Lynn
Beautiful photos! Ace Reclamation looks like it would be so much fun to explore and find unique stuff. Wish I could eat at Friar’s Cliff Cafe too. xoxo Ash
Thanks very much, Ash
I’m excited to see your new surround, and how fabulous that you’re using reclaimed wood!
Thanks, Rose – we love reclaimed wood – and other stuff
Every pictures of yours has its own story to tell. Just awesome sir.
Many thanks, Harbans
My profuse thanks.
Places like Ace Reclamation are impossible to come out of once you go in. How fascinating!
One of our favourite hunting grounds. Thank a lot LL/PS
Your each and every picture tells us a story!!
Many thanks, Sumith
The yard looks so interesting
Thank you, Lakshmi
Hey great article, nicely written!
Also check out my blog about my first season as a beater! check it out at tootinghustle.wordpress.com
Thanks. Will do