I want to wrap up this summer’s series of Photowalking* around Exeter in England with one photo. It represents a cautionary tale.

First, as a preface to the pic, here are two shots I took earlier in the season. This one shows a part of our brand new chill-out and shopping zone, Princesshay, which is set to open in October :

Princesshay in April

The second is one of the best views in Exeter. It’s taken in the Cathedral Close and shows the Elizabethan buildings at one end.

The Close in April

Fast forward to this week in mid-September and here’s how it looks now :

The Close in September

Actually, if I had stepped back 50 feet or so, the intrusive new skyline would be even worse.

My point? If the planners and architects had been a little more perceptive, they could have lowered the new build by just a yard or two and that historic aspect could have been preserved for posterity.

The new building is, of course, our exceptional new Princesshay, which is really spectacular and state of the art.

People say you can’t have everything, but in this case, I can’t help thinking we could have had both.

* See the Flickr link in the sidebar for the full set.

Updated

I took the opportunity of great weather today to down tools and grab the camera for another photowalking session in my “Summer in Exeter” (Devon, England) series. I really am doing the 4-hour workweek this August — and why not.

The series can be seen in full by clicking on the Flickr logo in the sidebar.

The Exe Valley running through the heart of Exeter

This is taken from the centre of the city and shows the Exe Valley which runs through it. The great thing about Exeter is that you’re never far from country and farmland wherever you’re situated. You can see the 18th-century streets leading to the River Exe, which runs from right to left down the valley — unsighted in the picture.

These Georgian cottages (below) are in the street shown directly ahead in the pic above. If you were to remove the plastic rubbish bags and the overhead cables, you could film a Jane Austen novel here. Mind you, you’d have to lay a dirt surface across the street as they didn’t have metalled roads in those days. Takes you back though, doesn’t it?

Cottages from Jane Austen’s day — slightly gentrified

Going forward — across the other side of the street are the offices of a media company in another old building. I love the combination of modern knowledge-based companies housed in 18th-century surroundings. They are so complementary they could have been made for each other. You may then get some idea of where the new Syntagma Towers is going to be situated.

This is the end of the street where Georgian meets Victoriana. It’s so quaint here you almost expect to see Charles Dickens in a stove-pipe hat coming around the corner. There’s an office to let right ahead across the road, but it’s far too small for the industrial needs of Syntagma Media. Very pleasant spot for an internet business, though.

18th century meets Victoriana in the centre of Exeter

Below, and just around the corner from the cottages, is the Old Priory, which is 900 years old. That means it was built around 1107. Next to it, out of shot, is the Old Mint, where Exeter’s coinage was made. Strange to think the Government in London had nothing to do with such important stuff in those days — except collecting taxes in the coinage, of course.

The Old Priory and Mint, around 900 years old

But 900 years is a long time for a building to stand and remain so sturdy. It really doesn’t look a day over 850.

Lastly, a wonderful French-style office building with Exeter Cathedral behind. Now that really would make a great Syntagma Towers. We’d have to borrow the Cathedral towers, of course.

French-style office building with the Cathedral towering behind

The rain has partially abated giving us a brief glimpse of that big, yellow ball in the sky, whose name temporarily escapes me. Time for Photowalking again.

You know it’s summer in East Devon when the Red Indians arrive. That’s right, Red Indians. Or should I say “Native Americans”? Nah, when I hear John Wayne say it instead of “Injuns”, I’ll follow suit. Promise.

Before you say they’re really Sid and Bert from Clapham, just look at that rawhide skin. You don’t get a tan like that in South London.

You also know it’s summer in Exeter, when this :

… sprouts this :

The mobile Northcott Theatre arrives like clockwork every July. I notice they’ve covered it up this year. Given the liquidity of this year’s warm patch, that could be a very good idea.

So, what goodies have they got lined up for us?

Yes, Macbeth … sorry, “the Scottish play” — there’s a curse on the name, apparently. And Cider with Rosie, that old favourite of lecherous topers everywhere.

I’ll give the Mac… Scottish play … a miss, I think, after a trauma I received when young watching Laurence Olivier in a production at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh. At a crucial moment, the great man stumbled and almost fell flat on his face. Well, it was the Scottish play!

A quick look at Princesshay, our state of the art shopping centre, set to open in October. Looking good, Princess!

So there you have it, Devon after the Deluge. Normal photowalking resumes next week.

I knew we were in for it when I looked out of the window this morning and saw the swallows flying at almost roof level.

Low flying swallows signify low pressure, and that means rain and storms.

Sure enough, when I turned on the radio the forecast warned of two month’s rainfall in 24 hours for southern England — that’s 4 inches emptying onto already sodden ground.

It seems we are getting masses of wet air from France where the heat is lifting moisture from the soggy countryside. Either that, or it’s Napoleon’s revenge.

Severe weather warnings and flood alerts are in place all over the country, but especially for the Cotswolds which will take a really big hit. Pity the tots’ Gymkhanas tomorrow and various Vicars’ annual fetes on Sunday.

Golf fans will not be reassured by the news that this unusual wodge of rain is heading north to Scotland, where Carnoustie’s Open Golf Championship is likely to be hit on the final day. Tiger Woods, dig out a canoe from somewhere!

Most of us are battening down the hatches for The Deluge, and an indoor weekend. No photowalking yet again.

The swallows have spoken.