tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2009-11-21:/A compilation of images, with mildly satirical social review commentary, of random public conveniences along with aspects of their town/city/country locations UK-wide; as and when the outlandish New Dada artist Art Axis visits an area. Conceptual art & the start of some kind of trend? - who knows :) (NB. This blog is not about "Cottaging" or any other sexually-related connotations with public conveniences ) Photos & Text copyright Art Axis 2006 - '09MokoFeed2009-11-21T14:46:22+01:00tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2009-07-04:/2009/07/04/new-musical-intro-6449503/MichaelStMark2009-07-04T23:02:38+02:002009-07-06T14:41:49+02:00 <p>" <em>The immortal "Bog Roll Blues</em> "<br> by The Mighty Groundhogs (c. 1976)</p> <p>'<br> Lyrics; - singalong with uncle Tony 'TS' McPhee now, bogblog fans.... <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>♪♫ Hanging on a convenience wall,<br> A roll of two-ply crepe and one-ply clear,<br> The silent sentinels of health,<br> supplied by the corporation hygiene surveyor,<br> Perforated, sectionalised, medicated, sterilised each layer,<br> Property of Birmingham City Council now please wash your hands.<br> But, if you think this is all that these tissues appear to be,<br> Then listen to the kind of thing these tissues have to be and have to see.</p> <p>They're witness to a junkie's knees, soaking up the blood spilled on the floor,<br> A message scribbled on a sheet, stating date time size pushed under the door,<br> Rolled up to a pellet size, shoved into the hole drilled through the wall,<br> Streaming projectiles hurled through the air out of the trains after<br> games of football.<br> But I don't suppose anybody really cares, there's too many people nowadays just want to<br> wipe their ass of the whole affair. ♪♫</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2009/07/04/new-musical-intro-6449503/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2009-06-03:/2009/06/03/therapy-for-flashers-6231577/MichaelStMark2009-06-03T19:23:20+02:002009-07-04T23:13:44+02:00 <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="glass-toilet-1"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/427/3563427_005a56d791_m.jpeg" alt="glass-toilet-1" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="glass-toilet-2"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/428/3563428_03780a11e1_m.jpeg" alt="glass-toilet-2" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p><strong>Bog Blog retainer - ' til the next upcoming post ( due shortly)<br> - Art Axis. Now all you frustrated flashers can get it out of your system without upsetting man woman or beast! Go for it Big Boys!!</strong> <img src="/img/smilies/graylaugh.gif" alt=":))" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p><em>Artist Monica Bonvicini created a minimalist glass cube containing a usable loo which stood opposite the Tate Britain gallery in London.<br> The work, called Don't Miss A Sec, was made out of one-way glass which means you can see out but not in.<br> The public sculpture sat (squatted) at the former Royal Army Medical College in Millbank in 2005, and was meant for public use.<br> <strong>As you see, it was officially opened by Jacqui Smith ( husband inside watching taxpayer-funded porn on his sticky laptop)</strong></p> <p>A spokeswoman ( Arts Council airhead) for the project said: "It will arouse curiosity because people can just come and use it, although there is a question of whether people will feel comfortable doing so".</em> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2009/06/03/therapy-for-flashers-6231577/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2007-12-18:/2007/12/18/toilet_21_underpass_oversight~3459639/MichaelStMark2007-12-18T11:11:56+01:002008-01-18T19:02:34+01:00 <p><em>All pics are <strong>click-through enlargeable</strong>TM.<br> </em></p> <p>It's a fountained, green and incredibly spacious Elysian Field, where "Dawn" holds sway and where Ebenezer the Refined held out such grand hopes and designs. In fact so much so that half the world's cities are based upon this Utopian model. 'Tis true, 'tis true!<br> <a href="javascript:window.open(" title="DSCF0140"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/603/2221603_937ef3831a_s.jpeg" alt="DSCF0140" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="DSCF0138"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/604/2221604_72d7386031_s.jpeg" alt="DSCF0138" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="DSCF0066"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/605/2221605_9ca3a4bc65_s.jpeg" alt="DSCF0066" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="DSCF0081"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/597/2221597_e4582010f3_s.jpeg" alt="DSCF0081" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>A view east to the Howard Centre, a devoted archetypal 1990s "upgrade" on Sir Eb's original idealistic scheme in the Formica of a hideously materialistic and impersonal piped crapola muzak shopping mall. </p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="DSCF0082"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/598/2221598_2ecc34fbdd_s.jpeg" alt="DSCF0082" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB1"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/027/2221027_2c33f04c87_s.jpeg" alt="BB1" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB2"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/028/2221028_ebd22d9d49_s.jpeg" alt="BB2" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB3"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/029/2221029_7f2f7eeb2c_s.jpeg" alt="BB3" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Right alongside the once noble "Welwyn Garden peoples' store" ( now masquerading as the eternal profit-mongering John Lewis department store ), we discover a traffic island par excellence, circumnavigated day long by countless cars and white vans, each with their obligatory.. er, man. A direct underpass thereunder leading us to a promised land .. - a subterranean bunker of blessed innards-discharge relief.</p> <p>From a truly treacherous stance on the roundabout, we can espy the vertiginous roof of the bog, a safe cat-free nesting place for the area's birdies I would have thought. This toilet seems to be offsetting its carbon footprint very well indeed, which is just as well because the interior sports a large number of strip lights unnecessarily switched on all day long, there being more than adequate natural light streaming in through the top windows.<br> <a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB4"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/032/2221032_76e0aea402_s.jpeg" alt="BB4" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB5"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/033/2221033_7d71019136_s.jpeg" alt="BB5" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB6"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/034/2221034_6ab8b9bbbf_s.jpeg" alt="BB6" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Down down we go, to inspect Sir Ebenezer's proletariat vision of bog posterity.</p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB7"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/036/2221036_941a72600c_s.jpeg" alt="BB7" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB8"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/037/2221037_d9bacd4738_s.jpeg" alt="BB8" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB9"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/038/2221038_ef76f568ff_s.jpeg" alt="BB9" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> Heading out into the bog garden area, we pass a couple of neat tags upon the myriad of shiny tiles comprising the walls of the underpass.<br> A slight <em>Kandinsky</em> influence with the latter affair, one feels.</p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB10"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/040/2221040_4213f9f403_s.jpeg" alt="BB10" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB12"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/041/2221041_e70662f595_s.jpeg" alt="BB12" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> Emerging back into daylight we are confronted with the Ladies side of what for all intents and purposes appears to be a public air raid shelter, and sets the bog blogger's mind boggling about whether this is in fact the original Ebenezer design. Its location however, seems truly inspired for a man of vision, for a toilet is, essentially, a hole in the ground is it not.</p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB13"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/042/2221042_1c126f365c_s.jpeg" alt="BB13" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> Traversing around to what is obviously the <em>Gents</em> side of the block ( click/sigh ) and admiring the well kept-up garden features along the way, we enter the bog up a wheelchair access ramp...</p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB14"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/049/2221049_e375378598_s.jpeg" alt="BB14" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB15"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/050/2221050_9d8e4a69bf_s.jpeg" alt="BB15" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB16"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/051/2221051_04990f3331_s.jpeg" alt="BB16" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> '<br> Well here's a surprise, never seen this before. I wonder what kind of lady would apply to become a Gents' toilet attendant? We are soon to discover it's a kind of a kind animal lover kind.... hmm, figures.</p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB17"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/062/2221062_a31850d445_s.jpeg" alt="BB17" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB18"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/063/2221063_5896910643_s.jpeg" alt="BB18" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> '<br> Her dainty place of refuge inside this theme-in-cream male domain of a cavernous loo takes the form of a corner broom cupboard of an "office", to which she has added the homely touches of colour-coded slats, imitation plastic stick-on frill drape and a couple of light-humoured window displays. Remember all pix are <em>click-through enlargeable</em>TM<br> <a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB18-1"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/064/2221064_a4c6481328_s.jpeg" alt="BB18-1" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> Turning and gazing up the length of the establishment, a neat line-up of seven curvacious urinals, protected by chunky porcelain modesty screens each, leads the eye through to the set of traps on the left hand side. The walls and floor of the bog incidently are a continuation on the theme of the underpass - being copiously tiled throughout.<br> The ceiling area, by way of contrast, and as you may have noted in the entrance pic, is jazzed with large cream paint flakes which dangle and sway in the draught like bizarre stalagtites.</p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB19"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/067/2221067_372a650f4c_s.jpeg" alt="BB19" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Another pic is taken looking back, before the cubicle inspection commences...</p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB20"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/068/2221068_4c3bc4190c_s.jpeg" alt="BB20" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>A line-up of five traps, with the sixth and end one kept locked (presumably for mop bucket etc storage purposes) seem nominal enough. We take a peep into the first three, however the sight of the first of all is enough to dissuade one from sallying forth to sample a sit, scattered as it is with unclassified debris remnants of former useage. Definitely both unkempt and unkept-up.<br> The previous patrons of the establishment typically having paid scant attention to the desires of the lady of the house...<br> <a href="javascript:window.open(" title="DSCF0049"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/547/2231547_ceb2221275_s.jpeg" alt="DSCF0049" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB21"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/069/2221069_56b8e36d9d_s.jpeg" alt="BB21" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>However, a curious mix & match of black and white lid/seat and seat missing combinations brings a smile....<img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"><br> <a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB22"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/352/2221352_5d19278436_s.jpeg" alt="BB22" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB24"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/353/2221353_a8bee0760a_s.jpeg" alt="BB24" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB27"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/354/2221354_91ec4c893e_s.jpeg" alt="BB27" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>.<br> <a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB28"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/356/2221356_9b53326cea_s.jpeg" alt="BB28" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB29"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/357/2221357_f31b94faaa_s.jpeg" alt="BB29" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p> Oh yeah, there I am in the mirror, Mr carry bag man.<br> The irregular line of porcelain sinks set into white plastic marble attempt at a modicum of taste, is seriously betrayed by the unpainted makeshift chipboard supporting panels. Ebenezer would surely be turning in his town-planning mauseleum.<br> <a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB30"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/358/2221358_62fb0d175d_s.jpeg" alt="BB30" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>We turn and snap the pair of dinky hand dryers. Great way to pass (most of) the time of day; waiting for handies to dry under these toys! A token wooden coat hook rack is loosely screwed to the wall on the right and the waste bin fending off bad Feng Shui on the corner pillar is typically English - cheap, tasteless and eminently forgetful tat. The hand wash basins were chunky clean functional and the hot tap did exactly what it said on the handle.<br> <a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB36"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/361/2221361_3868e8dde1_s.jpeg" alt="BB36" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB34"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/362/2221362_efff1c2191_s.jpeg" alt="BB34" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> Nice sentiment on display from "Mrs Gents" - and one that I also espoused and tried to live out for many a long year before finally having to admit to myself that, barring exceptions, the more you try to befriend and help others, the more they take you for granted and quite often you are not even proffered the courtesy of a "thank you".<br> <em>" One thing you can say about mankind - and that is that man is not very kind"</em><br> .<br> Snapping out of this toilet melancholia, I exit the joint smartish like, as I had been chancing my arm by indecently exposing the digicam within for too long - dangling it about for about 8 long minutes in fact and amazingly without interruption.</p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB38"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/363/2221363_cc3f6dc09a_s.jpeg" alt="BB38" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> <a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB39"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/365/2221365_2073c8eb19_s.jpeg" alt="BB39" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> So its back out into the sunken garden traffic island and up the steps the other side for a spot of pre-Christmas shopping in the stinking posh Waitrose opposite.