The Chippbutty

Bryn. The Barber of Killay .....

2012-02-11T21:46:00.006-05:00

In August of 2008, I put a post on here about a painting of The Mumbles Railway that had been painted from an old black and white photo I'd taken years ago. I'd lent the photo to my barber - Bryn Parkyn of Killay, Swansea, and then forgot all about it.
He used to paint pictures and sell them in his barber shop. It was like getting your hair cut in an art gallery!!
The story and the picture can be seen on this blog by clicking on the Label "The Mumbles Railway".
On the post I asked anyone if they had any information about the picture.
Well unbelievably I've had two replies to that post, and the latest reply came from Bryn's grandson who has very kindly sent me a picture of Bryn working in his shop in Killay in the 1950's, and one of the outside of the shop itself.
The photos to me are like being taken back in time, and to times when Bryn placed a plank across the arms of his barber chair - for me to sit on it - just to raise me up so he could cut my (then) growing curls!!

This photo is one of Bryn's barber shop in Killay. You can tell he was a painter :o))

The old "Clippy" has gone now.
Like my hair, it's disappeared. A lot of hair was cut in that little shop, and a lot of memories were created by a real village character!!

The next shot (from Google Streetview) is one of Gower Road looking from Killay square towards St Hillary's church (in the distance, on the left).
Bryn's shop would have been in one of the houses on the right, but as you can see, things have changed.

Times have changed, and people move on, but even if buildings have altered to the point where I can no longer recognise them, the memories that they once generated are still strong.
I hope these old pictures will rekindle memories in some of a lovely man and a little shop in (what was then) a quiet Welsh village.
Like I said, time moves on .....

Burlington. LaSalle Park .....

2012-02-10T23:16:00.000-05:00

Local wildlife (a peanut hunter) ....

No common thread .....

2012-02-06T22:15:00.002-05:00

Grimsby ....

2012-02-03T22:43:00.000-05:00

The pier and beach at Grimsby ....

Burlington. LaSalle park .....

2012-02-01T22:33:00.001-05:00

A little bit of algae!!
That's the trouble with a lake in the summer,
sometimes it just stinks .....

Burlington. LaSalle park ....

2012-01-31T21:17:00.000-05:00

Sunset and dusk at LaSalle park, Burlington ....

Burlington. LaSalle park .....

2012-01-30T23:29:00.000-05:00

Dusk at LaSalle park ......

Mumbles, Swansea .....

2012-01-18T22:41:00.003-05:00

Dickslade, Southend, Mumbles ....

Looking down "Mumbles Hill" towards Dickslade ....

The sign showing the way down - or up Mumbles Hill ......

Well worth the climb!!!!

Mumbles Pier, Swansea .....

2012-01-13T21:16:00.000-05:00

Deemed unsafe for the public to walk upon, it waits for a verdict ....

2012-01-12T21:12:00.003-05:00

Looking down on Limeslade ....

Rooftops of Higher Lane ....

Enjoying the waves at Langland ....

Jim's World .....

2012-01-07T22:25:00.006-05:00

Looking good boyo!!!
Jim the Swim .....

To see more of this lovely spot (from Rotherslade to Langland) and more from a great photoblog - click here!!!

Just another sunset .....

2012-01-07T06:59:00.002-05:00

I must really try and stick to my New Year's resolution .....

I promised myself that I'd put my photos on Chippbutty first and catch up on my email discussion group second!!!! Not the other way round!

Going to the email group first means no new photos on here at all :o((

Nostalgia ......

2011-12-11T22:28:00.000-05:00

Memories of a wonderful brother in law .....

Thistleboon. Gower. Wales.

2011-12-04T20:53:00.003-05:00

From top to bottom .....
1) The old Plunch Lane in Thistleboon. The new road is wider and bypasses this remaining section of the old lane .....
2) Looking towards Langland from Thistleboon head ....
3) Looking towards Mumbles from Thistleboon head ....

Langland Bay. Gower. Wales .....

