If you're looking for advice, choose your bench carefully. Know the difference between a bench and a work of art.
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| https://www.jwz.org/blog/2015/10/some-people-may-find-them-offensive/ |
But Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today. All the advice you'll ever need can be found on a bench.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecogh/21932942229/in/photolist |
For example, my best imaginary friend Miggy likes this advice.
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Migs must love herself a lot because she devours a lot of cupcakes. It's a good thing life is sweet.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/quinnanya/10261681463/ |
So now, we're off to find benches that are full of good advice. You might want a bench with a nice view.
Take care who you're sitting with though. Some people are really annoying.
Be aware that a bench is a social object which is subject to the conventions of society. Some things are private.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/sherwood411/8137423674/ |
Take care who you're sitting with though. Some people are really annoying.
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| http://mentalfloss.com/article/51605/11-offbeat-commemorative-plaques |
Be aware that a bench is a social object which is subject to the conventions of society. Some things are private.
In other words, you can't just sit anywhere.
Having found your bench, take time to sit down.
Whatever the weather, just sit.
No, don't get up. SIT! STAY!
Dr. Skill is our GP here on Paradise Island.
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| https://www.jwz.org/blog/2015/10/some-people-may-find-them-offensive/ |
Having found your bench, take time to sit down.
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| my photo |
Whatever the weather, just sit.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/lauro/313407499 |
No, don't get up. SIT! STAY!
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/bcgrote/2659299640 |
Dr. Skill is our GP here on Paradise Island.
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He recommends a bench as a great place to heal.
For a start, a bench is a sociable place where you can pick up good gossip that will make you feel better.
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| Ta Matete 1892, Paul Gaugin |
Dr. Skill also recommends exercise.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/bearpark/8401165051/in/photolist |
And of course, as every benchpresser knows, benches are a good place to exercise.
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Forget exercise.
Me, I like to have a break on a bench.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/rckr88/9263891670 |
To my mind benches are about relaxation and taking time to smell the flowers.
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A word to the wise: if you can't find a bench you like, build your own popsicle stick bench.
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| https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TobaccoRoadGuitars |
Once you've found your bench, stay as long as you like.
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| http://www.flickr.com/photos/garydenness/ |
OK, maybe not that long.
Other people may want to enjoy the bench. Please limit your time.
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| http://www.betterthanithought.com/2013/12/ |
But while you're there, think about what life is like.
One of my husbands, His Excellency, is a philosopher; he knows all about life. He will probably consult Kant or Heidegger or one of those other high-powered German philosophers.
This German bench suggests that life is a little bit of sausage and a lot of pig.
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| my photo, Nesselwang, Bavaria |
His Excellency is extremely argumentative and he will insist on making a contrary argument just for the sake of it.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/thecolchesterkid/35964272023/ |
The earth is flat?
Nevertheless, I have asked him what sort of advice can be found whilst sitting on benches. As usual I don't get a straightforward answer. He just says nothing is real in the real sense.
Apparently everything is chemical.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/inhisgrace/2879173801/ |
I'm in my element with this picnic bench but His Excellency is sceptical.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/larrywfu/2027115602 |
He says a person cannot be both a particle and a wave at the same time.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/quinnanya/9567104464/ |
No. Me neither.
So, His Excellency, what advice do you have for making the most of bench time?
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| https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Penser_un_autre_monde.jpg |
Think of another world.
What, an alien one?
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecogh/20891472084/ |
Aliens are coming; you have been warned. You'll know it's them because they can't spell.
And anyway, I read on a bench somewhere that space travel is fake.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/thecolchesterkid/36078079894/ |
My other husband, Mungo, is more down to earth. He likes the advice on this bench.
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| my photo, Portsmouth |
Fine words butter no parsnips. Thanks, Mungo.
Strangely, in Sheffield there is another bench about parsnips. Roast ones this time.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/shefftim/4898608952/in/photolist |
Miggy: What is it about benches and parsnips?
Miggy is my BIF (best imaginary friend). Yes, I admit it: a lot of my friends are imaginary. And not only that, sometimes I fake my dreams.
Actually, faking your dreams is good bench advice.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/fosco/147108513/ |
I dream that I am a beauty holding a basket of roses.
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| https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gaetano_Bellei |
Wow! This bench has confirmed my dream:
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/yooperann/7854603762/ |
My two husbands suggest that I am getting carried away.
I like to think great things are coming soon.
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| my photo, Joseph, Oregon |
But now I find out there's not even a dog pooh fairy.
Miggy: Who knew?
You'd be well advised to call in the pooper scoopers.
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| photo by Joanna Michalak |
You'd be well advised to call in the pooper scoopers.
Miggy: If this ad is truthful, they're #1 in the #2 business
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| Bad advertising bench, source unknown |
What advice is there on benches about romance?
Miggy: I'm tempted to say you don't need it.
People love the hearts benches here on Benchsite and there are lots of benches where people remember falling in love.
Miggy likes this bench, which is a reminder to flirt. Have you flirted today?
I expect Migs has. She's something of an expert in matters of the heart.
She has had more romances than I've had bench photos.
Miggy: I have met life honestly and courageously and has grown through experience.
Of course she's had her heart broken and every time someone leaves, they leave so much.
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| http://antiadvertisingagency.com/project/bus-stop-bench-project/ |
People love the hearts benches here on Benchsite and there are lots of benches where people remember falling in love.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/atoach/7796509862/in/photolist |
Miggy likes this bench, which is a reminder to flirt. Have you flirted today?
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/kat_away/1436925720/ |
I expect Migs has. She's something of an expert in matters of the heart.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/summonedbyfells/25035918794/ |
She has had more romances than I've had bench photos.
Miggy: I have met life honestly and courageously and has grown through experience.
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| my photo, Lewiston, Idaho |
Of course she's had her heart broken and every time someone leaves, they leave so much.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/castorofotonico/27761160512/ |
Miggy: Fortunately, years ago I got some very good advice from a bench plaque in Portsmouth.
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| my photo |
So, after all these years Miggy is still waiting for the perfect man.
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How far have you got with that, Migs?
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/throgers/9169324875/in/photolist |
Well, it's a good thing hope is forever.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/quinnanya/10261679703/ |
Just keep smiling I guess.
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| http://www.flickr.com/photos/70098060@N00/ |
Miggy: I never give up.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/a811photo/8098747192/ |
The minute you think of giving up, think of the reasons you held on so long.
Good advice! There's plenty of time. This world is not conclusion.
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| my photo, Minehead, Somerset |
Miggy: But don't get greedy; use only what you need.
