I'm rather taken with Geoffrey, a friendly giraffe used to promote Toys R Us since 1965. I'm even more taken with his bench inside W H Smith in Chippenham. Prior to the chain's sale earlier this year, it was agreed that certain stores would also have a Toys R Us section within them. Geoffrey's bench marks the transition from one of our traditional High Street retailers into something more fun and entertaining, though sadly rather empty when I took this photo. At some point the name W H Smith will morph into its new owner's chosen rebrand name, T G Jones* - rather bland in my opinion which appears to have been made up, unlike the original name which refers to the company's original founder Henry Walton Smith and reaches back to the year 1792. * = it has already in nearby Malmesbury, though they have yet to erase the etched W H Smith from the glass doors. They seem to have retained the corporate blue colour on the shopfront too, for now at least. UPDATE - it tur...
Had to peer to do so!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting!
ReplyDeleteEsther - so did I at the time!
ReplyDeleteLea - thank you :)
BTW on Sunday there was a programme on BBC4 about Weeds (a repeat I think). Buddleia was cited as one of the v worst weeds. It costs our rail network £millions to keep it vaguely under control owing to its ability to root in the tiniest of cracks and production of many thousands of seeds per plant.
Buddleja is such a tenacious plant - the John Lewis Nurseries over at Longstock hold the national collection and also breed them - they have some amazing colours.
ReplyDeleteThe plant in your picture helps to give scale to the mural - great way to brighten up dull buildings
I remember being so surprised at buddleia growing in eaves troughs and cracks in walls in the UK. In eastern Canada, it often dies to the ground each winter, and any seedlings rarely survive. On the west coast, though, I understand it has become a similar pest, bullying in where it isn't wanted.
ReplyDeleteBuddleias can be such a menace! Great shot.
ReplyDeleteZoe - they grow out of such tiny cracks don't they? The picture's from Bristol. They had an international graffiti art festival back in the simmer and the results are amazing.
ReplyDeleteHelen - it dies back here in the winter too and springs back with a vengeance next season. 'Bullying' is a good word. Despite its attractiveness to butterflies, it's not a plant I like particularly.
Janet - thanks :)
i can spot the live plant!
ReplyDeleteMinna - good!
ReplyDelete