2011-11-17T06:46:00.001-05:00

On a fairly recent trip to Wales. These shots were taken at Langland Bay on the Gower peninsular, and more particularly of the Surfside cafe.
You can see it on the right side of the top photo, next to the ramp.

Cape Elizabeth. Massachusetts .....

2011-11-15T23:00:00.001-05:00

The history of the Goddard Mansion at Fort Williams park in Cape Elizabeth is very interesting.

If you've got a spare couple of minutes then click here for a closer look.

Cape Anne, Massachusetts ....

2011-11-14T21:58:00.001-05:00

This is a replica of the 1797 170 ft sailing ship "Friendship" in Salem MA.
She is the largest - coast guard certified - wooden sailing ship to be built in New England for over a century.
Click here to see more details of this beautiful vessel .....

Cape Anne, Massachusetts .....

2011-11-14T00:08:00.004-05:00

Some of the last pics from Cape Anne.
From top to bottom ....
George W's place at Kennebunkport.
A taste of home - Tim Hortons coffee, a Canadian institution.
Portland harbour - no wonder the British picked it.
Portland Head Light - say no more ....

Cape Anne. Massachusetts ....

2011-10-30T22:06:00.001-04:00

Been said before I expect, but we had a whale of a time :o))

Cape Anne. Massachusetts .....

2011-10-26T22:27:00.000-04:00

Oh what a day!!! We sailed out of Gloucester on a glorious July day to go whale watching, and boy did we ever watch whales!!!!

We saw over 25 in total - and it was amazing. You see them on TV but it's nothing compared to the real thing ......

Cape Anne, Massachusetts .....

2011-10-24T22:24:00.001-04:00

Seen at Gloucester. Massachusetts, which by the way is America's oldest working harbour .....

Cape Anne, Massachusetts ....

2011-10-07T22:32:00.003-04:00

This is Halibut Point State Park which is about seven miles from Gloucester, MA.

It's the site of the old Babson granite quarry, and its pretty obvious that they shifted a lot of rock.
Nevertheless, it's a beautiful spot, and there are some great trails to walk around, which is what we did.

To take a virtual tour click here

Cape Anne, Massachusetts ....

2011-10-03T21:27:00.008-04:00

From top to bottom .....
Kayak rental at Rockport Harbour .....
Bearskin Neck - a tourist trap .....
My sort of tourist trap - Hodgkin's Cove ......

Cape Anne, Massachusets .....

2011-09-29T23:04:00.001-04:00

This is close to Gloucester, MA. The harbour shots are of Rockport. The sunset taken from a spot called Bearskin Neck - quite a name eh?
The bathers? Can't quite put a name to it, but it a pleasant hour or so on the beach was had by all .....

Cape Anne, Massachusetts ....

2011-09-28T15:49:00.001-04:00

A lovely place with tons to see. It's where part of "The Perfect Storm" was filmed. Thankfully no storm while we were there :-))

Away for a spell ....

2011-08-09T08:27:00.001-04:00

No pics for a little while - I'll be back in early September.....

Winter, Spring and Summer.....

2011-08-06T19:55:00.002-04:00

I've been keeping my eye on this little guy since the end of last winter.
We'll see what he looks like in the fall, and through the following seasons. As they say - watch this space ......

How else can I put it??

2011-08-05T10:26:00.001-04:00

A beautiful new grand-daughter (three weeks young) - a wonderful family - a glorious summer - chocolate chip ice cream in the freezer - beer in the fridge and a cool backyard pool :-))

What more could I ask for??

Burlington.....

2011-08-04T23:59:00.000-04:00

Out of the shadows ....
Taken on a morning walk around the neighbourhood .....

Burlington......

2011-08-03T12:03:00.004-04:00

Taken last winter at Burloak Waterfront park, just off Lakeshore road.
When you've had upwards of 30º C for days on end, like we've had lately, sometimes you wish for this instead!!

Oakville.....

2011-07-20T05:12:00.002-04:00

Sixteen mile creek in Oakville, and Lake Ontario in the distance .....

Burlington.....

2011-07-14T23:03:00.001-04:00

Lowville Park. Fungus and flowers....

Burlington......

