Sunday 30 June 2013

Call me old fashioned...

The last day of June has been glorious.



We nipped down to Harwich to see the 1953 flood exhibition in the Guildhall. It was very interesting and looking at the old photos and newspaper reports was incredibly moving. I’ve blogged before about what happened to my own family in the flood here.

If you're down that way, the exhibition will be open again next weekend 6th/7th July between 2.30 and 4.30 pm and it's free to go in.

Wish I’d taken a photo of the lovely ladies in their 1950s dresses! You’ll have to take my word for it how pretty they all looked.

Passed the fish and chip shop afterwards and….




Well you’ve got to haven’t you? And we sat on the seafront to eat them.

And had a look at the piano on the beach.




It’s all part of the Harwich Festival of the Arts and you can read more about it here and here.

Now call me old fashioned, but when I heard they’d put a piano on the beach to be left at the mercy of the elements I was appalled. I thought it was an awful idea. Musical instruments should be cherished and cared for, but…





There was something rather nice about sitting down there watching the boats in the sunshine while someone played the piano on the beach.

And while we were sitting there, a Spitfire flew right over us. If my fingers hadn't been so greasy I'd have taken a photo, but by the time I'd wiped them clean, it had gone.


28 comments:

  1. Lovely photos, Teresa. So glad you had a fab day out. The chips looked scrummy ;o) Caroline x

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  2. I agree with you about cherishing musical instruments.

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    1. I saw someone smashing up a piano once, Jacula - it was really horrible. Such a waste x

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  3. Teresa, you've painted a fairly surreal, yet highly enjoyable, picture here. I'm trying to imagine the tinkling piano mingling with the sound of lapping water, and sliced through with the roar of a Spitfire. Only in England...

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    1. I hadn't thought of it like that, Martin, but it was quite surreal! The Spitfire has been around quite a lot lately - we've seen it doing aerobatics, but just the sight and sound of it is something special :-) x

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  4. I love the piano on the beach, Teresa. There could be a wealth of stories linked to that image.
    The weather was so lovely for the last day of June. It would have been my Dad's birthday and he would have loved the piano on the beach and the Spitfire roaring overhead.
    I always feel very blessed on June 30th to have had such a wonderful father. I spent the day indulging in memories of my childhood and how lovely he was. He used to tell me he was taken away from his mother as soon as he was born because he was so ugly! But I think he probably needed reviving and I'm so glad he was.
    He would have loved the fact that I eventually learned to play the piano (age 46). He used to say the piano spoke to him. I wish I could have played something for him to listen to, something that would have spoken to him, but by then it was too late. x

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    1. Your dad sounds lovely, Joanna and he'd be so proud of you. And who can say - perhaps he can listen to you play. I sometimes feel as if my parents are looking over my shoulder, checking what I'm up to :-)

      I would have liked to have a tinkle on the piano, but there were a lot of people about and I'm not confident enough as it's a very long time since I played. They seemed to be almost queuing up for a go!
      Hugs for you, Joanna x

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  5. I think the piano on the beach sound wonderful. What a lovely day out.

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    1. I want to nip down there and have a go when no one's looking, Wendy :-) x

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  6. Never been to Harwich, but I love the look of that pretty beach with the backdrop of those cranes in the docks.
    I don't suppose you actually saved any of those tasty-looking chips for us, did you, Teresa? I'm beginning to feel a bit peckish. xx

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    1. That was the beach I played on as a child, Rena, but it didn't have that grass all over it then! I would have saved you some chips, but... :-) x

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  7. Love your day out, Teresa - and how cool is that piano on the beach, although my husband would probably have a fit to think of the weather effects. As to fish and chips - just what we did one evening on holiday!

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    1. I am torn Rosemary - I hated the idea, but then seeing it there and so many people wanting to play it is something special :-) x

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  8. Your day out looks wonderful, Teresa. I've enjoyed reading about it and seeing the photos, thanks for sharing. I can imagine piano music on the beach would be magical, listening to it and the sound of the waves. I quite like the look of the fish and chips too! A must for a day out at the seaside.

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    1. It was magical, Sharon - and an eclectic mix of music being played too. The sound was so good considering it has been left to the elements :-) x

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  9. I agree. I wonder if anyone played Debussy's 'La Mer'? (Yes, groan groan, I know!)

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    1. Well if anyone didn't, they should, hydra :-) x

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  10. Or some sea shanties, Hydra? I like the idea of impromptu recitals on the beach. Gosh, those chips look fab. Couldn't you spare me just one or six?

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    1. It's great when they have the sea shanty festival here :-) I'll get you some chips next time ;-) x

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  11. I must say I don't like the idea of them leaving the piano there for 'art's sake'. Poor piano being thrashed by the salty seas. Oh, I can feel a poem coming on.

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    1. Saw a boy on it yesterday, Maggie jumping all over it and yelling that he was going to smash it - horrible :-( x

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  12. Looks and sounds like you had a great day, Teresa.
    Strange idea to have a piano left on the beach, but wonderful at the same time, to be able to enjoy the music and the sea view together...

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    1. I have very mixed feelings about it, Carol. It's looking very sad now, but people are still playing it x

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  13. Hi Teresa,

    Oops and call me slow. Yes, it took me ages to finally get here. Sorry :)

    Ah yes, Harwich. Nice to see that you had nice weather on your visit. We could use some of that up this way :) A piano on the beach. Wonder if they played anything in 'Sea' minor. Ignore me!

    Thank you for your supportive comment on my latest posting, Teresa.

    Gary :) x

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    1. Hi Slow ;-) Aren't you getting any sunshine? I'll send it in your direction. Hope you had a happy birthday :-) x

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  14. I felt as if I was there with you Teresa! Before the mixed blessing of The Box one of my most treasured memories is an impromptu singsong round the piano of some friends we had gone to visit. Those were the days.
    Awful to think of the piano left to the elements but I guess if it gives people some wonderful memories maybe, just maybe, it's worth it. Sue :o) xx

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    1. Ah lovely old sing songs - when I used to be hidden in a quiet corner in the pub (sh don't tell anyone, wasn't allowed in those days) my dad often used to play the pub piano :-) x

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