Travel & Humanitarian Photos
I’ve been on holiday. Oh, yes, I’ve been having a break filled with the sort of traditional, English things that define “holiday” to a person of my background and vintage. I’ve spent a couple of weeks in deepest, darkest Dorset – which is neither “deep” nor “dark” to be honest, but I enjoy the alliteration.
A traditional English holiday, for me, requires some, or all, of the following: A seaside location (preferably in a Victorian seaside town); sunny days with rainy intervals (as the weather forecasters would phrase it); refreshment in the form of alternating mugs of steaming hot, strong tea and 99 ice creams (a “99″ is a vanilla ice-cream cone topped with a chocolate flake at a jaunty angle); middle-aged men wearing shorts that reveal anaemic, white legs (to whose number I now proudly contribute); afternoon cream teas with home-made scones and clotted cream; paper bags of chocolate lime sweets or white chocolate drops drizzled with colourful “hundreds and thousands”; Cornish Pasties; an early-evening stop at a decent pub boasting panoramic views; Radio 4s “The Archers” every day at it’s proper time and, if I’m really lucky, a proper Punch and Judy show.
The last two weeks in Dorset have brought all these things and more. It’s been a great opportunity to get back to basics and to unwind but now I’ve packed up my bucket and spade and am heading back to the reality of life in Asia.
For now, I thought you might enjoy seeing some photos of the glorious Swanage Railway. This wonderful enterprise exists solely as a result of the labour of love enjoyed by the many volunteers who devote their time to rejuvenating the steam trains of a bygone era. There can be few things that transport me back in time as swiftly as the sight and sound of a steam locomotive speeding through the gently rolling greenery of the English countryside. Not that I’m old enough to remember steam trains running in earnest (cough, cough) but these old machines do seem able to press the nostalgia button in everyone who sees them.
It’s been wonderful to return to the kind of English seaside holiday that evokes so many memories and I’ve enjoyed wallowing in nostalgia for a couple of weeks but now it’s time to face up to the reality of motorway queues, boarding passes, security checks, passport control and luggage carousels. I wonder if I could do it the old-fashioned way and book a cabin on a steam ship? Hmm, see you in six months?
These photographs and the description of your holiday look and sound just wonderful Gavin. Thank you so much for sharing. Given what you’ve written about the steam trains it looks like I’ll have to take my 3 year old on holiday to Dorset some day-he’s just nutty about steam trains these days!
I’m with Brian…my 2 year old son loves “Thomas the Tank Engine” and can’t get enough of all things related to trains. He would love riding on the Swanage Railway. Great images and story of your holiday. Thanks for sharing!
Great shots and an interesting read Gavin.
Great post, Gavin. As a fellow Brit of a similar vintage also living outside the UK, this pressed all the nostalgia buttons for me, too. Love the photographs, too.
Gorgeous imagery as always, Gavin and a wonderful story that transports to another world!
Hi Gavin… Sounds like a very relaxing holiday you had yourself back in England, quite far from the daily life in Asia. Really enjoyed your post and your wonderful photographs. Like your way of telling a story, whether from China or the Swanage Railway… It pulled me right in. Thank you for sharing and for being an inspiration.
Like Ian & yourself I’m a leaving outside the UK and to say this hit the nostalgia button is putting it mildly – cream teas, Cornish pasties and real Public Houses… then you topped it with some superbly atmospheric images! Sir, you are a cad and a bounder!
Off to steal a teabag from a nearby anglophile and then to dunk a digestive or two.
Enjoy the rest of your vacation & thanks for the reminders of home.
Top-shelf pics and words Gavin.
Nice photo essay Gavin, just curious, was the lensbaby used for a couple of the pictures?
Those were really great, Gavin.
You should come back more often