Thursday 30 October 2008

Shhh! Private bench chat going on ...

Benches at the Chelsea Physic Garden

A rather prosaic bench inscription (although the moss is nicely buttery, it has to be said!)...


This one was more personal, I like the heart carved in the wood (it made me think of lovers' hearts and intials on trees) and also the wine glasses clinking (under the seat, next to the plaque) ...



It was hard to resist going to sit on these, although the rain stopped play ...



And I loved the shape of this one ...

Monday 20 October 2008

Consider the bench book

Thanks to Garden Monkey, for drawing my attention to this link to the Domestik Goddess's post on garden benches, and the reference to Mirabel Osler's book on The Garden Bench.

The always interesting and normally reliable Garden Monkey however wondered whether a whole book on garden benches isn't just a little indulgent.

Hah, I say, particularly with this blurb ...

Here are seats for languor, for conversation or momentary sloth, contemplative benches, benches for lovers, seats for scents, secrecy, twilight or shelter.


Which in my opinion makes it quite clear that just one book is not enough to contain all the poetry even a common-or-garden bench can inspire. Bring on the sequel.

(Interestingly, using the Domestik Goddess link to Amazon.com, the book costs over $80, but with Amazon.co.uk, it's a snip at one penny. Does this mean we value benches more in the UK, or less? I wish I could see the book's cover.)

Sunday 19 October 2008

Bench picnic



And do you know what the best thing is about this bench laden down by good French market food? I got to eat it - just yesterday!

Wednesday 15 October 2008

Stay sleepless in Singapore

It's cheaper....


WHAT was supposed to be a free 15-minute nap on a park bench turned into a costly snooze for one Singaporean.
The New Paper on Tuesday reported that a 62-year-old, who only wanted to be known as Mr Kassim, was fined $200 when he dozed off on a Sun Plaza Park bench while taking shelter from the rain.

The National Parks Board (NParks) fined the private bus driver for having misused the park facility by sleeping on the bench.

Saddle up now ....

Many thanks to Beth for her photograph of this bench, found in Park City, Utah:



Do please send me your bench pictures - I have this vision of a map of benches from all over the world, so we can have a nice 'quiet sit down' wherever we are!