The Past



The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.

L. P. Hartley   1895-1972 

Monday 29 June 2009

Lancashire Dialect


Just a few odd words in Lancashire dialect for those interested - most of these I recognise from my younger days .

Many, will no doubt, be not in use now as we progress rapidly through our high tech age and speech is more and more standardised .

doowerstop - thick sandwich

entry - narrow passage between houses

feart - feared, frightened

haupney - halfpenny

jiggered - exhausted, not working ( broken )

mardy - spoilt child

no nouse - lacking in intelligence

nowt - nothing

owt - anything

So there you have it ..........

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Friday 26 June 2009

PhotoHunt - Flags


I've had to delve into my photo collection and go back to 2004 to find these flags.

Seen flying ( if flying is the best word - they seem rather limp ) in the old capital of Montenegro - Cetinje.



The Bulgarian flag above - here at their consulate together with the Bulgarian coat of arms.



And here we have the national flag of Montenegro which was not adopted by the country until July 13th 2004.

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Wednesday 24 June 2009

Hebden Bridge - No more ...


That's it - no more photographs of Hebden Bridge - not for a while anyway.


One of the many public houses in the town centre " Shoulder of Mutton ".

This brown colour of the buildings is typical in this area of Yorkshire.

Last but not least is Hebden's very own Millennium Clock.

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Monday 22 June 2009

Hebden Bridge - Centre ... !!!



Not too many more pictures of Hebden Bridge to bore you with .....

The centre of this little town ( too big for a village ) caters for the day tripper or tourist to give them their modern name . Lots of little tea houses and pubs ...


I'm afraid that if you want big department stores you'll have to travel elsewhere.

As you can see from the photographs a traffic free zone - always pleasant ..

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Saturday 20 June 2009

Subitango .....


Today we spent an interesting and enjoyable afternoon at the Quays Theatre in The Lowry, Salford.

The quartet Tango Siempre provided the music for a display of traditional and authentic tango dance. The show being called Subitango.

Four professional dancers delighted us with their performance of classical tangos, milongas, vaises and contemporary pieces.

Argentinean Guillermo Rozenthuler sang some haunting and sad tango songs - most tango songs are sad - about loss or having to go away ...

If you have a chance go and see the show - and - enjoy !

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Hebden Bridge - Barges


More canal boats at Hebden Bridge .....




My first experience of being away from home as a youth was to stay on a YMCA barge moored near Poynton in Cheshire.

A rat managed to get on board and into the kitchen area - at one o'clock in the morning the YMCA leader was pulling up floorboards and planking in order the extract the creature ...

What fun !!!

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Thursday 18 June 2009

Hebden Bridge - River Calder


The River Calder rises on the Pennine Moors west of Todmorden and flows 87 km through West Yorkshire via Dewsbury and Wakefield to join the River Aire at Castleford.

It looks quite pleasant here at Hebden Bridge on a pleasant sunny morning.





Calder means either in Old British " hard or violent water " or in Celtic " river of stones "

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Wednesday 17 June 2009

Hebden Bridge - Rochdale Canal


The Rochdale Canal stretches 33 miles from Manchester to Sowerby Bridge and was reopened in July 2002.

The canal forms part of the South Pennine Ring.



This is the canal at Hebden Bridge .


This rather bright boat caught my eye with it's vivid red colour.

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Tuesday 16 June 2009

Hebden Bridge - International Transport Hub


This morning it being dry and sunny we sneaked across the border into Yorkshire and visited Hebden Bridge which is only 20 minutes by train from Rochdale ...


This important railway station serves the major cities of Leeds, Bradford and Manchester - what more could you ask for ??

More pictures of our morning adventure into Yorkshire to follow ...

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Sunday 14 June 2009

Allotment 5 - just like her ......


Well today it was announced that HM The Queen had given permission for an allotment to be created in the grounds of Buckingham Palace ......


Well I can tell her now that it is hard work but somehow I can not imagine her out on the plot hoeing the turnips ..

Above is the result of some of our effort - main crop potatoes ( Romano ) very much still in their early stages ..

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Saturday 13 June 2009

Heywood - Queen's Park 5



Last pictures of Heywood's Queen's Park for this series ... hope you are not bored ... ??

The bowling green above ..


This rather fine building is now used as an office ..

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Thursday 11 June 2009

Heywood - Queen's Park 4


This fountain was restored at considerable expense - it does work !! I was just too early to get a photo shot of it working .

The early bird may catch a worm but does not see the fountain in operation.



For those a little more energetic you can do your daily workout ......


I'll keep to a gentle stroll I think ..

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Tuesday 9 June 2009

Heywood - Queen's Park 3


A view of Queen's Park lake taken from the higher slopes surrounding it.

The park has recently after years of neglect attracted money for redevelopment and consequently attracted more visitors.

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Sunday 7 June 2009

Heywood - Queen's Park 2


This little island in the centre of Queen's Park lake is quite famous locally for it's large heron colony. It attracts a number of bird watchers. 


The lake itself attracts the usual number of Mallard but also a considerable number of Canada Geese.


It's not been possible to take a boat out on the lake since around 1971/72 and today attracts only anglers, dog walkers and the birds.

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Friday 5 June 2009

Heywood - Queen's Park 1


A quiet corner of Queen's Park in Heywood

Here the River Roche flows gently along.


This bridge is known locally as the Penny Bridge.

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Thursday 4 June 2009

Allotment 4 - Crime


Consternation at the allotment today  !!

During the night thieves managed to gain entrance to the site and several sheds were broken into and gardening tools and furniture stolen

This can be so upsetting and infuriating to those effected even if the value of the goods is low.

A ladder was found lying against the security fence so one assumes that was the point of entry.

I personally blame the ease in which you can sell stolen goods in car boot sales as a generator of this type of crime .

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Unusual !!


My last picture from Dunham Massey ( for a while anyway )


This unusual building can be found in the gardens - I'm not sure what has been built here !!

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Wednesday 3 June 2009

Tomorrow ...


Big day here in MANCHESTER tomorrow Thursday June 4th  - YES an OASIS concert in Heaton Park .

It seems that they are some sort of band or pop group - already parking restrictions are being implemented in the area and we are expecting major traffic congestion - thus a new route to our allotment will be required and a change of supermarket for the weekend.

So that is the big news for tomorrow   - and of course tomorrow is the date of the European Elections in the UK - not so interesting !!

I've already voted with my postal vote but the majority of the electorate are not likely to bother. The big political parties are not likely to get much support which leaves the lesser known parties with some chance of success - we'll see what odd bods get elected this time .

Watch this space ...

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Tuesday 2 June 2009

Dunham Gardens



Dunham Massey Hall and Gardens.

Just a few pictures from the garden .









A very pretty spot to relax especially on a hot Sunday afternoon.

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Penguins - move your cursor and take them for a walk !!

Say it as it is ......


Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you'll land amongst the stars.

Look around !!!

What is this life, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare?


W. H. Davies  1870-1940