</p> <p>On reaching home and viewing the above pics I was immediately struck by two anomalies tunneling up from the subconscious.<br> Firstly the lack of patrons frequenting this town-centre facility which can only be attributable to the absence of public signeage pointing the direction any further away than the roundabout and its immediate locale ( hence the title Underpass Oversight ).</p> <p>Secondly, I had obviously overlooked some metallic appendages jutting from the tiles between the portly porcelain urinals. Curious as to what they may be ( not flush handles surely?), I waited for another chance to re-visit Toilet 21 to snap these little mysteries close-up - and here's the result....</p> <p><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="BB20-1"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/898/2221898_23d9064940_s.jpeg" alt="BB20-1" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="javascript:window.open(" title="DSCF0079-1"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/899/2221899_1479e805f1_s.jpeg" alt="DSCF0079-1" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>How about that, another bogblog first! Now I am certain this is the original Ebenezer Howard building, for only he could have been so public-spirited as to think of the finer detail of providing a dinky ash tray upon which to rest ones half-smoked coffin nail whilst passing water, thereby probably having spared quite a few gents over the years the unspeakable agony of burning their privates whilst unzipping and extracting ( definitely a two-handed job for us guys that BTW, ladies <img src="/img/smilies/graylaugh.gif" alt=":))" class="middle" border="0">.</p> <p><strong>Three cheers for old Ebenezer and his grand ideals!!!<br> Putting ordinary people before yet more profits for the richTM.<br> </strong><br> <strong><u>Toilet 21 Bog ratings.</u></strong><br> <u>Cleanliness</u> ... Generally 7/10 but let down by a paltry 2/10 for the cubicles, to which "Mrs Gents" seems to have developed an cleansing aversion.<br> <u>Quietness of use</u>. ..9/10 excellent chance of completing your sit without interruption.<br> <u>Interest</u> 8/10 including the quirky features/attendant<br> <u>Locality</u> 8/10 .. easy access in sunny Hertfordshire and a town centre well worth visiting. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2007/12/18/toilet_21_underpass_oversight~3459639/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2006-11-07:/2006/11/07/toilet_20_gone_for_a_burton~1304266/MichaelStMark2006-11-07T08:57:37+01:002009-04-29T10:30:38+02:00 <p>Just off the M6 north of Lancaster, the delightful Burton-in-Kendal Moto services beckons tantalizingly - especially after a knackering 5 hour overnight drive from London.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=944269"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/269/944269_cd5fd54822_m.jpeg" alt="BIK Motoexterior" title="BIK Motoexterior" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p> I decided long long ago that long daytime motorway journeys in this plagued land of ours are complete masochism, what with the chronic traffic and roadworks mix from hell.</p> <p> . . . .So as I say, the temptation to pull off and relax a while and maybe indluge myself with a Moto rubber egg on stale toast with sticky no frills beans on the side, was too much to resist. After languishing in the gutter for a while, even the pavement looks like up.</p> <p>And while I'm at it how about a reccey of the conveniences? I hadn't bog-blogged since August and I was getting withdrawal symptoms. But it would have to be done quick-now before 7.00am or, like Post Festivity Repository ( <em>see Tags</em>), I wouldn't have the time even to raise the digicam to snap before another patron enters the establishment. . . . .</p> <p>Walking a little unsteadily towards the services after hours in the cab at 70, I see it's a cute wee modern facility . .</p> <p>( <em>All pics are click-through expandable</em> )<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=941733"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/733/941733_65c5abc929_s.jpeg" alt="moto1" title="moto1" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Through the swing doors we swish and an immediate turn left takes us along a covered walkway past the Ladies and a row of battered BT phone booths on the right, towards to the Gents at the far end . .<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=941736"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/736/941736_5d1d90cc2a_s.jpeg" alt="moto2corridoor" title="moto2corridoor" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>On the way, how cute! These great Moto people think of everything. Pet paradise indeed. We presume the "Moto pet loo" comprises that same stretch of stenching grass on the embankment outside <img src="/img/smilies/icon_mad.gif" alt=">:(" class="middle" border="0"><br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=941739"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/739/941739_4e743ccab3_s.jpeg" alt="moto16motopets" title="moto16motopets" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> Only upon reaching the Gents doorway do we realize the substantial build quality of these services, reminding somewhat of the Inca-like stone monolithic bulk and hulk of <em>Toilet 8, The highest loo in the UK </em>( <em>see Tags</em>).<br> Hmm, not bad - for England 2006, where ticky tacky Tesco "architechture" has spread like an eggbox- infestation throughout the land.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=941746"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/746/941746_6ff91360b1_s.jpeg" alt="moto3door" title="moto3door" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> . .and what's with that periwinkle blue and green plaque of pride bolted to one side? Well well, Bog Of The Year 2005!. .<a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=941747"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/747/941747_2210e16531_s.jpeg" alt="moto4plaque" title="moto4plaque" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> Immediately upon entering Toilet 20, one is confronted with a what's-behind-the-green door-invitation to refresh one's motorway-abused traffic-grimed and sweat-laden bod'.<br> A nice touch.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=941752"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/752/941752_eb07094922_s.jpeg" alt="moto5showeroom" title="moto5showeroom" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> Ah yes, but finding the attendant at 7.00am this grey morn' may prove difficult, yet . . . <strong>NO</strong> MStM, get that filthy thought out of your mind . . .<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=941755"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/755/941755_ef3bbdefef_s.jpeg" alt="moto6femaleoperative" title="moto6femaleoperative" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> No sign of janitorial or supervisory life abouts the place. Let's crop and zoom in on our genial Moto host who promises us a bog experiece from heaven herein shall we?<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=941762"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/762/941762_acd0e65f5f_s.jpeg" alt="moto23johnwilkie" title="moto23johnwilkie" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> John <del>Willie</del> Wilkie! I always knew you were destined for great things. You wouldn't mind someone taking pictures for posterity (sic) inside your cute little pride and joy, now would you?<br> Well if you would, <em>tough titty</em> old boy.</p> <p>The view now, looking into the bog itself is a darned fine one. An elongated oblong of a convenience, this seems just the ticket for an absorbing exploration. Wonder what's with the wall-mounted sweets jar though? All will be revealed <img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0"><br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=941769"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/769/941769_70c4f9f3cb_s.jpeg" alt="moto7viewenter" title="moto7viewenter" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p> Past the nicely laid out line of ultra-dapper mod inlaid wash basins, I turn and snap a neat row of ever so dinky urinals. Smart place this. Liking it.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=941764"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/764/941764_9b84490a5c_s.jpeg" alt="moto17urinalineup" title="moto17urinalineup" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> Turning back I proceed forth up two steps to greet a line-up of five formica cubicles.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=941765"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/765/941765_c4321b8088_s.jpeg" alt="moto29cubicles" title="moto29cubicles" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> Aaaaand nippingquitesmartly into the next to the end cubicle for privacy and peace, we are delighted to find a spic and s pan interior, complete with all mod cons.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=942179"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/179/942179_befd9055b3_s.jpeg" alt="moto9bowl" title="moto9bowl" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> It's quite some swish plush tidy tiled & hygenic colour-coded formica-lined sweet-smelling bog haven this; complete with touch-free auto flusher. . ' how <em>about</em> that!<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=942188"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/188/942188_4efcad4602_s.jpeg" alt="moto15flush" title="moto15flush" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> Putting the seat down and, er, sitting down, I gaze skywards to admire the space-age ceiling arrangement . . . two squares and a circle, a smoke alarm and a small air duct.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=942194"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/194/942194_3fb8963046_s.jpeg" alt="moto10lights" title="moto10lights" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> Immediately to my left hangs the almost obligatory Kruger loo paper holder. That Mr Kruger does well out of all our obulations or what. A nice little earner if you can get your bog roll dispenser into all the public conveniences in the land, nay continent.</p> <p> Like undertaking, business will never die . . .<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=942205"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/205/942205_e53e0c6f77_s.jpeg" alt="moto15kruger" title="moto15kruger" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> Staring ahead in catatonic bog rapture, my vision melds with the simple but effective hardened plastic catch that has secured the door.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=942211"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/211/942211_a8ddb29477_s.jpeg" alt="moto11latch" title="moto11latch" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> You will doubtless have observed in the previous two pictures the steel plating rivetted to the sides of the cubicle. Seeing as there is no weight to support, its function cannot be structural but instead must be functional.</p> <p> So, ladies. Prepare for a shock (or not). A 3mm or so thickness of metal plate is nowadays deployed on the sides of many modern gents' toilet cubicles just up to about waist height, in order to stop peeping toms drilling dirty little peep holes through the partitions.</p> <p> You'll doubtless remember that classic line in Ridley Scott's <em>Blade Runner</em> where the cop Deckard says to Zelda (the android snake-dancer/stripper) " you'd be surprised what a man would do to get a glimpse of a naked woman". Well, here we have the gay version. </p> <p>Trouble is, they didn't plan for the testosterone inevitability of one man standing on the toilet seat. For at about 4 feet, just topping the steel plate, we spy a tissue-blocked little hole. Christ almighty, do they never give up?<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=942236"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/236/942236_28e72d4c43_s.jpeg" alt="moto12steelplate" title="moto12steelplate" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> Ah well, boys will be boys.<br> .<br> My gaze drifts down to the spotless tiles and again the super plastic layout of the place, right down to the suction supports.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=942238"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/238/942238_1ad1c4887a_s.jpeg" alt="moto13floor" title="moto13floor" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> Enough! Must get a move on to snap the remaining bog furniture before the morning bum's rush brigade arrive on their ways to work. So out I creep, checking the urinals are unmanned, and after snapping the amazing view looking back down through the loo. . .<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=945648"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/648/945648_bae4824216_s.jpeg" alt="Photo18washbasinlineup1" title="Photo18washbasinlineup1" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>. . .I notice yet another entrepreneurial new service to be had at Burton-in-Kendal Moto. . .<strong>snap</strong>.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=942245"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/245/942245_e2cac61b08_s.jpeg" alt="moto21onepoundmassage" title="moto21onepoundmassage" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> Framed with a reflection of the white stalls behind, a combing mirror sports an irrisistable offer of an invigorating one pound massage for all you weary motorists. The guys would certainly go for this one - a luxurious pummelling by a topless beauty while the missus waits with the yowling brats back in the carparked Vauxhall?</p> <p>Dream on lads. Remember that bloated and grubby-looking armchair languishing just inside the main entrance? Yeah, it's got stuff inside that'll give you a 5 minute mechanical back rub. It's something you'd only want to give a go after a few jars though, realistically.</p> <p> Yet we have the spirit of the age defined right <em>there</em>.<br> . </p> <p>Turning to the right slightly, we pick up the symmetry of the twin stainless steel & plastic hand dryers along with another one of those strange wall-mounted sweets dispenser jars. .<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=942254"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/254/942254_295b31fcbe_s.jpeg" alt="Moto22dryers" title="Moto22dryers" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> In actual fact, they contain chewable little sawn-off toothbrushes concealed within confectionary wrappers, as some of you may already know. A pound coin will bring you the dubious delight of being able to munch on a flexible centimetre of plastic brush coated with peppermint-flavoured antisceptic. </p> <p> I tried one once - absolute viledom. It would also be far too easy to forget what you're doing and instinctively swallow it. Doesn't bear thinking about.</p> <p> * * * * * * * * </p> <p>So. In the course of my incredible journey towards and through what is undoubtably a superior gold-star motorway services toilet, I have been offered;</p> <p>1) Drinkies for my doggie<br> 2) Freepost <em>Truprint</em> film processing bags<br> 3) A £3 shower<br> 4) A £1 massage, and<br> 5) A £1 chewable toothbrush</p> <p>When all most gents want is a quick pee and a wash handies.<em> Jesus H Christ with one foot in a mop bucket, </em>if it carries on like this, by 2010 they'll be offering us a 5 quid short back & sides while we're sitting on a tailor-made swivelling crapper <img src="/img/smilies/graylaugh.gif" alt=":))" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>AA.