Parade Gardens
Parade Gardens deserves its glorious reputation birthed from award winning horticultural displays. You will find this wonderful park five minutes walk from the train station, and it is the perfect open space to lounge on a sunny day. You may even spot Bladud...
Don’t forget that it backs directly onto the river. We are surprised that it took this long to get a report from there. Deborah told us of another meeting with Sulis.
We pushed for an actual discussion with her, and she agreed to meet us at her home in Weston. It was a quiet place, full of old jam jars and dried flowers. Her husband was out. She said he would roll his eyes whenever she told the story.
We edited down our conversation into a monologue. However, this face to face interview got us thinking. Watch this space.
D: ‘Parade Gardens is the best location to read in any UK city. You might think of more epic locations, one with more scale and prestige, but I am telling you, this is the place to go.
I can tell you the best spot within the best spot. Walk down the steps, and head north west across the grass. Keep the statue of King Bladdud on your right, and the pillars on your left. Stroll down the bank until you can see the water. The green verge provides the comfort of a deckchair. The river keeps you cool. Most visitors come for the flowers, so this corner never gets too busy.
I try to get down there once a week if the weather is nice. Every trip means this will be a good day. Not many others have the same agenda at nine am on a Tuesday. There were plenty of times when I had the place to myself until midday.I can’t remember the date of our first encounter. It’s not like I was keeping track. But you notice when you see people regularly don’t you? Like when you see the same row of faces at a bus stop. They become part of your life.
After about a dozen viewings of this particular woman, I wondered why she spent her time walking around here. From there I played a little game. Only a silly thing. I tried to work out where her journey started, and where she ended up. But it never made any sense. She never walked down the steps, or headed back up them. Once I spotted her near the water at ten, then by the flowers three hours later. I’ve got nothing on my agenda. But why was she hanging around here all day?
Life goes on, Most days I forgot her by the time I was on the bus home. Then we visited the Roman Baths. Can you imagine what that was like? I have no doubt it is the same person. No doubt at all.
Since my trip to the Baths, she appears less often. At least to me. But she still visits from time to time. I don’t mind her at all. It’s nice to have a companion.
One of the most beautiful views of Bath.
