The girls returned to school yesterday and I found myself alone for the first time in six weeks. I wandered down the road to buy a newspaper, delighting in the fact that there was no one at my elbow begging for sweets.
Elbow room and head space – that’s what I’ve missed. It’s been a lovely summer break, but it’s nice to be alone again for part of the day. A treat to walk around the neighbourhood and take in the changes that have occurred over the summer, such as these houses on Picton Street, which were spruced up in August.
Yesterday, I was struck by the lovely graffiti-like play of sunlight on the walls. In fact at first I really thought it was graffiti, a sort of weird washed out version of the Olympics logo!
Although Montpelier is fairly scuzzy in places – mindless tags adorn walls and bins, and we seem to have far more than our fair share or dog shit – the neighbourhood is also full of real beauty. In particular its wonderful mix of architecture: Georgian townhouses and cottages, Victorian villas and terraces, and even one or two interesting 20th and 21st-century additions. Of course there are plenty of duds in the mix as well, whole rows of dull, mean-looking 80s Toy Town nothingness. But the mix is the thing. For me the scuzz points up the beauty so, dog shit aside, I’m happy to put up with all the tagging, and even a bit of litter, because, when taken as a whole, Montpelier has immense charm and character.
And it’s lovely to resume my term time routine – a daily (nosy) stroll around the streets, admiring other people’s window boxes and gardens, their front doors and curtains.
Wonderful colours in Picton Street.
I was looking forward to today as a day of peace and quiet. Finally they were all back at school and college. Unfortunately George seems to have more free periods than lessons.
Those buildings are painted in such lovely colours.I love strolling around the streets and looking at peoples houses too!
Sarah x
I love your photos of local houses…I wish I had the guts to photograph some of the houses round here- I have some in-built dread of an angry resident rushing out waving a rather large stick in a threatening manner!
Actually that did happen to me quite recently, only it wasn’t the house owner but a neighbour. She was incredibly rude to me! Later I spoke to the owner who was completely fine about me taking pictures and it turns out she has amassed a large collection of her own. I tend to only photograph stuff I like so when someone speaks to me I go all out with flattery! Usually does the trick.
Love the photos of the coloured houses it takes me back to the seventies when we used to live in Cheltenham in a blue house on Grosvenor Terrace which was next to a deep green house, next to a pale yellow, next to a pink and so on. We are in Yorkshire now but I will always miss living in Cheltenham with the Regency and Georgian architecture – here it is mostly dark and heavy Victoria Gothic – we often go down into Derbyshire for the day and wander around Bakewell and Buxton where it is similar in feel to the Cotswolds with pretty cottages and Georgian houses in soft grey stone.
Great pics of colourful houses! That last pic of the plant peeking through the pegged curtains really gave me a smile.
I went to school at Fairfield Grammar in the’60s, I walked down Picton Street everyday on the way to get the bus home – it certainly didn’t look like that in those days! I live in Devon now but love reading about Bristol in your blog.
Thank you! And yes, I’m sure it’s changed a lot – Montpelier still seems to be regarded with a fair amount of suspicion by lots of people I meet. Did you know that Cary Grant grew up on Picton Street and also went to Fairfield – you probably did. I love the idea that he walked up my road and past my house every day on his way to school.
Very striking photos and I’d be quite chuffed with a Cary Grant connection, too! And, yes, a bit of peace and quiet doesn’t go amiss.