Sunshine after the rain in beautiful Ironbridge
“Sail on silver girl. Sail on by”.
“Sail on silver girl. Sail on by”.
After the torrential rain came the sunshine, and a conversation only Ironbridge can inspire, especially if I’m around.
“Would you like me to move so you can get a better picture of the bridge?” enquired a kindly, middle aged lady. “Please, please do not move on my account” I responded with a smile. “Anyway”, I continued, “that damn setting sun is going to ruin these pictures with its glare” I laughed, before remarking on the irony that I’d been lamenting all day at the constant rain preventing this brief trip to a place and a time that I find such peace and solace from a maddening world and now, with the rain having passed and the sun shining high in the sky, it’s sunbeam glare was threatening to ruin any pictures I intended to capture this evening anyway.
The irony, as I would relay to my new found friend as we passed like ships in the evening on the River Severn, was that I’d taken hundreds upon hundreds of pictures of this magnificent bridge over the years, perhaps into the thousands, and before you could say “World Heritage Site” I was already well into my schtick of calling the bridge the “Grand Old Lady” and that I often talk to her, wished I could have shown her to my dear old mum and that I’d had so many heartfelt conversations with that particular grand old lady many, many times with the bridge and setting sun a perfect accompanying backdrop.
Soon my new found friend, on holiday once more in Ironbridge with her husband and an indulgence they share more times than she cared to admit, left her spot by the commemorative statue to the two World Wars as her husband had returned armed with a piping hot bag of chips and I have to say, her dog looked mighty pleased at the prospect of a late evening treat from the chip shop! We said our goodbyes and I thanked her for the pleasure of our conversation but not before admitting that I feel close to my mum here, that the sound of the bells from St Luke’s Church transport me to a different century and that this beautiful place has an aura and mystique all of its own. I also confirmed that I both remember and have pictures of the bridge in its previous battleship grey colour before its recent renovation and that I have so many stories about this tiny toytown on the banks of the River Severn.
She smiled and said “So do I”.
That is a true story from a 90 minute window in between the heavy April showers that are currently peppering this time capsule to 19th Century England, and the following images were captured by a dreamer who can’t stay away from his spiritual home.
“When you’re weary
Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I’ll dry them all
I’m on your side
Oh, when times get rough
And friends just can’t be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down”
“When you’re down and out
When you’re on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I’ll take your part
Oh, when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down”
“Sail on silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh, if you need a friend
I’m sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind”
“Sail on silver girl. Sail on by”.
Thanks for reading. There are a wealth of articles within my “UK Travel” library here. Here are links to three of the most recently published examples:
Easter in the sunshine of Shrewsbury
Historic market town springing into bloom.medium.com
Easter in the sunshine of Ironbridge
A selection of images to brighten your day!medium.com
Going down to the river with The Boss
“Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true?”medium.com