I really enjoyed seeing where you grew-up and hearing about your younger days. It looks so quiet and peaceful. Back when you were a child, even more so I imagine. You mentioned the arrival of the letter box being quite an event. Suddenly being connected in some way to the rest of the world. Oh those pre-internet days! Re-visiting the past is always a strange, sometimes bitter-sweet experience. The history and emotions are all there, but I can see why you probably wouldn't want to actually live there now. Ghosts remain but sometimes we simply have to move on and be somewhere else. I have to say, watching this has cheered me up. I'm just getting over covid and still feeling rather exhausted by it all. It's good to get "out and about", if only from the comfort of my own flat with this notebook in front of me. As always, Stephen, your ramblings are very much appreciated.
Thanks Clive, I'm very touched. I'm actually very unhappy about the picture and audio quality of this video, but that's contingency and chance for you - strange weather, lost mic sponges etc- I talk more about my birthplace and formative experiences in some of my other videos about the environs of my home town Pontypridd, you'll find these in my 'Hauntology/Psychogeography' and 'Pontypridd' playlists on the channel. I don't always get a lot of views for these Out & About videos, but I love making them. Take care!
It was either Castel Coch , Bristol Zoo or the Clifton Suspension bridge for the main school trips , oh and the same from-a-rich-family kids got to got ski-ing every year ….come the Revolution ..
I know what you mean, but strangely I didn't go on school trips to any of those, I think. I remember ones to Windsor Castle, Beaulieu Motor Museum and Cheddar Gorge...
That was great. Interesting to hear your response to the changed landscape and to consider the idea of place and belonging. There's an argument that you have to be embedded in a place, via work or habitation to belong, which I'm not sure I agree with, but you were very much embedded in this place and then you moved away to somewhere new. Is it only your hometown/ area/ first dwelling place that you feel a connection with or can it be for other places, that you don't feel ownership of because you were born there?
I think there are places in the West Country i relate to deeply, but of course Wales encompasses early formative experiences, so it naturally cuts deep. Glad you liked it, I was unhappy with audio and video quality on this one, but conditions were difficult that day!
Just a follow-up For Your Information : I *know * you have no control over this, but the quantity of commercials on this video were insane! One at the beginning, one a little over 2 minutes, and every 5 min till the end of the video. I don't know if UA-cam really hates you, or ME! (Loved the video though!)
The Welsh names still scramble the brain.
Beautiful piece.
🍻
Have to watch later or I'll NEVER start my day!
By the look of it, I wish I were in Wales.
I really enjoyed seeing where you grew-up and hearing about your younger days. It looks so quiet and peaceful. Back when you were a child, even more so I imagine. You mentioned the arrival of the letter box being quite an event. Suddenly being connected in some way to the rest of the world. Oh those pre-internet days! Re-visiting the past is always a strange, sometimes bitter-sweet experience. The history and emotions are all there, but I can see why you probably wouldn't want to actually live there now. Ghosts remain but sometimes we simply have to move on and be somewhere else. I have to say, watching this has cheered me up. I'm just getting over covid and still feeling rather exhausted by it all. It's good to get "out and about", if only from the comfort of my own flat with this notebook in front of me. As always, Stephen, your ramblings are very much appreciated.
Thanks Clive, I'm very touched. I'm actually very unhappy about the picture and audio quality of this video, but that's contingency and chance for you - strange weather, lost mic sponges etc- I talk more about my birthplace and formative experiences in some of my other videos about the environs of my home town Pontypridd, you'll find these in my 'Hauntology/Psychogeography' and 'Pontypridd' playlists on the channel. I don't always get a lot of views for these Out & About videos, but I love making them. Take care!
Your walkabout videos make me feel like I'm there with you. I enjoy them also because they are a way to escape the usual atrocious news of the world.
There'll be a shorter sunnier one next week!
“We’re really into my stomping ground here big time” 😆 I concur. Thank you for #psychogeography
Another - if shorter- walkabout next week, when my hegira to a secondhand bookshop goes pearshaped ....
It was either Castel Coch , Bristol Zoo or the Clifton Suspension bridge for the main school trips , oh and the same from-a-rich-family kids got to got ski-ing every year ….come the Revolution ..
I know what you mean, but strangely I didn't go on school trips to any of those, I think. I remember ones to Windsor Castle, Beaulieu Motor Museum and Cheddar Gorge...
That was great. Interesting to hear your response to the changed landscape and to consider the idea of place and belonging. There's an argument that you have to be embedded in a place, via work or habitation to belong, which I'm not sure I agree with, but you were very much embedded in this place and then you moved away to somewhere new. Is it only your hometown/ area/ first dwelling place that you feel a connection with or can it be for other places, that you don't feel ownership of because you were born there?
I think there are places in the West Country i relate to deeply, but of course Wales encompasses early formative experiences, so it naturally cuts deep. Glad you liked it, I was unhappy with audio and video quality on this one, but conditions were difficult that day!
Just a follow-up For Your Information :
I *know * you have no control over this, but the quantity of commercials on this video were insane!
One at the beginning, one a little over 2 minutes, and every 5 min till the end of the video.
I don't know if UA-cam really hates you, or ME!
(Loved the video though!)