Market Street in 2000

This six-year old photograph was taken from the balcony of Hyde Little Theatre's Studio 9.

The housing estate on the site of the former James North Mill was still under construction. There was no roundabout outside the Ring o' Bells; Market Street merely bent around to the right.

Conservative Club

Hyde Conservative Club is on Reynold Street. I'll show you a closeup of the windows next year.

Alcohol free zone

In order to combat the excesses of violence and crime caused by binge-drinkers, many of the UK's towns and cities have created alcohol-free zones where it is an offence to be seen drinking in public.

These signs are outside the Clarendon Square Shopping Centre.

Village Stocks

They are to be found in the grounds of Hyde Chapel.

Workmen on Church Street

I recently came across these workmen on Church Street.

No prizes for guessing, but I wonder what each of them were thinking at that moment.

Uncropped for Boxing Day

I think I confused some people yesterday so ...

This picture was taken in October. If you click on it to get the bigger picture you will see a version which is a 30% reduction from the original. I quite often manage to get two different pictures from one original.

One cropping gave me the Merry Christmas sign which I saved for use yesterday. A separate crop gave me the picture I used for my 200th post.

And now I've managed a third post from the same picture by showing the full view today. I think this is post #263.

Merry Christmas

This sign across Market Street has been up since early October.

I've not been out down town after dark to see this sign actually lit up.

This picture and my 200th picture are different crops of the same original photograph.

There are four days left for you to vote on my Photo of the Year.

Meanwhile, a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone around the world.

Wall of Cards

As stated elsewhere, we don't go in for having a huge amount of decorations around the house at Christmas.

Apart from bringing out the traditional Christmas crib each year, our main festive display is hanging all the Christmas cards on the living-room wall. There is the usual variety of robins and santas, several home-made cards and it seems penguins are quite popular this year.

Back Bower Sunset

Last Saturday afternoon, as I turned into Back Bower near to where it is crossed by Richmond Hill, I was almost blinded by the sun. Like any other self-respecting daily photographer would do, I pointed my camera at it and clicked.

A glimpse of Stonepit Reservoir

The wooded embankment on Mottram Old Road is so thickly planted with mostly evergreen trees, that it is almost impossible to find a gap through which to get a glimpse of Stonepit Reservoir.

This is about the only spot where it is just possible in autumn and winter.

Travel pass

Today I qualify for a bus pass.

I am now entitled to free travel between 9.30am and midnight, Monday to Friday and all day at weekends on buses, trains and trams within Greater Manchester.

Tree by Berrys

This Christmas tree is by Berry's Sweet Shop in the bottom of the Indoor Market.

You can see a close-up of one the baubles on my other blog. I was trying to emulate the marvellous bauble shots by Edwin in Kuala Lumpur and Lisa in Hong Kong [dead link removed] and failing miserably.

Reflection in a puddle

This photograph was taken near the entrance to Hyde Cemetery.

Holly Wreaths

One of the British traditions at Christmas is hanging up a holly wreath on your front door.

Here they are for sale on Hyde Market.

Actually it isn't just a British tradition. See this one in Vancouver, Canada. [dead link removed]

Carols in Clarendon

Yesterday in Clarendon Shopping Centre a group of musicians from St Georges Church led shoppers singing carols.

Queen Adelaide

The Queen Adelaide is on Stockport Road in the centre of Gee Cross opposite Sam Redfern Green.

In this other photograph taken at Gee Cross Fete 2004 you can see it to the left of Steve Bennett's rocket.

Nativity Scene at Booth's Well

Back in July, Booth's Well was decorated for the Well Dressing.

Now it is host to a Nativity Scene.

Stonepit Reservoir Yet Again

Three months ago I took pictures through the railings of happenings at Stonepit Reservoir.

Recently the gate was open and I was able to see the progress that is being made towards restoring this popular angling venue.

Tommy Chow's Chippie

This requested photograph of the famous Gee Cross chip shop Tommy Chow's is dedicated to its best customer Mick Kemp.

I used to be a regular myself when I was working and had a hungry young family to feed. Tommy specialised in fried chicken, but was also known for his pies and puddings, not forgetting fish and chips and peas, black or mushy.

Currently the shop is closed for renovation.

Christmas Tree

Here is the Christmas Tree in Clarendon Shopping Centre.

Many DP sites around the world have been posting pictures of Christmas trees, including
Atlanta ** Greenville ** Las Vegas ** London ** Paris ** Rouen ** St Paul ** Santiago de Chile ** Sequim ** Stayton ** Tenerife ** Vantaa ** Wellington.

At home we no longer bother with a tree, but maintain a family tradition of a displaying a Christmas Crib.

Wet December on Market Street

Looking down Market Street on a wet but bright December morning.

The picture was taken from outside the Shepherds Call.

Hyde Chapel in Winter

Today's picture shows the entrance to Hyde Chapel.

It is an independent non-denominational Church affiliated to the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches.

