Bubble car at parking meter outside reconstructed Piccadilly Circus
Like being on a giant film set
The first ever car-race took place at Goodwood race track 75 years ago. For the last 20 years there has also been a Revival, where vintage cars or bikes, race (and sometimes crash). There is a strict dress code for spectators; They must dress in vintage or authentic-looking retro clothing from the 40s, 50s or 60s. Goodwood also employs a number of actors and entertainers who take on characters from those eras.
For a few hours work each morning, I was able to enjoy myself for the rest of the day and take snaps. More people belong to drama groups in Britain than they do football clubs, so it is not surprising that so many make an effort to look the part. But visitors come from all over Europe and the Commonwealth.
The Sixties (Click on photos to enlarge and read captions)
Busker at ticket machine inside tube station
Tube station ticket seller
Each year there is a highlighted theme. This year because it was the 50th anniversary of the England football team winning the World Cup, it was England verses Germany 1966.
Join in a kick-about with the 1966 England Team reconstructionFamily day out
No 1 England fans come rain or shine
1966 – “We’re going to win the Cup”
We’re going to Wembley
Part of the grounds had a reconstructed football pitch where spectators could join the likes of ‘Bobby Moore’ in a knock-about. There was a parade around the track of traffic on their way to Wembley Stadium, which showed off owners cars that would have been around in 1966. The vehicles included vintage: police cars, milk carts, motorbikes, Mini and Bubble cars, Bentleys, Daffodils, Fords, Hillmans, Jaguars, Rolls, Sunbeams, Triumphs, Vauxhalls, plenty of public transport buses and coaches as well as Germans in Volkswagens.
Glam Cab drivers aka Carry On Cabby (1963 film)
St Trinian’s School Girls feature regularly
Lambrettas for Mods
The Fifties
Dancing in the rain – we are use bad weather at some point during any British festival
family fun fairGo roller skating courtesy of Butlins
Butlins Red Coats are always on hand
Shoe size Madam?
I think I was raised in a pram like this
Over the road shops
Over the road shopping for vintage clothing
The Forties
Our North American allies and barbershop quartet
Be prepared
uniforms become costumes
Goodwood invites Veterans raising funds and awareness of D-DayThere are vintage air displays from Goodwood Airfield. Everything from Dakotas to Lancaster Bombers
This woman has co-piloted this plane from German today
pilot getting a lift for take off
Beer tents are a must at British festivals – especially when it rains
Heading for the Doom Bar beer tentBeer tents are always friendlyCome step back in timestand-up atmosphereor you might be lucky to find a comfy chairThere are a quite a few pub tentsand gin barsVintage cars are on saleOne could almost forget that the main event is the racingJackie Stewart (in the cap) Stirling Moss and many other first class drivers and celebrities race each year
When I saw that the weekly WordPress Photo Challenge this week was Frame(click to take part or see others), I realised that framing a photo was a natural past-time for me taking my routine snaps. So here are 15 from my media library (click on to enlarge or see captions) …
From outside looking inside a tentFrom inside looking outside a tent
From outside to inside a red telephone box
From inside to outside a red telephone box
Looking out from a window
Looking on to a window
Reality reflected in a frameA reflection framed with realityFrom outside looking inside a vehicle windowFrom inside looking outside a vehicle windowA frame of natureA frame of concreteA frame of a house tunnelFramed constructionFramed by a stairwell
Second from the right is my husbandYes that’s him with Emily – their boots in the air
About an hour drive from Southampton towards London on the M3 is the giant funfair Thorpe Park, making it the nearest one to London.
My husband, sporting a blue cardigan, will be 80 this year (much older than me). He spent a joyous day on location at this attraction last week, shooting its latest commercial with Emily Barker – a character who visits on a regular basis.
Seniors have campaigned against age-discrimination with regard to special offers at funfairs. So in an effort to correct this, Thorpe Park have just launched an Old Age Coasters(OAC)Pass which provides multiple discounts for the over-65s.
My husband is a retired helicopter pilot and loves the rush. He is a bit of a dare-devil – last year he went paragliding with my daughter – she takes after him.
Are you an adrenaline junkie? (No I am not getting paid for this)
Print Primary Zebra contrasts with Southampton’s freshly cleaned Bargate
While the world plays Pokemon-Go – the people in Southampton are walking around and searching for painted zebras. A few years ago it was rhinos in collaboration with Marwell Zoo. It was such a success that we now have these zebras with sponsored themes.
