Tag: Gloucestershire

Leave a comment

The Black Shed of Slad.

pauldaviescartoons

From quite some years ago now, I was driving in the little, very bright yellow van ( 100% Yellow plus 15% Magenta for complete accuracy) towards Stroud on a mission for the company I worked for: Severnprint. I was probably delivering proofs for a job and trying to drum up a little more work from the area. In those days, one could wander around trading estates and shops looking for work. I learnt early in my brief and not that distinguished career as a print salesman ( though it read ‘ Account Manager ‘ on the business card) that one … Continue reading The Black Shed of Slad.

3 Comments

Gill by the River.

pauldaviescartoons

When I went for an interview with a lady called Ruth Gill at a huge ad agency in London back when stuff was in black and white and the London tube had wooden escalators, she asked me at the end of the interview what my hobbies were. My reply was ‘ I haven’t got the job have I?’ She was gracious in her reply and said she was sorry ‘No’. I think she used the question to fill the gap after the more serious questions and what’s more she was not remotely interested in what I did in my spare … Continue reading Gill by the River.

Leave a comment

Before the rain

pauldaviescartoons

Three superb days with my very good friend Richard. Me showing off Gloucestershire to him, and him being his usual easy company as we invaded the places I like with an almost permanent commentary. There are talkers and listeners in this world and I’m one, Richard the other. He has a bone dry wit that is used to good effect as punctuation in my ramblers rambling. First day a quick tour of Leckie Hill. If you’re an Archers fan then the name might be familiar. Round here it should be called Leckhampton Hill and from it I could show him … Continue reading Before the rain

Leave a comment

The Arlingham Curve

pauldaviescartoons

I used to hate walking as a child. Going on a nice healthy walk seemed pointless when I could be running around playing with my friends or trying to get the light to work on my Sturmey Archer powered bike. The light on the front seemed as big as a cars headlight and was powered by a small generator on the back wheel. When it was on a small wheel clicked against the rim of the back wheel and turned to generate the power. This also acted like a brake, so getting any sort of light out of the floodlight … Continue reading The Arlingham Curve

2 Comments

William Shakesfear

pauldaviescartoons

In need of a rebrand? Tread carefully. A small change to a name can make a difference. In the past week I took a trip over to one of my favourite places, Gloucester. In leafy genteel Cheltenham it’s considered by some to be the ‘dark side of the moon’ despite being only 8 miles away. These genteel folk think it’s full of footpads and rogues. The difference between the two places is quite marked, but Gloucester has shedloads more history. Gloucester’s City Centre has some of the worst housing in the area and is high on the ‘deprived’ list whereas … Continue reading William Shakesfear

Leave a comment

The Siege of Gloucester

pauldaviescartoons

An afternoon out in Gloucester at the Folk of Gloucester a wonderful historic old building and the venue for the launch of a book about the Siege of Gloucester. One or two fine gentlemen and ladies in period costume made the day. There was a talk by the author but I was a bit late for class and missed that out, taking more interest in a flintlock musket, the sort that would have been used in the siege, when Gloucester’s parliamentarians resisted the surrounding forces of the Royalists. I have some sympathy even now as I’m not much of a … Continue reading The Siege of Gloucester

3 Comments

What is it about masons?

pauldaviescartoons

  A trip to the Mason’s yard at Gloucester Cathedral. I have a friend at the Cathedral who said she would help me out getting a small sculpture repaired for me. I wanted to match the stone and make the repair myself and asked if I could have a little stone dust to match the colour when I make the repair. She was happy to oblige and off I went with the wingtip in my bag. The sculpture was of a bird and it’s wing the victim of the gust of wind. I’ve been to this place before and it fascinates … Continue reading What is it about masons?

4 Comments

Where’s the joke?

pauldaviescartoons

I got into this by accident. I always wanted to be an advertising art director as it sounded glamorous and there might be lots of travel. Photo shoots in glamorous places with glamorous people go with. I had a brief period in the business before I got the order of the golden boot, not fired, just not wanted.I never went anywhere glamorous, but met some lovely people. The agency that I then worked for: S.H. Bensons was one of those grand old men of advertising where famous novelists started as copywriters and Mr Benson himself was famous for being the original ‘marketing … Continue reading Where’s the joke?

3 Comments

Amberley

pauldaviescartoons

Amberley The way an old gardener walks with head facing downwards looking for weeds. An orginal garden gait.   Amberley is in actual fact a small village between Stroud and Nailsworth and is on the side of the hill, the sunny side at that. It’s very ‘sought-after’ these days in estate agent speak, which to you and me is expensive. There may well be gardeners in the area. Continue reading Amberley

4 Comments

Bibury, how the Japanese avoid it.

pauldaviescartoons

Bibury The walk of a tourist who does not undertsand what he/she should be doing, or seeing, or indeed why they are where they are at all. Involves walking slowly in one direction and then in another random direction, even the person doing the walking does not understand exactly why or in which direction they might be going. The presence of vehicles makes this a dangerous activity and can result in a split bibury which is where the group is bisected by traffic and can induce panic amongst the assembly.  It’s all a sorry sight. Pity them. Common in the … Continue reading Bibury, how the Japanese avoid it.

1 Comment

Maisemore

pauldaviescartoons

Maisemore A daisy chain worn and made by small girls that they make on bright blue summer days for each other. Boys are naturally excluded from this activity. Mothers marvel at their offspring’s dexterity to make them when normally at home they can barely get food into their mouths or tie a shoelace. They forgive them everything as they exclaim: “ Oh look, she’s made a maismore” Maisemore is actually on the edge of the City of Gloucester and is a relatively small village close to the River Severn. It’s prone to flooding, but I’m sure there are a fine … Continue reading Maisemore