Saturday, January 11, 2003

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Had a lovely day today. Rather than do the usual, as in piss-up Friday night, late start Saturday, I did an earlyish (and sober) night last night and got up early this morning.

I had this crazy idea I would go to Splott Market Car Boot Sale and find loads of bargains that I could put up for sale on Ebay and make my fortune with... Well, that was the plan. I was secretly very excited as I hadn't been over that neck of the woods for the best part of a decade, and it was my childhood stomping ground.

Of course I took my camera... Got into town at about 8.30 and it was still fairly dead. The smell of disinfected urine hang heavy on the streets, as it usually does after one of the weekend nights. Lovely sunrise. Knew it was going to be cold, so I had the thermals on. Everything was bathed in a lovely crisp pink light (none of which I managed to capture with the camera.) So waiting for the bus, I took the shelters. I like the contrast and electricity red signs more than anything.

Got the bus, got off in Splott Road. Wandered down the back of Splott Road, over East Tyndall St, in a nostalgic haze. They've moved the Market. It used to be under some lovely old black metal shelters, off Sanquahar St. They were all flaky, old and falling. Quite a good height to them too, and a good ground coverage. I never got any decent photos of them, unfortunately, as they have all been demolished now. They were a well known nesting home for all the local bats!

Anyway. Now its up off Lewis Road, about a half a mile away. That's the thing about Cardiff, it all changes so fast. Where me and my old mate used to go to the playing field behind Littlewoods to practice being Jackie Chan, is all built over with houses now. Yucky, new, faceless houses. What a horrible place to live. There is nothing there! We used to be the only people in the park, there was no one around there. The whole area was and stil is, all industrial estates, units and derelict factories.

This building I had never taken any notice of before, but it made me smile today. It just says a lot about what Cardiff is like these days. The building was pretty bog-standard. It was obviously in tatters for a long time. But then some genius decided to start a new building in the one that's there - the frame work on top is all pretty new, but look at the state of the bottom. I dare say they then run out of money. It has happened so many times here in Cardiff. It looks so sad.

The car boot was packed, it was the first time I'd been to one in many years. I live in this constant state of waiting for the big break. I live in this netherworld of Antiques Roadshow hope that one day the item I pick up is actually worth a fortune. The whole plan was to find some nice stuff to put up for auction at Ebay. I keep meaning to do it, but never bother. Just as well, there was twat all there. I picked up some pre cert VHS tapes and an Ian Brown Single... I've not signed my resignation letter yet...

I think most people are wise. You don't find Rembrandt's going for £1 these days, you find Jim Reeves LPs and tat bough in seaside boutiques. I tried to employ a rule which went - 'If it looks like something you would buy in Hypavalue, then it probably is...' Still, its nice to rummage through junk like that. I used to love jumble sales and still have the bug now. I should do it more often!

Got fed up took a very long and round about walk back, taking photos all the time. more factual than anything, nothing arty, I like capturing the buildings I grew up with and loved before they disappear... Here are a couple of them for you.

Nursey will spot this one straight off, I'm sure he photographed it years ago. Its grafitti on a derelict lane door, right behind my old house. Its been there as long as I can remember (20+ years,) there is just something real primitive and beautifully timeless about it.

Then I was getting tired and in need of some rest and loving company, so I headed back home to Mrs Dio Bach, who is looking lovely and starting to show a nice bump.

I could go on for hours. But I'm sure no one is listening, and I got other stuff to do. If I don't do it now then I just find everything changes around me, and things I love seeing and doing, I don't see or do for a decade...

Posted by Dio Bach at 23:48

1 Comments:

Arth Mawr said...: The old Chapel on the corner of Splott Road and Pearl St. used to be owned by Frankie Johnson, renowed Cardiff Crooner and Soul Singer.

You might want to post some of these on Panoramio
Pearl St.; 5:49 PM