ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Wednesday 5 November 2014

FIRE AND BRIMSTONE. (05/11/14)

This evening is Bonfire Night in the UK when we build a great big fire and pop an effigy of that naughty papist Guido Fawkes on top. I am not a papist but do have more than a little sympathy for what he tried to do. I must have anarchist tendencies. In my life time we still have 650 MPs, loads in Brussels lots more on mega money in local councils. It is a barking mad way to run a country. Politicians breed faster than rats and are about as much use.

I can remember some really good Bonfire nights. The ones when I was a child were magical. Those in my late teens were frustrating, cuddling cold wet girls and being brave with fireworks only to have them warm up and cheer up in the bosom of their and worse still my family. Whilst I sat there rubbing lard into my burnt digits. The ones in the late eighties and early nineties were best, we substituted Guido for Margaret Thatcher;  had the Busies round in 89. Tried to call me a seditionist. He went away when he found out the evidence had gone up in flames…..What is a seditionist? Happen he meant sodomist. I am not one of those though I have been close  thousands of times. It’s just how ladies are made. Had it happened I would have pleaded guilty but with no malice of forethought.

How did I get into all this? It’s a lovely sunny day with not a cloud in the sky. I went to find Moffat Well. I have tried incorporating it on several walks over the years but never found it. Today I was in the town when I was accosted by the lass I’d asked earlier in the week. She is perfect. Tall, rangy even, Taller than me with a big bobble hat on. She asked if I’d found the well. I thought Cracked It. No such luck. She thought I was thick. She said it’s easy just go up Well Street turn into Well Road and keep going up hill…….Bugger. I don’t like road walking and neither do the dogs, they are a pain on the lead so I found another way. Yet again. I got lost again. Fortunately I met a farmer doing something with his sheep and a couple of collies. I got my two to sit and stay and he shouted stay. Maybe it was his voice that convinced Alf and Moll.

He was trying to get a flock of young whethers back to his farm and we were in the right place. Off they went presumably in the right direction but he stopped his quad bike next to me to say thanks. I asked him where the well was and he said just there. Just there was a mile away._MG_0790  It is in those pine trees. There is a gorge in between. He said follow us and Alf helped keep the sheep in order. He loves the job but hasn’t a clue he just follows the collies. He only has little legs so has to cut corners to keep up. Moly doesn’t bother. I hitched a ride on the quad and eventually we found the road. I dismounted and found my dogs. I hopped off by a wonderful bridge over the gorge.

_MG_0801    This doesn’t look much of a bridge and it won’t. It has got new tarmac.

_MG_0791    It is a special bridge it has these wonderful observation platforms built in.. Port and starboard.

_MG_0792     Somewhere down there is Birnock Water. It’s worth a look but these vistas created by our Victorian forebears should be looked after.

_MG_0802     It is a cracking bridge. It leads in a few hundred uphill yards to……….

_MG_0794     The clump of pines and this little shed.

_MG_0799      At long last I have found Moffat Well. It is gorgeous and I will come back for more pictures.

_MG_0798      It is a spring rather than a well. It isn’t that hot and it tastes horrid.  It smells quite strongly of hydrogen sulphide. I suspect the acidic run off has found it’s way into this thermal source. Acids and sulphurs don’t mix well.Try opening a rotten egg. I‘m sorry the picture is so naff . It is the sun shining in and railings and me. It is a solution of brimstone It stinks.  

_MG_0797     The plaque. The words and Music.

I know this is already a long post but I did my best to snap these for John Edwards. I have no idea if they are rare but can send you high resolution ones. I can’t be arsed with iPads but will work out where I was when I took them. Roughly, Dumfries and Galloway. more precisely Moffat at the corner of Well street and Well road…

_MG_0789_MG_0806     And if I remember rightly in the wall opposite Ballplay road. That’s near the old Academy. Scottish for proper school.

Tonight I‘ll struggle with the dogs and the fireworks. Molly isn’t keen but Alfie waits for the next big Roman Candle or Rocket that showers sparks. He loves them. Yaps at them and growels when the sky is dark and pisses and yips at a good show of colour with an audio of bangs. I’ll leave Moll in and take Alf out.

That’s all and not before time. Have fun.

37 comments:

  1. So, at last, you found the well, Adrian!! A good find too - interesting! I know the quare root of bu--er all about post boxes, but there can't be too many Victorian ones still around, surely?!

    Have very much enjoyed reading this post. Thank you.

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  2. Richard. it has been vile here but this morning was a cracker. Minus one and folk are normal.
    The well I like you can drive to it. Victorians must have had trips to see what they were bathing in and drinking, I wouldn't drink it. Stomach acids and sulphur are not a good mix.
    No idea abut the post boxes. John s the expert. Look to me like the same casting.