2011-07-12T17:35:00.000-04:00

Summer's here .....

Burlington. Burloak Waterfront Park....

2011-07-09T22:13:00.002-04:00

See son - this is how you do it .....

Burlington....

2011-07-07T22:30:00.001-04:00

A foggy morning at Burlington Canal lift bridge.....

2011-07-07T07:16:00.003-04:00

So often passed, by, so often ignored, but so very, very important. Where would Burlington be without the fresh water that it once supplied??
Is this landmark going to go the same ignominious way as Freeman Station??
Some TLC is urgently needed on this important piece of Burlington's heritage, and some dollars need to spent to preserve it.
If millions can be thrown at a bent unfinished pier, then pass some in the direction of history for a change!!
As a direct comparison, look at the absolutely beautiful historic pumphouse that neighbouring Hamilton proudly shows off.
Click here for a link to my photos of Hamilton's pumphouse. It's an amazing place in modern day Canada, and Hamilton should be complimented highly on preserving it the way it is.

Port Dalhousie....

2011-07-06T00:31:00.002-04:00

Just down the road from Burlington towards Niagara Falls is Port Dalhousie.
It used to be the site of the old Welland Canal. If you click on this link you'll learn about it's history......

Burlington. Lowville park.....

2011-07-05T00:20:00.003-04:00

Taken at Lowville park in Burlington when the Trillium's (Trillium grandiflorum) were blooming.

The Trillium is Ontario's provincial flower and as you can see, it's thriving here.....

Burlington ....

2011-07-04T00:15:00.002-04:00

Canada Day fireworks taken from my son-in-law's boat on Lake Ontario.

Burlington ....

2011-06-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

A beautiful morning for a walk .....

Burlington .....

2011-06-25T23:54:00.000-04:00

Lake Ontario in one of it's calmer moments .....

Green fingers at work .....

2011-06-24T23:25:00.000-04:00

Burlington.....

2011-06-22T20:41:00.000-04:00

I spotted my first cornflower of the summer in a secluded and sunny corner yesterday. The blue nearly matched the sky!!

Distillery District. Toronto ....

2011-06-21T22:54:00.002-04:00

I came across this old steam; double expansion; double acting reciprocating pump in the Distillery District in Toronto the other day.
I don't think there's too many of these beasts left around, so I relly hope it's going to be preserved.
My camera batteries gave out straight after this shot, and I didn't have my spares with me, so I guess I was lucky to get this one photo!!

Burlington .....

2011-06-21T20:14:00.000-04:00

A morning by the lake .....

Burlington.....

2011-06-18T22:08:00.001-04:00

Blue and green.......
I hope we see more of these colours this summer than the last one. A lovely dose of sunshine like this beats the hell out taking vitamin D tablets ......

Burlington .....

2011-05-29T23:36:00.000-04:00

La Salle park on a cloudy day was brightened by the arrival of this beautiful pair .....

Slow slide .....

2011-05-21T21:59:00.000-04:00

Taken at Lowville park .....

Burlington ....

2011-05-15T22:59:00.000-04:00

Taken at La Salle park recently .....

Flamborough. Green Springs road....

2011-05-08T23:02:00.001-04:00

Burlington. Lowville Park ....

2011-05-04T23:55:00.000-04:00

Bronte Creek at Lowville Park.

Ancaster. Spencer Creek....

2011-05-01T23:13:00.000-04:00

This spot is just downstream from the Darnley Mill ruins....

Ancaster. Darnley Grist Mill.....

2011-04-30T23:29:00.001-04:00

The ruins of the old mill hide a very interesting history.

Click here to go to the Hamilton Paranormal site....

Dundas "wetlands"....

2011-04-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

Light blue sky ....

2011-04-22T20:11:00.000-04:00

Burlington. At a garden centre ....

2011-04-21T22:55:00.001-04:00

Ready to burst ....

2011-04-20T07:29:00.000-04:00

Burlington ....

2011-04-16T22:36:00.000-04:00

Sunrise at Burlington canal lift bridge ....

Needled .....

2011-04-15T22:23:00.000-04:00

Stripes o' green ....