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| www.denverwater.org |
Now Mungo is telling me we have a few financial woes at the moment. He wonders whether there is any good advice about money to be found on benches.
Well, yes there is.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/78428166@N00/13572468074/in/photolist |
Mungo: Live simply.
I was afraid you'd say that.
If we're trying to save money, I wonder what we're supposed to eat?
Yeah, I tried that. The last time I went fishing I caught this.
I guess I could sit on a bench and dream of a big fish.
If we're trying to save money, I wonder what we're supposed to eat?
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/malias/394148696/in/photolist |
Yeah, I tried that. The last time I went fishing I caught this.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/eclectic-echoes/13674124245/ |
I guess I could sit on a bench and dream of a big fish.
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| Facebook message |
OK, any other advice?
If my essence is my wealth, I'm in big trouble.
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|
If my essence is my wealth, I'm in big trouble.
Mungo: The future is none.
Fortunately, our former ex-chequer and once prime minister has much better ideas about economics.
Borrow without limit and spend without restraint!
Golly, this is the best advice I've had in ages! I'm going to rush out and buy some shoes.
I'm really big on shoes.
Ursula is a wisewoman unicorn and has interrupted me to show me a bench she thinks is very important advice for these troubled times:
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/katchooo/10410624646/ |
Fortunately, our former ex-chequer and once prime minister has much better ideas about economics.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/pauliewoll/5552491111/ |
Borrow without limit and spend without restraint!
Golly, this is the best advice I've had in ages! I'm going to rush out and buy some shoes.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/dingatx/4299836786/ |
I'm really big on shoes.
My photo, Montabaur, Germany
But then I see a bench saying shoes are for losers.
OK, maybe books then. Everyone should read.
This bench in Norway says If you read only one book this year. . . get a grip!
Certainly one book a year is not enough.
OK, maybe books then. Everyone should read.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/3792755540 |
This bench in Norway says If you read only one book this year. . . get a grip!
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/boscdanjou/16861871737/in/photolist |
Certainly one book a year is not enough.
Mungo: You're reading too much into this.
Back to shoes then.
Mungo: Been there, done that.
Back to shoes then.
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| https://www.jwz.org/blog/2015/10/some-people-may-find-them-offensive/ |
Mungo: Been there, done that.
I know shopping isn't very green but the bags are useful.
Miggy: With all the shoes you've bought you could build a recycled bench.
Miggy: The best advice I've ever had was a green message, found on a bench in Beijing:
A bench is a good place to put across wisdom about nature.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/23748404@N00/5608560992/ |
Miggy: The best advice I've ever had was a green message, found on a bench in Beijing:
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/billgloveruk/2282724889/ |
A bench is a good place to put across wisdom about nature.
Nature uplifts spirits, heals bodies, delights our senses, touches our hearts and brings us peace.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/jcapaldi/7658337358/ |
Well yeah, but shoes do that too.
Miggy: Look, it's Ursula!
Miggy: Look, it's Ursula!
Ursula is our Unicorn-in-Residence here on Paradise Island and our local peace campaigner.
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Ursula is a wise
Linger here and reflect on those lost to violence
Hope for a more peaceful world
Indeed the peace message is very strong on benches.
Mungo: I'm no philosopher but the thought of war is unthinkable.
Throughout the world, bench advice tells you to live life to the full. It's important to enjoy life because you only get one life; this isn't a rehearsal.
This bench message is from a Danish poet, Denmark being home to the happiest people on earth.
Love while you've got love to give, live while you're got life to live.
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| http://www.flickr.com/photos/snurri/ |
Mungo: I'm no philosopher but the thought of war is unthinkable.
Throughout the world, bench advice tells you to live life to the full. It's important to enjoy life because you only get one life; this isn't a rehearsal.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidjuckettspics/18846054643/ |
This bench message is from a Danish poet, Denmark being home to the happiest people on earth.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/bjaglin/3505727658/in/photolist |
Love while you've got love to give, live while you're got life to live.
Miggy: Profound words.
But feel free to disobey.
When it comes to bench advice, nothing is set in stone.
Credits
But feel free to disobey.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremybrooks/5190836777/ |
When it comes to bench advice, nothing is set in stone.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/atoach/6777974626/ |
Credits
In this story there are three photos showing bench plaques from the city of Chester, a very posh town in the north of England. It's the sort of place where
people might be offended by other people, in other words, shoppers in the pretty streets of Chester do not like to see homeless people on their benches. In October 2015 two street artists placed some plaques on benches across the city to raise awareness of the plight of homelessness in their city. As reported in The Chester Chronicle, it wasn't long before the plaques were removed because, according to an official spokesperson, ". . . although they may appear humorous, some people may find them offensive". So now it's not just homeless people who are offensive; it's humour as well. I saw this story on Jamie Zawinski's blog at
https://www.jwz.org/blog/2015/10/some-people-may-find-them-offensive/
For a serious debate about social and anti-social benches see http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/friend-or-foe-social-and-anti-social.html
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today. Fine words from a bench with a message in Melrose Park in Adelaide in 2015. Photographer Mike Coghlan is one of my most reliable bench providers - what an eye he has! His bench collection is the most extensive I have found and it is truly inspirational. On dreary days I flick through to see what's new and it cheers me up enormously.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecogh/21932942229/in/photolist
The cupcake bench was photographed by Linda Ball for the Austin Daily Photo on May 1, 2012 http://austintexasdailyphoto.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/ It is at Sugar Mama's Bakehouse on South First Street in Austin, Texas where Olivia O'Neal knows a thing or two about cakes. That's Miggy's assessment and she knows a thing or two about cakes herself. But how can you confuse a cake with a bench? Read all about it at http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/log-benches-just-logs-and-cake.html
quinnanya, aka Quinn Dobrowski, is a great finder of interesting bench messages. Quinn's home town is Puyallup, Washington. In 2013 there were several benches at the University of California Santa Cruz Arboretum photographed by Quinn. Life is sweet is one https://www.flickr.com/photos/quinnanya/10261681463/ also Hope is forever https://www.flickr.com/photos/quinnanya/10261679703/ Another graffitied but learned bench (about particles and waves) was photographed at the University of California Berkeley in 2013 https://www.flickr.com/photos/quinnanya/9567104464/
This was one of my favourite views. You can see it better if you move along the bench a bit . . . Some dryly humorous memorial plaques popping up around the U.K. claimed to be in memoriam of deceased members of the Devenish-Phibbs family, but then a supposed descendant, Croy Devenish-Phibbs, claimed to be 102 years old, and interested in researching his family tree. He asked the public to send him pictures of the plaques in order to help him piece together his long-lost family history, offering rewards in return. That last part was no joke; one woman who emailed him received pearls. Mr. Devenish-Phibbs continues to insist his search is genuine, and has even expressed surprise at claims of conspiracy. I saw this story at http://mentalfloss.com/article/51605/11-offbeat-commemorative-plaques
Time to sit down and variations of this message appear on benches everywhere. I photographed this one on the seafront in Eastbourne.
