Pier Review by Jon Bounds and Danny Smith.

Pier Review: A Road Trip in Search of the Great British Seaside

Pier Review: A Road Trip in Search of the Great British Seaside by Jon Bounds

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


A Road Trip to cover all fifty five piers in England and Wales- starting at Weston-Super-Mare in the Midlands and finishing at Penarth in Wales. Writers Danny and Jon, with Midge the driver.
I love a road trip, but this ended up feeling a bit downbeat, enforcing all the reasons why I prefer to go overseas and seek sun and adventures, rather than holidaying in the UK- even if it is seaside England.
Their journey started off up-beat, but somewhere in the middle the tone changed to a darker, bleaker trip. It reminded me why I have resented every moment of having to holiday in the UK over 2020/ 2021.



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Summer Water by Sarah Moss.

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Summer Water by Sarah Moss

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A series of interconnected short stories, connected by the location- holiday cabins on a Scottish loch, somewhere in the region of Glasgow, beautiful but wet. The stories of the residents take a day in their holiday lives and we see the place and time through their different perspectives and now and then, the natural perspectives. It is written in the first person narrative, through each individual stream of consciousness. Clever and captivating poetic but practical prose.



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Chocolate and Cadbury World.

“In the town itself, actually within sight of the house in which Charlie lived, there was an ENORMOUS CHOCOLATE FACTORY! Just imagine that! And it wasn’t simply an ordinary enormous chocolate factory, either. It was the largest and most famous in the whole world!”

Roald Dahl. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory .

A visit to Cadbury World today to visit Bournville’s very own ‘enormous chocolate factory’

https://www.cadburyworld.co.uk/en

Quakers, the Cadbury brothers introduced chocolate as an alternative to alcohol which was believed to be one of the causes of so much poverty and deprivation amongst working people.

Social philanthropists, the brothers not only made fine chocolate, but also provided for their workers health and recreational needs- groundbreaking and revolutionary in its time.

We had a great morning learning the history of the Cadbury’s, the processes of making chocolate and of course eating a few bars on the way round!

Dearly by Margaret Atwood.

Dearly

Dearly by Margaret Atwood

My rating: 3 of 5 stars




My first Atwood. Again I listened to this on Audio read by Atwood herself- I don’t think I could have read these poems from a book. I didn’t even try to take the content in, or try to understand it. I just let the language wash over me as I went about my day. Every now and ten a poem or a line would resonate with me- I would have to replay it. But on the whole it was just a soothing drone of words.



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A Brighton Blast!

A late summer Sunday at Brighton Beach making the most of the weather before it breaks and autumn sets in.

Loads of fun at The Upside Down House.

Brighton

A browse through an art installation on the beach…

These deck chairs were just waiting for us!

And finally the, in a rugged way, beautiful West pier.

Photograph by Emily Dudley.

I never stop feeling blessed living on the South Coast.

Mix Tape by Jane Sanderson.

Mix Tape by Jane Sanderson

Mix Tape by Jane Sanderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Two of my favourite things are playlists and road trips. Two of my second best things are books containing these things. I loved Mix Tape. I was reminded of and introduced to songs and bands from the late seventies/ early eighties that I had either forgotten about or hadn’t heard of. All through I had to stop reading and yell at Alexa to play a song by a particular band.
This weekend will see me compiling a ‘Mix Tape’ playlist and planning a mini-break road trip to Sheffield. And a much grander, maybe in the future, trip to Adelaide!



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Jurassic Coast, Dorset.

A hazy Durdle Door, Dorset.

One of the most famous stone arches in the world. This spectacular natural doorway was formed over 10,000 years ago on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset from merged bays. Geologists suggest that the rock arch in the sea was formed as a result of softer rock eroding behind hard limestone, allowing the sea to pound through.

It’s a fairytale area- the place of myths and legends.

Somewhere to appreciate the coastline, walk for miles, or just enjoy the water…

Photography by Emily Dudley.

https://instagram.com/chaos_and_mayhem21?utm_medium=copy_link

Under a Croatian Sun by Anthony Stancomb.

Under a Croatian Sun

Under a Croatian Sun by Anthony Stancomb

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


‘A fat buttock always looks for a comfy bench to sit on’

Had to be favourite line and life lesson from this likeable ‘escape to a Mediterranean island’ travelogue.

I was beguiled by the beautiful Croatian Island of Vis (where Mamma Mia 2 was filmed) and it’s quirky characters.

Still my life dream..!





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Cartes Postales From Greece by Victoria Hislop.

Cartes Postales from Greece

Cartes Postales from Greece by Victoria Hislop

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I absolutely love a travelogue in any shape or form.

A series of postcards are sent to Ellie’s flat destined, presumably, for the previous tenant, from a former suitor, apparently now in Greece. After a few months the postcards stop coming, but Ellie is hooked and on her way to Greece.

I enjoyed travelling around Greece with the writer of the postcards, listening to the Greek stories and narratives. The slow pace of life and the meditative tone was theraputic. I finished listening to this feeling revitalised and refreshed and with a burning desire to jump on the next plane to Athens and re-explore the Greece and Greek islands I first discovered inter-railing across Europe in the summer of ’83.



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Come Back For Me by Heidi Perks

Come Back For Me by Heidi Perks

Come Back For Me by Heidi Perks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


An island, a family and a secret. Set on an island off Poole in Dorset and close to Brownsea Island- recently visited on a road trip (and of course a ferry crossing) made this even more interesting. All a bit sinister- anyone of the islanders could have been guilty and I guess more than one are! Kept me guessing for a week!



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