Summer Reading Challenge: Roseann's Task - Read a book about books and a book mentioned in the book about books and compare/review.

Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was not an easy read though it may have been worth it for the little bits of information about life in Iran which I knew very little of. It was a dry book and much more in the style of literary criticism than memoir.

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Lulworth Cove & Durdle Door 08-08-2009

On the way home it was decided to visit Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, two places of interest on the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.



Panoramic view of Lulworth, showing the narrow gap in the Limestone and Purbeck Stone that has opened up much wider as the water hit the softer rocks behind.



View looking down into the Stair Hole next to Lulworth Cove. This is a new cove forming in the same way as Lulworth but much younger. At the far side you can see the vertical rock strata as the tectonic plates have pushed together.


More views of the Stair Hole, the eagle eyed amongst you may spot a daredevil or two climbing the rock face ready to jump into the waters below.



Splash of danger-seeking teenager jumping off cliff face! Luckily both surfaced without coming to major harm.


The Stair Hole showing another of the breakthrough points.



Man O'War Bay looking down from the clifftop. This bay is on the East side of Durdle Door. The name is a local one, the official one is St. Oswald's Bay, I wonder what the history is behind this place? Either way it looked an idyllic spot to anchor a yacht and have a beach barbecue.



Man O'War Rocks marking the entrance to Man O'War Bay



Durdle Door from the clifftop.



After a steep climb down a chalky path (with lots of loose chalk making it quite treacherous for those who were wearing flip-flops... my trainers felt much safer) we came to some steps down to either beach and a view of the old path that lead to the top of Durdle Door but is now closed to the public due to erosion and the risk of falling/rock slides.



Halfway down the stairs looking to Man O'War Bay



Looking West into the sunset at Durdle Door



Salty the Old Sea Dog not finding his sea legs when the waves got a little brisk. Look closely and you'll see he's actually scowling in disgust at getting dunking.



Looking East at the cliff face of Durdle Door, the specks on the top are people who can't read signs that say "Danger -No Access Due to Erosion"



Durdle Door.



Durdle Door with an itinerant tourist scrambling his way to the end.



He poses in triumph when he got to the end and shouted "Hey" I didn't wait to see if he made it back from there, there was a steep lot of stairs and cliff path to be climbed and home was beckoning.

The Knoll on the way to Lulworth Cove 08-08-2009

On the way to Lulworth Cove after a wonderful afternoon in Lyme we saw this strange, obviously deserted building on the top of a hill and had to take a small detour to find out more. Turns out it's call the Knoll and there was a footpath to the top where there was a stunning view of the coastline. For the curious it's near the village of Puncknowle in Dorset.





View to the West



View to the East

Lyme - 08-08-2009

What a fantastic day trip and a way to celebrate a birthday even if it was a 250 mile round trip (the google map below is slightly out but it's close enough to the trip we made). Why Lyme? It is the setting for some of Jane Austen's Persuasion, including a fateful accident on the Cobb. On the beachfront there were two cottages Benwick and Harville named after Captain Benwick and Captain Harville from the book.





The view from the car park at Lyme



View of the Cobb from the start of the promenade



On top of the Cobb, so you can appreciate how uneven the surface is on the top. I wouldn't fancy trying to walk along it in bad weather.



Panoramic view from the end of the Cobb across Lyme bay.



Walking on to the dog friendly part of the beach so Charlie could have some fun too



I'm not sure Charlie has ever been to the seaside, I know I've never taken him, but he did soon find his sea legs.



Tentatively dipping his toes in...



Getting the hang of this...



Old Salty the Sea Dog!

Winchester 25-07-2009

Looking down the nave of Winchester Cathedral. The building was begun in 1079 and has undergone revisions and restorations throughout its history.



Looking up at the vaulted ceiling of the nave.



One of many memorials that line the walls to the Cathedral. This one to the Nepalese Gurkha soldiers who have served in the British Armed Forces.



The grave of Jane Austen

In Memory of
JANE AUSTEN,
youngest daughter of the late
Revd GEORGE AUSTEN,
formerly Rector of Steventon in this County
She departed this Life on the 18th of July1817,
aged 41, after a long illness supported
with the patience and hopes of a Christian.

The benevolence of her heart,
the sweetness of her temper, and
the extraordinary endowments of her mind
obtained the regard of all who knew her and
the warmest love of her intimate connections.

Their grief is in proportion to their affection
they know their loss to be irreparable,
but in their deepest affliction they are consoled
by a firm though humble hope that her charity,
devotion, faith and purity have rendered
her soul acceptable in the sight of her
REDEEMER.

Memorial to Jane Austen



Sound II by Antony Gormley in the crypt. This part of the cathedral regularly floods in the winter months, leaving the statue contemplating his reflection.




North Transept



Holy Sepulchre Chapel beneath the tower with paintings dated circa 1180 rediscovered during conservation work in 1963



Chapel with a ceiling painted with angels.



Joan(na) of Arc



Roof of Bishop Langton's Chantry Chapel



Federov's icons in the style of Russian or Greek orthodoxy.



Relics of early kings of England are held in 6 chests either side of the Quire



Great Screen separating the Quire from the Chantry Chapels to the East.