The message Sit on a snow bench was seen by Lauro Maia in Urbana, Illinois back in December 2006. Lauro is a music producer from Pelotas in Brazil and apparently does a good imitation of himself. https://www.flickr.com/photos/lauro/313407499 For some very chilly winter benches from Snowvenia see http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/frozen-ice-cold-benches-from-snowvenia.html
bcgrote lives in California and has way too many interests, including animal
photography. Sit Stay Heal is a bench from the Gaslamp District of San Diego, where she comes from. It was photographed in 2008 in front of the Gaslamp Hilton https://www.flickr.com/photos/bcgrote/2659299640
Dr. Skill is from The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, first published in 1678. Here on Benchsite he first appeared in the Feelgood Medical Benches in 2013. He certainly makes Ursula feel good. For more on their story see http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/i-heart-benches-for-valentines-day.html
Paul Gaugin (1848-1903) was a French Post-Impressionist artist who famously spent ten years living in French Polynesia. There he painted many colourful works of landscape and people. Ta Matete 1892 shows a lively market where people gather to chat. The painting is now in the Kunstmuseum in Basel, Switzerland.
Free to kick, run, and be active. Simon James likes a bit of high jinx on Flickr Bench Mondays. He lives in Gateshead UK with his lovely wife Claire and his dog Alfie. He mostly works from home (research and consultancy) which means he can listen to music all day long and also make forays out to photograph benches. This one is at Bensham, photographed in 2013 https://www.flickr.com/photos/bearpark/8401165051/in/photolist
The bench with flowers is on The Common in Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. The Isle of Wight is a tiny island off the south coast of England and Yarmouth is a harbour yachting town in West Wight. You might want to check out my own Paradise Island and see how it compares with the Isle of Wight http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/my-paradise-island.html
The KitKat bench was photographed at Johannesburg Zoo in 2012. The photographer is rckr88 at https://www.flickr.com/photos/rckr88/9263891670 He's a well travelled photographer with albums full of delights.
As regular readers of Benchsite will know, I am lucky enough to have two husbands. One is Mungo, my imaginary husband. I lost my heart to him when we met in Las Vegas. It all happened so fast. My real husband is His Excellency and though he kind of messed up Valentine's Day this year, sometimes he is an excellent Valentine. Both men are excellent in their different ways, as shown through their woodworking skills.
Arts graduate Eric Sandler works as an industrial designer by day, alongside his hobbies by night. His etsy shop is Tobacco Road Guitars at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TobaccoRoadGuitars It sells cigarbox guitars and accessories and a full line of woodworking plans for building bed lofts, furniture, mantle clocks, bird houses, tree houses, and yes, a popsicle bench. Apparently the bench is super easy to build. The plans contain 13 pages of detailed information including a tools list, materials list, assembly drawings and detailed drawings for building your own popsicle stick bench at home. My husband Mungo has a workbench; I wonder if he would make me one?
Gary Denness is a British expat who used to live in México scraping a living as a TEFL teacher. He photographed the skeleton on a bench and has a set called Mexile 365 with a Mexican picture for every day of the year. He and the delightful Paola seem to spend a lot of time travelling. http://www.flickr.com/photos/garydenness/
The bench with a time limit on it is in Burlington, Vermont. I saw it referred to in a blog at http://www.betterthanithought.com/2013/12/ The author of the blog, throughout her life, has been a tour guide for a number of locations, regardless of whether or not anyone asked her to be a guide, or anyone asked to go on a tour. In December 2013 she was in Burlington, Vermont, with or without a tour.
On a Sunday morning photowalk David Ingram saw a pair of high heel shoes and a pair of glasses on a bench. His fantasy was that their owners had a good time Saturday night and that the loss of the shoes and glasses was worth it. https://www.flickr.com/photos/dingatx/4299836786/ David is from Omaha, currently living in Austin, Texas.
Rhetorical questions: what's the point? This joke by Alexi Sayle was one of the best of the Edinburgh Festival in 2017.
people might be offended by other people, in other words, shoppers in the pretty streets of Chester do not like to see homeless people on their benches. In October 2015 two street artists placed some plaques on benches across the city to raise awareness of the plight of homelessness in their city. As reported in The Chester Chronicle, it wasn't long before the plaques were removed because, according to an official spokesperson, ". . . although they may appear humorous, some people may find them offensive". So now it's not just homeless people who are offensive; it's humour as well. I saw this story on Jamie Zawinski's blog at
https://www.jwz.org/blog/2015/10/some-people-may-find-them-offensive/
Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today. Fine words from a bench with a message in Melrose Park in Adelaide in 2015. Photographer Mike Coghlan is one of my most reliable bench providers - what an eye he has! His bench collection is the most extensive I have found and it is truly inspirational. On dreary days I flick through to see what's new and it cheers me up enormously.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecogh/21932942229/in/photolist
The cupcake bench was photographed by Linda Ball for the Austin Daily Photo on May 1, 2012 http://austintexasdailyphoto.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/ It is at Sugar Mama's Bakehouse on South First Street in Austin, Texas where Olivia O'Neal knows a thing or two about cakes. That's Miggy's assessment and she knows a thing or two about cakes herself. But how can you confuse a cake with a bench? Read all about it at http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/log-benches-just-logs-and-cake.html
There are some yummy edible benches at http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/edible-benches-with-jench-de-bench.html but even tastier ones in Italy http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/tasty-italian-benches.html
Enjoy the view, listen from within, live in love, truth and peace. Nice message. It's on a bench in Vancouver, photographed by Sherwood411
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sherwood411/8137423674/This was one of my favourite views. You can see it better if you move along the bench a bit . . . Some dryly humorous memorial plaques popping up around the U.K. claimed to be in memoriam of deceased members of the Devenish-Phibbs family, but then a supposed descendant, Croy Devenish-Phibbs, claimed to be 102 years old, and interested in researching his family tree. He asked the public to send him pictures of the plaques in order to help him piece together his long-lost family history, offering rewards in return. That last part was no joke; one woman who emailed him received pearls. Mr. Devenish-Phibbs continues to insist his search is genuine, and has even expressed surprise at claims of conspiracy. I saw this story at http://mentalfloss.com/article/51605/11-offbeat-commemorative-plaques
Time to sit down and variations of this message appear on benches everywhere. I photographed this one on the seafront in Eastbourne.
