Teignmouth 1-4 June 2007

These were taken when I decided to visit Teignmouth for a weekend. I have been visiting Teignmouth for many years now and I've seen a lot of change over the past 2o years. My parents first came here in 1968 when everything was a lot cheaper and the shop's stayed open late. They stayed at a bed and breakfast up Barnpark Road which is now an old people's home, we have also stayed at Redsands owned by a very nice elderly lady who had a deaf Siamese, a blind dog and a parrot who couldn't stop swearing!

This area is known as the 'backwater'. It's a kind of car park, or should I say boat park for sailing vessels. It's very relaxing to sit round here and listen to the wind flapping the masts, larger boats from the docks can also be seen pulling in and out when the tide is right. Over the water is the Village of Sheldon. This is a very sought after place to live, but in Winter the water has been known to lap at the doorstep.

In the 1970's there used to be a cafe and a hotel standing on this spot. I still remember having my first ever taste of coffee here with my parents and the brick yellow walls, the owners had a black Labrador who was always on the scrounge. This new building was erected in the 1980's and the former building is now long gone.

This used to be a very popular swimming turned paddling pool in the 1970's. The seagulls used to love it to no end. The council arn't sure what to do with it, but I hope it stays around.

These are some of the light's along the seafront, in the 1970's they were in a looped shape unlike they are now. The building in the background is the Bay hotel, it's very nice but a bit upmarket for me.

It's quite loneley along the seafront at night (obviously!), during the day lot's of people get along there with their skateboards, there's also Victorian varandas along the front. There used to be kiddies rides which have long since gone.

This is the smugglers tunnle at Sheldon. It leads down to a concealed beach via lot's of steps which can get slippery with wet sand, my mum scared a lady when she heard her stick tapping on the ground and throught it was a ghost?

Portesmouth - Ryde Saturday June 10th 2007

This is the inside of the hovercraft which left Southsea at Portsmouth. If you have never been on here before then it's like your washing machine starting up. There's no bar on board as like other ships and your life jackets are under the seat. The journey to Ryde only takes 20 minutes.

The hovercraft at Ryde

Ryde beach, although the sea was well out there was a small amount to paddle in, the water was like a warm bath. Towards Portsmouth there was a thick fog with only the Spinnaker tower top just poking above. Fog horns could be heard calling eerily across the water, on the island it was clear blue skies, on the mainland was all misty.

Ryde Pier where a old London Underground train runs along, I have been told that these are the trains which used to run during the Blitz.

Looking towards Southsea you can see the faint wall of mist, I think the foghorns were coming from Portland although I can't be sure.

I tried to capture the blades of the hovercraft which were spinning very fast, my digital is an old banger (but never mind). There was an horrendous noise followed by a strong draft from the blades. These are members of our Lifestyles group.

Brittany Ferries just pulling into Portsmouth. These are the overnight ferries which end up at Cherbourg, they have a casino, dining rooms, entertainment hall and bars. The cabins are standard with a radio, two low beds and hanging rail for garments.

I just wanted to capture the way the sun was shining on the water. If your wondering what Lifestyles is, it's a charity for people who are disabled or who have learning difficulties, get the best out of life and overcome any barriers they might face. We go on all sorts of organised trips and have a newsletter published once a month with new listings in. We don't have an office as yet so we meet monthly in the pub to hear new discussions.