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2006/11/07/toilet_20_gone_for_a_burton~1304266/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2006-08-08:/2006/08/08/toilet_18_boggus_compactus~1023958/MichaelStMark2006-08-08T19:44:34+02:002009-04-29T10:35:56+02:00 <p>We spend a pleasant Sunday in the quintessentially English hilltop Cinque Port town of Rye in east Sussex. We meander a wee bit tipsy from the Gallo Sierra Valley Californian crisp dry white, up through the tourist throng and over steep Hovis cobbles towards the Norman church topping the town - and just below the summit, facing out to sea, we stumble across ye oldee castle and gun garden.<br> Now here's some serious plant yes sir-ee.<br> ( All pics are click-thro expandable for your convenience )<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=738969"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/969/738969_48594aea02_s.jpeg" alt="bccanona" title="bccanona" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> Oh nay, nay and thrice nay; we wouldn't have wanted to have been on the business end of one of these babies, in yon days of yore now would we?<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=738976"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/976/738976_7c6f0f479a_s.jpeg" alt="bcguna" title="bcguna" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> . . . and some naive yank perhaps thinks he would have made a good canon man, firing out at an invading armada - or unarmed Iraqi civilians?<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=738979"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/979/738979_095e22647e_s.jpeg" alt="bctouristsa" title="bctouristsa" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>These days however, the surrounding land having risen a couple of metres over the past five hundred years, the English Channel is confined a mile southwards. Here's what the gun-totin'yank would have hit. The tin roof of Solvent Solutions Ltd.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=738984"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/984/738984_117c7ba5e5_s.jpeg" alt="BC rye Harbour" title="BC rye Harbour" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> . . .mind you, he would have caused some pretty serious co-lateral with hefty iron balls like these.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=738985"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/985/738985_e4967c327f_s.jpeg" alt="bcballsa" title="bcballsa" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> But one digresses of course. I take a deep breath, gazing up through seagull-screeched blue blue yonder to fix my eyes upon the 6ft thick castle walls. They knew how to <em>build </em>in those days, oh aye. None of yer £200K Barratt box rabbit hutch plasterboard and breeze block sheds, where you may have the pleasure of hearing your next door neigbour passing wind and smacking his wife & kids about etc for years on end<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=738992"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/992/738992_e15b5c9063_s.jpeg" alt="bccastlea" title="bccastlea" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> .. THERE! Ensconsed and neatly tucked away below the castle ramparts, we trouve a neat little bog. Toilet 19 to be precise. Hey let's have a wee peek shall we.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=739059"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/059/739059_d6da2169c8_s.jpeg" alt="bcdoorsa" title="bcdoorsa" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p> The left hand door to the gents is pushed, and straight away we are into a compacted box of claustrophobic dimensions. Across the tidy red terracotta tiled floor, a psychologically uncomfortably narrow three-man urinal confronts the vision. Nice interior decor aesthetic paint job though. A dinky dinky hand dryer squats intriguingly slighty above and to the left, suggesting a penis-drying function as well as handies. Charming!</p> <p> As I stand at stall two, taking advantage of the facilities, my gaze melds in a catatonic alcoholic stupour in amongst the molecular grime of the oxidized metal grating passing as a window, filtering diffracted and diffused light through from outside.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=738998"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/998/738998_17f4a7e77c_s.jpeg" alt="bcurinalsa" title="bcurinalsa" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> The pitted alu' alloy window grills in this space are space-age indeed. Indeed another viddy abouts the place confirms some space vehicular-type of vibe. Something along the lines of Hatfield bog ( Toilet 7 see Tags ). Hey yes, get a load of the porcelain cistern and accompanying alloy grid.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=739013"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/013/739013_9bbfd68114_s.jpeg" alt="bcwindowa" title="bcwindowa" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> Quite a work of art wouldn't you agree?<br> <em>Boggus Compactus</em> is aptly named, yet the innards induce one to linger, for here is toilet minimalism combined with Bauhaus-like craftsmanship of the toilet furniture. . .yeah, take a glimpse at the sink plus. Sheer bog class, this.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=739025"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/025/739025_6c937f1e56_s.jpeg" alt="bcsink&windowa" title="bcsink&windowa" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> . . followed by the obligatory cublicle inspection. Stainless steel slendour -and nine out of ten for clean-li-ness, as it were.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=739035"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/035/739035_c4b388c1a1_s.jpeg" alt="BCcubiclea" title="BCcubiclea" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> Exiting blinking into the intoxicating sea air and blinding south coast early August sunshine, we half descend a long stretch of steps to see whether the Smugglers Inn is open for business - but no, it's not all day drinkies in this corner of Rye so I attempt to open my day pack wherein is stowed the remainder of the Gallo. . .but as I tug at the zip I loose balance and collapse hard and numbly onto my butt on the worn medieval granite staircase. Ha! Drunk!<br> Don't laugh we've all done it.</p> <p>I look abouts and here is a timely reminder of what they used to do to you if you stole a loaf of Rye bread in 1600 and odd.</p> <p>I am helped to my feet by a chortling half-inebriated-herself Miss Dingo, and it's back down the hill for some fish and chips and a sobering coffee pour moi.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=739064"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/064/739064_7717d5f5b2_s.jpeg" alt="BC Stocks" title="BC Stocks" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Recommendations for Toilet 18?<br> It's a supernice bog, if you can find it? Now theres a challenge and a half for you chaps and chapettes.</p> <p>AA.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2006/08/08/toilet_18_boggus_compactus~1023958/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2006-05-11:/2006/05/11/white_wedding~792841/MichaelStMark2006-05-11T22:44:28+02:002009-04-29T10:33:23+02:00 <p><strong>South Lakeland</strong> ( Cumbria )comprises mostly gently rolling greenery unterspersed with rocky knolls and woodland. Only a little further north rise the famous fells - the start of spoilt southerner holiday home land.</p> <p>I'm thrilled to be out of getting-silly-now-with-the-overcrowding London and back close to home. I park the camper in secret seclusion, saunter through a doctored bluebell bois and up onto "Colton Heights" - the place for a walk that my dear old mum's family used to say " blows your cobwebs away "</p> <p>Up and over I go, and drift vacantly along the farmtrack down the other side. There, in splendid solitude, is revealed the 12th C. Norman church with the old schoolhouse over the road.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=537668"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/668/537668_e4fa73c811_s.jpeg" align="" alt="WW aprproach track" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> (Click on all pics to enlarge up)<br> .<br> Through the rusty worn old kissing gate, where I kiss the fresh air ( sad, as I trapped one or two girlfriends halfway through there in my younger days ) then keep to the right, down past the disused schoolhouse, now a functions centre for the adjacent church ceremonies.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=537677"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/677/537677_54219662f3_s.jpeg" align="" alt="WW approachschool" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> This was me mum's school when she was growing up in the nearby village. Only a cold northerly bluster in the ear and animal cries disturb, nay reinforce the peace. I trot down and glance in the classroom-now-kitchen.<br> Ha! A new OED phrase may be born. . .<em>OUTSIDE IN</em>.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=537688"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/688/537688_92a0d58a50_s.jpeg" align="" alt="WW Insideoutside" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> Dropping down to the bottom end of the roughcast old ( 19th C. ) house, I know what to expect. I've been anticipating this moment with relish all afternoon in fact. Now. The entrance! ( I'm entranced )<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=537692"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/692/537692_2db2ebb790_s.jpeg" align="" alt="WW entrance" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> The entrance to a 10 year old breeze block toilet annexe, used (almost) exclusively by church patrons before and after weddings, funerals, christenings and the like. What I like about this place is that it feels so close to "home". For my mum & dad were married here, wee sprog me christened here and my grandparents buried here ( the church and churchyard, not the bog ) as will YT be, in time.</p> <p>In the interim, I again admire the spartan roughcast white inside. It really is a different bog proposition from anything else previously blogged.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=539669"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/669/539669_f911bae06c_s.jpeg" align="" alt="WW two basins & windows1" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>The white door opens into a dual washbasin space, with a kindly provided cloth towl draped over a wooden rail, although personally I would decline its use - even in extremis.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=537706"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/706/537706_bf9c33f414_s.jpeg" align="" alt="WW towel-basin" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> A few steps further in to the sanctuary of "White Wedding" and first left reveals the Gents cubicle. We know it's the Gents because of a prehistoric Windows 95ish computer-generated paper sign pinned to the door! Cute.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=537716"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/716/537716_e86d97f81f_s.jpeg" align="" alt="WW cubicle" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> The facilities are clean, in keeping with the overall colour scheme of blanc sur blanc. The back of the door from within the pokey cubicle exemplifies nicely and note the dainty token latch. No need for heavy bolts, we're <em>civilized</em> round here.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=537717"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/717/537717_9a0283f76b_s.jpeg" align="" alt="WW door" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> The door is closed and I just sit and sit . . and sit. Glorious quietude, no cars! Magic. Stoney silence of solitude. Result!</p> <p> My mind wanders, wonders, lost in introspection and possibilities. Maybe, just maybe I'll float in here after they put me in the ground across the road. Mind, who could wish for a nicer hang-out for a disembodied bog blogger's spirit. How will I know I'm dead? When I can put my hand right through these breeze blocks.</p> <p>After ten I get up, flush and exit the computerized Gents and, turning abruptly left, witness just how great the ladies have it here. A cavernous Ladies-come-disabled space awaits behind another PC-printed door note and sign ( " . ..the toilets are here for your convenience" Christ, what a SOH )<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=537728"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/728/537728_a3316d3144_s.jpeg" align="" alt="WW ladies paper sign" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> Oh yeah, a dream space. . .<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=537729"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/729/537729_90fb2169d9_s.jpeg" align="" alt="WW ladies-disabled space" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> Still breezeblocked up, this is obviously a new extension on the old schoolhouse. The basins are dinky indeed, yet the loo roll holders are well-stocked and the <em>etcs</em> are all in place. Those nosey nuerotic long floral-dressed parishiner busybodies keep things nice and orderly herein; that's the plus side bog bonus for sure.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=537735"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/735/537735_6c2e117c77_s.jpeg" align="" alt="WW loo roll" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> .<br> The spartan white theme continues unabated amongst a shiny happy new breezeblock juxtaposition<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=537739"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/739/537739_abe9588b28_s.jpeg" align="" alt="WW walls join" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> A New Dada discovery in fact.<br> .<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=537747"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/747/537747_01dd231495_s.jpeg" align="" alt="WW closeup basin in ladiesdisabled" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> It's a dinky world of white wonder right down to the hotel soap tablet.</p> <p>I feel to exit quite smartish in case a woman walks in fresh from putting flowers on a grave, only to find YT loitering with a digicam in the Ladies. It would be quite easily done and the last thing she would ever ever expect, I expect. Wouldn't want to traumatize someone for life - girls get a hard enough time being bugged and sex-pestered by men as it is.</p> <p>So I exit this special-for-me bog spot, my mind and innards emptied and at rest. A quick look back reveals a charming line-up of windows, constituting the west face of White Wedding.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=537759"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/759/537759_c9a122ac87_s.jpeg" align="" alt="WW outside windows" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> Hope you got something of the flavour.</p> <p><u>White Wedding</u></p> <p>Cleanliness, 8/10<br> Quietness of sit, 10/10 ( weekdays)<br> Bog Ambience 9/10 superb almost spiritual peace<br> Location convenience 4/10 Rather remote for all but the most dedicated bog collector.</p> <p>AA.</p> <p>( This post dedicated to the lovely Kiwibird for requesting another bogblog. )<br> If you'd like another, your request is my command. Otherwise I usually can't be arsed, lazy so and so that I can be. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2006/05/11/white_wedding~792841/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2006-02-17:/2006/02/17/toilet_17_underground_nuclear_bunker_bog~571416/MichaelStMark2006-02-17T23:49:39+01:002006-08-10T08:44:53+02:00 <p><strong>Location; South End Green, Hampstead. London NW3</strong><br> A traditional turn-of-the-century public loo built near a bus (tram as was) terminus and located near a quirky-traditional wooden black cab taxi drivers' shelter. Located 200 yds from South End Green overground (North London Line) coming 'round from Richmond.</p> <p>.