Morning Moon

This was the view from my window about nine in the morning just a couple of days ago.

Half an hour later it wasn't there to be seen, so I had to settle for viewing the photos from other DPs and my window on the world.

Best of Hyde Daily Photo 2006

I need your help to decide which of these ten contenders should win the title Best of Hyde Daily Photo 2006.

You can vote for your favourites by visiting Best of Hyde 2006 where you can see all the photographs in their full glory.

Dead Centre of Hyde

The Main entrance to Hyde Cemetery on Stockport Road lies at the bottom of Richmond Hill.

These days it is haunted by the ghosts of those murdered by Harold Shipman.

Birds on a Street lamp

I was walking into town the other day and spotted these birds sitting on a street lamp.

Church Inn reopened as Tylers

Quite a number of pubs in Hyde have changed their name recently, such as the Last Orders which I showed you in September.

I posted a photo of the Church Inn gearing up for the World Cup in June. Now it has changed its name to Tylers. Doesn't quite have the same ring to it does it?

Bus stop

This bus stop is on Mottram Road, opposite Morrisons supermarket. It seems there is scheme in operation whereby if you want to know when the next bus is due you can send a text message and find out.

According to the GMPTE website

Passengers are being encouraged to learn their local bus stop codes or save them to their mobile phones. Codes are generally seven or eight letters long and are designed to be memorable. Text messages cost 25p plus the standard charge from your service provider.

As a non-texter I won't be using the service myself.

Hyde Little Theatre

Hyde Little Theatre is an amateur dramatic society.

Studio 9 is their workshop and rehearsal room. Performances usually take place at Hyde Festival Theatre.

Hot Pot and Mr Bumble's Charity Stall

We did indeed go to last Saturday's Victorian Christmas Fair.

We enjoyed some bacon butties but forewent the turkey sarnies and mince pies. We visited Mr Bumble's Charity Stall, saw father Christmas and browsed other stalls.

Afterwards we did our shopping in town and then went back nearer lunch time for some delicious hot-pot!

December Daily Photo Theme

The Daily Photo Theme for December is from the waist down.

I'd wanted a clear view of the Salvation Army Buskers. My first shot was spoilt by these interlopers, but this a crop from the rejected picture means it isn't waisted [sic] as it amply illustrates this present theme.

Next month's theme will be "Best Photo of 2006". I'm at a loss to decide which one to use so I've posted ten contenders here. Please visit and vote for your favourite.

Below are links to the sites participating in this month's theme. Some links will go directly to a page showing the theme. Due to time differences and other factors some will only link to the DP site's main page which may not yet/still be running with the theme.

\~ 1. Porto ~/ \~ 2. Greenville ~/ \~ 3. Evry ~/ \~ 4. Queens ~/ \~ 5. Seattle ~/ \~ 6. Stayton ~/ \~ 7. Albuquerque ~/ \~ 8. Joplin ~/ \~ 9. Tucson ~/ \~ 10. Nantes ~/ \~ 11. Little Rock ~/ \~ 12. London ~/ \~ 13. Jakarta ~/ \~ 14. Santa Clara ~/ \~ 15. Melbourne ~/ \~ 16. Phoenix ~/ \~ 17. Cottage Grove ~/ \~ 18. Newcastle upon Tyne ~/ \~ 19. Shanghai ~/ \~ 20. St. Paul ~/ \~ 21. Szentes ~/ \~ 22. Tuzla ~/ \~ 23. St. Paul ~/ \~ 24. Dubai ~/ \~ 25. Nelson ~/ \~ 26. Sharon ~/ \~ 27. Tenerife ~/ \~ 28. Auckland ~/ \~ 29. Budapest ~/ \~ 30. Sydney ~/ \~ 31. Sequim ~/ \~ 32. East Lansing ~/ \~ 33. Vantaa ~/ \~ 34. Singapore ~/ \~ 35. Paris ~/ \~ 36. Kuala Lumpur ~/ \~ 37. Sydney ~/ \~ 38. Hyde ~/ \~ 39. Akita ~/ \~ 40. Tokyo ~/ \~ 41. Rotterdam ~/ \~ 42. Manila ~/ \~ 43. Seattle ~/ \~ 44. Stavanger ~/ \~ 45. Hong Kong ~/ \~ 46. Chattanooga ~/ \~ 47. Barcelona ~/ \~ 48. Trujillo ~/ \~ 49. Naples ~/ \~ 50. Delta ~/ \~ 51. Buenos Aires ~/ \~ 52. Bath ~/ \~ 53. St Kilda ~/ \~ 54. Melbourne ~/ \~ 55. Malta ~/ \~ 56. Cheltenham ~/ \~ 57. Alexandria ~/ \~ 58. State College ~/ \~ 59. Brownsville ~/ \~ 60. Minneapolis ~/ \~ 61. Cherburg ~/ \~ 62. Saarbrücken ~/ \~ 63. Mexico City ~/ \~ 64. Singapore ~/