Judge Zebra Below Bar – with reference to when Southampton’s Bargate was once a court.
So here are some photos of a few of my favourites – I must confess I did not take the details of all of them – one of the best bloggers for these is on the WP site “I Walk Alone” so seek her out for some lovely walks.
The Wheels on the Bus Zebra en-route from West Quay shopping centreAbbey Road Zebra by Watts Park entrance
Vandals have stolen some of them; one also with a Beatles theme, named Ticket to Ride featuring buses, was found floating along the River Itchen and rescued by a youth sailing team.
A beautiful Ocean Zebra in St Michael’s SquareJigsaw Zebra. You never know who will be dropping by while you are at a Mettricks having coffee in Southampton.Sharknado Zebra outside the old town walls at Western Esplanade
This one in Southampton’s 02 Square draws the crowds
Which looks like a crowd at St Mary’s Football Stadium with “Saints” red and white socks.
Fabric World zebra in the shop window
Foxy Zebra in front of Southampton Guildhall
For more zebra photos and an interesting article from a ‘crazy’ tourist who flew to Southampton on a day trip click: here
For an avid walker who seems to be getting them all (though you might need to register on her site) – I Walk Alone– click: here
From Shamrock Quay along the River Itchen and under its bridge into Southampton Water
Regular readers will know that I am going to live on a sailing boat with my husband as we have to move soon. We are selling or giving away worldly goods and doing up an old Maxi 95 sloop.
Re-learn all the ropes
Hoisting and reefing the main sail
As it has been 15 years or so since I did any sailing, and pre-cancer/chemo, I thought it best to go on a refresher sailing course with a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) instructor.
Last weekend I got on a run as a team of five of like-minded individuals also honing their skills. We sailed from Shamrock Quay in Southampton to the Isle of Wight, where Cowes Week brought sailing boats from all over the world.
Dodging other vessels – what does that horn signal?
re-learning the knots
Plain sailing on the Solent
The severe treatment for my Hodgkin Lymphoma left my body and brain somewhat disorientated. I describe my brain as living in a town where a bomb has hit and roads have been blocked off. I have had to find detours and rebuild. I had been having terrible balance problems since the treatment, but following a number of NHS exercises I have not had any accidents for about a year now.
We anchored just off Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. This was Queen Victoria’s favourite residence and this her own private beach. It opened to the public 2 years ago.
Although I was used to sailing I had been extremely nervous about going out, especially onto the Solent, which requires strength, skill and alertness due to its tides, geographical structure and the many number of different vessels using its channel.
The marina on the Isle of Wight was busy for Cowes Week and took great skill to moor four abreast
Out of my price range – the Champagne bus at Cowes
Some revellers at Cowes
Opposition used to be ‘Morning Cloud’ Prime Minister Edward Heath’s boat that he used in the Fastnet race in the 70s.
Great learning for groups of young people on The Tall Ships Challenger boats.
This weekend course really helped me to regain my confidence and sort out what I could remember and what I needed to practice.
When I saw these vintage penny arcade machines at Portsmouth’s Historical Dockyard, it brought back so many happy childhood memories of going to the Southsea funfair with my parents. I loved the puppets so much and could remember exactly what would happen before I put my coin in. I am so happy to find that they still exist in a museum.
In response to the Weekly WordPress Photo Challenge: Fun
A coin in this machine has this “Laughing Sailor” belly-laughing so infectiously that the most grumpy person ends up chuckling to it.The machine reveals funny things that happen to “The Drunkard” (from erotic to nightmarish) in his dream as he crashes out in the beer cellarGhosts galore in “The Haunted Churchyard”An art nuevo machine with crane to attempt to catch sweets.“The Burglar” finds himself distracted by the fire cracking, the radio pipping, the victim snoring while he tries hard to listen to the clicks of the dial of the safe.
Portsmouth Harbour Heightens level of response against terrorist threats
While visiting various ports in the South of England this weekend, it was clear that recent events have lead to increased security of our coastline and of all events that take place on them.
A random attack of a crowd in London by a mentally ill ‘lone wolf’ – has reinforced that Britain is not exempt from what is happening in other parts of the world.
This together with recent cases of drug-smuggling fishermen and people-smuggling yachts that arrived at “less busy” ports and marinas, has led to increased vigilance.
Helicopter checks on boats that arrive at Gosport Marinas without the obligatory radio callProsecutors of the three men jailed in two cases of smuggling Albanians here, said Chichester Marina had no border controls
I saw three ships come sailing in