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  3. You're having a firework party for dogs?? Hmm.

    A friend of ours was a fireman in theHouse of Commons. He hates work, so the job was ideal for him, as there we're never any fires.

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    1. :) That is brilliant Frances! Smart guy! Adrian, bonfires sound great. But a dog that likes fireworks? Highly unusual:)

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    2. Frances, Chris. I am taking them to watch other peoples I'm not that silly.

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  4. Aha, you thought of Maggie T, the demonic thief, ha ha ha. What a load of great pictures, I love the two pillar boxes, they are beautiful.

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    1. Bob, I try not to think of her. I can see the attraction in Post Boxes.

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  5. What a great find.. well worth the search. Such a pretty area.. and lovely time of year for these images. Enjoy the fireworks.

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    1. Hilary it's either raining or like today the light is far too harsh. I enjoyed the walk and now know where the well is.

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  6. I always felt confused when reading about the British Guy Fawkes traditions (when mentioned in story books back in my childhood etc). Because of the celebration mood connected with it all I never could quite figure out whether he was supposed to be hero or villain. I think my first impressions may have come from a William-book by Richmal Crompton, which is not likely to have brought much clarification on the matter...

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    1. Richmal Crompton is not regarded as a reliable historian. I don't know whether he was a hero or villain. I suspect it is just an excuse for a party.

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  7. Clicking as you wander and explore is a special kind of experience too few of us share. Kudos for your free roaming.

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    1. R.Mac, I walk most days so some produce interesting images but most are just a record of where I've been.

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  8. this post it's very interesting thanks for sharing and the photos are beautiful, autumn is simply beautiful

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    1. Laura, the light was too low and too harsh but I know where to go now and will take some strobes next time. It's a very colourful spring. It does stink though.

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  9. I love the bridge with the observation platforms, very unique.

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    1. Douglas, it made my day. A pity they have let the trees take over.

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  10. Very especially concerns Adriaan.

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  11. My wife still talks about Guy Fawkes Day and she left England in 1953. We don't have such a fun day here. People could have told you that the Moffat well wasn't for drinking. Hot springs here are very sulfurous.

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    1. Red, it isn't the fun it used to be as the health and safety brigade have taken over.
      When Moffat was built to take advantage of this water folk used to come in their droves to drink the stuff.

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  12. You have had a grand day. Great pictures of the well and bridge!!

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    1. Ruby it's a wonderful bridge and the well is worth seeing. It was good to have a sunny day.

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  13. HI Adrian Love the bridge and the stone wall. ALSO THE 2 LETTER BOXES

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  14. Que adelantado está ahí el otoño, por aquí va más lento, pero ha empezado a nevar en la sierra, ha entrado el frio de golpe:((
    Un abrazo.

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  15. Laura, el otoño está casi terminado. Ha nevado un poco en las montañas aquí.

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  16. You said "I met a farmer doing something with his sheep..." I am pleased that you spared us the details as bestiality is a revolting agricultural pastime.

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    1. YP, farmers are forever doing things with sheep. Only a city boy with two blow up ones in his garden would consider shagging one.
      The real ones have to have their bums and fannies clipped and checked for blow fly maggots.
      He was just trying to separate this years lambs from the rest of the flock. It's not difficult if the lambs have grown up together and the dogs know the differnce. They stick together. He will spend a day or two checking them over and sell a few for meat then keep a few for breeding. There's a lot of work goes into a leg of lamb.
      I bet you didn't know that sheep recognise each other even after a few years separation. I like sheep. I wish I'd been a shepherd.

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  17. So much history here, what a place.

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    1. Maria, there is a lot of history but it takes some finding.

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  18. I don't recall whether we saw those particular boxes but when John and I were in Moffat a few years (or more) ago I do recall John getting a bit excited about a post box: leastways I think it was a postbox it could have been pub sign. John's knowledge and excitement are infection in the moment but a couple of minutes later my memory banks have overwritten the information.

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    1. Graham, I have no idea whether one or both are rare. they are subtly different.

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  19. Thanks Adrian. I don't think either is particularly rare but nevertheless it is always great to see the old ones still in use. Some have been stopped up (they are protected so can't be taken away) on the excuse that their openings aren't as big as modern ones. Duh! So just use them for letters!!

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    1. I couldn't say one way or the other but yes it's good to see them.

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  20. Not the easiest things to find or most obvious when you get there, looks like an animal shelter.

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    1. Jay, it is easy by road but I try and walk a circular route incorporating it. know I know where it is I can find it again.

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