2011-04-15T22:19:00.000-04:00

Melt water in Ontario......

2011-04-12T19:55:00.000-04:00

A dirt road; a ditch filled with spring melt water; Ontario wetlands, and a blue sky on a Sunday afternoon. Then to cap it off - Tim Horton's later. Aaaah....

Finally .....

2011-04-12T19:45:00.001-04:00

Better late than never .....

Toronto. High Park ....

2011-04-08T22:38:00.000-04:00

A quiet avenue in a busy High Park ....

A fixer-upper ....

2011-04-05T23:56:00.000-04:00

A bit of TLC wouldn't go amiss .....

Burlington ....

2011-03-31T19:52:00.002-04:00

Burlington Model Railway Club ......

Their show and sale was held recently in the Holiday Inn in Burlington.
The club has also got a Spring open house coming up at their property in Hidden Valley park.
Click here for details of this cool chugalong .....

Burlington ....

2011-03-30T22:44:00.001-04:00

Nice ice .....

But no ice is better!!!

Burlington ....

2011-03-29T22:46:00.001-04:00

Spring is definitely here .....

Ice field ....

2011-03-24T22:31:00.003-04:00

Melting ice on a window pane ...

Burlington ....

2011-03-24T22:24:00.002-04:00

We got dumped on again yesterday.
Just when we thought Spring was well under way, we had 18 cms land on us ....

Burlington ....

2011-03-23T22:48:00.000-04:00

The Waterfront at Spencer Smith park ....

Just dreaming .....

2011-03-21T23:07:00.000-04:00

Those were the days ....

2011-03-16T21:55:00.001-04:00

I didn't take the camera out today, so I dug up a photo from the archives.
Not my bike, 'cos mine was better looking.
The registration number was EBX 195D, a 1965 Triumph Bonneville.
Maybe someone knows what happened to it??
Ah yes, those were the days .....

Bronte "Village" ....

2011-03-15T22:05:00.003-04:00

Oh Bronte - what have you done????

The waterfont to the right of this shot is for sale.
Two guesses as to what's going there ....

The land for sale is to the left of the monstrosity ....

Maybe nice to look out of, but it's lousy to look at ....

Bronte, still locked in a continual love affair with concrete ....

Waiting for a cookie ....

2011-03-13T22:39:00.000-04:00

Dylan .....

Burloak Waterfront Park ....

2011-03-12T20:06:00.001-05:00

Taken last Wednesday, you can see that winter's still with us.

Hutch's on the Beach ....

2011-03-11T20:47:00.002-05:00

Intended unimprovment since 1946.

Hutch's Restaurant is a Hamilton institution.

It's a step back in time to the fifties.

A lot of people seem to like stepping back, or maybe it's just the great fish and chips they do, because I've never seen it quiet.

You know the saying - everything old is new again .....

Burlington ....

2011-03-08T20:54:00.002-05:00

Monday morning at Hidden Valley Park - perfect ....

Warming up nicely ....

2011-03-08T20:25:00.001-05:00

My favourite domestic appliance ....
(complete with muffin)

Old man winter ....

2011-03-08T20:21:00.001-05:00

Happy St David's Day ....

2011-03-02T21:28:00.000-05:00

Sorry that I'm a day late, but I wish all Welsh people everywhere a very happy St David's Day ...... and I'll try to be on time next year :-))

First light of Spring ....

2011-02-27T21:45:00.001-05:00

Compatriot ....

2011-02-25T22:44:00.001-05:00

A rare species in Ontario .....

Another proud Welshman!

(Welshperson doesn't sound right)

And to hell with political correctness .....

When is it not??

2011-02-24T20:28:00.001-05:00

Inlet and outlet .....

2011-02-24T20:23:00.000-05:00

February morning ....

2011-02-22T22:47:00.001-05:00

Burlington, at ten o'clock this morning. It believe it dropped to around minus eighteen overnight ...

All good clean fun ....

2011-02-22T22:41:00.000-05:00

At last I can give you some photos of me .....

Oh well, better luck next time ....

In perspective - a grey day ....