The message Sit on a snow bench was seen by Lauro Maia in Urbana, Illinois back in December 2006. Lauro is a music producer from Pelotas in Brazil and apparently does a good imitation of himself. https://www.flickr.com/photos/lauro/313407499 For some very chilly winter benches from Snowvenia see http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/frozen-ice-cold-benches-from-snowvenia.html
bcgrote lives in California and has way too many interests, including animal
photography. Sit Stay Heal is a bench from the Gaslamp District of San Diego, where she comes from. It was photographed in 2008 in front of the Gaslamp Hilton https://www.flickr.com/photos/bcgrote/2659299640
Dr. Skill is from The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, first published in 1678. Here on Benchsite he first appeared in the Feelgood Medical Benches in 2013. He certainly makes Ursula feel good. For more on their story see http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/i-heart-benches-for-valentines-day.html
Paul Gaugin (1848-1903) was a French Post-Impressionist artist who famously spent ten years living in French Polynesia. There he painted many colourful works of landscape and people. Ta Matete 1892 shows a lively market where people gather to chat. The painting is now in the Kunstmuseum in Basel, Switzerland.
Free to kick, run, and be active. Simon James likes a bit of high jinx on Flickr Bench Mondays. He lives in Gateshead UK with his lovely wife Claire and his dog Alfie. He mostly works from home (research and consultancy) which means he can listen to music all day long and also make forays out to photograph benches. This one is at Bensham, photographed in 2013 https://www.flickr.com/photos/bearpark/8401165051/in/photolist
The bench with flowers is on The Common in Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. The Isle of Wight is a tiny island off the south coast of England and Yarmouth is a harbour yachting town in West Wight. You might want to check out my own Paradise Island and see how it compares with the Isle of Wight http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/my-paradise-island.html
As regular readers of Benchsite will know, I am lucky enough to have two husbands. One is Mungo, my imaginary husband. I lost my heart to him when we met in Las Vegas. It all happened so fast. My real husband is His Excellency and though he kind of messed up Valentine's Day this year, sometimes he is an excellent Valentine. Both men are excellent in their different ways, as shown through their woodworking skills.
Arts graduate Eric Sandler works as an industrial designer by day, alongside his hobbies by night. His etsy shop is Tobacco Road Guitars at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TobaccoRoadGuitars It sells cigarbox guitars and accessories and a full line of woodworking plans for building bed lofts, furniture, mantle clocks, bird houses, tree houses, and yes, a popsicle bench. Apparently the bench is super easy to build. The plans contain 13 pages of detailed information including a tools list, materials list, assembly drawings and detailed drawings for building your own popsicle stick bench at home. My husband Mungo has a workbench; I wonder if he would make me one?
Gary Denness is a British expat who used to live in México scraping a living as a TEFL teacher. He photographed the skeleton on a bench and has a set called Mexile 365 with a Mexican picture for every day of the year. He and the delightful Paola seem to spend a lot of time travelling. http://www.flickr.com/photos/garydenness/
The bench with a time limit on it is in Burlington, Vermont. I saw it referred to in a blog at http://www.betterthanithought.com/2013/12/ The author of the blog, throughout her life, has been a tour guide for a number of locations, regardless of whether or not anyone asked her to be a guide, or anyone asked to go on a tour. In December 2013 she was in Burlington, Vermont, with or without a tour.
On a Sunday morning photowalk David Ingram saw a pair of high heel shoes and a pair of glasses on a bench. His fantasy was that their owners had a good time Saturday night and that the loss of the shoes and glasses was worth it. https://www.flickr.com/photos/dingatx/4299836786/ David is from Omaha, currently living in Austin, Texas.
Rhetorical questions: what's the point? This joke by Alexi Sayle was one of the best of the Edinburgh Festival in 2017.
I would like to make it clear that I am not the woman in the painting Two Idlers 1888, which is one of my favourite paintings. Look at that man though, how he looks at her! How he holds his cigarette. And the gaiters! Oh, I love a man in gaiters. The American artist is Robert Blum (1857-1903).
Andy Hammond is happily retired and lives in Lancaster in England. He has found various messages on benches along the Lancaster canal towpath. Earth is Flat is one of them, to which his considered response is enigmatic. https://www.flickr.com/photos/thecolchesterkid/35964272023/ In August 2017 Space travel is fake is apparently another message from the Northern Philosopher, on a bench near the cathedral. Isn't it great to find bench messages full of such wisdom? https://www.flickr.com/photos/thecolchesterkid/36078079894/
Ace Armstrong lives in Eugene, Oregon and he says photos are the only way he remembers things nowadays. The bench graffiti about chemistry reminded him of that bush song. Weird. (I'm not sure what bush song he means but I'm going with it). He saw the bench on a trip to Oklahoma City back in 2008. https://www.flickr.com/photos/inhisgrace/2879173801/
In 2003, two students, Nazila Alimohammadi and Anna Clark, built a picnic table in the shape of the periodic table of elements. It was created as a sculpture for a public art course and is accurate in every detail, right down to the auxiliary lanthanides and actinides tables that constitute the table's bench. The table is located, er, right by the Chemistry building at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. It was photographed in 2007 by Larry, who lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. https://www.flickr.com/photos/larrywfu/2027115602 Since December 30, 2015 there are four new elements added to the seventh row of the periodic table. They are temporarily named as ununtrium, (Uut or element 113), ununpentium (Uup, element 115), ununseptium (Uus, element 117), and ununoctium (Uuo, element 118). Just so you know.
Oui, I am thinking of another world. Penser un autre monde is graffiti on a bench in Neuchâtel in 2010. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Penser_un_autre_monde.jpg The photographer is Mathieu Despont, aka Martouf. His website is at http://martouf.ch/blog/news/
Aliens r cumming is an unlikely message, seen in Adelaide in 2015 by Mike Cogh, who is a prolific bench photographer.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecogh/20891472084/
Let there be roast parsnips was photographed by Sheffield Tim Dennell, whose photographs on Flickr have now had over four million views and some of his shots have been featured on the BBC, Guardian & Yahoo websites.
Tim is a photography enthusiast with an art and design training (Leeds College of Art); also a teacher of computing & technology. His photographic interests are mainly concerned with covering events, capturing the natural world (particularly flowers), buildings and architecture, people and portraits and art generally. He also likes graffiti and street art; Let there be roast parsnips is an excellent example of Sheffield street art.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/shefftim/4898608952/
The Fine words butter no parsnips message is on a seafront bench at Worthing in West Sussex. The Sussex coastal towns are brilliant bench-finding places because the esplanades are lined with memorial benches. Most of them are He loved this place kind of messages and there's nothing wrong with that. Occasionally though, on an ordinary-looking inscription,there's a little gem of wisdom.
