A Church in Surrey ... and other things too.

This was the sight that made me ask Kim if we could pull over for a few minutes.  The old English church, half-hidden by the mist, behind that exquisite stone wall. 

As an introduction, it was grand but it only got better after we stepped through the gate.

We're having a few days of mist and fog on this side of the world.  Although, today the rain set in, here in Southsea.  I'm sitting close to the open door at the Drift Bar, leaving for the library sooner or later but it's a great place to work.  I'm happy enough, perched on the edge of another world, watching the clientele come and go as I write here.  Breathing in that secondhand smoke that arrives through that open door and reminds me of my childhood spent down at Nana's.

Nana, it has to be noted, was horrified that I loved the smell of "beer and baccy" at her house.  Not that it was beer and baccy, (She actually enjoyed her G&T and Grandad was a a fairly measured whiskey drinker).  The smell of their place was more about the coalstone range, cigarette smoke and home-cooked food.

But back here, in England, they greet you if you look up as they come through the door.  I love that. 

I'm trying so hard not to ask about the possibility of a photograph exhibition here.  This desire wells up in me every time I find some hub ... a sense of a community, I want to talk to the people, photograph them, learn of their lives because I find the lives of others are often so interesting.

I had a photography exhibition in Antwerp, titled Public Self/Private Self.  This bar is one of those places ... a place where young and old gather, at different times.  A place where everyone knows each others name.  Those are the places that fascinate me.  The people, and their stories of living somewhere forever, or not.

But anyway, London soon.  And I'm looking forward to learning that world.

Tot straks.

Yesterday ... in Southsea, Portsmouth.

My desire to photograph all that I'm curious about is back.  Yesterday I wandered into the Drift Bar, here in Portsmouth, just needing to be around folk for a while but I ended up racing out for my camera. 

Simon, the handyman, was hanging an unusual set of lights.  Using ropes, pulleys, and fashioning a wire cage for the light bulb ... I wanted to hotograph them.

Unfortunately my packets (and packets) of AA batteries are back in London, waiting for me to return, and so I ended up grabbing my tripod and seeing what was possible.

Hopefully you get a sense of these rather extraordinary light fittings below. 

Found in Surrey, England

My lovely friend, Kim, took me out to lunch today and we ended up in a pretty little village called Godalming.  

Have I already mentioned that the charity shops in England blow my mind?

Books, really good secondhand books, start at .50p and don't go higher than 2 pounds.  And they're all in English. 

I have been living outside of English for so long that I still find this stunning, even after a month in this world.

It was foggy today but beautifully, autumly, foggy.  The light was divine and, for the first time in a long time, I felt my passion for photography rise up and demand time.

Kim stopped at a church, somewhere in the hills of Surrey, so that my camera and I could play for a while. 

The lunch was delicious.  We discovered Grills and Greens, and were served by a lovely guy from Rome.  My tagliatelle funghi, mushrooms and cream sauce with fresh ground black pepper, was rather divine.

Finding that Perfect Pub ... here in England

It's like Cinderella's prince finding the foot that belonged to the glass slipper.  Or Goldilocks, perhaps.

I found 'something like home'  tonight, the third pub I've tried. 

The People!!!!  So kind.  A plumber bought me a drink.  The welder, the builder, and some others too, made me almost die laughing there at the bar.

The publican ... he is brilliant.  Like a stage manager, keeping an eye out and making sure that everyone is safe, that man who is incredibly kind.

And then there was the army chef and his beautiful wife ... they filled me in.  Invited me to play golf with them sometime.

My birthday's tomorrow, so different to last year ... with the photography exhibition and friends flying in from all over Europe.  Tomorrow, I shall go this pub that I've found ... the one that serves good wine and much kindness.

Thank you to everyone, who doesn't actually know about my blog, but ... who made me so welcome in this part of England where I currently am.

Oh ...!  And the recruiting center phoned me today and I missed that call, as you do!  So tomorrow, who knows, perhaps there is good news.

Meanwhile some the guys there gave me some contacts to check out in the days ahead.  Who knows where this Kiwi is watching the All Blacks play on Saturday but that lovely pub is surely calling me.

I was on my way back from here, yesterday, when i found the pub ... just btw.



Things I'm Enjoying About England ...

This Nature Reserve ... I was introduced to it yesterday.  Thank you, Andy.

And then there's the people, who have been incredibly kind and polite so far.   Yesterday I wandered into a pub.  They had 'Rugby' written on the board outside.  I asked if they were screening world cup rugby matches, and yes, they would be screening the rugby world cup, and yes again, when I asked them about sound.  Previous experience: 2 world cup matches viewed locally, without much sound, made me check about commentary.

But nicer still, the woman behind the counter asked me if I was a Kiwi ... her husband comes from Palmerston North.  I shall return there soon. 

Sainsburys has continued to surprise and delight me.  It's a lovely destination for that daily walk I now feel compelled to take.  Pukka Pies remain my pie of choice, on the odd occasion I buy.  Lovely, after so many years away from good pies.  I don't need a lot but some is good.

The air seems relatively clean here and is currently all about autumn and woodsmoke and damp vegetation ... but in good ways.  Ways that take me back to New Zealand.  Chinook helicopters often fly over, we're on one of their flight paths.  I love the sound of their heavy beat overhead.

I'm drinking tap water, after years of viewing the Antwerp water with a deep suspicion that left me drinking bottled sparkling water.  It's still quite odd to simply open the tap and fill a glass when I need a drink.

I am missing my Nespresso machine but it's okay ... I'm missing Genova too, and would much prefer the coffee found there in the city. Starbucks is okay for a single espresso, occasionally.

I am loving the buses.  People wait for all passengers to leave the bus before climbing on, exchanging greetings, asking questions ... which are always answered, by the drivers.    And when they're not in service, the illuminated message on the front of the bus begins with 'Sorry.'  

Really!  All this courtesy just blows my mind.

People in shops and official places have been so nice that I come away stunned and bemused.  When I had my National Insurance appointment, the woman told me of spending 30 minutes with the Dalai Lama some years ago.   We chatted of other things, while we filled out the forms.  Opening a bank account ... same kind of friendly, helpful service.

The woman at the recruiting office couldn't have been more helpful.  And the local rugby club have said I can go along on Saturday night and watch the All Blacks play there ...   I'll head to the NZer's pub on Sunday, for the Australian game.

And I don't even know where to begin when talking of the friends I am staying with, and their friends, who have gathered me in in ways that stun and humble me.

So times are challenging and the future is slightly unclear at the moment however ... England is a truly lovely country and I'm feeling quite lucky to be here.

This is my song at the moment ... I think it so often.  I Wasn't Expecting That.