The War Memorial Park is just the gift that never stops
giving. Memories of "Brassed Off" the film about the miners' strike
that featured Grimethorpe Colliery Band. I had classmates who lived in
Grimethorpe back in the day at Barnsley Grammar School.
A bit hot, but plenty of shade available from the trees
whose species I have been trying to learn. All in all a glorious Sunday
afternoon in this, my first full English summer for 45 years.
I could learn to like this retirement malarkey. 🤣🤣
In the early evening, if I need another 15 minutes or so to
reach my exercise goals, I head off down the street opposite the gate into our
building. Then turn right before the cricket ground, past the old Board school,
maybe pause at a circular seat around an old tree between the church, school
and pub. Then back eastward, nip into an alley and arrive home "job
done"
That walk takes me past the Proteus art centre, which I should try to make more
use of. Recently there there have been plastic barriers around a dug-up portion
of pavement, just before I get to the seat. Repairs to heavy electric cables.
Note the plastic cocoons where the old and new are spliced together. I've
always been fascinated by construction work in progress. The stuff that gets
hidden away eventually.
That avenue of trees is from my longer, morning walks, just after the butterfly
garden. Another example of the feeling of secret promise that sometimes lurches
into view.
Watercolour is a great medium for botanical drawings. The
little man inside my Samsung phone is remarkably good at simulating this style.
With a few clicks I can take a sample I stole from a low-hanging branch and and
"up the clarity" of the images it provides by several notches.
This is a sprig from a lime tree. Tilia Tomentosa. The leaves have fine hairs
on the underside leading to the pale grey colour and the name "Lime"
(Linden to some) Not to be confused with the citrus fruit. It provides some of
the best wood for carving: fine-grained, not too hard. Grinling Gibbons'
favourite.
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