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=368479"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/479/368479_f06b63366e_s.jpeg" align="" alt="SEG ext" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=368480"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/480/368480_b310d9176b_s.jpeg" align="" alt="SEGent" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> South End Green is your archetypal leafy yet bustling Hampstead neighbourhood, languishing in a rich cultural and media tradition. Being situated near the the borders with Kentish Town however, the place receives a fair shot in the arm of gritty street reality. I once saw Chris Evans crossing the nearby zebra onto the Heath. Dressed down like a tramp he was.</p> <p>Anyways I thought it's about time we featured one of these fabtastic Victorian-engineered toilets to give the example of how it should be done today. South End Green public convenience was obviously built on a nerve centre of passing traffic and trade, which continues to this day.</p> <p>We descend the steep steps underground, increasingly aware of the solid, well crafted built-to-last quality of the tiling to each side, similar if not identical to that used to line the marvellous Hampstead underground station, not a mile up the hill.</p> <p>My bogblog heart sinks at the sight of a cleaner's yellow warning cone at the bottom of the stairs. I quickly conceal the digicam from view and proceed into the bog.<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=368481"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/481/368481_8b988f6f2b_s.jpeg" align="" alt="SEG intgd2" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=368482"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/482/368482_f2447e50c2_s.jpeg" align="" alt="SEGint3gd" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> The first thought that strikes an over-fertile imagination is what a great cover this would make against the first wave of a nuclear attack on central London. The blast wave would kill and level just about everything above ground, but I'd be safe enough down here at my pee I sense, looking around. Trouble is, the searing heat and radiation would not long afterwards enter through the open ends and I would probably die a horrible lingering death, or venture outside and collapse.</p> <p> Mind you, what are the chances I'd be taking my constitutional down here when a hydrogen bomb goes off a couple of miles away? The imagination is truly a thing of wonder.</p> <p>But I digress. Whatever happened to that Victorian energy, optimism and sheer dedication to pride in ones work? Look at what they achieved amongst many other things - the building of the world's first capital city underground transport system, a thousand mile network of grand, cathedral-volumous sewers to protect the population from rampant disease. . .and. . ..South End Green toilet.</p> <p>So here we are, a mini underground work of art, undiminished and unbowed against over a hundred years of countless daily discharges, many of them probably quite shocking to behold. The rock solid tiling covers floor, walls, ceiling and arches alike. The 16-man capacity split urinals are rendered in the most exquisite scultured white porcelain form and topped with respendent, magnificent marble. Bravo Victorian planners, architects, engineers and navies - they were <em>real</em> men in those days! . . Respect!<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=368483"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/483/368483_e4f4f4d6ad_s.jpeg" align="" alt="SEGbwl" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=368484"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/484/368484_42ddb4ac7b_s.jpeg" align="" alt="SEGwsh" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Moving right along, I immediately psychologically-connect (eye contact) with the cleaner. She ( ! ) is busying herself mopping around inside the cute washbasin area, but is all the while eyeing me up in a distinctly <strong>non</strong>-sexual manner.. The digicam is still concealed and she gets a wry smile.<br> Drat!</p> <p>So I walk straight into a harlequin-tiled cubicle ( one of fifteen ) to think. How to complete my mission here and not invoke the suspicion of the toilet maid?</p> <p>Totally over-the-top like, I exit the beautifully fashioned interior, camera swinging confidently abouts my person. <em>Dallas Cowboys</em> Baseball cap donned, I smile up to the cleaner as only a Yank tourist can. . ." Well howdy " came the fake drawl. ."you know, I was kinda wonderin' .. .would you mind if I kinda took some, ya know, <em>pictures</em> in here? I mean to say,, it's the darndest cutest little underground outhouse I ever did see! It's growing on me like topsy and I just must snap somethin' for the folks back home!"</p> <p>" Oh of course sir" she squeeked " be my guest"</p> <p>And the rest is bogblog history. A piece of cake!<br> Snapping away to my heart's content, I present the fruits of a hard afternoons bogblogging for your esteemed perusal, ladies and gents.<br> .<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=368497"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/497/368497_3014877ca0_s.jpeg" align="" alt="SEG door ref" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=368498"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/498/368498_1bfb6826f3_s.jpeg" align="" alt="SEG syst" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> All this bog hubris did for me however. I was leaning against one of the pillars at the south end of the bunker, taking one last shot along it's interior length. I squinted through the viewfinder, framed the pic . press ..the digicam focus delay of one second was almost done through when BUMP! . . .click. . .nice pic of the floor there.</p> <p>Some young chav bounding down the steps had caught my left shoulder. He seemed surprised, turned and then frowned as he at once saw the camera.<br> A distinct "What the f..k are you doing in here with that?" kind of frown.</p> <p>I shrugged and bounded up the splendid steps and out into the blessed fresh air/traffic fume mix.</p> <p>And across to <em>Hampstead Tea Rooms</em> for a Camomille tea from a bone china cup. Oh how disgustingly English!<br> I squintingly review my bogblog picture haul inbetween sips.<br> " Nice pictures sir?" smiled the sweet Polish waitress. . ."the Heath?" she quizzed.<br> "Something like that" I muttered with a quick look and a forced smirk.</p> <p>She never ever ever would have understood, would she, the poor dear.<br> .<br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=368499"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/499/368499_8e8d3a8448_s.jpeg" align="" alt="SEGsqlts" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=368500"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/500/368500_317c0bcc0e_s.jpeg" align="" alt="SEGintlit" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> <u>Toilet 17 -South End Green</u><br> Cleanliness 9/10<br> Quietness of use/sit 3/10 ( the London average I expect)<br> Bog ambience a fabtastic 9/10<br> Aesthetics 9/10.</p> <p>Overall verdict; <strong>An all-round bunker-buster of a bog!</strong></p> <p>MSM</p> <p>PS. It looks inevitable, the way the country is going, that Toilet 17 will get the same capitalist makeover as The Temple bottled lager bar (formerly The Temple Of Convenience, formerly an old underground toilet in Manchester centre).<br> <em>Thanks to stuck4bobbins for the link.</em><br> <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=376984"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/984/376984_7209444da6_m.jpeg" align="" alt="temple" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> I take it the place is a little cramped to have a loo? What ultimate irony that would be, a bar without a toilet - in an ex-toilet. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2006/02/17/toilet_17_underground_nuclear_bunker_bog~571416/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2006-01-07:/2006/01/07/toilet_16_post_festivity_repository~448771/MichaelStMark2006-01-07T15:54:51+01:002009-04-29T10:43:00+02:00 <p><strong>Keswick town centre, Cumbria, 27th December 2005.</strong><br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/kes-bb-street1.jpg" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/kes-bb-street1_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> A tourist honeypot throught the seasons, Keswick is a popular walkers' centre and serves the surrounding communities' retail needs. This time of year however, sees the town bristling and bustling to overflowing with outdoorsy folk milling around in search of that missing <em>je ne sais quoi</em> factor in their depleted lives.</p> <p>Oh and the Christmas dinner etc etc over the past day or two is rapidly catching up with them. After all, who can resist that bowel urge to "go"?<br> .<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/kes-bb-outside1a.jpg" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/kes-bb-outside1a_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> Located down a quaint cobbled Lake District alleyway and smack bang opposite the main town centre car park, is located the very volumous Toilet 16, catering for the residual urges of, I would venture hundreds of thousands each year. This has to be one of the most frequented toilets in Chrisendom, outwith those horrendously oversubscribed motorway loos, where privacy and sanitation are things of the past. Your humble bog blogger could not find a single second in which a gent did not fill the camera frame, either coming in or going out of the place. Amazing. That festive food and drink overload was sure going some!<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/kesbb-outside2a.jpg" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/kesbb-outside2a_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> Another walk-in latrine . . . click to enlarge this pic and you will see what I mean - there's another satisfied customer barging out at the same time.<br> .<br> The innards of the gents section, on this occasion defeated your humble bogblogger's mission in the regard of there being just too many half-sozzled blokes loitering about betwixt trap, urinal, wash basin and hand dryer.</p> <p> Oh and just for good measure, several parading wallflower-like in front of the mirrors, combs in hands. Well, actually, some of the rugs did rather look like they'd been <em>dragged hedge through a</em> <em>backwards</em> TM. What the hell, at this time of year <em>everything's</em> f**ked up.</p> <p> Too many upperty Scrooges there in fact, to risk being taken for some extraordinary new breed of pervert - the lavatory snapper. So believe it or not, I am forced to complete my official documentation of this ever so popular convenience on my return south from Scotland on New Years Eve.</p> <p>Even then, as we see later, I find only a mere two minutes free time to take my pics before being rudely interrupted by yet another gent walking in, ugring for the urinal.</p> <p>My Lord the food & drink ingestion that must have gone on. Talk about pigging-out.<br> So I pop in smartish and snap away. The first impression is of an incredibly vast toilet space of arcadian proportions, replete with an elongated 20' SS urinal to the right, three traps to the left and a neat line of wash basins with attendant mirrors above, reflecting back the keen image of YT, digicam to squinting eye, taking his art seriously.<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Kes-bb-space1a.jpg" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Kes-bb-space1a_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> Panning - if you excuse the expression - upwards, the digicam captures the resplendant headroom here, a good 30 ft in fact, to the apex of the iron-beamed skylight roof, reminiscent in height of the Ugly Pink Sister of Sanqhar ( Toilet 14, check it out ). This roof area, as we will see from trap 1 later, reminds in some strange sense of an aviary (note chicken wire fence up on the left)<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Kes-bb-space2a.jpg" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Kes-bb-space2a_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Kes-BB-basins-mirror-reflec1a.jpg" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Kes-BB-basins-mirror-reflec1a_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> Oh yeah, there I am<br> .<br> The whole shooting match has been tiled up to the max; terracottas on the floor & urinal step space, the walls being entirely clad with standard sanitary white oblongs interspersed with a single line of tasteful oyster blues. The four wash basins are modern, clinically clean and functional -as they would well need to be to cater for the massive day-long demand in this busy busy bog.<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Kes-bb-basons-reflec1a.jpg" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Kes-bb-basons-reflec1a_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> Getting nervous here, expecting interruption any second.<br> .<br> Before making a dive for trap one to record the hidden delights therein, it's time to check out more of the furniture</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Kes-BB-urinal1.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Kes-BB-urinal1_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Kes-bb-urinal2.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Kes-bb-urinal2_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> Some Mega trough this - takes on all comers - with room for at least a dozen standing bladders bursting with the processed remains of Keswick's finest alcoholic beverages.<br> Now for a look @ trap 1<br> .<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Kes-bb-cubicles.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Kes-bb-cubicles_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/kes-bb-pan1.jpg" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/kes-bb-pan1_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> Cubicle one was relatively clean and well kempt, the regulation black plastic lid hiding yet another bog standard Shanks bowl. I can only assume the atttendant was on duty and had recently done a round of cleaning here, for I had been in the trap for less than five seconds before footfalls spoke of the toilet seeing another half dozen post Christmas-full touristy bodies meandering in, in search of blessed relief.</p> <p>Sitting on the black lid, I see the closed trap door opposite gives away a few more clues as to the weird psychology going on here from time to time.<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/kes-bb-graffiri1.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/kes-bb-graffiri1_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> . . .and this beats the <em>Beast of Brecon</em> for past door kick-ins. .<br> .<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/kes-bb-locks.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/kes-bb-locks_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> What's this been all about then? I'd wager you don't get this kind of fixated tripe in the Ladies ( don't click to enlarge if you are easily offended)<br> .<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/kes-bb-obscene-graffiti.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/kes-bb-obscene-graffiti_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a></p> <p>. . .totally distasteful and uncouth, but I bring this to you bogblog fans purely in the line of duty in the form of research into the hidden side of this perculiar country we live in.</p> <p>Anyways, looking up to get away from that vile imagery, we are reminded again, in some surreal sense that I cannot explain, of the roof of an aviary or big bird house, with the use of wire mesh to either side ( to combat over-the-wall peepers I presume) combined with the conservatory feel. A conservatory lavatory. . . ah well, it takes all kinds I suppose.<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/kes-bb-roof.