Fosco Lucarelli photographed the Fake a Dream bench in Venice back in 2003. https://www.flickr.com/photos/fosco/147108513/ And speaking of fakes, there are liars, lies and fake benches aplenty at http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/liars-lies-and-fake-news-benches.html
A Beauty Holding A Basket Of Roses is an oil on canvas painting, created before 1892. The artist is Gaetano Bellei 1857-1922.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gaetano_Bellei_-_A_Beauty_Holding_A_Basket_Of_Roses.jpg
Ann Fisher is yooperann. You are beautiful is a beautiful message, seen on a bench on the California platform of the Blue Line in Chicago
https://www.flickr.com/photos/yooperann/7854603762/
Great things coming soon was a message I saw behind a rather mediocre bench at a bar in Joseph, Oregon. I doubt if it's there now; I hope great things came.
There's no such thing as the Dog Poo Fairy appears on stickers all over the Isle of Wight, and probably elsewhere. This one was photographed by Joanna Michalak in East Cowes. If you likes canines, have a look at our tale-wagging dog benches - they're barking.
Andy Hammond is happily retired and lives in Lancaster in England. He has found various messages on benches along the Lancaster canal towpath. Earth is Flat is one of them, to which his considered response is enigmatic. https://www.flickr.com/photos/thecolchesterkid/35964272023/ In August 2017 Space travel is fake is apparently another message from the Northern Philosopher, on a bench near the cathedral. Isn't it great to find bench messages full of such wisdom? https://www.flickr.com/photos/thecolchesterkid/36078079894/
Ace Armstrong lives in Eugene, Oregon and he says photos are the only way he remembers things nowadays. The bench graffiti about chemistry reminded him of that bush song. Weird. (I'm not sure what bush song he means but I'm going with it). He saw the bench on a trip to Oklahoma City back in 2008. https://www.flickr.com/photos/inhisgrace/2879173801/
In 2003, two students, Nazila Alimohammadi and Anna Clark, built a picnic table in the shape of the periodic table of elements. It was created as a sculpture for a public art course and is accurate in every detail, right down to the auxiliary lanthanides and actinides tables that constitute the table's bench. The table is located, er, right by the Chemistry building at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. It was photographed in 2007 by Larry, who lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. https://www.flickr.com/photos/larrywfu/2027115602 Since December 30, 2015 there are four new elements added to the seventh row of the periodic table. They are temporarily named as ununtrium, (Uut or element 113), ununpentium (Uup, element 115), ununseptium (Uus, element 117), and ununoctium (Uuo, element 118). Just so you know.
Oui, I am thinking of another world. Penser un autre monde is graffiti on a bench in Neuchâtel in 2010. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Penser_un_autre_monde.jpg The photographer is Mathieu Despont, aka Martouf. His website is at http://martouf.ch/blog/news/
Aliens r cumming is an unlikely message, seen in Adelaide in 2015 by Mike Cogh, who is a prolific bench photographer.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikecogh/20891472084/
Let there be roast parsnips was photographed by Sheffield Tim Dennell, whose photographs on Flickr have now had over four million views and some of his shots have been featured on the BBC, Guardian & Yahoo websites.
Tim is a photography enthusiast with an art and design training (Leeds College of Art); also a teacher of computing & technology. His photographic interests are mainly concerned with covering events, capturing the natural world (particularly flowers), buildings and architecture, people and portraits and art generally. He also likes graffiti and street art; Let there be roast parsnips is an excellent example of Sheffield street art.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/shefftim/4898608952/
The Fine words butter no parsnips message is on a seafront bench at Worthing in West Sussex. The Sussex coastal towns are brilliant bench-finding places because the esplanades are lined with memorial benches. Most of them are He loved this place kind of messages and there's nothing wrong with that. Occasionally though, on an ordinary-looking inscription,there's a little gem of wisdom.
Fosco Lucarelli photographed the Fake a Dream bench in Venice back in 2003. https://www.flickr.com/photos/fosco/147108513/ And speaking of fakes, there are liars, lies and fake benches aplenty at http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/liars-lies-and-fake-news-benches.html
A Beauty Holding A Basket Of Roses is an oil on canvas painting, created before 1892. The artist is Gaetano Bellei 1857-1922.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gaetano_Bellei_-_A_Beauty_Holding_A_Basket_Of_Roses.jpg
Ann Fisher is yooperann. You are beautiful is a beautiful message, seen on a bench on the California platform of the Blue Line in Chicago
https://www.flickr.com/photos/yooperann/7854603762/
Great things coming soon was a message I saw behind a rather mediocre bench at a bar in Joseph, Oregon. I doubt if it's there now; I hope great things came.
There's no such thing as the Dog Poo Fairy appears on stickers all over the Isle of Wight, and probably elsewhere. This one was photographed by Joanna Michalak in East Cowes. If you likes canines, have a look at our tale-wagging dog benches - they're barking.
I hate putting up photos where I don't know the source and I go to considerable trouble to find it. But I have to confess, I did not actually phone the Turd Nerd; couldn't bring myself to do it. Though I do know that the telephone number is in Boise, Idaho.
You don't need it is a 2006 project in Oakland, California by The Anti-Advertising Agency, whose mission is to call into question the purpose and effects of advertising in public space. Through constructive parody and gentle humor the Agency’s campaigns ask passersby to critically consider the role and strategies of today’s marketing media, as well as alternatives for the public arena. By co-opting the tools and structures used by the advertising and public relations industries, The Anti-Advertising Agency's work de-normalizes “out-of-home” advertising and increases awareness of the public’s power to contribute to a more democratically-based outdoor environment. http://antiadvertisingagency.com/project/bus-stop-bench-project/
There are plenty of heart benches to fall in love with at http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/i-heart-benches-for-valentines-day.html
Did You flirt today? Kat_away lives very close to Tuebingen in Germany. She believes that life is too short not to be happy, so she must have been happy when she found the bright red bench saying Heute schon geflirtet on a walk through Öhringen way back in 2007. https://www.flickr.com/photos/kat_away/1436925720/
The heart ay's the part ay, that makes us right or wrang.
