The phrase *Essex Girls*

Hi petra couldn’t get the link to work, is it one of the barges based at Maldon?

GrannyGravy
Yes, it's the Barge Hydrogen. That was on the Southend Barge match. About mid 80s. Happy wonderful days.

Really interesting, thanks petra

Ellianne yes it was for "gells".

In a rare ,moment of accord with you, petra I have to say that there are few better sights than a Thames sailing barge in full sail. Or two or three...

Sorry you don't believe it, but it's true.

No. when I started thinking about population centres in Essex, growstuff, it was obvious that there couldn't have been very many.

There was one at Maldon; my mother went to it in the 1930s. She lived at Woodham Ferrers and used to go into Maldon by train. A bit of a riotous journey by her account. Children don't change much, do they?

Googling tells me that it existed until 1970.

TerriBull

Be proud GNs from Essex, you gave England Queen Boudicca, she knew how to demonstrate quite forcibly, The Only Way Is Essex, particularly to those interlopers who decided to set up camp in Colchester!

Well, we didn't, really. The Iceni were from Norfolk. But she seems to be most famous for burning down my home town...

Well Maizie you are probably quite right, but I gather Boudicca and her Iceni tribespeople regarded the other counties that encompasses East Anglia merely as Greater Essex, and as such their turf, as the Romans found out to their detriment

Anyone on this thread read The Essex Serpent? I did a while ago, it gave interesting descriptions of Essex coastal areas, I've always fancied a trip out to the Island of Mersea, it's on my list of places to visit if overseas if off the agenda for the coming year.

es encompass

Terribull we could have an Essex GN meet up on Mersea ?☕️

Sounds a good idea GG, I'm not an Essex girl, but my husband's an Essex old boy!

MaizieD
Your not wrong there. And the work and skills that go into keeping them afloat is amazing.

GrannyGravy13

Terribull we could have an Essex GN meet up on Mersea ?☕️

But won't the sand and gravel wreck our stilettos, and what about our hair in the wind? Are there any tanning salons on Mersea please?

Sorry petra.
Your barge contribution was very interesting. I did a bit of googling. Thank you.

^Are there any tanning salons on Mersea please?'

There's one that's absolutely free. It's called 'The Beach'

petra

MaizieD
Your not wrong there. And the work and skills that go into keeping them afloat is amazing.

I spent a lot of time at Maldon in my early 20s.

MaizieD

^Are there any tanning salons on Mersea please?'

There's one that's absolutely free. It's called 'The Beach'

Great, I might book a seaweed wrap treatment and that thing where they place pebbles down your back.

We pop to Maldon on one of the May Bank
Holidays, brilliant atmosphere, Morris Dancers etc.

One of the Thames Barges moored there is available to hire for private dinners, meetings etc DH has been several times (without me ?)

I think in my clumsy OP I should have added that Essex is much much more than the Essex Girls stereotype, and losing it can only enhance its reputation and attract more visitors.

Great, I might book a seaweed wrap treatment and that thing where they place pebbles down your back.

All free at The Beach! Particularly the pebbles...

Once you've had your treatment you can tickle your libido with the best oysters in the world...

I've always fancied a trip out to the Island of Mersea, it's on my list of places to visit if overseas if off the agenda for the coming year.

If you're lucky you might get a glimpse of the Roman soldiers that haunt the Stroud...

Once you've had your treatment you can tickle your libido with the best oysters in the world
Careful Maizie, this is getting a bit close to that other Essex fashion where you decorate down below with jewels! I can't remember the word, vag .... something. Let's not go there!

MaizieD

^I've always fancied a trip out to the Island of Mersea, it's on my list of places to visit if overseas if off the agenda for the coming year.^

If you're lucky you might get a glimpse of the Roman soldiers that haunt the Stroud...

Oh I do hope so! I'll expect nothing less than Russell Crowe in fact, "father to a murdered son and all that" minus the Aussie accent of course but in full gladiatorial mode, as he was then buffed up, not as he is now

After that and having fully rejuvenated myself with a seaweed wrap on Mersea I'll continue my tour of Iceni territory and head on up to Sutton Hoo further up in Suffolk Greater Essex and see who's Hoo there

Oh, Terribull

You do realise that 'Essex' didn't exist when Boudicca was at large? It's the territory of the East Saxons. They were some time 'after' the Romans... Poor old Iceni had been well vanquished by then...

Do visit Colchester, too. It has a lot of history and one of the nicest public parks in the UK. And a fair amount of historical buildings, despite the local council's determination to eradicate its architectural heritage over the past 60+ years...

If you need to occupy the grandchildren for a day, ours love Colchester Zoo. It's great!

Oh I know Maizie! I make it up as I go along As you say, Sutton Hoo made famous by the Saxon artefacts, they look amazing by the way from the pictures I've seen, but centuries after the Romans had departed.

I have been to Colchester, I do remember a very nice park, famous for Civil War executions I think? I also recall some lovely lanes around the main high street. Again old timbered buildings in those lanes and alleyways.

My husband is always telling me that Essex has loads of old timbered Tudor houses, more than my county Surrey, he's probably right, Essex has some lovely villages, particularly pretty painted houses and rolling countryside, quite unspoilt.

Oh I know Maizie! I make it up as I go along

???

This thread is making me very nostalgic! I haven't been 'home' for about 3 years now, but I do think the world of (bits) of it...