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/kes-bb-roof_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> Waiting for a quiet minute to ensure we have a vacant loo again, I pretend-flush the bowl in trap 1 and sally forth into the main arena to immediately take a quick sneak peep round the corner, to the only unexplored part of the <strong>Post</strong> <strong>Festivity Repository</strong> so far unseen by the roving bogbloggers eye. Out comes the digicam again. . . the snap revealing a couple of dinky hand dryers and a disappointingly decrepit waste paper bin which, it has to be said, lowers the tone of the entire toilet.<br> .<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/kes-bb-dryers-bin.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/kes-bb-dryers-bin_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> A fraction of a second after taking this pic I was startled from behind by some agricultural-looking guy entering the joint. I turned and attempted to conceal the camera at the same time but I'd been rumbled. Our eyes met, he looked bloody darned suspicious it has to be said.</p> <p> I could peripheral-sense his head turn and local redneck eyes drill into the back of my exiting <em>LONSDALE of London</em> baseball capped head as he stood at the urinal, unzipping himself. What a weirdo, he must have thought.</p> <p>Ah well, you can't win em all.</p> <p>AA. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2006/01/07/toilet_16_post_festivity_repository~448771/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2005-11-16:/2005/11/16/toilet_15_the_beast_of_brecon~311583/MichaelStMark2005-11-16T09:55:22+01:002005-11-19T01:36:46+01:00 <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Bbb1.jpg" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Bbb1_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> Located just off the main parking square directly adjacent to the Co-op and across from the old Safeways/new Morrisons in the charming south Wales market town of Brecon, languishes this longpig beast of a bog. An integral part of the scenery hereabouts, but which could do with a fresh coat of whitewash; we approach the Gents ( Dynion ) from the square.<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Bbb2.jpg" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Bbb2_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> Two curiosities strike as one passes through the doorway. Firstly even the "Gents" sign has to have its Welsh translation, as if we are in a foreign country. It's a bog, chaps - I mean no one in their right mind is going to mistake it for a tailors. Second, for some bizarre reason, this south Wales cottage has a recurring theme of a Boy Scout-like motif repeatedly emblazened on surfaces throughout its internal structure. Don't ask me what that's all about, I'm only the humble bog-blogger.<br> Swiftly entering the long house we find;<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BBBurinal.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BBBurinal_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> the space expanding to Tardis-like volume, the 12-man shiny steel urinal at the far end being the first object of attention. The second sense in here is one of social intercourse. This is a very well frequented toilet and on previous visits I have found several locals discussing life and times whilst attending to nature's call. The flavour of the place is almost cattle market banter-friendly. Moving right along, or more precisely, turning sharp right, we discover<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BBBcubiclespartitions2.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BBBcubiclespartitions2_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> a line of 6 pokey cubicles with a larger disabled tagged on the end. Again, the Brecon town toilet logo irritates. What the hell <em>is </em>that wretched squiggle?<br> Rendered in fetching fawns and dark green with tan tiling, the colour scheme is about right I suppose, for a popular public loo. As one approaches the traps, one ( or at least 6ft one" me ) notices the dolls' house nature of the doors and low dividing partitions.</p> <p> Seriously short on height, one sees that one could engage in a conversation, should one so desire, with someone of similar Englishness of height standing in the adjacent cubicle. All you'd have to do is tippytoe a bit to have eye contact. Again, evidence -backed up by our Smallest Toilet in the World bog-blog from July- that the Welsh, bless their dragon-sewn cotton socks, are somewhat vertically challenged, as a rule. . .<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BBBpartitioncloseup.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BBBpartitioncloseup_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> Dismissing the uncomfortably exposed and voyeristic feeling of being ensconsed in trap 3 and after admiring the random glass brick placement in the walls, we wander around the corner to the substantial stainless twin wash basin section. How many chirpy- cheerful brief Welsh-accented boyo dialogues have passed between wash handy locals here over the years, one muses. The basins and surfaces are spacious indeed, reminding of a meeting place of quite some unstated importance. ( see bottom of blog for pic)<br> .<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BBBglass-bricks.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BBBglass-bricks_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> Before leaving this gossip house of sorts, we pop back into a trap to snatch a pic of the securing locks and bolts which struck the eye before. </p> <p>Similar damage is evidenced on all trap doors, even the roomier disabled, so signs here of a fairly brutal side to folk, presumably after the pubs close on the weekends. Certainly wouldn't fancy being interrupted at my sit by some Welsh Rugby try converter wannabe's drunken match practice door kick-ins.</p> <p>Suppose they have to vent their frustrations somewhere, at having to live life at under 5 feet seven and getting beaten by the English at just about everything ( except decency ).<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BBBdoor.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BBBdoor_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BBBwashbasins.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BBBwashbasins_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> I saunter out of Brecon Public Conveniences, past the Ladies at the other end of the block and into the square, in a kind of bog daze. Shall I buy milk at the adjacent Co-op or the new manic Morrisons across the way?</p> <p>Decisions decisions.</p> <p>The horrible new genetically modified Morrisons it is, for the Co-op smells like an old folks home.</p> <p>MSM</p> <p>BTW, The Walrus, aka the good Dr Dark, says this convenience is, or was back in the summer, less than sqeeky C. Reminding that I forgot the token hygene count; I'd venture an average to poor 5/10 and quietness of sit rating at virtually zero.<br> Great place to informally meet & greet the locals though.</p> <p>PS. The Welsh for "Police", which the cops have writ large on all their partol cars, is HEDDLU.<br> Hahahahaha</p> <p>Had to get that one in, the Heddlu swine stop you on any country road after about 11pm for no reason other than everyone else has gone to bed by 10 - and issue you with some ticket instructing to take your insurance etc documentation to your local police station within a week. </p> <p>They need something to do out there besides banging young lambs. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2005/11/16/toilet_15_the_beast_of_brecon~311583/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2005-10-13:/2005/10/13/toilet_14_the_ugly_pink_sister~231404/MichaelStMark2005-10-13T01:04:48+02:002005-10-18T13:37:03+02:00 <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Sanquar-outside.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Sanquar-outside_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> Sanquhar public conveniences, in SW Scotland, are located in a quiet square just off the busy main trunk road from Ayr through Nithsdale to Dumfries and England; is about as understated a loo as you are likely to find. The two main claims to fame of this Dumfries & Galloway wild west bandit- country town are that one; it hosts the oldest post office in the British Isles, with a postmaster who bears a striking almost doppleganger resemblance to that Geordy car dog "Ohhh Yes" on the old Churchill car insurance TV ads - in both body and voice! And two, the Scottish bard Robbie Burns used to drink here 200 years ago.<br> Nowadays <em>everyone </em>drinks here. And how.<br> We arrive on a quiet & grey July '05 weekday mid-morning. Kind of hung-over quiet if you CMD.<br> .<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Sanquar-roof.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Sanquar-roof_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> Upon entry into this pretty bleak yet surprisingly spacious exercise in stacked pink breeze blocks, one gapes upwards at the incredibly high beamed & Dormered ceiling. Perhaps they were initially going to add another floor and decided not at the last minute? Only in Scotland.<br> So it's left to a few optimistic Scottish spiders to take up home & net curtain the beams.<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Sanquar-seat-space.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Sanquar-seat-space_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> Venturing straight through into the one number two cubicle, which doubles as a Disabled; although the picture doesn't adequately convey the scene, it is pink cavernous indeed and gives one a sense of being vip bog royalty upon the throne ~ one's own private personal loo studio in fact. One would be almost guaranteed a quiet sit here weekdays, but it would be rather a long way to travel, just for that.<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Sanqyar-washbasin.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Sanqyar-washbasin_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> Next up and adhering strictly to order of useage<br> is another of those bizarre stainless steel hole-in-the-wall wash basins, this one having been kicked in to hell by local late night drunken Kung Fu enthusiasts. Probably venting their rage at the new wave of house-price-rise-money-for-nothing English escapee incomers buying up all the decent local housing, in their frantic search for peace and quiet outwith the giant aggrressive rat run that is now England.</p> <p> Anyways, the sad little effort consequently barely affords a trickle. Terrible terrible design anyway, it surely got its just deeserts. Still, the pink surround is rather fetching.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Sanquar-urinal.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Sanquar-urinal_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> Again, the wretched Dumfries & Galloway council play safe with stainless steel with regards the three-man urinal adjacent to said (sad) wash basin. Is it quirky Scottish planning or co-incidence that the red teracotta floor tiling here seems to adopt a distincly tartanesque look?</p> <p>Cleanliness good 7/10<br> Quietness of sit, 8/10<br> Scaciousness of cubicle a delightful 10/10 gold star.<br> Apart from this, all in all an eccentric excercise in redundant high ceilinged pink that you could only find north of the border.</p> <p>MSM<br> This bogblog dedicated to the good Eggbod and Visitor who gave me a boot up the jacksy to do another.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2005/10/13/toilet_14_the_ugly_pink_sister~231404/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2005-09-27:/2005/09/27/toilet_14_a_theme_in_green~204019/MichaelStMark2005-09-27T15:30:52+02:002005-09-29T09:44:28+02:00 <p>Dymchurch is a sleepy seaside string of shorefront residences on one long drag stretching a good few miles up to the crumbling accident-waiting-to-happen ancient Dungerness B nuclear power station.<br> Set back slightly from the road is the light railway complete with a one third-scale steam train pulling sightseerers, puffing and whistling past every 30 mins at the weekends.<br> Must drive the residents potty.</p> <p> Not a billion miles from our Rye Harbour bog blog post from earlier in the summer, the westernmost carpark, almost on the pebbly beach itself, hosts an average brick cottagy looking convenience.<br> .<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Dymchurch1_01.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Dymchurch1_01_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> We approach the Gents side and wonder, <em>What's </em><em>behind </em><em>the </em><em>green </em><em>door</em>?<br> .<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Dymchurch2_01.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Dymchurch2_01_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> An immediate turn right and all is revealed. More delightful greenery in the forms of the cubicle facades, rendered very artistic indeed in a fetching black feltip scrawl. The elegant flow of line here suggests mastery and maturity in the black art. What the f..k IS that weird arcane language anyway? It's kinda English and kinda not. Some nether region of demented drug-fuelled cracked-up crazy paving writing. Anybody out there able to decode these taggers cryptic messages one sees sprayed around? Some highbrow enlightening life-changing philosophy we've all missed, perhaps?<br> .<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Dymchurch3_01.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Dymchurch3_01_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> A peep around into trap one confirms the green theme. I was dissuaded from playing the bog blog intrepid investigator and taking a stainless steel sit here, the insanitory situation at the back of the cubicle being quite beyond the pale.<br> .<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Dymchurch4_01.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Dymchurch4_01_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> Instead an abrupt about turn and a few steps takes us to the back of the WC and a mind-numbingly ordinary two-man urinal is given exactly the amount of time it takes to raise the camera and <em>Point </em><em>and </em><em>Shoot</em>. You wont believe me when I tell you that I actually coined that phrase, many moons ago.<br> .<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Dymchurch5_02.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Dymchurch5_02_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> So another quick about turn and pass the Lilliput-tiny SS handbasin complete with accompanying binliner bin and tagged rusted decrepid paper towel holder ( no detail spared with this dedicated one man toilet defacer extraordinaire huh? )<br> .<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Dymchurch6_01.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Dymchurch6_01_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> Out we go and bid farewell to Theme in Green, the nostrils welcome the brisk blast of sea air and a Lottery funded boardwalk invites an easy seagull screeching passage over those slippyslidy pebbles to a crows nest vantage point looking way out south over the English Channel. See them distant oil tankers skimming the horizon? They take three miles to stop they do.<br> .<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Dymchurch7_01.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Dymchurch7_01_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> From here, drop down steep embankments of tide-piled pebble, crunch sliding with each step, to the shoreline itself. Hey the tide's coming in!<br> Great to be alive and off the Goddam Tate & Lyle poison-posing-as-food sludge. I even imagine the angels are sending me smoke signals! ( Steady on boy )<br> .<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Dymchurch8_01.