“So I Could Get A Photograph Like That”

By lunchtime today I had passed six more of Charles Keeping’s characteristic illustrations on my visit to ‘The Old Curiosity Shop’.

‘Quilp’s Wharf’ is an accurate depiction of such Thames-side area of the period.

‘Richard Swiveller’s companion addressed him with great energy and earnestness of manner’ as we can see.

‘Here, then he sat, his ugly features twisted into a complacent grimace. I once encountered a man who adopted exactly the same position.

‘Before Mr Brass had completed his enquiry, Mr Quilp emerged from the same door’. We certainly recognise Mr Keeping’s portrait by now.

‘A shower of buffets rained upon his person’. as so well presented by the artist.

‘The mean houses told of the populous poverty that sheltered there’. Note the residents in the background, and the dog.

Early this afternoon we drove to Puttles Bridge car park where Jackie waited for me to wander along Ober Water.

In fact the following gallery will show why I decided the bridge was as far as I could go. I was incidentally half way across when these ladies approached. I speeded up so I could step aside for them.

They stepped off the path for me, and we exchanged friendly greetings as I turned my back on them so they could pass.

I hadn’t stayed long, so we drove around a bit more. Many of the

Lanes, like Cadnam, where I disembarked and watched Jackie making waves, were also waterlogged. Because she had two other vehicles in her wake she drove on, since our rule is that that is what she will do in the circumstances and either I will catch up or she will come back for me.

In these particular circumstances I was left pondering the fact that I wouldn’t be able to walk on water. when along came a joyful little boy whose wheels would spray nicely. He was followed by his mother with a pillion passenger. I explained my predicament just as the little lad set off. My voice became shriller as I finished my sentence with “so that I could get a picture like that” as I grabbed the shot, rivalling my subject in joy.

This evening we dined on our second sitting of Hordle Chinese Take Away’s excellent dishes with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Dao.

85 comments

  3. So you could get that shot indeed! I like all those trees and water photos.

    The illustrations are wonderful. I particularly like the two men at the table.

    Reply

  5. I do love the dark spiny reflections of the trees in the silver grey puddles.
    Those biking photos are great – what a moment!
    The little boy’s mud splattered strip down the back of his bike is very impressive!

    Reply

    1. I’m pleased you noted the mud strip, Emma. We were only speculating the other day that cyclists’ regulation spatters must be because mudguards are no longer in use. Jackie also had her ideas about who does the washing. Thanks very much. The chances of that moment must have been negligible

      Reply

  7. I think you could have done with a little dingy today. Though I’m not sure that getting into one would have been an easy fete.

    Reply

  9. Plenty wet where you are! We are getting a lot of rain too. You caught some very beautiful reflections of tree in water in those photos, especially that one that looks like a milky crystal ball in a stump reflecting tree on sky.

    Reply

  10. I particularly liked Mr Keeping’s architectural illustrations today. There is a picture of a tree reflection in your set that looks strangely like the picture that the optician took of my eye on my last visit.

    Reply

  12. Watery photos a-plenty here, Derrick and such timing, too! How lucky to be able to catch the cyclists going through the water!
    Keeping’s illustrations continue to amaze me.

    Reply

    1. So lucky, indeed, Clare. Keeping was very prolific. I have much of his work although I gave most of his children’s books to a granddaughter years ago. Thanks very much.

      Reply

  15. We are fortunate for those illustrations coming our way. I suspect reading Charles Dickens without Charles Keeping’s artistic engine is going to leave me with a sense of having missed something important. Those watery adventures took me down the memory lane when splashing through water would present much joy and merriment. Those photographs are especially delicious, therefore.

    Reply

  16. You have so many interesting and beautiful photos here, it’s hard to know where to begin! “Reflections in puddle filling hole between roots” is magical and definitely my favorite. I also like the branches reflected on the water and the orange bed with bubbles overhead. And of course the mossy trunk!

    Reply

  20. An eye operation yesterday has left me with (temporarily I trust) vision too fuzzy to fully appreciate these lovely photographs – I have enjoyed the nonetheless.

    Reply

  21. I’m glad you caught photos of the boy and his mom riding through the high water. Lovely, colorful pictures. I also liked the photo of Jackie driving through the water.

    Reply

  22. Love the little boy riding through the water and making great splashes! 😀
    You know I love the water, reflection, and tree photos! After seeing these, I have some new favs!!! 🙂
    Mr. Keeping’s illustrations will forever amaze me! I love to pour over them and find every little detail! 🙂
    How is your Mom doing? I’ve been thinking of her and praying for her.
    (((HUGS))) to you and Jackie!!! 🙂 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thanks very much from us both, Carolyn. Mum is OK, but, of course, we haven’t seen her since Christmas. From 8th March one designated visitor will be able to visit, but that is most likely to be Elizabeth. X

      Reply

  25. Some of these images cause the most delightful visual confusion and I wonder if I’m upside down or inside the puddles looking out. Totally tickles my fancy. The stump looks like a disguised owl or maybe a cat or maybe a cat morphing to an owl. Thanks for the mental stimulation, Derrick.

    Reply
  26. Pingback: February Story Chat: The Trophy Cabinet – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write

  27. That first illustration is marvelous. It looks much like some of our waterfronts — or, at least, the way they looked before the re-developers got hold of them and decided that Blah Moderne was better than Intriguing Olde.

    Reply

  31. The sketches are so expressive. I am reading a translation of a Kannada Book. It is about one community of our state, covering many generations. This book too has pencil sketches and they give a different feel to the story.

    Reply

Leave a Reply