Wednesday 24 February 2010

Alphabe-Thursday F is for Ferries

At least one person I know is going to know where this is leading. As I think about ferries I find myself wandering off into all sorts of nostalgia.


REEDHAM FERRY

Reedham Ferry is just down the road from the house where my mother's cousin and his wife used to live in a place called Nogdam End, Norton Subcourse (I haven't included the name of the house, although he sadly passed away some time ago and his wife doesn't live there any more) It is a funny little boat that is pulled across the river on a big chain and saves a trip of about 30 miles. It takes ages and you can go on foot or by car. This is a post card of the old ferry, I think there is a newer one now. All very unhurried because it saves nearly an hour of driving. When I was a lot younger I used to go to our cousin's house and have wonderful meals and drink their own wine made from their own grapes (yes! in Norfolk!) with my mum and granddad and it was a lovely walk to the ferry along a country lane that was, weirdly, below the level of the river, so boats would go past and you would have to look UP at them


ON THE DOVER - OSTENDE FERRY

This next picture was going to be the one of me at the age of 14 on the Dover to Ostende ferry on a school trip to Germany. It was a long journey and a step back in time when we got there. The school my school was twinned with was in Southern Germany and everything was like the 1950s or so it seemed. I have just spent half an hour trying to find said photo but so many are stashed away in shoe boxes waiting to be sorted out I have given up. However, this is one that I took on that trip in 1969 from the rail. I got very sea sick below decks so froze in the fresh air. I fell in love with a boy called Klaus who had a lovely dark green courduroy jacket and danced with me a lot because I was the only one of the English girls who knew the Polka


PULLS FERRY - NORWICH

This one is Pulls Ferry which is in Norwich, you can see the cathedral in the background. My granddad grew up in the late 19th Century in Norwich and told some grand tales. We used to visit him a lot and I still love going there. Norwich Cathedral is wonderful and the Castle Museum is fascinating and the old parts of the City just gorgeous. I haven't been for a long time - must make the effort again.

And so to the most important ferry of them all
Have you guessed?



BRYAN FERRY

I have loved Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry for the last 35 years and more. I still listen to their music and enjoy it even though my tastes in music have expanded over the years and tend towards the classical. The early albums take me back to the back garden of my friend Marion's house when we were still care free teenagers. A lot of water has passed under a lot of ferries since then!

You can see what other folk have written here

20 comments:

  1. Oh my word - you nearly got me on that one! There was I thinking that I didn't know you had an interest in boats and I forgot about the most important boat of all!! Fabulous!!

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  2. Brilliant - I could add Woolwich Ferry to your collection!! Lovely to meet you I am now a follower!! :)

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  3. Hey! I wrote a post that included faeries, too! Oh wait...the OTHER kind!

    I loved your stories...especially about the ferry to S. Germany. Great "F".

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  4. I so enjoyed this F!!!! A Fresh Take On It!!!

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  5. I really enjoyed this, your memories of the ferry rides sound like so much fun (well, maybe not being seasick!). And you got me with the last one, very clever. Great post. Kathy

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  6. Love the FERRY FOTOS!!! Love your F post!!! Happy Alphabe-Thursday!

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  7. hehe yuk ferry's just remind me of sea sickness lol.

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  8. Fantastic Ferry post! You are so funny. I always enjoy a ferry ride.
    Happy Thursday.

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  9. i have such an affinity for ferries....i will always choose them over driving...they seem so romantic to me.
    ahh...bryan ferry...swoon

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  10. i'm not one for ferry rides but i'm glad you love em :D

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  11. I love a good ferry ride ... what a wonderful post, thanks for sharing it and sharing your memories ... and Brian Ferry ... yummy!

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  12. Love your little twist on "Ferry". I finally got to ride on a ferry last year...I was frightened because it was a stormy, blustery day but it was F antastic! And I hope to go again soon!

    Although only with my sweet husband! And not with Brian Ferry!

    A+

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  13. I love you ferry photos, but I'm afraid I don't know who that last Ferry was!

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  14. I've never ridden on a ferry but I bet it's a lot of fun.

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  15. I've always enjoyed ferry rides. A good choice for an F word.

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  16. I like Ferries too -- all kinds!

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  17. Fabulous F post :) . My last ferry ride (or waiting for it) wasn't so much FUN ... we were at the beach, so were 500 or so bicyclists all waiting for the same ferry to get back to the mainland from the island ... 3 girls who of course all had to go to the bathroom ... oh, I don't want to relive that one again, ever.

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  18. I love on an Island, so ferries are a big part of life here - timetables, reservations, overbooked ferries, orcas off the port side and....ferry food! (we all love to hate it!)
    Great post, with a nice little twist.

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  19. OOps - while I am married to The Great Dane and love on an island, what I really meant to say was that I LIVE on an island!

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  20. My favorite ferry ride was going to Martha's Vineyard! Love that Island!! A must see in person!

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