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Dymchurch8_01_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2005/09/27/toilet_14_a_theme_in_green~204019/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2005-09-13:/2005/09/13/toilet_12_the_smallest_toilet_in_the_wor~178162/MichaelStMark2005-09-13T09:30:47+02:002005-09-14T10:15:59+02:00 <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/WELSH-LOO-OUTSIDE.JPG" title="The wee Welsh loo"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/WELSH-LOO-OUTSIDE_small.jpg" border="0" alt="The wee Welsh loo"></a><br> .<br> Located at the far end of a large visitor carpark near Cadair Idris mountain range in the south of the Snowdonia national park, we stumble across a loo for the wee people. I know the Welsh generally, bless their good-natured hearts, are known to be a little vertically challenged but you would think they would consider tourists from outwith the principality when constructing a public convenience.<br> This toilet block is the smallest I have ever seen. It's enough to stop you in your walking boots before you even step in. " Ha" you will go, I promise!<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/WELSH-LOO-DOUBLE-TAKE.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/WELSH-LOO-DOUBLE-TAKE_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> One is tempted to walk in sideways, like a crab, the thick walls seeming to close in on either side.<br> The sense of quiet confinement in here makes Scourie look like the inside of the Millenium Dome. . .well I exaggerate a little.<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/WELSH-LOO-CUBLICLE.JPG" title="Its a tight squeeze!"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/WELSH-LOO-CUBLICLE_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Its a tight squeeze!"></a><br> .<br> The cublicle is a tight squeeze, if you catch my drift, ones elbows are virtually touching the brickwork to either side at ones sit. It's clean enough alright, but one hardly notices these peripherals due to the odd feeling of being in a dolls house in Lilliput.<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/WELSH-LOO-WINDOW.JPG" title="A view to die for"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/WELSH-LOO-WINDOW_small.jpg" border="0" alt="A view to die for"></a><br> .<br> As soon as one exits out the trap the bespoke one-man urinal catches your peripheral vision to the left. Two steps and you are there. A leek anyone?<br> A cute peek-a-boo window is provided for one to ponder whilst passing water.<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/WELSH-LOO-URINAL.JPG" title="May as well use an empty bottle"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/WELSH-LOO-URINAL_small.jpg" border="0" alt="May as well use an empty bottle"></a><br> .<br> Its a bog for the little folk alright. About turning towards the entrance, we take three steps and come upon the dinky wee wash basin. Should two strangers in a bad mood decide to use this matchbox of a toilet at once it could quite easily turn into an argy bargy of elbows or worse. One is almost certain to bump into anyone else using the facility at the same time.<br> .<br> I step outside into the Welsh wilds and the sense of relief at the open space and scenery after ten minutes shut in this wardrobe of a toilet,is overwhelming. A real gale has been brewing all morning and I brave the teeth of it as I wander lonely as a cloud down to the lake and gaze out through watering eyes at the landscape, strewn as it is with the remains of pre-historic settlements, standing stones and stone circles.<br> Little call for Armitage and Shanks back then!</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/WELSH-LOO-HANDBASIN.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/WELSH-LOO-HANDBASIN_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/WELSH-LOO-ROUGH-LAKE.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/WELSH-LOO-ROUGH-LAKE_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> .<br> .<br> MSM </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2005/09/13/toilet_12_the_smallest_toilet_in_the_wor~178162/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2005-09-07:/2005/09/08/toilet_11_the_leaning_tower_of_peeza~168496/MichaelStMark2005-09-08T00:26:05+02:002005-09-13T22:09:07+02:00 <p><strong>They know how to do it and they're doing it right.</strong><br> That legendary French panache for design flair coupled with a penchant for rock solid construction, when applied to their motorway PCs has resulted in a Captain Marvel of a toilet which is a delight to the weary English eye.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/F.-BOG-9-LTP.jpg" title="Leaning tower of peeza"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/F.-BOG-9-LTP_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Leaning tower of peeza"></a></p> <p>Fashioned from splendid thicknesses of high grade stainless steel, extruded and punched plate aluminium/ zinc alloy surrounds and bomb-proof tiling, this noble engineering artform has withstood the rigors and ravages of constant wear and tear from countless travellers' oceans of discharges over the years. </p> <p>Within the heavily armoured cubicles there is pleasant piped music albeit a little on the bland Mc Donaldsy side - and auto' frangrance jets. An army of uniformed maintenance staff devote regular scrupulous attention to sanitation. Close up we are still amazed by this bog from another world.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/F.-BOG-10-LTPCU.jpg" title="effortless excellence"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/F.-BOG-10-LTPCU_small.jpg" border="0" alt="effortless excellence"></a><br> Words fail me at this point, suffice to say this UFO landing of a loo gets my Man Of The Match Award.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/F.-BOG-5.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/F.-BOG-5_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> Before entering the cubicle a peep around the entrance grid surrounds reveals a charming standalone circular steel basin which has endured wash handies on average probably about once every ten minutes 24/7 over years. The very definition of Built To Last.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/F.-BOG-6.JPG" title="look ,no handles!"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/F.-BOG-6_small.jpg" border="0" alt="look ,no handles!"></a></p> <p>Ensconsed within the tank-like interior of the Leaning Tower of Peesa and once over the immediate feeling of cramped claustraphpobic confinement due to the quite justified foreboding of inescapeable imprisonment should the door jam ( <img src="/img/smilies/grayuhoh.gif" alt="U-(" class="middle" border="0">) the main ( only ) impression is that of tiled minimalism with a hole in the floor. It is here, I feel, that the French let us down; as if the architect at this point had to abandon his admirable exuberance in order to keep to the design brief insisting Gallic tradition be adhered to with regard to the business end of things. So here we have it, the LTOP party-poops at the last.</p> <p>These truly terrible hole-in-the-floor squat toilets should have been phased out after the war.<br> At the very least they should have sturdy handles/elbow rests to each side, for the strain on ones thighs and calfs during a squat becomes ever more excruciatingly painful with each passing second, especially for the overweight.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/F.-BOG-7.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/F.-BOG-7_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><br> Echos of <strong>Rhapsody </strong><strong>in </strong><strong>Steel </strong>blog, the stainless steel of the doors and elsewhere is exquisitely engineered, more solid than plate. No pervert could ever hammer-punch through this. And the graffiti? More political than sexual. Shows the French at least can think beyond their own bollocks.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/F.-BOG-8.JPG" title="no escape if the door jams, te he."><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/F.-BOG-8_small.jpg" border="0" alt="no escape if the door jams, te he."></a></p> <p>Calling in out of sheer curiosity at the next aire de service down the motorway we startle at another fresh and ambitious toilet design ready for take off -but which would never be allowed past the drawing board in the drudge nation with no imagination.</p> <p>Tant pis.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/F.-BOG-1.JPG" title="you are cleared for take-off bog 1"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/F.-BOG-1_small.jpg" border="0" alt="you are cleared for take-off bog 1"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/F.-BOG-2.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/F.-BOG-2_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a></p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/D.-BOG-3.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/D.-BOG-3_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a></p> <p>Can you imagine <em>this </em>at a Welcome Break?</p> <p>MSM</p> <p>Thanks to Evie for kick-starting my lazy blog ass into gear on this latest. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2005/09/08/toilet_11_the_leaning_tower_of_peeza~168496/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2005-08-19:/2005/08/19/toilet_10_scourie_nw_scotland/MichaelStMark2005-08-19T09:56:06+02:002009-04-29T10:51:53+02:00 <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/SCOURIE-LOO-EXT.JPG" title="Scourie PC"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/SCOURIE-LOO-EXT_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Scourie PC"></a></p> <p>This lonely wee cottage is situated on the outskirts of Scourie, a busy ( with English escapees posing as tourists ) little fishing village on the far nothwestern tip of the Scottish mainland. Flanked on both sides by hugely disproportionate areas of parking gravel, this tiny loo deceives to flatter.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/SCOURIE-LOO-SS-BASIN---P-TOWELS.JPG" title="Scrubbed-up antiquity"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/SCOURIE-LOO-SS-BASIN---P-TOWELS_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Scrubbed-up antiquity"></a></p> <p>Upon entry through the rickety garden shed of a door, one sqeezes into the confines of a rehabilitated brick outhouse. One can immediately sense the great effort having been put in by the villagers to enhance and rejuvenate this convenience. No expense in elbow grease has been spared in buffing and brightening up what space is available for the Highland toilet-goer's delight, comfort and convenience. In the above instance the wash hand basin is Brillo'ed to death and accompanying disinfected towels disgorged just so for the appreciation of the public. The walls are re-re-painted a meticulous white throughout. A once run-down loo souped-up on a shoestring, one senses.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/SCOURIE-LOO-WINDOW.JPG" title="window just so"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/SCOURIE-LOO-WINDOW_small.jpg" border="0" alt="window just so"></a></p> <p>Even in the non-descript window area we find placed just so, a lavender " Bel Air" air freshener adjacent the open frosted pane. Obviously a woman's touch in a man's domain.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/SCOURIE-URINAL.JPG" title="Attempt at a silk purse"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/SCOURIE-URINAL_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Attempt at a silk purse"></a></p> <p>Mind you all the female chinz'ing in the world couldn't salvage the down-at-heel slummy little urinal with its rust yellow-streaked facade. The cleaner/tarter-upper, probably having in vain scrubbed herself to a standstill with the bleach and bath stain remover, seems to have furiously attempted compensation by littering the bottom of the feature with blocks of same-colour disinfecant. She must have scoured scores of Scourie Spars for just the right matching shade. Again, we see the urinal has also been scrubbed to high heaven.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/SCOURIE-CUBICLE.JPG" title="a silent sit ( perhaps! )"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/SCOURIE-CUBICLE_small.jpg" border="0" alt="a silent sit ( perhaps! )"></a></p> <p>The sole cubicle has a tremendous air of splendid country retreat isolation and screaming silence about it. Just the occasional distant bleat of a contented well showered sheep for company. Perfect for a meditational constitutional. Along with the rest of the toilet, the trap does not disappoint, with minutely detailed cleanzing rendering the space, as I say, an absoloute joy in which to take your sit. The loo is well ventilated as it can hardly fail to be, situated as it is, virtually slap bang on the stormiest coastline in GB.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/SCOURIE-KRUGER-LOO-ROLL-HOLDER.JPG" title="rescued from the tip"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/SCOURIE-KRUGER-LOO-ROLL-HOLDER_small.jpg" border="0" alt="rescued from the tip"></a></p> <p>The Kruger loo roll holder would hold its own in a conceptual art exhibition in the Tate Modern ( are you reading Lord Saatchi? ). There is just something so " je ne sais quoi " about it, wouldn't you agree? I resisted the temptation to biro-scrawl "FREDDIE" above.. . An ancient ( by bog standards) rescued relic from the 60s it looks like - and again, carefully restored and of course well stocked.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/SCOURIE-DOOR-BOLT.JPG" title="rustic loo fitting"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/SCOURIE-DOOR-BOLT_small.jpg" border="0" alt="rustic loo fitting"></a></p> <p>At my catatonic sit my gaze settled on the intricate paint-peeled detail of the rustic old barrel bolt screwed to the garden shed of a door to the cubicle. Even this was cobweb free and spik & span! Them cranky Scots or what!</p> <p>One word of caution about Scourie public WC though. One might imagine this to be a haven of tranquility and constitutional peace and quiet. That's not quite the case, for although there was no one for miles when I parked up, and no passing traffic to ear whilst I was in the loo, nevertheless whenI emerged outside, one beat-up red van was parked up on the Ladies side and some roughneck soon emerged from the Gents. He had been skulking in the urinal area whilst I was in the cubicle, not making a sound. This in the middle of nowhere. So watch out if you ever visit Scourie loos - there appears to be at least one frustrated gayish local on the prowl.</p> <p>MSM </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/19/toilet_10_scourie_nw_scotland/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2005-08-17:/2005/08/17/toilet_9_loo_of_the_year_2003/MichaelStMark2005-08-17T10:42:38+02:002005-08-17T16:47:05+02:00 <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Loo-of-the-year-sign.JPG" title="LOTY 2003"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Loo-of-the-year-sign_small.jpg" border="0" alt="LOTY 2003"></a><br> Granted that we picked a nice sunny day to inspect Sedbergh public conveniences, still, this loo does in fact shine in its own right it has to be said. </p> <p>Sedbergh is a small market town with a rugby-famous grammar school ( Will Carling etc etc )and hosts the oldest Quaker meeting house in the country nay world. Formerly located in the old county of the West Riding of Yorkshire, the whole town was moved, loo and all ( what a devil of a job that must have been), into the newish county of Cumbria so nowadays it can be described as a fell town on the eastern fringes of the Lake District.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Sedbergh-outside-loo.JPG" title="Glorious sunshine & a perfect loo"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Sedbergh-outside-loo_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Glorious sunshine & a perfect loo"></a></p> <p>Stepping inside, out of the glorious July sunshine, one is greeted by a quite charming little loo, set out in white marble tile theme almost throughout, with the token Shanks furniture of white urinals, wash basins and splendid SS dryers.