The Story Behind The Photo - No. 03

Taken on: 10th September 2024.

Location: ///enable.heavy.sleepy

Description: A Jigsaw puzzle picture, Cardiff Campsite

The story behind the photo: During our last visit to Wales, we spent a couple of days in Cardiff at a great campsite in the city's centre, just north of the harbour area. On our first night, we explored the local area and visited an excellent little Curry House, The Cinnamon Tree, which was recommended by the bar staff in The Robin Hood pub, where we had enjoyed a couple of beers.

The next day we had a pleasant walk down to the harbour area via the Junction Canal and walked around the Senedd and the surrounding area, before heading back to the campsite by taxi, all the while we enjoyed the fabulous late September sunshine.

Anyway back to the photo! It was one of several I took in the gents' toilet block at the campsite, all of which were completed, laminated, and framed jigsaw puzzles! This particular image struck a chord with me as it reminded me of the record shop I visited regularly as a teenager in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania, where I grew up. (I bought Queen’s A Night at the Opera there, and recall telling a couple of adults who wanted to get it for their son that Bohemian Rhapsody would be a “Classic”!) I was particularly taken with several deatils, namely, the Listening Booths, the Elvis and Beatles LPs in the forground and the ‘elation’ expressed by the woman finding a great album amoungst the many in the racks! Also, if you look carefully, you will see Transformer by Lou Reed, Highway 61 Revisited by Dylan, a Herman Hermits and a Kinks LP and a Jimi Hendrix poster!

There is one other detail that caught my eye and it is the His Master’s Voice image of the dog adjacent to the old gramaphone cone. The original symbol was painted by Francis Barraud in 1898 and has appeared on many different companies products worlwide! Amazing what one sees in a Welsh campsite toilet!