Strong bench game

Site of former RAF Newton (1939-2000)

Welcome to September's Photo Challenge. I was asking for benches. And did I get benches! Nearly 70 of 'em. And from all over the world. Thank you to everyone who took the time to point and shoot. You've certainly set the, er, benchmark for future challenges; I couldn't do this without you. Anyway, let's press on. Rol, what have you got for us?

"Hey John, here are a couple of benches for you. I like the sky in this one. It can be found at Road Moor reservoir, near Penistone."

"The Sunset Bench above Holmfirth makes me laugh because, although it's on top of a hill, it doesn't face the sunset. You'd have to sit on it and crick your neck 90 degrees to the right to watch the sunset." Thanks, Rol. I feel like a sit down already. 

From north of the border it's Charity Chic up next: "Hi John, here's a bench outside Tinto Tapas bar on Glasgow's Battlefield Road. Rioja, anyone?" Thank you, CC. If I could quote Tim (see below) - "strong bench game." Or SBG as I shall now call it.

Slight change of order this month - I've gone bench crazy so have split mine in half. Here's Part 1. This is outside Hatchet Harry's in Nottingham city centre. Even thru closed doors all you can hear is the thud of axes being thrown at walls. Not for the feint hearted.

A random couple on Worthing seafront. Probably pondering life, the universe and everything.

Ditto, Gateshead, ditto.

Ventura Beach in California. With the flag at half mast I can only think Trump was in town. Only kidding, he wouldn't be seen dead in California.

My favourite launderette in Sherwood. Also, the only launderette in Sherwood.

Hockley, Nottingham: I'm still looking for that elusive Hopper painting.

C from Sun Dried Sparrows has got one for us: "Hi John - a photo from the archive. It's part of a bench at the top of the hill near me - a lovely, quiet place to sit for a marvellous view. But it was what's on the ground which caught my eye! C x." Thank you, C. Picnic time?

The lovely Jo from Cornwall came back to me "Ohhh, I have a few benches! x." She starts with a couple of churches: "This is Buckfastleigh Abbey - I love the light in this!"

"A visit to Exeter Cathedral to se the Gaia." (A stunning artistic representation of planet Earth.)

"Benches in the caves of James del Agra, Lanzarote."

"Little Ezmay watching the sunset at Mullion Cove."

"A bench view on our boat trip up the River Fal."

"Me trying not to be sick on the Scillonian passenger ship (the 'Vomit Comet') to the Isle of Scilly!" I know that feeling, Jo - I'm a crap sailor!

"And I just had to send you this!"

"Perranporth beach - seats with a view!" Thank you so much, Jo (and Ezmay). A great collection. You've probably got more benches than me!

The Swede makes a welcome return: "I live very close to the river - closer still whenever it bursts its banks, as it has done over the past couple of winters. The unique crinkle-crankle bench on the meadow survived the floods, in spite of being submerged more than once, but what it couldn't survive was vandalism. Several months ago, a bunch of ne'er do wells, carrying little more than primitive tools and a box of matches, had themselves a fine old time virtually destroying what had become something of a local landmark. Fortunately the craftsman who'd originally created the bench retrieved the remnants and carried out a quite miraculous repair. The bench is now back in its rightful place on the meadow, a perfect spot to sit and watch the river flow." Great stuff, TS! You had me at 'crinkle-crankle'!

Khayem next, our intrepid chronicler of all things Cotswoldian: "Hi John, these are fun to do and it makes me take a break from work so it's all good. This is Newnham - on the bank of the River Severn & the edge of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. The benches and the telescope give way to the the fact that it's a great spot to watch the Severn Bore."

"Stroud - a bench next to the Car Sidi (Castle of the Fairies) gift shop and the Swan Inn."

"Possibly the most uncomfortable bench in the whole of Gloucestershire. Avoid!"

"In the grounds of Gloucester Cathedral where I spend many a lunch break when I'm working in the city." Thank you so much, K. You certainly live in a pictureesque part of the world

The delightful Miss Turner has also got a few for us: "Two of my favourite people in one of my favourite places." (I couldn't possibly comment.)

"Spotted in Amble on the last full day of our holiday."

"Alfie, bench and the River Trent! x." A great combo.

"Another one from Amble." I can't read the plaque, Miss Turner, but I'm guessing this is Stu's bench!

"A beach bench at Cresswell - low tide." Thank you, Miss Turner. Got any in your collection of Alfie sitting on a bench?

My friends Kate and Vaughan are currently in Vietnam where I learned via a late night text that they had 'Thai'd the knot.' So imagine how delighted I was to receive these bench photos from the Orient on what is, effectively, their honeymoon. A couple from each of them...

