Down near Newmarket, in a village called Kennett, there is a fairly typical English pub called The Bell. It’s a lovely old part-timbered building, much patched and repaired, and it stands on a corner squarely facing the main road. Coming from the north, as we did, the approach is from the rear and the first thing you’ll notice is that there seems to be a pigeon loft built into the rear wall in the shape of a large bell. It’s a reminder of gentler days, so it is, when everyone needed a way to supplement the pot, especially landlords with customers to feed. I imagine that squab pie might have been a popular menu item, along with rabbit and the occasional jugged hare.
The second thing you’ll notice is that cemented into the pavement, at the front right corner of the pub, there is a bell. A real, genuine, honest-to-goodness bell. It seems to be made of cast metal, as bells usually are, and it is rock solid. Immovable. An obstacle to progress. There are no warning signs saying ‘Mind the Bell’. There are no flourescent paint markings or barriers or exhortations such as ‘Do Not Touch The Bell’. There are no admonitions not to let children climb on the bell. And I think it’s wonderful.
Can you imagine getting planning permission for that these days? The politically-correct lobby would have a purple-faced fit! Can you imagine filing an insurance claim? ‘I swerved to avoid a bicycle and hit a bell and that’s how I broke my car’. Yeah, right. Ahahaha! Now, come on, what really happened?
Ah, how I love the eccentricity of humanity! And it’s everywhere – I bet most of you can think of an example. Something so weird that you take it completely for granted, something you hardly notice anymore, but you’ll maybe find tourists gazing at in perplexity? I bet you do.
C’mon, guys and gals – what have you got?
Tell you what – I’ll issue a challenge to five people to find something quirky in their neighbourhood, photograph it and post it on their blog.
Anyone can join in, but here are my five victims.
Hi Jay… interesting post. You recently visited my blog, so I’m returning the favor.
I’ll bet it wouldn’t take me long to find something quirky in my town/neighborhood! When I do, I’ll let you know with a post on my blog! This ought to be fun….
darlas last blog post..Here They Come, Walking Down The Street….
Hi Darla! I have a theory that most towns have something eccentric in them somewhere – prove me right!
I’ll put this on my to do list Jay. I swear I don’t roam around my hood too much..I gotta go find something, but since we do go for walks and I take along my camera most times. I’ll try..
Naturals last blog post..More of the Ugly
Hold on, I got it! I do know of one thing I can post for sure….
Naturals last blog post..More of the Ugly
Oooh, Can’t wait! See? Everyone has something!
AHHHH I’m Having A Thought Here accepts your challenge! You are going to love this! Wish I were home now so I could go right out and photograph it!
Is there a prize?
Wait! Audrey is holding my camera hostage in Knoxville at the moment! I’ll get it back soon and the game will be on.
I love the bell too. I think it’s wonderful … but I’m fairly certain I’d be one of the dolts tripping on it!
Jennys last blog post..A Wedding! I Love Weddings!
Wow, that bell is really something. Hmm, I’ll try to keep an eye out for strange things like that. Its not easy because, as you say, you kinda of see them and think its odd, but then they become familar. Hmm, interesting.
Coastal Aussies last blog post..The lake series, photo 1
Jenny – no prize, but I will probably do a blog and link to the most interesting ‘entry’!
Aussie – the reason I noticed the bell right away is because I don’t live there. If I had to look for strange things around here, I’d have to think harder. Hmm. Maybe that could be a challenge for me!
Ooh how exciting! Challenge accepted. I’m off out with my camera x
English Mums last blog post..The Friday Photo: a little ray of sunshine
Yay – I’m glad you’re in, EM! I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
cute idea Jay! I dont go into town but when I have to… hmmm though I might have to find something strange, shouldn’t be hard as we have some very strange folks living here…. oh that would be me! LOL!
Dawns last blog post..Common Loon
I don’t think you’re any stranger than me, Dawn, but go for it!
I love this post. The bell! I’m trying to think what might be lurking in my neighborhood. I recently went out and took a bunch of photos of letters in signs for Kathy at the Junk Drawer to use in her new logo (she picked one of my R’s!) Anyway, it was interesting REALLY looking at storefronts and signs for a change.
No bells, tho.
Thanks, JD! No bells? I’m sure there’s something!
i have two things and one is a person, but he won’t come out of the house when i need him to. i hope i can get his picture
Naturals last blog post..But I Can’t Feel Anything – Does Using Plastic Desensitize the Act of Spending Money
One is a person? I can’t WAIT to see him!
[...] I got tagged by Jay over at The Depp Effect to publish a photo of something quirky. It was supposed to be something from my area, but seeing [...]
http://englishmum.com/2008/05/22/in-which-im-attacked-by-evil-hoodies/
Here we go, then. A pic of my evil twins just for you.
English Mums last blog post..In which I pretend I’m really learned and bookish
*Runs off to see!*
[...] over at The Depp Effect challenged a few bloggers in her Mind the Bell post to find something weird in our neighborhood that we take completely for granted, but something [...]
[...] May 20th, 2008, Jay over at The Depp Effect issued the following challenge: I’ll issue a challenge to five people to find something quirky in [...]
Jay,
OK…sorry it took me soooo long to get to this. I knew exactly what I wanted to do the first time I read this post, but graduation, in-law’s 50th anniversary, etc., all conspired against me. However, here we are.
I am ringing the bell.
Enjoy.
Daniel Coxs last blog post..Ringing the Bell
[...] Bug Me recently had took up Jay’s challenge to display oddities that exist around us, which we sometimes need to take a second look at to [...]