Cool lions

Drove down to Dorchester to the dentist, a frequent past-time of mine! I arrived in the town early and walked up to the top to the Gardens where people were relaxing on the grass and children playing in the playground - today summer has arrived!! The sound of tinkling water wafted up from the Dell and its Victorian fountain, given to the town by some civic dignitary soon after the Gardens were opened at the end of the 19C. The fountain looks rather like a wedding cake with the four small imperial lions shouldering the various tiers up above while spewing out water into the pool below.

There was a short walk to the dentist along Royal Terrace. I was trying to remember which of the houses was owned by Jo Chaplin and her husband when suddenly there they were in front of me unpacking the back of their car! I hadn't seen them for 30 years! Jo is a historian and has written many books on Dorchester and Dorset. It was great to see them again and she said she is still writing. (She writes under the name of Jo Draper).