A may-ing

 In the spring time, the only pretty ring time,  

When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding;

Honesty in flower

Flowers on ballerina apple tree

Pear tree flowering

Blue azalea

Last 'gasp' camellia

Lily promising to flower soon

Magnolia making brief sojourn

Change, change, change

From the Lancs. telegraph [online]


"Key dates
2013 JUNE: 
Old Market demolition starts with three-day market hall near Brown Street.
Penny Street closed to ordinary vehicles and bus stops suspended and moved to Boulevard/Railway Road.
AUGUST: 
Demolition of rest of market commences.
Ainsworth Street bus stops suspended and moved to Boulevard. Brown Street made two-way, buses only.
Construction of interim bus station on three-day market hall site begins.
SEPTEMBER: 
Interim bus station completed.
Old Market demolition finishes."

When I was young, there was the 'old' market with the Market clock that had a ball that dropped at 1 pm every day. It was the traditional 3-day market and 5-day market hall. Many is the time I've been there, sometimes with family and later on with friends. Traditional outdoor stalls selling 'everything' from meats, local cheeses, fruit and veg; to bric a brac and all sorts in between.

Later it was re-developed and as schoolgirls we watched the changes, some for the better, but not all. Gone was the famous landmark clock. A new market hall opened with a specialist coffee shop selling coffee beans and ground/roast coffee. The pungent aromas spread far and wide. New shops opened up around the markets. Reidy's being one of the more famous, opened by the Four Pennies pop group who' had a hit song 'Juliet' (1964).

In the late 1960s and 1970s the road layout changed and was modified several times. Most confusing to find a one-way street that had been two-way, only to find the planners rejigged everything and one-way roads were still one-way but in the opposite direction. I remember it well. Difficult enough to learn to drive and put in for the driving test without road schemes being altered as well.

Market Hall today (right)

© Copyright Bill Boaden and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

© Copyright robert wade and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Inside 

© Copyright robert wade and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

To see older photos and find out more visit here.

Making me feel old when the 'old' market they are demolishing is the 'new' market of my day.

Once there was

something called 'FirstClass' it was the online communication portal for OUSA and the OU. OUSA - OU Students Association. That was where I learnt that click-of-the-mouse friendships could and did grow connecting folks far and wide.
I joined some groups and we chatted away sharing all sorts. There we learned to practise netiquette and developed our own dos and don'ts. I was fortunate to meet face-to-face with some people and that made online friendships even more special. 

I did a course called 'You, your computer and the Internet'. That OUSA group known as T171 Survivors was particularly active. The online conference was always busy with dings and flags popping up as posts were sent. They had a yearly get-together near Harrogate, and one year I decided to join them. We had a lovely time and it was good to put faces to names. 

Another very active group was the Dog House where we shared our joys and woes and the antics of our K9 companions. I like to think we became a close-knit group. One stalwart was DD affectionately known as Duracell Dusty. Not wanting it to 'rain on my keyboard' I won't say much more. 

Why write now? Well, yesterday was the 3rd anniversary of DD's crossing the Rainbow Bridge. Today someone posted a collage of DD's support group and I thought I'd share it here to celebrate the friendship groups that grew up courtesy of FC (FirstClass).

OUSA Dog House

Reponsibility

Responsibility is something that is part and parcel of being a dog owner.

 

So today we went back to the vets.

Our usual one was off today and there was a choice of 2 people. One is new to veterinary medicine and to the practice. I've met her before and she seems nervous particularly when meeting large dogs. The other is someone who has met and treated our large male GSD without any qualms. Unfortunately the earliest appointment was 2 pm. Puppy needed to keep off any foods until seen by the vet (usual procedure when there's a tummy upset).

The rest of the staff tend to be very touchy-feely particularly where young cute animals are involved. There were oos and aahs when we came in and complimentary comments. The problem when one person came over the see the puppy and because of reticence said she'd get her some kibble and that it'd be fine. Very politely I explained why puppy had come to the vets and that she'd been nil by mouth. So when receptionist returned with some kibble, I had to again tell her 'no'. Here's me being the responsible owner but as for the receptionist? the mind boggles. 

So, puppy is on a rice and fish diet for the next few days and she has some anti-biotics to take. The rice and fish went down a treat. G the vet phoned to offer some more advice such as adding natural yogurt to the diet and something called pro-fibre. Next I'm going to see what I can find out from a vet-med site. Yes, our vets have the stuff in stock but I dread to think what the price might be. Using a UK site I can order and receive some K9 products postage free and at lower price than from the vets.

Wish me luck!