The inscription, on a bench in St. Michael's churchyard in Dumfries, Scotland, comes from Burns' 1785 Epistle to Davie Sillars, a brother poet and friend of Burns. The photographer is Freddie Phillips and the photo is included in the Flickr Literary Scotland group.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/summonedbyfells/25035918794/
Love and Cynicism on a Bench is the title of the photograph of a bench saying Tanto Vi Lasciate. My Italian isn't very good but I think it says You leave so much. Whatever, someone has left, leaving someone else behind. The photographer is castorofotonico, aka Massimo Camussi, who has entitled this photograph Amore e cinismo sulle panchine di Villa Borghese - Love and cynicism on a bench in Villaborghese. He says you're going to break up anyway. https://www.flickr.com/photos/castorofotonico/27761160512/
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened. The Eileen and Alistair Yalden plaque is one I saw in Portsmouth in June 2017.
Gone are the days when wedding toppers were scared grooms and bored brides. At Splendorlocity in Stone Mountain, Georgia they have all kinds of amazing wedding toppers, including themes with lots of people sitting on benches. Day of the Dead Goth themed wedding toppers? No problem. A skeleton bride who has waited for ever for the right man? Yes, definitely. And much more besides. https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/splendorlocity
There are plenty of bench skeletons in Benchsite's cupboard, especially at Halloween. http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/skeletons-and-clowns-scary-benches-come.html
The Almost There bench is on Potrero Hill in San Francisco, where throgers went on a photowalk in June 2013. Throgers's title for the photo is Thanks, Bench. https://www.flickr.com/photos/throgers/9169324875/in/photolist Advice that you're almost there is always welcome.
The 'Keep Smiling' bench is a photo by Jez Atkinson, who lives in the northwest of England (Manchester). His colourful and varied photostream is at http://www.flickr.com/photos/70098060@N00/ There are smiles of benches, not for World Smile Day, at http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/smiles-of-benches-not-for-world-smile.html
Back in 2012 A811 found a bench with a message in a woodland. https://www.flickr.com/photos/a811photo/8098747192/ The minute you think of giving up, think of the reason you held on so long. Now that's sound bench advice. A811 has 86 intriguing photos of, among other things, animals, bubbles, snow, and the continental divide.
You don't need it is a 2006 project in Oakland, California by The Anti-Advertising Agency, whose mission is to call into question the purpose and effects of advertising in public space. Through constructive parody and gentle humor the Agency’s campaigns ask passersby to critically consider the role and strategies of today’s marketing media, as well as alternatives for the public arena. By co-opting the tools and structures used by the advertising and public relations industries, The Anti-Advertising Agency's work de-normalizes “out-of-home” advertising and increases awareness of the public’s power to contribute to a more democratically-based outdoor environment. http://antiadvertisingagency.com/project/bus-stop-bench-project/
There are plenty of heart benches to fall in love with at http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/i-heart-benches-for-valentines-day.html
Did You flirt today? Kat_away lives very close to Tuebingen in Germany. She believes that life is too short not to be happy, so she must have been happy when she found the bright red bench saying Heute schon geflirtet on a walk through Öhringen way back in 2007. https://www.flickr.com/photos/kat_away/1436925720/
The heart ay's the part ay, that makes us right or wrang.
The inscription, on a bench in St. Michael's churchyard in Dumfries, Scotland, comes from Burns' 1785 Epistle to Davie Sillars, a brother poet and friend of Burns. The photographer is Freddie Phillips and the photo is included in the Flickr Literary Scotland group.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/summonedbyfells/25035918794/
Love and Cynicism on a Bench is the title of the photograph of a bench saying Tanto Vi Lasciate. My Italian isn't very good but I think it says You leave so much. Whatever, someone has left, leaving someone else behind. The photographer is castorofotonico, aka Massimo Camussi, who has entitled this photograph Amore e cinismo sulle panchine di Villa Borghese - Love and cynicism on a bench in Villaborghese. He says you're going to break up anyway. https://www.flickr.com/photos/castorofotonico/27761160512/
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened. The Eileen and Alistair Yalden plaque is one I saw in Portsmouth in June 2017.
Gone are the days when wedding toppers were scared grooms and bored brides. At Splendorlocity in Stone Mountain, Georgia they have all kinds of amazing wedding toppers, including themes with lots of people sitting on benches. Day of the Dead Goth themed wedding toppers? No problem. A skeleton bride who has waited for ever for the right man? Yes, definitely. And much more besides. https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/splendorlocity
There are plenty of bench skeletons in Benchsite's cupboard, especially at Halloween. http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/skeletons-and-clowns-scary-benches-come.html
The Almost There bench is on Potrero Hill in San Francisco, where throgers went on a photowalk in June 2013. Throgers's title for the photo is Thanks, Bench. https://www.flickr.com/photos/throgers/9169324875/in/photolist Advice that you're almost there is always welcome.
The 'Keep Smiling' bench is a photo by Jez Atkinson, who lives in the northwest of England (Manchester). His colourful and varied photostream is at http://www.flickr.com/photos/70098060@N00/ There are smiles of benches, not for World Smile Day, at http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/smiles-of-benches-not-for-world-smile.html
This world is not conclusion is an interesting view, seen on a bench plaque in Minehead, Somerset in 2013.
In 2006, Denver Water started asking its customers to use only what you need. Billboards sprouted up over town, advertisements rolled through the streets on bus tails, sandwich board wearing conservation ambassadors walked among the populace, and towering, barrel-shaped sculptures educated.And, of course, half a bench strongly suggests that you should only use what you need. www.denverwater.org
Live Simply is a message seen on a bench in 2014 at Christopher Newport University, in Newport News Virginia. The photographer is Tony Alter, an ex Navy man living in Newport News. He's single, male, born in 1956 (you do the math), with three dogs (Jimmy Dean, Link, and Frank). And he loves photography. https://www.flickr.com/photos/78428166@N00/13572468074/in/photolist
If you don't want to live simply have a look at the Benchsite shopping benches. It's only how many days until Christmas? http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/just-x-shopping-benches-til-christmas.html
Eat Fish was taken 2007 in Paris by Gideon, who is a daydreamer and a fan of street photography. He is fortunate enough to spend his time between two great cities - London and Paris. Occasionally he gets to go elsewhere. https://www.flickr.com/photos/malias/394148696/in/photolist
Eric Heupel is an oceanographer who lives in Mystic Seaport, Groton, Connecticut. In March 2014 some divers did a cleanup dive in the Mystic river and, among other things, they brought up an old park bench. They left the bench along, with a "coffee table" out for the Mystic Irish Parade, which apparently generated a bit of conversation (good!) and then disposed of them Monday morning
https://www.flickr.com/photos/eclectic-echoes/13674124245/
The Future is None was seen by Katchoo in Paris on a group trip in 2013. https://www.flickr.com/photos/katchooo/10410624646/
A bench at San Antonio College, Texas, is dedicated to Raul Murguia. The bench contains carved verses from Rumi. If you would rise from sleep, leave the market arguing, and learn that your essence is your wealth. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Molavi_SAC.jpg
Gordon Brown was UK prime minister and Chancellor of the Ex-chequer in the heady Labour years of 1997-2007. In other words, he was in charge of the money. The 2008 quote from Gordon Brown (borrow without limit/spend without restraint) is on a bench in Cheapside in the City of London. Paul Robertson photographed it in 2011 https://www.flickr.com/photos/pauliewoll/5552491111/
The Gordon Brown years now seem like The Good Old Days. See what a mess British benches are in now. http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/a-fine-old-mess-of-british-benches.html
On a Sunday morning photowalk David Ingram saw a pair of high heel shoes and a pair of glasses on a bench. His fantasy was that their owners had a good time Saturday night and that the loss of the shoes and glasses was worth it. https://www.flickr.com/photos/dingatx/4299836786/ David is from Omaha, currently living in Austin, Texas.
