SS Great Britain

We dropped into Bristol and parked on the Downs, walking down into the harbour to catch a look at the buildup to this weekend's Harbour Festival. The harbour festival is funded by the city council but began as a protest by boat folk when in the early seventies a proposal was enacted to close off the water and build over the harbour. Happily the harbour now thrives and I can't imagine Bristol without the water. There was even talk once of opening up the city centre itself (again).

However. I guess even though I'm born and bred Bristle I've become a bit countrified. The place was covered in Heras fencing, designed to compartmentalise and kettle the massive population tomorrow and Sunday as they surge through the harbour. Shortcuts I knew from years ago were closed off and patrolled by smiling security staff saying "you can't walk yer", and already the place was strewn with refuse.

The air on the Downs was delightful and cool under the shade of the trees, but in the centre it was hard to cope with the heat - and it's not the heatwave yet! I love Bristol, but I was happy to get home for a beer and an ice cream (beer o'clock starts after breakfast and continues until bedtime). All in all, you'll just get a shot of the marvellous SS Great Britain looking more fabulous than ever she did when I loved lived there.