Stop & See

It was over the Christmas period in 2000 that the "Ilkeston Flyer" ran up and down Bath Street and although it proved very popular helping shoppers up and down the hill, it hasn't been seen since and you don't have to visit an optician to confirm that. There are still several Stop signs at various points on Bath Street including this one right outside an optician's shop if you still don't believe me. As we will soon be reaching the tenth anniversary of the road train's temporary visit and in view of the government's policy just announced to remove surplus and confusing signs there is perhaps no better place to start than here .... or can we still expects it's return in December? Probably not.

Tradition

August Bank Holiday Monday afternoon. The Erewash Museum. Ilkeston Brass. It's become a tradition. Need one say more? 

Not An Emergency This Time

Yes it's an emergency vehicle but on this occasion there was no emergency.

The fire engine was on Gallows Inn Playing Fields today and when I passed there were children crawling all over it. It was there taking part in the Waterside Festival which also featured the Owl Experience (link), a dog show, cheerleading, quad bikes, a fun fair, and lots of other attractions for all the family on this Sunday of the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Another Emergency

I read today about a car that had crashed into a telegraph pole on Wharncliffe Road last Wednesday and following on from yesterday's accident on Stanton Road I spotted two more emergency vehicles outside the Co-Op today. It may be a Bank Holiday weekend for many people but we should all be grateful for the dedication and experience of the emergency services who are on hand 24/7 everyday of the year.

Trouble For Someone

It's often said that a day can make all the difference and after yesterday's rain, today much much better but for some people it was most definitely not a good day. Walking home with the family this lunchtime after a visit to the museum, we heard an almighty bang as we crossed Regent Street. At the opposite end we could see a silver car at an angle so we rushed up the street to see if we could be of assistance. When we reached the top we found another vehicle underneath but others who had rushed to help had found the driver of that black car was not seriously injured and the two occupants of the other one, although trapped, had also said they were OK. The emergency services arrived within minutes so as we could do no more to help we left the scene. Later we found that both the driver and the passenger in the silver car had been taken to hospital - not a good start to the Bank Holiday weekend.

Green Tomatoes

Just over three years ago I was immobilised with an ankle injury and spent a lot of time in the garden soaking up the fine weather. Photographic opportunities were limited but I did take a number of shots of the flowers, plants and vegetables including some of the ripening tomatoes in the greenhouse. If I had damaged my ankle this year the weather would have prevented me from sitting in the garden. today has been a particularly grey day with a cold wind and plenty of rain. The tomatoes in the greenhouse will need a lot more sunshine if they are going to ripen at all methinks. Global warming? No way!

GOM Syndrome

The grumpy old man syndrome hit again today and with some justification. I just don't understand how the smokers who sit on the seats on the Market Place think it is OK to drop their nub ends on the floor when the is a litter bin just a few steps away. In fact around the fountain there are at least four bins but the area is covered with their discarded ciggies. I wonder if they realise that if they are caught dropping their litter, they are liable to a £30 fixed penalty!