14 May 2009

Last night I walked over this bridge.

This bridge has been a most important and frequent backdrop in my life.

The bridge used to be called the Hungerford Bridge. As a tiny child my parents would hold my hand as we walked across it, though it didn't look like it does now. It was a Victorian, iron, mammoth railway bridge with two tiny footpaths either side. We would walk across it every December, as my parents took me to see The Nutcracker ballet in the Royal Festival Hall, just across the Thames. I felt so scared as we walked up the dark, dank steps on the side of the bridge. Trains would hurtle past. The bridge would tremble and shudder alarmingly as the screeching trains banged over the rails. There were, unbelievably, big holes in the walkway of the bridge, where the tarmac and foundation had crumbled into the river below. I absolutely hated walking over it. Apparently I wasn’t the only one. The footpaths on the bridge were well-known to be narrow, dilapidated and dangerous.

The bridge, thankfully, underwent a transformation. I absolutely love walking over it now.


photo credit kenchie

This is the bridge that Mr B and I walked over on our first date. We stopped and looked at the view and did not kiss even though, we later found out, we both wanted to. This is the bridge that, under an eclipse of the moon, saw Mr B go down on one knee and ask me to spend the rest of my life with him.

Last night I walked over this bridge to meet my man. We were in London to watch this. It was super. Have any of you seen it?

13 comments:

  1. What a wonderful thing -- to have such beautiful memories of a place! The musical looks good!

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  2. very pretty! especially now that you won't fall through.
    i just read your last post about eye troubles, that totally stinks and I hope the specialist was helpful. my friend had a similar problem last year-- an eye infection that lasted for months, and during soccer season. we went to get her new glasses, but she couldn't see what she looked like in them w/o contacts and she wasn't alowed to wear her contacts..so, i would try them on and she would guess how they would look on her face! Too funny! I hope its better for you.

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  3. What a gorgeous picture. And what a great place to have such wonderful memories of! Haven't seen the musical. How did you and Mr.B like it?

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  4. Littlesack, I will have the exact same problem!! I'm going on Sunday to get my new glasses with my mum and I'll be relying on her to tell me how they look!! (Or I will be stood 1cm away from the mirror trying to see my whole face!!)

    Perfectly Pleasant & Ms.Salti, the musical was absolutely fantastic!! I loved it. The subject matter is gritty, but it's such a creative and different musical. Well worth going to if you get the chance!

    x

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  5. It sounds like a very romantic bridge now.

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  6. How wonderfully romantic!!!!

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  7. What an incredible bridge! I can only imagine the romance you could feel on it :) Clearly they did a fantastic job reconstructing it --

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  8. What a beautiful view! I hope you and your Mr. have made up for not smooching on the bridge on your first date : ) No, I haven't seen the musical but I'll keep my ears open for if it comes to town. Thanks for the recommendation!

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  9. I love bridges! Probably the engineer in me :) It looks like a Callitrava (sp? I'm too lazy to google his name right now, sad isn't it?)bridge.

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  10. i love stories like these! love this photo as well. how are you doing on etsy??? husband and i often go back to the spot where we had our first smooch! i laid one on him and good!

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  11. What a beautiful story and such a wonderful place to have so many memories!!! XOXO

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  12. What a gorgeous place to have so many great memories!!

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  13. Left you a present on my blog...

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