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Thursday 30 May 2013

The longer

you live...the more folk you lose.
What has brought on the melancholy? Strangely it's because a click of the mouse friend posted that term ends and her lad is moving from middle school to higher.
In the place I once worked there were a few special people.
One guy Mac was an inspiration from day one. It always used to amuse me that of all the female staff I got on so well with him. How? Because I was no threat. A friend of mine set her cap at him. Rather like Miss Piggy and Kermit the frog. 
I got to know Mack reasonably well as he was part of the same team. In the 70s? site staff went on strike...we had to sign in to get paid. Then a suggestion was made that we high tail it north to enjoy the day. Off we went...Phil, Dave, Mack and I to the Lake District for the day. That's when I learnt a few things like Mack always judged a pub by its food...steak and ale pie to be precise. He even kept a list.
Spool on a few years and we learnt that Mac had stepped in front of a goods train. Exeunt Mac. 
Now I'm daring to look back to many of my former colleagues that are no more. Teaching is a killer occupation. I cannot help but be concerned about friends still in teaching; I read and see the signs of over-work. Recurring illnesses from stress, even tho' the folk fail to recognise the signs. IBS irritable bowel syndrome,aka gut ache and upset stomach. Depression also brought on by the formidable stresses and responsibility of day to day teaching. As the actuaries know...the longer someone stays in teaching...the shorter their lifespan.
Mea culpa the secret is out, I told the truth.

Monday 6 May 2013

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


Friday 3 May 2013

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.