Skywatch Friday: Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside, I do like to be beside the sea!

I do like to stroll along the prom, prom, prom,

Where the brass bands play ‘tiddely-om-pom-pom’.

So just let me be beside the seaside, I’d be beside myself with glee!

And there’s lots of girls beside, I should like to be beside,

Beside the seaside, beside the sea!

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This may look like a fence.  But look again!  It is, in fact, a giant communal xylophone! 

It’s to be found on the revetment next to Small Hope Beach in Shanklin, Isle of Wight.  If you hit the bars with something like a mallet or a baseball bat in the order they’re laid out they will play, at perfect pitch, the tune of this famous English music-hall song. 

In case you don’t know the song, or maybe you’re just itching to hear what a giant beachside xylophone sounds like – and who could blame you! - I found this 33-second YouTube clip of a young girl playing this very one.  (Are there others?  You tell me!)

In no small measure I owe my current fascination with skies and growing interest in manual photography to the good people at Skywatch Friday.  This is organised every week by Klaus, Sandy, Ivar, Wren, Fishing Guy and Louise and attracts the talents of some pretty wonderful photographers, a few of whom you’ll find in my sidebar.  To join in yourself, or just to see what others have contributed this week, click on the badge below.