Bright spot on a grey day

We never asked his name, but the chap who sold “Family fun” on the pier at Bangor had been doing the business for 25 years.

And his bright yellow shop brightened up an otherwise grey day.

We bought some postcards to send back to Italy, and behind us patiently waiting were two girls wanting to purchase a crab catching kit.

I have to say the kit was not that sophisticated containing as it did a bucket, a stretch of twine, and a net.

That said on previous visits the kit did the trick, as clumps of visitors added more crabs to their buckets, before throwing them back at the end of the day.

Location; Bangor Pier

Picture; Bright yellow spot on a grey day, 2023, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

When you go looking for something to eat in Wales ………

It was a short break to celebrate some birthdays and eat at a very nice fish restaurant in Menai Bridge.*

Coffee advice, Beaumaris, 2023

And along the way we picked up breakfast in Bangor, another chip supper at  Menai Bridge, at least one pub meal and got some guidance on what coffee to drink.

Breakfast in Bangor at the Pavilion, the Pier, 2023

And that was about it.

Supper at the Seaways, Menai, 2023

Location, Bangor and Menai

Chips and the Beano, 2023

Pictures; Coffee advice, Beaumaris, Breakfast in Bangor at the Pavilion on the Pier, Supper at the Seaways, Menai, Chips and the Beano, 2023, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

*Dylan's Menai Bridge, https://dylansrestaurant.co.uk/restaurant/locations/menai-bridge

Tales from a camera ……. mistakes and successes

Now like almost everything I have done over the fifty years as an adult I am best described as an amateur.

The lamppost at the edge of the Pier, 2021

When it comes to writing about the past, the best description is “a jobbing historian” and with photography I have always subscribed to that simple rule of thumb which is spot the opportunity and snap away.

Not for me the carefully composed study taken over an expanse of time which is for the professionals.

All washed out, 2021

Most of the time it works well, but during my smelly photography days, I never had the patience to do test runs of the paper, and was known to guess at developing times, all of which made the end results a bit hit and miss.

Digital works better, but I never underestimate my ability to do something silly, and so it was on Sunday as we happened across Bangor Pier.

And while Tina was parking up, unpacking the boot, I was off happily snapping away, pleased with the scenes I was recording.

But alas that simple maxim of checking everything on the camera was a simple task too far.

So having somehow managed to fiddle with the mode dial, I ended up with a series of images which look washed out.  

And even I can’t be bothered to fiddle with them to produce something artistic.

Happily I noticed my mistake and corrected it before we left the pier, making the rest of the trip from Bangor and onto Menai and Beaumaris more successful.

So that is it.

The landmark, Menai, 2021

Less another history tale of Bangor Pier,* and more a silly story which I suspect only my pals in the Facebook site, All Things Photographic** will appreciate …….. although I suspect some of them will gently tut, and murmur “plonker”.

Location; Bangor

Pictures; Bangor Pier, 2021, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

*Adventures into the West … a pier… some Anglesey glass and two nice people, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/2021/07/adventures-into-west-pier-some-anglesey.html

**All Things Photographic, https://www.facebook.com/groups/331565394411795

Adventures into the West … a pier… some Anglesey glass and two nice people

Now I maintain and I maintain most strongly that the best adventures are those which have the minimum in planning, and are more a spur of the moment “point the car in a general direction” and trust to hope and good weather.

That way every thing is a bonus, and if the first destination is disappointing there is always the next one, just around the corner.

And that is how we rediscovered Bangor Pier, which dates from 1896, was restored and reopened in 1988, and in between has had some moments of high excitement.

All of which are recorded by the Friends of Bangor Pier.*

And two of those friends proved to be fascinating people who shared my love of Italy, and made “unique jewellery from sea glass from the shores of Anglesey”.** 

It was just our luck that it was their turn to be looking after the shop on the pier, specializing in art from North Wales.

The rest as they say was a delightful 20 minutes of conversation, including some purchases of their work, which they carefully wrapped for us while we walked on to the end of the pier, and the nice touch was the lightbulb which came with the lampshade.

And while this was being done, we completed the tour of the pier, explored some of the other shops and of course watched as kids went fishing for crabs, none of which were harmed in the process.

I could write more about the history of the pier but that has been covered by the Friends, and so I will just reflect that the sun shone, the place grew more busy, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, as did we.

But the tide waits for no one, and on a whim we decided to push on over the Menai Bridge into Anglesey and on to Beaumaris, with its stretch of beaches, and of course its castle.

In between there was Dylan’s fish restaurant and some delightful spots to sit and watch the Sunday visitors and residents doing what you do on a sunny day.

But more of them and the history another time.

Location; Bangor,  Menai and beyond

Pictures; Welsh adventures, 2021, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

*Friends of Bangor Pier, https://bangorpier.org/

**Gany Môr, ganymore846@gmail.com