Joe and Ash

Just back from a hectic, action-packed two days in Bristol, visiting youngest son Joe and his girlfriend Ash.  We had a brilliant time walking , eating, chatting, laughing.

Bristol is a fascinating and attractive city - full of different spaces and communities from the huge open spaces of the docks and parks to the gentrified hilly regency squares of Cliften to the run down struggling streets of Bedminster. It is an ancient city and a creative city and an alternative city - a university city (two of them), very multi-cultural with a massive music and art scene. This morning we went out early, the sun shining and walked up to the suspension bridge - a truly extraordinary technological achievement. Also exceptionally beautiful. On the way up Park Street we popped into a little church and were just staggered by its oldness and beauty - it was a microcosm of English history from the 13C tombs to the beautiful wooden and embossed medieval ceiling to 17C heraldic hatchments, all just jumbled together and available.
Joe and Ash have both just graduated  - Joe in Graphic Design and Ash in Illustration and are now at large in the big wide world - not a very good time to be trying to establish yourselves but they are both very talented and will hopefully find their niches. Joe is a an excellent photographer ( of course I'm not biased, I'm his mum!!) - if you want to see any of his work here's a link Joe Clarke Photography . I've also done a bit of not madly exciting back-blippig if anyone's interested.