Beachcombing's Bizarre and Beautiful Joker Lolly Stick Something really rather cool happened today that I thought I’d share with you. Two of my older posts about Lyons Maid Superman’s Superhero lolly sticks (1,2) prompted a site visitor, conducting some research, to get in touch…
…because a “Joker” stick had washed up on a beach in Cornwall…
...and the “Beachcombing’s Bizarre and Beautiful” group found it (see photo).
From a probability perspective, what’s the chance of that happening - something from my childhood washing up on a beach, in a decent, recognisable state and someone tracking me down to discuss it? Winning lottery ticket odds is my guess.
I spent my 2014 summer holiday in Camelford, Cornwall and having accompanied my kids as they hunted in every available rock pool on beaches from Newquay to Bude; did I find such treasure? Of course not.
Sympathy is not required at this point either; sometimes writing material for my site can be a lonely and unrewarding experience. Getting feedback and entering into dialogue with visitors is what makes the effort worthwhile. And it occurs to me that there are parallels to beachcombing in this matter - here too does one toil repeatedly, to occasionally discover something rewarding.
Extracts from the email dialogue follow.
“I found your site and the fascinating article about the superhero lolly sticks while researching a beachcomber item I found after storms on Perranporth beach Cornwall. (I belong to a network of community volunteer groups who litter pick the coast here (and look for sea treasures!)). Please email me if you would like a photo. Best wishes, DW”
Clearly I wrote back, said “yes please” and the conversation continued.
“Thanks for the reply - it makes a real difference to the educational work (about environmental issues, and marine pollution) that our groups do in schools if we can give the historic information about the items we discover during beach cleans.
"I have attached the photo of the unpainted 'Joker' lolly stick. You are welcome to use it on your blog if you wish (any credit to the group 'Beachcombing's Bizarre and Beautiful' rather than an individual please duly observed - ed.). As I mentioned it was found at Perranporth beach Cornwall yesterday during a beach clean. It looks in remarkably good condition considering its age. The recent (unusually) high tides and massive waves have brought in a great deal of debris onto our beaches, and the plastic items are a real problem here as they cause harm to wildlife and the environment.
"There is quite a big network of community/voluntary groups across Cornwall that would be hugely interested in hearing about this item.”
The “Friends of Portheras Cove” and “Beachcombing's Bizarre and Beautiful” can be found on Facebook.
Of the hundreds of posts presented over the last three years, the amount of traffic and goodwill generated because of the posts about plastic lolly sticks has been surprising.
Or maybe not; the reality is that the “niche” topics I write about are more likely to generate search originated traffic because far fewer sites will contain content relevant to the search parameter.
Regardless, I am grateful to the FoPC and BB&B for contacting me – if you need to find the Joker a new home – he’s very welcome in Daventry.
Blog Home
Blog Library
Home
Other posts from this thread
19/03/2019 Lolly Legacy
11/03/2019 Lyons Maid Superman’s Superheroes Lolly Sticks in Colour
10/03/2019 Lolly Stick Happiness
15/02/2017 http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/first-class-ice-lolly-cool-cornwall-catwoman
25/02/2015 http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/fantastic-plastic-perranporth-find
04/12/2012 http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/the-sequel-to-the-supermans-superheroes-stick-story
2012 http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/lyons-maid-supermans-superheroes-ice-lolly.html
…because a “Joker” stick had washed up on a beach in Cornwall…
...and the “Beachcombing’s Bizarre and Beautiful” group found it (see photo).
From a probability perspective, what’s the chance of that happening - something from my childhood washing up on a beach, in a decent, recognisable state and someone tracking me down to discuss it? Winning lottery ticket odds is my guess.
I spent my 2014 summer holiday in Camelford, Cornwall and having accompanied my kids as they hunted in every available rock pool on beaches from Newquay to Bude; did I find such treasure? Of course not.
Sympathy is not required at this point either; sometimes writing material for my site can be a lonely and unrewarding experience. Getting feedback and entering into dialogue with visitors is what makes the effort worthwhile. And it occurs to me that there are parallels to beachcombing in this matter - here too does one toil repeatedly, to occasionally discover something rewarding.
Extracts from the email dialogue follow.
“I found your site and the fascinating article about the superhero lolly sticks while researching a beachcomber item I found after storms on Perranporth beach Cornwall. (I belong to a network of community volunteer groups who litter pick the coast here (and look for sea treasures!)). Please email me if you would like a photo. Best wishes, DW”
Clearly I wrote back, said “yes please” and the conversation continued.
“Thanks for the reply - it makes a real difference to the educational work (about environmental issues, and marine pollution) that our groups do in schools if we can give the historic information about the items we discover during beach cleans.
"I have attached the photo of the unpainted 'Joker' lolly stick. You are welcome to use it on your blog if you wish (any credit to the group 'Beachcombing's Bizarre and Beautiful' rather than an individual please duly observed - ed.). As I mentioned it was found at Perranporth beach Cornwall yesterday during a beach clean. It looks in remarkably good condition considering its age. The recent (unusually) high tides and massive waves have brought in a great deal of debris onto our beaches, and the plastic items are a real problem here as they cause harm to wildlife and the environment.
"There is quite a big network of community/voluntary groups across Cornwall that would be hugely interested in hearing about this item.”
The “Friends of Portheras Cove” and “Beachcombing's Bizarre and Beautiful” can be found on Facebook.
Of the hundreds of posts presented over the last three years, the amount of traffic and goodwill generated because of the posts about plastic lolly sticks has been surprising.
Or maybe not; the reality is that the “niche” topics I write about are more likely to generate search originated traffic because far fewer sites will contain content relevant to the search parameter.
Regardless, I am grateful to the FoPC and BB&B for contacting me – if you need to find the Joker a new home – he’s very welcome in Daventry.
Blog Home
Blog Library
Home
Other posts from this thread
19/03/2019 Lolly Legacy
11/03/2019 Lyons Maid Superman’s Superheroes Lolly Sticks in Colour
10/03/2019 Lolly Stick Happiness
15/02/2017 http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/first-class-ice-lolly-cool-cornwall-catwoman
25/02/2015 http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/fantastic-plastic-perranporth-find
04/12/2012 http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/blog/the-sequel-to-the-supermans-superheroes-stick-story
2012 http://www.adrianbaldwin.net/lyons-maid-supermans-superheroes-ice-lolly.html
RSS Feed