2011-02-22T22:28:00.001-05:00

So I made it black and white ....

To see the best pic, just give it a click ;-))

Treespeak ....

2011-02-19T22:46:00.000-05:00

We've got a snowthrower :-))

And we don't :-((

Dylan ....

2011-02-14T23:10:00.000-05:00

Everyone's friend .....

Niagara on the lake ....

2011-02-13T22:13:00.002-05:00

The Shaw Cafe ....

Upper Canada's first Parliament began here in Niagara on the Lake in 1792.
At that time the town was called Newark, and it was declared the capital of Upper Canada, which is now present-day Southern Ontario.
The building is now the Court House Theatre and is part of the Shaw Festival.
Later the Parliament was thought to be to close to the American border for comfort, and was moved to York (now Toronto) in 1796.
During the 1812 war, the buildings in York were burned by the Americans, and the Parliament was moved again, and this time finally, to Ottawa in 1866.

This is the Prince of Wales hotel. The horse and buggy rides alongside it look to be a year round attraction! A bit too draughty for my tastes at this time of the year though ....

Talking to a local - I was told that this rebuild used to be the site of an old fire hall.
"Old" as in horse-drawn wagons I mean.
Apparently, the fire wagon was kept here, and above it were suspended the horses harnesses.
The horses were led in from a nearby livery stables (now also gone), and the harnesses were lowered onto them. Ingenious, and it worked .....

Burlington ....

2011-02-13T21:00:00.000-05:00

"Bogtoggan" hill ....

Burlington ....

2011-02-13T20:50:00.000-05:00

See you at the bottom ....

Burlington ....

2011-02-13T20:32:00.003-05:00

#12 on time on Upper Middle Road ....

My new winter boots in action ....

2011-02-13T19:46:00.001-05:00

Light meal ....

2011-02-07T23:16:00.000-05:00

A wall light in a local restaurant ....

Spring is here ;-)

2011-02-07T22:59:00.001-05:00

Wishful thinking I'm afraid ....

Another Canadian Winter ....

2011-02-06T21:31:00.001-05:00

Here are some more lovely shots that I'd like to, but can't claim the credit for :-(
The bottom photo is of a phenomenon called a "Fog Bow" and is caused by sunlight refracting on the small water droplets found in a mist or fog. Hence the name.
Click here for more info on Fog Bows.
Many thanks --- for sharing your great photos .....

A Canadian Winter ....

2011-02-05T21:51:00.000-05:00

I must thank son-in-law's father for these great winter photos of "Up North".
He lives just north of Barrie Ontario, and these landscapes are what he enjoys, and what he wakes to for about 3 months of the year.
I live in a more industrialised, suburban area, so seeing places like this is not easy. Believe it or not, but the snow looks different too!!
But to each, his own. I'm very thankful for what I have, and for country that my family live in.
Canada and Canadian winters? I love them both ....

Lake Ontario is quite cool ....

2011-02-04T22:43:00.002-05:00

Don't need no boat ....

Lake Ontario is frozen pretty good this year.
This was taken yesterday looking towads Hamilton, and I was standing about 50 yards out on the lake. The treeline that borders the beach is on the right.
The ice continued towards the water by the same sort of distance, but is piled up into ridges more. It looked a bit dodgy, so I didn't go out any further.

From this spot a summer's couple would usually be relaxing on the beach by the water's edge.
Now past the ice in the distance you can see ice floes ....

Looking across the lake the skyline of Burlington can be seen ....

One of the access points from the walking trail to the beach. The trail was just ploughed after the storm. It was completely clear and had been salted too ....

The south pier and light of the Burlington Canal juts out into lake. Burlington is in the distance ...

It was around minus 12 C yesterday, but the windchill made it feel minus 20 or so.
The flags at the Dieppe Memorial were nearly rigid with the wind.
Behind the memorial is the part of the Skyway bridge on the Queen Elizabeth highway from Niagara to Toronto ....

Olympic Ski Jump ...

2011-02-02T22:10:00.000-05:00

Maybe not but ....

You've got to start somewhere .....