The Case of the Disappearing Band

This one would baffle Sherlock Holmes as it was advertised thus:

Steel Band Performance (BFS)
30th June 3pm @ Market Place
Come and listen to the sound of summer LIVE in Ilkeston’s market place. Performed by Bennerley Fields School students and teachers.

But if they were there at three, they'd disappeared by quarter past.

It's A Mystery

We called in at a couple of Garden Centres today and at one of them there were several large objects around the site and this is one of them.

It looks like a huge terracotta pot but it would take one heck of an amount of compost to fill it and watering could be a problem. Whether they are there just as a talking point or whether they serve a useful purpose I'm not sure but the only way we could get one in our garden - not that I want one - would be to lower it from a helicopter or drop it from a great height. Maybe that's why they are made with pointed bottoms - to stick in the earth like a dart or a spear!

Cooling Off

After a period of fine dry weather, today was yet another hot and sticky one but it did cool off sufficiently to tempt us out for a pleasant walk along the canal this evening. And we were not the only ones enjoying warm evening sunshine but the two dogs playing ball in the water had perhaps the best way of keeping cool.

The Dream Is Over

So the dream is well and truly over and the hope that England could win the World Cup in South Africa came up short against a well organised German side. It hurts though not because of the defeat against a superior side but for the fact that very few of the England players performed like we all know they can and as they do week in, week out. Perhaps it is because it is out of season and subconsciously they think that they should be lying on a beach somewhere. It can only be said that their displays, to put it crudely have gone "down the pan" or as our American friends would say who also suffered a World Cup exit yesterday, "down the tubes". Either way it leads me nicely onto today's picture which shows the toilet block at the junction of Derby Road and South Street. The toilets closed some time ago and the building had been up for sale. Within the next couple of weeks the block is due for demolition so I've recorded it for posterity. Many years ago  a pub stood on the site - I wonder what will be built here next.

Where There's Smoke ....

.... there's fire! And there was a big one just over the county boundary from Ilkeston in Trowell last night. It was allowed to burn itself out as there were over 3000 tyres ablaze along with a wholesale furniture store and the Fire Service didn't want to pollute the River Erewash with toxic waste. As well as being a setback for the companies and their employees in these hard economic times, it's also sad for the community in general as I believe it was a listed building.

Six Months Each Way

In the Sport of Kings parlance "each way" is a term often used when placing a bet on a horse but it could also be applied to today as it is midway between Christmas Day 2009 and Christmas Day 2010. It's also a fair bet that if we were a little closer to the festive season, that a miniature pony like those seen on Bath Street today raising funds for disabled children, would be on the Christmas list of many a youngster. The ponies were representing the Phoenix Children's FoundationPheonix Children's Foundation a registered charity assisting children with terminal illnesses.

Berry Nice Weather.

So we get a spell of fine weather and the fruit is beginning to ripen in the garden and can you believe there is the possibility of a drought in the north west of the country with a hosepipe ban? Now would that be the same area that had floods and heavy snow during last winter? It's almost beyond belief.

Reprieved

At last the England team put in a performance worth watching although it still hung on a knife's edge right to the very end. But now perhaps Mr. Rooney can understand the fans' frustration after the previous match as they knew the team could always play a lot better. The hope now is that the team will continue in the same vein and not return to the haphazard performances of the previous four internationals. From "rubbish" yesterday England will now be classed as world beaters but secretly we all know nothing is won until the fat lady sings.

 

Not that any of the ladies seen today walking around the town could be called "fat" but they were showing their true colours draped in red and white. In fact I think there were more of the gentler sex in England gear than their male counterparts.

We can relax now then until Sunday when the nervous tension will build all over again.

Twenty Three Years

Back on May 2nd, I blogged about the thirty third anniversary of when my Dad died with a picture of Markeaton Crematorium. We were back there again today to leave a floral tribute to my Mum on the twenty third anniversary of her death.

