On Wenlock Edge

Photography by Jay Cool On Wenlock Edge, Jay Cool’s in trouble. With frizzed-up fringe, the Wrekin heaves; The gale, it plies her old bones double, And sick of Severn breeze, she leaves. ‘Twould blow like this through holt and hanger. When Uricon the city stood. The Roman farts, expressing anger, At Jay Cool’s claim toContinue reading “On Wenlock Edge”

Going Viral with H.V. Morton

A Beautiful Redhead Who is Not as Old as Jay Cool! It’s a good day for the gods who, judging by the downpour, appear to be emptying out their Portaloos all over Sudbury. This is a welcome relief for one such as I, Jay Cool, a once-was-ginger book obsessive. In a heatwave, those of usContinue reading “Going Viral with H.V. Morton”

Day 6.2: Fugitive in Telford

Telford. Telford Shopping Centre (1) Tesco at Telford. Telford’s hotspot. The coffee’s okay, I suppose, but all in all, being at Tesco in Telford, is pretty much the same experience as being at Tesco in Colchester, or Tesco in Bury St Edmunds, or Tesco in Ipswich. Okay, so this photo was taken at Tiverton byContinue reading “Day 6.2: Fugitive in Telford”

Chilled in Chilton

Stall. Sigh. Stop. My carriage makes it back – just! With the third sprog now delivered to her safe and snug school, it’s mum time. Time to chill. A Lenovo laptop? Ancestry.com? But, before I’ve even entered my sacred password, I recall that, although child-free, I am still on mum-duty. I have a sprog requestContinue reading “Chilled in Chilton”

Day 6.1: The Quarry Man of Myddle

The Gods are urinating (1) this morning, and the sprogs are engrossed in YouTube. A day indoors at The Red Lion’s Lodge? This isn’t really so bad. The luxury leather sofas are more comfortable, by far, than my cheap and many-year’s old Homebase efforts back in Suffolk. I pick up some reading material, force theContinue reading “Day 6.1: The Quarry Man of Myddle”

Day 5.4: Bridgnorth Hotspots

You left me down on my knees, in a church in Bridgnorth, asking Jesus for blessings for all and sundry – and you thought that was it? Think again! Granted, it takes me some time to detangle my varicose veins (must fork out for a leg tattoo sometime) from the intricate tapestry I am kneelingContinue reading “Day 5.4: Bridgnorth Hotspots”

Day 5.3: Purple DNA in Bridgnorth

More stuttering and stalling and stopping, and we arrive in Bridgnorth. I’m feeling more than excited, because I know that there are many, many souls wandering the streets of Bridgnorth, who are fortunate enough to have inherited some of my ancestors’ DNA. Whoever I happen to bump into, or even just catch a glimpse of,Continue reading “Day 5.3: Purple DNA in Bridgnorth”

A Purple Day with Wilfred Owen

Today. Today is an Essex day, and I, Jay Cool and would-be author, find myself in a Waterstone’s bookshop on a University campus. Okay, so Essex is a good-long distance West from Shropshire, and I’m claiming to be a Salopian. But, in this world of quick moves and fast travel, equipped with the tools ofContinue reading “A Purple Day with Wilfred Owen”

Day 4.2: Booted out of Whittington by Ancestor Dick!

Richard Whittington, courtesy of Wikipedia.org (Creative Commons) Start, stutter, stall ….. STOP! And herein lies the problem. I left you on the B5009, claiming that my Dacia Sandero was taking its Cool occupants from Queen’s Head to Chirk. I left you on a wave of excitement, as you thought I was about to take youContinue reading “Day 4.2: Booted out of Whittington by Ancestor Dick!”

Day 4.1: Queen’s Head – Wig to Water!

Game’s up! wikispaces.com The Game being up in Shrewsbury, we spend a temporary retirement in our ancestral home – Great Auntie Louie’s late abode, The Red Lion Inn in Myddle, Shropshire. And with Auntie Louie’s spirit having worked wonders, we are up and ready to be off again. Auntie Louie, by all accounts, always didContinue reading “Day 4.1: Queen’s Head – Wig to Water!”