Surfing Epney

Surfing in Gloucestershire is rarely rewarding except if you do it for the views. A bore passed Epney shortly before a splendid sunset.

From 2009_08_19SWEpney

The bore arrived more or less on time with a wave barely three inches high. The half dozen surfers didn't even get a splash.

From 2009_08_19SWEpney

Sandfield Bridge

I thought I'd take a better then and now picture of Sandfield Bridge. I printed out the original 1960s images and lined up the shot. The recycled railway track supports are the same ones but the wooden horizontals have been replaced with shorter ones.

From blogpics

However I didn't like the angle so I went back on Wednesday and framed it a bit better. The light was better too.

From 2009_08_19SWEpney

And here again is the original

From Severn Railway Bridge and Purton

I showed my reference picture to the bridgekeeper and he liked it so much I had to give it to him.

Building Society Savings

I've left it a bit late but today was the time to reorganise my savings. Building Societies have the annoying habit of bringing you in on a good interest rate but a couple of years later the interest rate plummets. For example, my Halifax "High Interest Account" is 0.8% and brings a new meaning to the word "High" that George Orwell would have been proud of.

Likewise Stroud and Swindon Building Society dropped their rate from 5.1% to 0.8% in six months so it was time to move the money. They have a new over 50s loyalty account. It sounded like just the thing for me. A good interest rate and I qualify being over 50 and a loyal customer. But the fine print said that I can only open it with "new funds" that must come from outside the S&S. How annoying! All the money of mine I already invested can not be used to get a good rate?

So I closed the account and took the money down the road where I get a better rate and with instant access. If the Stroud and Swindon wanted to encourage loyalty, then the 50 Plus Loyalty Account isn't helping.

Missed call scam

I got a missed call on 0870 2443 494 on my mobile. Apparently this is a number rented out by Cheers International Sales Limited. It is apparent that the company is a magnet for missed call scams judging by the evidence here. If you get a missed call on an 0870 number then don't ring it back unless you want to give your money to scammers. It is probably a good idea in any case not to respond to missed calls for any number that you don't know.

Then and Now - Gloucester Docks

Today the Wheelers had tea in the new Sainsburys in Gloucester Quays. The cafe is big and modern with nice views. It was well staffed. The food was very good and reasonably priced. The red label loose leaf tea is a particular treat. It is a pity that the service is so slow and inefficient. I have no doubt that this will improve as the store sorts itself out. Before we returned I had a quick spin around the docks to do a couple more then and now shots.

Victoria Basin is sporting a ferris wheel this summer. I would have liked to have taken the image from a higher location because Peter had managed to get onto a balcony. Nowadays the balcony appears to be blocked in by two blocks of flats and access is restricted. I had to make do with a slightly lower viewpoint.

From blogpics

This is Victoria Basin in the late 60s. Timber businesses are in the location where you will now find a pub. One says "Gloucester Flooring Supplies". At the right and on the floor there is a metal sign that has collapsed that says "BULK GRAIN". The more distant warehouses are not yet obscured. The basin still has several working boats including the Glevum and Severn Trader, Sabrina 4 and 6.

From G2721

Llanthony and Biddle Warehouses today boast bright painted names and have been refurbished. Canal tours leave from the back of the Llanthony. All cars have been banished and there is not one in the picture.

From blogpics

Here is the dock in the 70s. Pleasure craft are creeping into the dock. Where the back of the museum is now sit stacks of timber and a slate blue mini. If you could see the high resolution version you'd also see a bicycle leaning against one of the timber stacks. The bicycle has a saddle bag similar to a Carradice and there is a man in jeans next to it. You would also see that the Biddle warehouse still has the external lift cage. Now it only has the roof projection left. there are two more cars on the dockside in the distance.

From G2721

Then and Now

Stonehouse Wheelers member number 2, Peter Coleman went to the boat graveyard at Purton in 1968 and took a picture of a Kennet barge called Harriett and part of the lighter Dursley in the foreground. The Stonehouse Wheelers went to Purton today and I thought that it was a fitting opportunity to capture the scene again. The top timbers have gone and the grass doesn't seem to be grazed any more. And no trace of the railway bridge remains. The success of the boat graveyard scheme in protecting the canal bank can be seen in how much land has been reclaimed from the Severn.
Today

From blogpics

1968

From Severn Railway Bridge and Purton

Ajax

Back to work after a fine holiday and some new technology to learn. The Google Web Toolkit is a mighty fine thing but the learning curve is steep. After spending two days of reading books and web pages I was not much wiser. Then I found Lars Vogel and his page at http://www.vogella.de/articles/GWT/index.html and the mist cleared. Thanks Lars.