Kate: "A bench at night in Chiang Mai xx."

"Benches in Phnom Penh, with a bonus bench behind a TukTuk!"

"A park bench in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh."

Vaughan: "Municipal bench on Huey Kaew Road in Chiang Mai, Thailand."

"Bamboo benches at War Sri Siphon (Silver Temple), Chiang Mai, Thailand.

(Swiss) Adam once again keeping it real: "Hi John, my favourite benches. A pair facing four lanes of traffic in south Manchester with a small patch of grass and a substation behind them. A triumph of hope by the bench planners."

"For context, this is the view from the benches. Sit for a moment and take it in." This is so Manchester. Thanks, Adam.

Martin, currently in Denmark, sent me this fine specimen from Horsens in Denmark.

Our Highland lassie, Alyson, has spotted an oddity: "Here's an interesting looking bench on the banks of the Caledonian Canal. Think the creature is a duck, but can't really be sure." I don't mind telling you, Alyson, I find this a tad disturbing!"'

Riggsby's dialling in from California: "Hi John, for this month's theme I've got two pictures that were taken while scouting for previous month's themes!" The first is the waiting room at Santa Fe Depot - from the 'Public Transport' theme.

"This mosaic bench is fromJames Hubbell's installation on Shelter Island." 

"And finally here is the bench on the patio of our apartment in Pacific Palisades. I find this very peaceful." It certainly looks tranquil, thank you Richard.

Dave pinged this to me from Spain a couple of weeks back: "Spotted in Sóller train station."

Ernie next - the man, the myth, the legend: "From the exotic Canvey Island..."

"...to the mundane Penang in Malaysia..."

"...via Rockaway Beach in NYC (which was not hard to reach from Joey Ramone Place in the Bowery - I was on a pilgrimage)." A stunning trio, Ernie. SBG, for sure.

Our very own Alan Whicker next, a.k.a. David Cooper. Wot ya got, Coops? "The first is from India at Salogra Station on the line up to Shimla."

"The second one was taken a few weeks back in Niton on the Isle of Wight - where my mother lives."

"And the final pic is of Norman Wisdom on a bench in Douglas on the Isle of Man." Cheers, David. You certainly don't let the grass grow.

Like Jo, Tim has gone from newbie to seasoned pro in no time at all and really grasped this project: "Goths on a bench in Dam Square in Amsterdam late 80s - Kingston Poly Underground Music Society on manoeuvres. I may or may not be present."  

"Bit of a curveball - here's the 2019 Hucknall Town 'bench' in full action mode."

"I loved this bench at Rufford Abbey, though I think it might have gone now. This was from the early 90s. Loving the practical nature  of the old school bench & surreal additional sculpture."

A bench with a view. My morning run went up to this one  in Kos from our accommodation at sea level. The seat was definitely required to get ny breath back."

"My guilty pleasure is craft beer consumption so benches crop up quite regularly on my travels. This is Howling Hops Tank Bar in Hackney. Cracking establishment. Strong bench game."

Tim - this is a great collection. I very rarely give out trinkets on Photo Challenge but, ladies and gentleman, in 'Dam Square' I think we have a winner. 

Pete Zab has been to the seaside: "Here you go, John - a selection of Llandudno benches from a few weeks ago. Take your pick." I will, Pete. I pick all four. However, IMHO, I think the red roofed shelter just shades it.

George from Portugal is next: " Hi John,  I have been told the theme is benches. So here is Fennel modelling two of our three benches at the farm. The first is one I stole from my last place of employment (it was being thrown out, along with a pile of wooden work benches from the biology labs, and the principal of the college had emailed every member of staff that we were forbidden from removing anything from the skips. I still don´t understand why). The second is a bench we bought from a small DIY shop near our house in Wolverhampton. It has no chewing gum stuck on the underside. The third bench was left here at the farm by the previous owners. Best wishes George." Thank you, George. Fennel looks like a real sweetie.

As promised, here is Part 2 of my selections for this month: I can often be found in graveyards at lunchtime. Just visiting.

A bench outside a leisure centre in Bingham. It's all over the place.

No prizes for guessing where this was taken. The night before we'd seen Dodgy doing a warm up gig for their latest tour; I'm wearing the ubiquitous tee. 

A bench outside the Paul Smith shop in Nottingham.

The Humber Bridge from a couple of years ago.

So there you have it. Our biggest collection yet. Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who, like me, gets a kick from taking pictures of random stuff. Until next time... 

 ★ 

 Postscript

My friend Neil recently lost his mother and as part of the will he inherited her garden bench. With a bit of TLC and a tin of external paint it's been transformed. 

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October's Photo Challenge

October's PC is trees. Get them to me by the 1st. I may even revisit that tree!