Observations-June 2023.
Quite a lot of things went on in the month of June. I celebrated my 41st year and Dan and I had a nice day out in Liverpool.
I also did a lot of investigations on my list of things to see.
I visited Otterspool Promenade and it is still the same as it ever was. I however enjoyed the original Lancashire Rose fence from when the Prom was built and trying to find out where the original seating area was from the 1950’s.
Go HERE to read about Otterspool’s history.
I think this is part of an old mill building or dock. You can see a picture of how it used to look HERE.
You can see the fence panels on the 1950’s image below.
Image Source- Liverpool Echo.
I enjoyed seeing the Sitting Bull sculpture by Dhruva Mistry. Originally part of the 1984 International Garden Festival, he has been here on the prom since 2007 and there is a bit about him being moved HERE. Go HERE to see the original drawings of the sculpture before it was made. I feel sad that he has been painted on but I do like his eyeliner.
I went to the garden festival but I was only about three so I don’t remember much, except the balloon I had. It was shiny blue and I threw it on the floor. Go HERE and HERE to watch two excellent films showing the site. See if you can spot the bull!
The site in the 90’s later became Pleasure Island which was an experience in itself. Death slide anyone?
I helped a baby magpie out of the plant pot section in the garden. It was very shouty and pecked me multiple times which is what I wanted it to do. I found it later on sitting quietly but it was still warm so I let it make its own way. This has now transcended into over 12 magpies each morning screaming and shouting at each other from 5am onwards.
I went to see Tom Wood’s Photie Man exhibition at the Walker Art Gallery, showcasing over 50 years of his work. I used to pour over his photographs when I was doing my HNC and I used his Bus Odyssey images as the starting point for my final show way back in 2004.
I’m excited for his new book The DPA Work which documents Rainhill Psychiatric Hospital which is around ten minutes away from where I grew up and Cammell Laird shipyard. The exhibition runs until until 7th January 2024, so go and see it.
There was far too much to see, but the following quote on the wall is perfect. Thanks Tom.
I also popped in on my three favourite pictures before I went home.
I saw an Oak gall in Costco car park. It is the remains of an Oak marble gall and that is a really nice name. Go HERE to learn more about Galls.
I saw the remains of the Sankey Canal tow path outside Lidl, with some very nice canal bank horticulture thrown in.
I celebrated Midsummer by going to the Taskers home sale and then watched two pigeons fight over a stale crumpet.
Somebody donated all their old cassette tapes to the charity shop. I missed them for a few minutes but I really haven’t got time to wind up chewed tape with a pen anymore. I do still have my 1995 copies of the ‘taped off the radio’ top 40’s, so that’s enough.
Lastly I visited Delamere Forest for the first time in over seven years. It was more or less the same except I only got there at 3pm so no big investigating. I instead went to the café and had a cheese sandwich and a cup of tea. I might go again when I have more time but I am more interested in the ancient forest it once was.
It was known as the twin medieval forests of Mara and Mondrem. Some parts of it still exist along the River Weaver. I will put this trip on my list of things to find one day.
