Friday 24 October 2008

Tinkle Halt


Now, this is the only one of these I have seen in Italy. It has a rather pleasing name too: vespiasiano. So much nicer than urinal. This one looks rather, er, well used. I understand that there are lots of vespiasiani in Blighty still, most of them designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.

13 comments:

Fred Fibonacci said...

You, Ron Combo, are taking the piss.

Vinogirl said...

Looks like it might pong a tad!

Fred Fibonacci said...

Actually Ron, there aren't nearly enough vespiasianis in Blighty. So great is the problem that some councils are, very sensibly, encouraging local businesses to allow members of the public to use their loos. The shop or restaurant gets a discount on their rates and the over-stretched council doesn't have to maintain stinky bogs. What a good idea.

Affer said...

I had heard of these vespiasiani, but never seen one. Have you seen the female, bidet-like version down in the South? Quite common around Bari, Brindisi, Taranto, they are called lambriettasiani.

Fred Fibonacci said...

Oh very good Affa. Knew there was a scooter gag there somewhere; top marks.

PS I'm listening to the incomparable Goon Show on Radio 7; bliss.

Peter Ashley said...

I must say at first glance I thought it was a bus shelter. Very like the cast iron ones that still grace streets in Northampton, used very much for the same purpose.

Thud said...

I prefer alfresco..but this would do.

Mrs Pouncer said...

Ron Combo, I salute you. There used to be a structure very similar to this on the Thameside promenade at Caversham. One day, about 20 years ago, I saw Rodney Bewes go into it carrying a bag of onions.
Time passed, and it was moved in one piece to the open air museum at Chalfont St Giles.
I do hope I have brought a breath of the Thames Valley into your life.

Peter Ashley said...

Mrs.Pouncer. What a lovely name. Are you by any chance related to Pouncer Palmer who once worked at the Greenwich Maritime Museum? Don't be embarrassed to admit it, should you be she. Oh, and lovely comment. Rodney Bewes and onions. My day is now complete.

Mrs Pouncer said...

Peter Ashley; how wholesome you seem. I am no relation to Pouncer Palmer, for which I thank the good Lord above, but I am cousin to Sylvia Daisy Pouncer, who now lives in Marlow. I will visit you with all haste, but this morning I am to ride through Maidenhead thicket on my maddened old mare - we have snow on the ground here this morning! It is too charming for words.

Peter Ashley said...

Oh Mrs. Pouncer, I can see you now. Snow, trees, a horse. Very Robert Frost's 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening':

'He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake'.

Ron Combo said...

Don't you two bother about the rest of us, just carry on.

Peter Ashley said...

We will Ron. Now then, Clarissa, if I may call you that...