There are certain days in your life that become etched in the memory and June 22nd in 1987 is one of them.The weather was much like today's - warm and sunny with clear blue skies. Back then I was supposed to be staying late at work but a phone call from the hospital where Mum was awaiting an operation saying that she would like a bit of company meant I went straight home to pick up my wife and then on to the hospital. After traipsing through miles of corridors we arrived at her bedside where she informed us that she had had a heart attack and then she just stopped breathing. Later, on the way home we called at a work colleague's home to inform him I would not be at work the following day only to find his wife had just died within an hour of my Mum. As I said, some days are just etched on your memory for ever.

The Longest Day

When they said today would be the longest day, I didn't realise it meant getting up early to take Pom, one of our cats, to the see the vet and then having to stay up until after midnight tonight to give him medication. In between we took our son's dog for a walk which gave me the opportunity to take this photo although there's no other reason for it. It shows St Thomas' Catholic Church as seen from Field Road.

Fathers Day

Dad used to grow carnations and geraniums but at Christmas he would always buy Mum a dozen red roses. It is quite fitting then that a red rose (bought as a present for our Ruby Wedding Anniversary) is flowering in our garden today as we remember him with love.

Happy, Happy, Happy

Research has revealed that yesterday was supposed to be the happiest day of the year. With lighter nights, flowers blooming and looking forward to summer holidays, people in the northern hemisphere are at their most joyful on this day in June.

The researchers obviously didn't factor in the England football team who have been dire in their last four games - two friendlies plus two group matches in the World Cup - and were abysmal last night giving their fans no cause to be happy at all.

England Expects

There's no doubting who the occupants of this house will be supporting tonight in what is being billed as a "must win" game but with favourites Spain and Germany already slipping up against so-called lesser opposition, we shouldn't take it for granted that England will win easily. As is the custom, the players have been put under intense pressure and it could still all end in tears but if support was anything to go by, the trophy would already be on the plane to Heathrow Airport.

Walkabout

We went for a walk about Derby this morning and seeing that the Australian Bar was sporting St George's flags, suddenly I didn't feel quite so guilty about supporting the Socceroos in the World Cup. I still don't expect them to get much further in the competition though on their last showing but you never know.

Tree Trail

Last year the identification posts in Victoria Park did not match the leaflet produced by the Council but since then new post have been installed topped by brass plaques designed by students at Ilkeston's Special Arts School. Today the new Victoria Park Tree Trail was officially launched by the Mayor of Erewash in the presence of some of the students and besides me, photographers from two local newspapers were also there.

Pictured is the Ilkeston Advertiser photographer as he set up the shot featuring the students and the Mayor and Mayoress for this week's edition of the paper.

Green Green Grass

Nothing to do with Tom Jones' hit song of the 1960s but unless I do something about this green green grass at home soon, I'll have to get a goat! The World Cup has a lot to answer for and I suppose I needn't have watched the rubbish that New Zealand against Slovakia played after lunch but it was too wet to get the mower on anyway. I wonder how they would have coped on a surface like this.

Changing My Allegience

After yesterday's result where Germany beat Australia I think I'll forget about the sweep and look for another shirt.

Come On You Socceroos!

Although born and bred in the UK, tonight I'm going to be an Aussie and support the team as they take on Germany in the World Cup. I've drawn them in the sweep so all that remains is to don the shirt and grab a tinny from the fridge.

Oh What A Circus

A camel, a zebra and several horses and ponies were grazing in a field close to Ilkeston this morning. They belonged to a travelling circus that has set up camp for a few days.

Posters have appeared all around town about the performances in Ilkeston but actually where the event is taking place is not even in the same county as Ilkeston. It's at the side of the Awsworth by-pass just over the border into Nottinghamshire and is probably in the Parish of Cossall.

Consulting The Public

We're in the middle of a three day public consultation exercise about the Stanton Regeneration Scheme - that's always assuming the public can find this marquee hidden away in the middle of the site. It's not on a bus route and not accessible for the public who don't have their own transport. It would have been much better to hold the consultation in the surrounding towns and villages who will be most affected by the proposals. This is really an exercise in how to consult with the public without actually meeting too many of them!

For those that could find it, the marquee contained lots of smart looking displays, plans and proposals but the traffic model has not yet been completed and many questions about routes could not be answered. One piece of good news though is that the Green Squeeze campaign about the proposed road through the Erewash countryside appears to have been successful and the "Red Route" has been shelved. The residents of Trowell though will be none too pleased as it looks as though the preferred option will mean a main access to the Stanton site will be into the village. The saga goes on.