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Sedbergh-interior.JPG" title="interior, Sedbergh gents loo"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Sedbergh-interior_small.jpg" border="0" alt="interior, Sedbergh gents loo"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Sedbergh-basins-3----2-SS-dryers.JPG" title="wash basins & hand dryers"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Sedbergh-basins-3----2-SS-dryers_small.jpg" border="0" alt="wash basins & hand dryers"></a></p> <p>Though I must admit that all along I have been witholding the fact that I personally detest hand dryers in loos and always have done since that sad day some local authority wally took the accursed decision to buy a set of these noisy loo nightmares (which never completely dry your hands unless you stand there for hours); off some swish Californian salesman promoting " hygene" when there is absoloutely nothing wrong with yer disinfected paper towels. And the paper towels can be used also to grab the loo door handle through on your way out, thus ensuring perfect hygene.</p> <p>Still, the dryers are aesthetically pleasing in some instances and help to give the impression of cleanliness, which is all that seems to count ( impressions ) in Blair's Britain today. <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Sedbergh-urinals-3.JPG" title="neat line-up"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Sedbergh-urinals-3_small.jpg" border="0" alt="neat line-up"></a></p> <p>The urinals are nicely lined up and defended with a seemingly regular cleaning routine ( Sedbergh PC has a reputation to keep, remember.) Similarly the 2 cubicles - the sheer strurdiness of the whole block highlighted well but with maybe a slight drawback hint of a cold prison feel about it. <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/sedbergh-cubicle.JPG" title="prison feel"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/sedbergh-cubicle_small.jpg" border="0" alt="prison feel"></a></p> <p>So I was quite gladdened to emerge out into the sunshine again, the thickness of the walls in there lending a decidedly cool feel to the toilet interior, even on a warm summer's day.</p> <p>Cleanliness; 7/10<br> Quietness of sit; Variable from 3/10 to 5/10 depending on time of year of visit. In summer the town is plagued by hill walkers coming off the Howgill fells and situated as it is, with a huge tourist car park directly behind, this would hardly be a loo to enjoy tranquility at your sit virtually any time of the year. </p> <p>MSM </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2005/08/17/toilet_9_loo_of_the_year_2003/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2005-07-29:/2005/07/29/the_highest_toilet_in_the_uk/MichaelStMark2005-07-29T13:53:56+02:002009-04-29T10:46:59+02:00 <p>Yes sireee, here it is, the loftiest loo in the UK, here at the Cairngorm Mountain ski base station near Aviemore in the Cairngorms.</p> <p> At an altitude of over 700M or about 2,500 ft, this is an ultra dapper bog of high standards in hygene, taste and luxury. Almost worth the trip to NE Scotland in itself, we have here tremendous five star attention to detail and utility.</p> <p>Housed within a fortress-like granite block construction from the 90s that will stand forever.</p> <p><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BASE-STATRION-CLOSEUP.JPG" title="Base Station block"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BASE-STATRION-CLOSEUP_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Base Station block"></a></p> <p>The entrance hall to M & F loos takes one past a mini exhibition precis'ing the Highland clearances and area geology.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BASE-STATION-TOILETS-ENTRANCE.JPG" title="en -trance"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BASE-STATION-TOILETS-ENTRANCE_small.jpg" border="0" alt="en -trance"></a></p> <p>Upon entry one is almost overwhelmed by the difference this area of toilet glamour makes over the standard run down spartan-ness of it's lowly rivals eleswhere on the UK mainland. This toilet blows the bog spotter's mind and exceeds all convenience expectations. Obviously the recepient of some mega Euro grant at some stage.<br> The not-too garish bright interior is lavished with two rows of ultra mod wash hand basins<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BASE-STATRION-WASHBASINS.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BASE-STATRION-WASHBASINS_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a></p> <p>. . .and the three cublicles spotless in white breeze block-exposed splendour replete with German-like clinical engineering of the fixtures, fittings and colour-schemed laminates comprising the doors and side panels. The cubicle partitions are part-overlayed with drill-proof steel sheeting which in any case seems uncalled for as there are no visible attempts at vandalism or graffiti. Cleaning routines are frequent and thorough. A toilet close to heaven this, in both regards.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BASE-STATION-CUBLICLES-ETC.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BASE-STATION-CUBLICLES-ETC_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a></p> <p>... . a joy to behold, this lovely Scottish loo receives the five star Bog Blog award. On one wall, by the immaculate hand dryers ( which are an artform in themselves )<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BASE-STATION-DRYERS.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BASE-STATION-DRYERS_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a></p> <p>... . .we have a neatly framed zoomed-in pic of the funicular which transports tourists, hillwalkers and sightseers right up to the Ptarmigan restaurant which is within 300 ft of the very top of the mighty Cairngorm mountain itself, which is well over 4000ft or 1200M.<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BASE-STATION-PIC.JPG" title="Funicular"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BASE-STATION-PIC_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Funicular"></a></p> <p>The parade of 7 sparkly shiny disinfected urinals would not look out of place in a Shanks showroom and are bang up-to-date with sturdy privacy partions inbetween.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BASE-STATRION-URINALS.JPG" title="parade of distinction"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BASE-STATRION-URINALS_small.jpg" border="0" alt="parade of distinction"></a></p> <p>Attention to detail and those all-important touches such as space-age lighting grills and Bauhaus-like design of the moulded loo roll holders make one want to linger here, sure in the knowledge that, should you be alone at your sit or stand, you are the highest person discharging their constitutional in the whole of the UK.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BASE-STATION-LIGHT.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BASE-STATION-LIGHT_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BASE-STATION-LOO-ROLL-HOLDER.JPG" title="good enough to take home"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/BASE-STATION-LOO-ROLL-HOLDER_small.jpg" border="0" alt="good enough to take home"></a></p> <p>Cairngorm Mountain base station is, however, only quiet before 10am, before the tourist coaches come grinding up the hill from Glenmore and Aviemore and also on a cloudy day ( of which there are plenty plenty way up here ). On a sunny afternoon, with the clouds off the tops, the place is swarming with various nationalities of Euro folk taking a leak etc before they zoom up to the Ptarmigan to take their High Teas above the tree line.</p> <p>AA.<br> PS The £20 Bogblog Free Money Giveaway still unclaimed ( see previous for the easy clues) </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2005/07/29/the_highest_toilet_in_the_uk/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2005-07-13:/2005/07/13/toilet_7_hatfield_station/MichaelStMark2005-07-13T21:09:01+02:002005-07-15T05:05:16+02:00 <p>Sited within the station building along with the ticket office and cafe and with their doors facing outwards towards the southbound platform, Hatfield station toilets could be dismissed as being rather bog standard were not for one redeeming factor.</p> <p> The view in from the taxi-infested carpark reveals another architechtural disaster comprising a flat-roofed squat brick shed affair, which appears to have been built or rebuilt in the 1960s or 70s.<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/HATOUTSIDESTATION.JPG" title="Outside Station carpark"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/HATOUTSIDESTATION_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Outside Station carpark"> Within this mini complex, past the ticket office the gents are located at the end on the right. There is a fixed notice on the outsides of both male and female conveniences to the effect that the toilets close each day after 3pm " due to vandalism".</a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/HATOUTSIDEBOG.JPG" title="Outside loo ( closed after 3pm daily due to vandalism)"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/HATOUTSIDEBOG_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Outside loo ( closed after 3pm daily due to vandalism)"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Hatcub1.jpg" title=" Hatfield cublicle"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Hatcub1_small.jpg" border="0" alt=" Hatfield cublicle"> On pushing the door open, a quite confined space within goes almost unnoticed, due to the startling glare of the lumi disco electra blue lighting wich shimmers off the white tiles present on most walls. This strange glow within such a standard enviroment evokes a quite eerie sense of being onboard a spacecraft for example.</a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Hatbasin.jpg" title="basin"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Hatbasin_small.jpg" border="0" alt="basin"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/HATURINAL.JPG" title="pokey urinal"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/HATURINAL_small.jpg" border="0" alt="pokey urinal"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/HATELECTRABLUE.JPG" title="Electric blue disco feel!"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/HATELECTRABLUE_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Electric blue disco feel!"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/HATDRIERS.JPG" title="Hat"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/HATDRIERS_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Hat"></a><br> The toilet furniture is dolls house-shrunk, sparse and again mostly in fetching Shanks white. Nothing really of any great note. The toilet itself is far too small ( one trap with stainless steel bowl and a pokey stall of a urinal ) considering it serves many hundreds of commuting gentlemen daily. Hygene scores a poorish, ( toilet roll all over the place and sodden with god knows what ) 4 out of ten.</p> <p> Quietness of use too is nothing to write home about, with a paltry 3/10 ( you will doubtless be disturbed at your sit ). Only those 2 weird blue squares in the ceiling mark Hatfield Station Gents out with any degree of distinction. I saw no sign of vandalism within its confines so perhaps Network SE or whoever runs this station these days have other reasons to close both M & F loos after 3, who knows or cares, except perhaps commuters caught in extremis after alighting the train. Still, this is Blair's England 2005 -we shouldn't expect too much from public utilities without a coin slot to give entry.<br> <strong>Free Money Giveaway £20 still unclaimed as of 14/7/05. ( see below)</strong>On holiday til end July ( ish ) Leave comment for others to see if you have found the code. Thanks<br> MSM </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2005/07/13/toilet_7_hatfield_station/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2005-07-06:/2005/07/06/free_money_giveaway_1/MichaelStMark2005-07-06T22:31:24+02:002005-07-08T13:53:43+02:00 <p>£20 is yours all yours if you solve the simple riddle, make the journey to the bog in question, retrieve the written code from the hidden place in the riddle and send it by Comments to me below. . . .SIMPLE!</p> <p>All I ask in return is that you dedicate one blog to telling the world about the<br> Great Public Toilets Of Our Time blog and an account of your voyage of discovery to retrieve the code. If you spread the good word with friends too that would be appreciated.</p> <p>When I receive the correct code I will contact you by email for your address and send you a cheque for £20 FREEE! I must be MAD!</p> <p><strong>Riddle One ( Pardon the pun)</strong></p> <p>My first is in first name of Carry On Williams.<br> My second is trees together<br> My third is in traps<br> My fourth is in near SS Dryers<br> My fifth is underneath on the right<br> My sixth is in a crack<br> My seventh is in " you'll need a car key to winkle it out.</p> <p>Good Luck PC treasure-trove hunters!</p> <p>RULES<br> Same person cannot win twice so pass details on to friends.<br> You should be a Blog.co.uk member<br> I will inform blog as soon as prize is claimed.<br> Women will have to wait for a ladies prize ( am working on it, sorry.) </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2005/07/06/free_money_giveaway_1/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2005-07-04:/2005/07/04/toilet_6_a_rhapsody_in_steel/MichaelStMark2005-07-04T19:31:34+02:002005-07-08T15:59:52+02:00 <p>My "local" in fact. Sited behind M&S just off Muswell Hill Broadway, in the midst of leafy suburban avenues of sublime Georgian architechture, this flat-roofed squat air raid shelter-themed convenience surprises upon entry. For at some time -at a rough guess, early to mid 1990s - both ladies and gents quarters have been refurbished in a startling military thickness of stainless steel. Apart from the floor which has been rendered in terracotta red tiling throughout.</p> <p> Here our first real evidence that bog-writing and toilet graffiti are not dying arts, the metallic blank canvas proving too much of a temptation for the perpetrators' creative genuis to resist. <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/MHCUBGRAFFITI.JPG" title="Worthy to be Tate-hung?"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/MHCUBGRAFFITI_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Worthy to be Tate-hung?"></a></p> <p>So upon entry one is confronted with impersonal vertical facades of bullet-proof stained steel - a most unusual and strange toilet set-up. The cubicle doors feel armour-plated heavy to open & close. It's as if someone at the council had decided to lay down a challenge to the vandals by opting for a max strength brutal nuke bunker of a loo. And yet the councillor has been defeated in his/her brave endeavour, as we can see in (paperless)cublicle one ( of 2). </p> <p>Defying all expectation, some guy has managed to punch a hole through the quarter inch thick steel from one trap into to the other. Unreal! Only heavy duty metalworking tools involving a sledge hammer could have weilded the requisite force to complete this pervert-perforation.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/MHCUBINSIDE.JPG" title="Cublicle one with hole punched thO"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/MHCUBINSIDE_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Cublicle one with hole punched thO"></a><br> The lengths some people will go to, to. . ...<img src="/img/smilies/icon_censored.gif" alt=">:XX" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>In any case the general feel of the loo is, unsurprisingly, one of chilling harshness compounded by stark overhead natural lighting from translucent fibre glass ceiling tiles. A less atmospheric and user-friendly loo I have yet to encounter. The small indiscreet urinal and weird, pokey little wall-interned wash basin are mildly functional I suppose, if nothing else.