concrete and clay

So here is our answer: no grass, flowers or bushes. Just more meters of paving flags.

Didn’t Ashton win the North West In Bloom Competition a few times recently? Looks like this is a backward step.

Ashton-under-Lyne

T’other side of the Ladysmith shopping centre on Katherine Street, where the new Costa coffee house can be found.

Paving

Ah. I’m guessing that the ripped out bushes, are not going to be replaced by anything that grows.

Well, that’s my mind made up for the election. I’m going Green.

The Golden Mile

Bikes parade along Blackpool’s Golden Mile.

Day Tripper

Quiz. Where am I.

:-)

Saint Georges Day

The flags are flying on Ashton market for St.Georges Day.

Bush-less

So they’ve dug up our bushes all along Crickets Lane and round the Memorial Park. What are they going to do with it all now. Please not concrete.

In the background are the Wellington Court apartments, here can been seen the apartments when the bushes were still there. 

Colourful

The Pound shop on Penny Meadow. Yes, very colourful.

New Road

They’ve made a start on the new road round the back of Penny Meadow.

These views are from the Albion Street bridge, I think.

Dairy Crest

That’s right, simply avoid those pesky traffic wardens with their yellow lines by parking on the pavement.

:-)

Derby day

Derby day today. City v Utd. Ashton Market covers both flags.

Colliers Arms

I cycled up to Hartshead Pike and passed the old Colliers Arms pub. The conversion of the attached barn into a house is now complete. It’s looking mighty fine.

There are some details carved into the lintels above the doors.

On the x-pub it reads ‘The Old Colliers’ 1730 and on the x-barn it reads ‘Colliers Barn’ 2009

Also seen here is what they looked like in early 2009 when the barn was at the start of it’s conversion.

Iceland

Well, actually a view of Manchester from above the Ashton-under-Lyne golf course. But up in the sky are bits of Iceland, apparently. Although I’m not sure I can see much of it.

All UK flights have been cancelled due to ash in the air from the erupting volcano, under a glassier in Iceland. Ashton is on the landing flight path for Manchester Airport, or Ringway as I still like to call it. From my apartment window I can usually see about one flight a minute, the planes seemingly hanging in the air as they slow down on the approach to the airport.

Non at the moment though.

New Chinky

What have we here. Looks like a new chinky is about to open in Ashton. It's called the Jade Garden.
Ever since I have been here, this building has been semi-derelict. I think is was a Chinese restaurant some years back. Looks like it will be again soon.
The road is Old Cross Street, and at the bottom can be seen the Time Zone.

Computer

Finally got my broadband connection sorted out, only took six weeks! Anyway, it’s nice to have all the web pages responding quickly again. I might even check the job pages and see if I can find a new contract.

Photo of my computer to celebrate.

Heroes of Waterloo

The pub across the road from the Ladysmith Barracks has also closed.



Heroes of Waterloo.

Ladysmith Barracks

I’m just old enough to remember when this barracks was still open. Or at least I remember that there wasn’t a housing estate behind the archway. There has been for many years now. Only this arch and gate remains from the original barracks built in 1845. It finally closed in 1960.

Ashton Market

Bikes on Ashton Market.

I need a new bike, but not decided which type just yet.

Electric Car Depot

Electric Cars or trams to us. This is the original depot for the Ashton trams on Mossley Road. Closed long ago of course. Now it’s split into many different shops. Cash registers to Tropical fish. Would be nice if we get a new depot like this one for our trams, if they ever get here!

Pre-Daffodils

Well I’ve re-bought my copy of photoshop, so I can twist my photos this way and that, but even that cannot jump forward in time. Thought I’d take a snap of the daffodils in the park by Penny Meadow. I was a bit early as you can see. So, here are the daffodil buds in the park. The trees really are that bent. I didn’t twist them.