Alive and Well

Elvis is alive and well and will be appearing at the Larklands Hotel in Ilkeston on Saturday.

Don't know how many will be there to witness the event though as all football fans will surely be at home watching England play the USA. Anyway there's a rumour going round that it's an imposter but there is a prize for the best dressed Teddy Boy that turns up. Now I wonder if I can still get into those drainpipe trousers ....

Not A Happy Boy

Spinky's been to the vets today for an operation to remove a small lump from the top of his head. He's still a bit drowsy and not a happy boy at all. He's not moving about much but when he does, the collar keeps catching on the furniture and he can't figure out why he can't move forward. The collar has to stay on for a week until he goes back to have the stitches out. He's also got to stay indoors for at least a week - we're not sure who will go mad first, Splinky or us! A nice touch though was when we fetched him back after his op, he was sent home with a Get Well card.

England On Top

As the build up to the World Cup continues, patriotism and England flags are becoming more and more prominent and the St George's Cross has even made an appearance on at least one German vehicle. Knowing of the past rivalry on the soccer fields between the two nations I can only assume from its position that the driver of this particular vehicle is expecting England to come out on top should they meet in South Africa.

Non-Event

I don't think we've been to Nottingham since March when we watched the St Patrick's Day Parade so we decided on the spur of the moment to take the bus there this morning for a look round. It turned out to be something of a non-event really as there was nothing happening in the Old Market Square and not much elsewhere either. A walk through the Broadmarsh Centre revealed almost as many shops closed as open and by closed I mean they have ceased trading. Victoria Centre wasn't as bad but it looks as though the recession has had a heavy toll on many businesses. Maybe it was because it was a Monday but there weren't many people about either. 

As for "Queen of the Midlands" I'm beginning to think the crown is moving to Derby.

Water, Water, Everywhere

After last night's storm, there's no need to do any watering in the garden today. Even the container that catches the rain off the greenhouse is overflowing!

And just look at how much that grass has grown! The lawn is ready for another mow but there's no chance until it's dried out a bit.

Get Well Soon

This lady was in a hospital bed on Saturday morning  but she still looked happy enough.

She was taking part in the Ilkeston Community Hospital's League of Friends' annual bed push and was part of the Rotary Club's team raising funds for the local hospital. Other teams came from Manners Ward and Oakwell Ward at the hospital but after pushing the bed up the hill, they were all looking forward to being met by the Mayor and sampling the drinks available at a stall on the Market Place.

It's a surprise though that no-one actually needed the bed for real on Saturday as while the team paused for photographs, the bed and pedestrians had to move to the side to allow a large white van to illegally make its way through the pedestrian zone.

My Bruvver!

Our cats are certainly enjoying the fine weather and although they sometimes have little spats they are quite content to lie together in the shade. "Hey Bruv, you just relax and I'll keep watch for the birds. It'll be your turn tomorrow."

Stop Smoking

It's not often that you get accosted in the street by a pretty young lady but that's exactly what happened today. It was all to no avail however even when she was joined by a colleague as they were both working for the NHS as part of a team that is currently on the Market Place encouraging people to give up smoking. As a non-smoker their encouragement naturally fell on deaf ears but they did agree to pose for a photo and I said I'd give their "Stop Smoking" campaign a plug on my blog.

It'll probably be some time before I'm accosted again - and I thought my luck had changed!

Much Better

Another watery picture but a much pleasanter view from the tow-path of the Erewash Canal than yesterday's sodden Market Place.

"What a difference a day made" is an overused expression but today brought us weather much more in keeping with memories of distant June days from my youth. Isn't it amazing that when we look back to summers of years gone by, we tend to remember the sunny days although I'm sure we must have had rainy days too.

June Glorious June

The song says "June is bustin' out all over" and although today is the first of the month, the only thing bustin' out was rain from the grey clouds above!

Don't despair though as it's going to clear up soon and be fine for the rest of the week and looking back, May didn't start off too well but got better as the month went on. Today brought to mind another expression that is often used about the month - "Flaming June" - which can have a totally different meaning dependant on which syllable is emphasised.