Tag Archives: UK

Synchronicity

I was considering putting an end to this blog but on return from holiday I came across a new installment in my town of Gravesend. It’s shiny and new and I’ve taken it as a sign that I should stick with the blog. The new style (not a box as such) indicates a continuation in the provision of communication and health services. This model is supplied by New World Payphones. Unfortunately the touch screen didn’t work – maybe as it’s not fully connected yet? I hope this doesn’t become another example of the enshitification of life in general.

Pooh boxes

This is the kind of community initiative that this blog wants more of….

From the BBC by Phil Harrison, 6 October 2026

Free books for 150 red phone box libraries are being made available to celebrate 100 years of two British legends – Winnie-the-Pooh and the K2 red phone box.

For more details go to the BBC source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm4g1v882250o

A little bit of travel

Lots of tv viewing lately

The Chase

Images taken by me.

More than a phone box

I’ve been watching season 1 of the tv series Anne Rice’s ‘Talamasca‘ and the iconic red UK phone box plays a big role as part of the drop box system:

Out and about

I haven’t come across many phone boxes lately so just two locations this time.

I spent a few days in Helsinki and Tallinn and this was the only phone box I came across. Both countries are strongly digitial orientated so that may explain it. This UNESCO island is a sea fort and the phone box was last used in the 1970s (I think).

This is me, with my dog Biscuit, at the Rochester Sweeps Festival a few weeks ago.

A bit of variety

Brighton on a sunny winter’s day
Brighton on a sunny winter’s day

Some more tv scenes

You can rely on an Agatha Christie production to have a telephone scene.

Images taken by me.

Yes, it’s wrong to vandalise a phone box but…

I found an short folk horror film from 1978 on You Tube called ‘Tarry Dan Tarry Dan’ (Scarey Old Spooky Man). It focuses on a small group of mid-teen boys who at one point are discussing the elderly tramp who is well know in the village. At 29 minutes in, they say the following, with the second boy making fun of the first…

“There’s something evil about that old guy. I can feel it. Sense it somehow”

“Yeah, yeah, he vandalises phone boxes didn’t you know”

The 1970s was definately a more innocent time…in some ways. The story is really quite disturbing and I doubt it would be seen fit for children these days.

FB screenshots

Quote from The Standard’s article on Don Arden (12 April 2012), which I have only just come across via a Standard FB post. I guess now it’s local coffee shops that act as the office for a lot of people:

The Monster of Rock – Why Sharon Osbourne’s dad was the most feared man in music

“Born in Manchester in 1926, his real name was Harry Levy and he began his career singing in the local synagogue, from where he progressed quickly to performing on the variety circuits at 14 in wartime Britain. The local phone box was his office. When he got in there, no one dared try to get him out.!”