For some amazing stuff lost and found on benches see http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/lost-and-found-stuff-on-benches.html
Everyone should read is a Pro-reading bench photographed by Ewan Munro in 2009 in the London Borough of Southwark. Ewan is something of a pubologist and is making it his mission to photograph all the pubs in London https://www.flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/3792755540
If you read only one book this year . . . get a grip! This is free advice on a bench in Sauda, Norway, photographed by Bosc d'Anjou in August 2014. In other words, one book a year is not enough; pull yourself together, read more! Bosc d'Anjou is from Portugal but there are lovely photos in an album of Norway at https://www.flickr.com/photos/boscdanjou/16861871737/in/photolist
We're very literary here at Benchsite and we celebrate World Book Day every years. For stacks of thrilling book benches see http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/a-stack-of-book-benches-for-world-book.html If you'd prefer a quiet read on a bench try http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/a-quiet-read-on-benches-for-world-book.html And library benches: dewey need 'em? We' also celebrate National Poetry Day benches, chapter and verse, at http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/poetry-please-benches-for-national.html
The bench made from 3900 grocery bags was photographed in Baltimore in 2011 by A Currell, who is sometimes known as WARD. He's way over 18 years of age. https://www.flickr.com/photos/23748404@N00/5608560992/
The One Child policy in China has now been rescinded but the message remains. Produce trees, not children is a bench message from 2008, photographed by Bill Glover on a bench in Milu Park Beijing.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/billgloveruk/2282724889/ 2017 is The Year of the Rooster Bench so you might want to see some Chinese benches to crow about.
Nature uplifts spirits, heals bodies, delights our senses, touches our hearts, and brings us peace. Such was the message on a bench at the Tyler Arboretum
in Media, Pennsylvania in July 2012. It was photographed by Jim The Photographer, who is is retired and lives in Pennsylvania. He's been interested in photography since he was a boy and his first camera in the late 1950s was an Imperial Mark XII Flash Camera that used 620 film. https://www.flickr.com/photos/jcapaldi/7658337358/
David Juckett is a kindred spirit of mine; he has a bench album with 97 photos of benches. One of them is a bench with a simple message telling us to enjoy life because this isn't a rehearsal. Really, it isn't. The photo was taken in 2012. https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidjuckettspics/18846054643/
Danish poet Piet Hein’s short aphoristic poems (gruks) first started to appear in the daily newspaper Politiken shortly after the Nazi Occupation in April 1940 under the signature Kumbel Kumbell. The poems were meant as a spirit-building, yet slightly coded form of passive resistance. The gruks, now over 7000 of them, are characterized by irony, paradox, brevity, precise use of language, sophisticated rhythms and rhymes, and an often satiric nature. Husk at elske, aka 1954 number 7, is very Tweetable and is now very well known.
Here is the poem in whole, translated into English by bjaglin, who comes from Lund in Sweden https://www.flickr.com/photos/bjaglin/3505727658/in/photolist
Husk at elske
mens du tør det
Husk at leve
mens du gør det
-
Love while you've got
love to give
Live while you've got
life to live
If you're into Danish benches, you might want to see our deer little hyggelig benches at http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/hyggelig-deer-benches-to-fawn-over.html
Ursula Makepeace is our Unicorn-in-Residence here in Fribble-under-Par. She also serves the neighbouring village of Drizzly. Ursula's job is to promote peace, cooperation and creativity in our community which, it has to be said, is not always peaceful, cooperative or creative. If you've read some of the blogs on Benchsite you will know this. Ursula is a wise and gentle presence in our community though. Back in May she brought us some beautiful romantic white benches. She brought us hearty heart benches for Valentine's Day. As an added benefit, her unicorn horn is said to be an antidote to poison. Every community should have one.
The memorial bench with inscription Linger here and reflect is dedicated to those who died as a result of the sniper attacks in the Maryland and Virginia during the Fall of 2002. It was photographed in 2011 by Steve, whose Unlikely photostream has an array of colourful people, places, animals, colours, shapes and seasons. http://www.flickr.com/photos/46257101@N07/
Just imagine it's World Peace Day, celebrated with lots of peaceful benches. The Let There Be Peace bench was photographed in 2010 by David Schwartz. It's on his photostream at http://www.flickr.com/photos/snurri/ and he also made it available at Creative Commons where I was delighted to find it.