</p> <p>All in all a convenience worth visiting to view its unusualness, but not for its cleanliness or quietness of use, scoring a paltry 3 out of ten on both counts.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/MHOUTSIDE.JPG" title="air raid shelter good looks"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/MHOUTSIDE_small.jpg" border="0" alt="air raid shelter good looks"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/MHCUBETTER.JPG" title="stark stark stark"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/MHCUBETTER_small.jpg" border="0" alt="stark stark stark"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Mhurinal.jpg" title=" uninspired functional"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Mhurinal_small.jpg" border="0" alt=" uninspired functional"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/MHCUBSKYLIGHT.JPG" title="Tortuous overhead lighting setup"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/MHCUBSKYLIGHT_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Tortuous overhead lighting setup"></a><br> If stainless steels's your thing, this is the place for you.</p> <p>MSM </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2005/07/04/toilet_6_a_rhapsody_in_steel/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2005-07-01:/2005/07/01/sixty_grand_bog/MichaelStMark2005-07-01T10:30:52+02:002005-07-01T14:50:34+02:00 <p>Standing intriguingly on a traffic island in south Barnet lanquishes a monumental tribute to loos of the past.<br> A squat brick affair that was closed years ago, this PC relic stands proud (ish) against the London elements and 24/7 traffic pollution and artic' tremors. The crumbling brickwork and rotten window frames along with the two squalid rubbish-strewn rat-infested entrances belie a surely quite distinquished past.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/60K-BOG2.JPG" title="60K BOG1"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/60K-BOG2_small.jpg" border="0" alt="60K BOG1"></a><br> In fact this building was put up for auction not one year ago and in the end some individual coughed up £60 GRAND! for the dubious priviledge of owning a potential studio flat for a dwarf. Yet since the sale, the building has remained untouched by the seemingly omnipresent hand of the developer ( and that's saying something in today's market)<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/60K-BOG-ENT1.JPG" title="60K bog entrance ( ladies end)"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/60K-BOG-ENT1_small.jpg" border="0" alt="60K bog entrance ( ladies end)"></a><br> Instead it is left to rot and degrade even further. So there was no chance in this instance for your intrepid toilet investigator to venture within its dank interior to take a snap or two for your esteemed elucidation.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/60K-BOG4.JPG" title="60K Bog 4"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/60K-BOG4_small.jpg" border="0" alt="60K Bog 4"></a><br> A tremendous excercise and test of your imaginations dear readers, would be for you to come up with your own prersonal idea about the use this ex-bog could be put to in order to serve the public or just simply your own private ends. Answers on a Comments below please.</p> <p>The mind would definitely BOG-GLE! at its potential uses. </p> <p>I have thought of two. Firstly to reconvert it back to a shining example of a public toilet with marble walls and gold taps and piped music /jukebox selection therein ~and charge people a quid to go in. Or a pancake hut. But there again who would want to purchase food from an old toilet?</p> <p>The strangest thing; just before I took the first shot, a road cleaner, not dissimilar to the one in the header pic on Fear and Loathing in London ( RIP Jonno) complete with lumi jacket and overflowing rubbish cart, disappeared inside the left ( gents) entrance to the bog. Was he the owner? Was he perhaps using the bog as his home? Stranger things have been known in these parts.</p> <p>Keep bookmarked, coming soon a treasure trove hunt and freeeeee ! money giveaway.</p> <p>MSM </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2005/07/01/sixty_grand_bog/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2005-06-28:/2005/06/28/toilet_4/MichaelStMark2005-06-28T20:19:27+02:002005-07-01T22:59:33+02:00 <p>Kenwood House, Hampstead Heath.</p> <p>This immaculate top notch convenience is in the ideal location, being part and parcel of the famous Kenwood House on the English Nature estate part of the Heath.<br> The discreet entrance leads on flagstones through to two sections. The left hand room holds the cubicles and the wash basins and the right hand turn to more hand basins and screened urinals. In an internal decor scheme worthy of a Moben/ Schreiber kitchen, this convenience has been tarted-up with matching colour schemes, hardwood panelling and brilliant space-age SS hand dryers. All was a neat and tidy tiled spick and s-pan loo-go'ers paradise. An exceptionally tastefully lit delight to the eye and a worthy winner of any toilet competition. All that was missing was the occasional floral display ( cue Evie).</p> <p>I'll simply let the photos speak for themselves. Remember well this loo, for it is by no means a typical English Gents, ~as we are all about to discover. So enjoy this work of art while you can.</p> <p>The only downside to Kenwood Gents might be it's frequency of use. No chance of enjoying the serene tranquility of this sublime space unless you visit for a morning constitutional well before 9,00am - before the Highgate arty-farty snow-head brigade get going with their infinite leisure time, innane prattle and all-day coffees.</p> <p>MSM<br> PS BOOKMARK THIS BLOG, COMING SOON -THE GREAT PUBLIC TOILETS OF OUR TIME <u>FREE </u><u>MONEY </u><u>GIVEAWAY</u>!!!!<br> <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/KEN-OUTSIDE1.JPG" title="Kenwood"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/KEN-OUTSIDE1_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Kenwood"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/KEN-LOO-ENT.JPG" title="Entrance"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/KEN-LOO-ENT_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Entrance"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/KEN-LOO1.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/KEN-LOO1_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/KEN-LOO2.JPG" title="Loo2"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/KEN-LOO2_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Loo2"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/KENWOOD-LOO3.JPG" title="Loo3"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/KENWOOD-LOO3_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Loo3"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/KENWOOD-LOO4.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/KENWOOD-LOO4_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/KEN-LOO5.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/KEN-LOO5_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2005/06/28/toilet_4/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2005-06-23:/2005/06/23/toilet_3/MichaelStMark2005-06-23T21:14:00+02:002005-06-24T11:16:03+02:00 <p>I don't want you getting the wrong idea here. Just because this toilet is located on the fringes of Hampstead Heath, it is nevertheless genuinely where I hang out a fair bit to take excercise ( the Heath that is)</p> <p>This Gents is in a weakly inspired Wimbledon green theme inside ( being located adjacent to a set of tennis courts), the fixtures and fittings are of 1930s style with traditional wooden doors, exposed decaying red brickwork and worn-to-hell units and with a wide, worn urinal which is open to the elements. </p> <p>The loo has a sweet litle enclave (photo) with a line of three small hand basins therein. Cublicles are reasonable, with terracotta tiled floors and solid stone anti-drill walls. Again, the bowls are prehistoric, but at least clean. The cheap black seats are rather grubby, worn and offputting to sit on; so could certainly do with being replaced. The area around the toilet is closely supervised, this being a more walkers-populated part of the Heath than others and close to the operational HQ of the Corporation of London who maintain and supervise it. In fact the toilet has been incorporated into the much newer headquarters building itsel.</p> <p>An atmosphere of nervousness seems to pervade the place, as if every visiting hetreosexual male for the past 30 years has been wary of the reputation of the Heath for gay cruising and cottaging ( a cottage is the gay term for a gents toilet ). We won't go into the finer details here, suffice to say you wouldn't guess the use that a shopping bag is put to by two gays illegally inhabiting the same cubicle. . . . </p> <p>Filth Rating 2/10 ( good)<br> Quietness of use 1/10 ( a disturbance to your sit is almost guaranteed )<br> Ambience; Decidedly nervy as if the straight guys know they are off their patch here, however, on my few visits over the years I have never encountered any activity of the gay nature, nor even intimations thereof. They obviously prefer other spots in which to conduct their interactions.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Heath-bog-2.JPG" title="Hampstead Heath Bog 1"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Heath-bog-2_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Hampstead Heath Bog 1"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Heath-Bog3.JPG" title="Heath Bog pic 2"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Heath-Bog3_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Heath Bog pic 2"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Heath-Cubicle-bog-2.JPG" title="Heath Cubicle"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Heath-Cubicle-bog-2_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Heath Cubicle"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Heath-urinal.JPG" title="Heath Urinal"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Heath-urinal_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Heath Urinal"></a></p> <p>MSM<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Heath-Convenience--exterior-view.JPG" title="Heath convenience exterior view"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/Heath-Convenience--exterior-view_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Heath convenience exterior view"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2005/06/23/toilet_3/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2005-06-22:/2005/06/22/toilet_2/MichaelStMark2005-06-22T17:07:55+02:002005-06-23T16:53:03+02:00 <p>This one's in Hastings -or more accurately St. Leonards-on-Sea which lies to the west of the town. To all intents and purposes they are classed as one metropolis these days as they are joined at the hip, as it were.<a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/HASTINGS-CUBICLES.JPG" title=""><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/HASTINGS-CUBICLES_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/HASTINGS-URINAL.JPG" title="Hastings urinal"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/HASTINGS-URINAL_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Hastings urinal"></a></p> <p>This public loo stands in a run-down square near St. Leonards station. A row of rusted, battered and scratched to opacity BT boxes languish outside. The construction is 1970s modernist with liberal use of tiled areas inside. The lighting is stark and there is a small attendant viewing window within but I saw no sign of life on my visit last Saturday ~ not surprisingly really, for who in their right mind would choose to be cooped-up in a Gents on such a sunny summer's day?</p> <p>There was a good choice of cubicles, one of which was out of use, presumably due to vandalism. The doors had been replaced at some stage in the toilet's history, with batterproof tough zinc alloy affairs but the really disturbing thing was the short width of them, where anyone over 6' could easily stretch to peek over as the customer was sitting within. And anyone with active knee and hip joints could easily bend down and peek under - which would be a more intimidating prospect altogether for the ensconsed party, I would imagine.</p> <p>The urinal was a pleasant enough stall, made of stainless steel in an L so at least privacy for two pee'ers was possible. The foot-level trough was adequately disinfected with fragrenced blocks.</p> <p>The general impression of the interior of this very reasonable convenience is of the black, grey and white tiling that predominates and gives a long-lasting but spartan feel to the place. I did not venture into the cubicled area as, despite my former assurances about the attendant being absent, nevertheless I had an uncomfortable feeling of being watched.</p> <p>Filth Rating; 1 out of 10 ( excellent)<br> Quietness of use; 8/10 ( good chance, with the cubicle numbers, of getting an uninterrupted sit, however the free space above and below the door could be distinctly unnerving for some.)</p> <p>The place seemed quite well kept up and cleaned at least once a day. Well done Hastings District Council for bucking the trend. Sturdy tiles combined with stainless steel and a regular cleaning schedule looks to be a winning formula for a successful public convenience. </p> <p>It's not rocket science so how come so many of our great British public toilets have fallen to the level of open sewers? Is it a reflection of the aggregate inner state of the nation? If so we are definitely pickled.</p> <p>MSM </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2005/06/22/toilet_2/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:thebogblog.blog.co.uk,2005-06-21:/2005/06/21/toilet_one/MichaelStMark2005-06-21T13:46:49+02:002005-06-22T10:02:23+02:00 <p>Rye Harbour, cubicle no 1 ( of 2) adjacent to wall.<br> Plasic seat almost missing, hardwood panel walls painted off cream. Cheap hard loo roll. Filth grade 6 ( out of 10) ( Expected of course). Lock to cublicle loose and ill-fitting. Flush handle loose in the wall. Graffiti mercifully scrubbed out.</p> <p> The urinal is a bog standard short stall-less white Shanks porcelean affair. A small single stainless steel insanitary sink squats alongside, with steel plate anit-smash ( but not anti-scratch) mirror above. Full marks on the vandalproof front there Hastings District Council. Walls painted sandy. Floor tiled.</p> <p>General comment. A fair and presentable little brick toilet located near the sea but with the token nationwide stink and bacteria problem evident virtually everywhere within. Tended to be frequently used due to coastal proximity. Probably best avoided sunny weekends & bank hols if you want a tranquil & undisturbed sit.</p> <p>I got out at my earliest convenience. Not a pooh- pooh parlour in which to linger and enjoy ones constitutional, even with the vibrant sea air that does manage to find its reluctant way into the dank stinky interior. NEXT!</p> <p>MSM <a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/RYE-HARBOUR-P.-TOILET-EXTERIOR.JPG" title="Toilet one"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/RYE-HARBOUR-P.-TOILET-EXTERIOR_small.jpg" border="0" alt="Toilet one"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/RYE-CUBICLE.JPG" title="cublicle"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/RYE-CUBICLE_small.jpg" border="0" alt="cublicle"></a><a href="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/RYE-URINAL.JPG" title="urinal"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/blog/t/thebogblog/img/RYE-URINAL_small.jpg" border="0" alt="urinal"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://thebogblog.blog.co.uk/2005/06/21/toilet_one/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>