For Jeremy Brooks photography is more than a hobby, it's a passion that keeps him sane. And he has loads of brilliant bench photos in colour, and in black and white. There are lots of candid shots of people in urban landscapes. Disobey is a bench Jeremy photographed in Boston in 2010. https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremybrooks/5190836777/
Tim Green is an English teacher from Cornwall, now living in Bradford. Being a fan of graffiti, he photographed the lovely Someone fell in love here once bench in Falmouth, Cornwall https://www.flickr.com/photos/atoach/7796509862/in/photolist He also photographed the set in stone bench in Kirkgate, Leeds in 2012. The Kirkgate bench features in his Leeds album at https://www.flickr.com/photos/atoach/6777974626/
Live Simply is a message seen on a bench in 2014 at Christopher Newport University, in Newport News Virginia. The photographer is Tony Alter, an ex Navy man living in Newport News. He's single, male, born in 1956 (you do the math), with three dogs (Jimmy Dean, Link, and Frank). And he loves photography. https://www.flickr.com/photos/78428166@N00/13572468074/in/photolist
If you don't want to live simply have a look at the Benchsite shopping benches. It's only how many days until Christmas? http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/just-x-shopping-benches-til-christmas.html
Eat Fish was taken 2007 in Paris by Gideon, who is a daydreamer and a fan of street photography. He is fortunate enough to spend his time between two great cities - London and Paris. Occasionally he gets to go elsewhere. https://www.flickr.com/photos/malias/394148696/in/photolist
Eric Heupel is an oceanographer who lives in Mystic Seaport, Groton, Connecticut. In March 2014 some divers did a cleanup dive in the Mystic river and, among other things, they brought up an old park bench. They left the bench along, with a "coffee table" out for the Mystic Irish Parade, which apparently generated a bit of conversation (good!) and then disposed of them Monday morning
https://www.flickr.com/photos/eclectic-echoes/13674124245/
The Future is None was seen by Katchoo in Paris on a group trip in 2013. https://www.flickr.com/photos/katchooo/10410624646/
A bench at San Antonio College, Texas, is dedicated to Raul Murguia. The bench contains carved verses from Rumi. If you would rise from sleep, leave the market arguing, and learn that your essence is your wealth. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Molavi_SAC.jpg
Gordon Brown was UK prime minister and Chancellor of the Ex-chequer in the heady Labour years of 1997-2007. In other words, he was in charge of the money. The 2008 quote from Gordon Brown (borrow without limit/spend without restraint) is on a bench in Cheapside in the City of London. Paul Robertson photographed it in 2011 https://www.flickr.com/photos/pauliewoll/5552491111/
The Gordon Brown years now seem like The Good Old Days. See what a mess British benches are in now. http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/a-fine-old-mess-of-british-benches.html
On a Sunday morning photowalk David Ingram saw a pair of high heel shoes and a pair of glasses on a bench. His fantasy was that their owners had a good time Saturday night and that the loss of the shoes and glasses was worth it. https://www.flickr.com/photos/dingatx/4299836786/ David is from Omaha, currently living in Austin, Texas.
For some amazing stuff lost and found on benches see http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/lost-and-found-stuff-on-benches.html
If you read only one book this year . . . get a grip! This is free advice on a bench in Sauda, Norway, photographed by Bosc d'Anjou in August 2014. In other words, one book a year is not enough; pull yourself together, read more! Bosc d'Anjou is from Portugal but there are lovely photos in an album of Norway at https://www.flickr.com/photos/boscdanjou/16861871737/in/photolist
We're very literary here at Benchsite and we celebrate World Book Day every years. For stacks of thrilling book benches see http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/a-stack-of-book-benches-for-world-book.html If you'd prefer a quiet read on a bench try http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/a-quiet-read-on-benches-for-world-book.html And library benches: dewey need 'em? We' also celebrate National Poetry Day benches, chapter and verse, at http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/poetry-please-benches-for-national.html
The bench made from 3900 grocery bags was photographed in Baltimore in 2011 by A Currell, who is sometimes known as WARD. He's way over 18 years of age. https://www.flickr.com/photos/23748404@N00/5608560992/
We're very green here on Benchsite; I frequently recycle stories, photos, and jokes. Have a look at our clever recycled, upcycled and repurposed benches at http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/recycled-upcycled-repurposed-benches.html
The One Child policy in China has now been rescinded but the message remains. Produce trees, not children is a bench message from 2008, photographed by Bill Glover on a bench in Milu Park Beijing.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/billgloveruk/2282724889/ 2017 is The Year of the Rooster Bench so you might want to see some Chinese benches to crow about.
Nature uplifts spirits, heals bodies, delights our senses, touches our hearts, and brings us peace. Such was the message on a bench at the Tyler Arboretum
in Media, Pennsylvania in July 2012. It was photographed by Jim The Photographer, who is is retired and lives in Pennsylvania. He's been interested in photography since he was a boy and his first camera in the late 1950s was an Imperial Mark XII Flash Camera that used 620 film. https://www.flickr.com/photos/jcapaldi/7658337358/
David Juckett is a kindred spirit of mine; he has a bench album with 97 photos of benches. One of them is a bench with a simple message telling us to enjoy life because this isn't a rehearsal. Really, it isn't. The photo was taken in 2012. https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidjuckettspics/18846054643/
Danish poet Piet Hein’s short aphoristic poems (gruks) first started to appear in the daily newspaper Politiken shortly after the Nazi Occupation in April 1940 under the signature Kumbel Kumbell. The poems were meant as a spirit-building, yet slightly coded form of passive resistance. The gruks, now over 7000 of them, are characterized by irony, paradox, brevity, precise use of language, sophisticated rhythms and rhymes, and an often satiric nature. Husk at elske, aka 1954 number 7, is very Tweetable and is now very well known.
Here is the poem in whole, translated into English by bjaglin, who comes from Lund in Sweden https://www.flickr.com/photos/bjaglin/3505727658/in/photolist
Husk at elske
mens du tør det
Husk at leve
mens du gør det
-
Love while you've got
love to give
Live while you've got
life to live
If you're into Danish benches, you might want to see our deer little hyggelig benches at http://benchsite.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/hyggelig-deer-benches-to-fawn-over.html
Ursula Makepeace is our Unicorn-in-Residence here in Fribble-under-Par. She also serves the neighbouring village of Drizzly. Ursula's job is to promote peace, cooperation and creativity in our community which, it has to be said, is not always peaceful, cooperative or creative. If you've read some of the blogs on Benchsite you will know this. Ursula is a wise and gentle presence in our community though. Back in May she brought us some beautiful romantic white benches. She brought us hearty heart benches for Valentine's Day. As an added benefit, her unicorn horn is said to be an antidote to poison. Every community should have one.
The memorial bench with inscription Linger here and reflect is dedicated to those who died as a result of the sniper attacks in the Maryland and Virginia during the Fall of 2002. It was photographed in 2011 by Steve, whose Unlikely photostream has an array of colourful people, places, animals, colours, shapes and seasons. http://www.flickr.com/photos/46257101@N07/
Just imagine it's World Peace Day, celebrated with lots of peaceful benches. The Let There Be Peace bench was photographed in 2010 by David Schwartz. It's on his photostream at http://www.flickr.com/photos/snurri/ and he also made it available at Creative Commons where I was delighted to find it.
For Jeremy Brooks photography is more than a hobby, it's a passion that keeps him sane. And he has loads of brilliant bench photos in colour, and in black and white. There are lots of candid shots of people in urban landscapes. Disobey is a bench Jeremy photographed in Boston in 2010. https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremybrooks/5190836777/
Tim Green is an English teacher from Cornwall, now living in Bradford. Being a fan of graffiti, he photographed the lovely Someone fell in love here once bench in Falmouth, Cornwall https://www.flickr.com/photos/atoach/7796509862/in/photolist He also photographed the set in stone bench in Kirkgate, Leeds in 2012. The Kirkgate bench features in his Leeds album at https://www.flickr.com/photos/atoach/6777974626/
