A Hyde Sky

Sky, clouds, trees, a contrail. Not much more to say, is there?

Ring and Ride

It was April 2006 when I last showed a picture of the Ring and Ride service. This time I'm posting a photo taken from inside the bus.

The Ring and Ride service operates across Greater Manchester. Journeys though are generally limited to one's local area (Tameside South in our case), and can only be booked the day before. To book our regular Saturday visit into town, I have to phone after 9.30am on Friday. Sometimes it takes me 45 minutes to get through.

Though an excellent service, it doesn't make planning trips easy as (except for special excursions) you can't be sure until the morning before whether your journey can be accomodated, nor the exact pick-up and return times.

For 2008 it is planned to make cross-boundary journeys available, so maybe from time to time we can have a shopping trip to Stockport for a change.

Post #600

This view up Market Street was taken in October before they started putting up the Christmas Lights. I thought it would be a good choice in order to celebrate our 600th post. You can compare it with a 1905 view on Old Hyde.

Thanks to all who took part in our Sunday Puzzle. It proved more difficult than I envisaged and no-one came up with the right answer. Ham, Dusty Lens and Isabella posted the most amusing comments. If they let me know their address privately, I'll send them a Christmas card. Actually anyone who wants can have one - just let me know by December 8th [see the contact page on my website http://www.geraldengland.co.uk/]

It is in fact the tail of a squirrel and you can view the critter over on Ackworth born, gone West.

At the end of Canal Street

This is the view you get of the Peak Forest Canal from the end of Canal Street. Over on the right hand side, hidden from view behind the trees, is the M67 motorway.

However, as pointed out to me when I turned round to take a photograph of the concrete railway bridge, the land is private property. The towpath is on the other bank of the canal.

Autumn in the Cemetery

I showed you the autumn leaves by the cemetery gate on Back Bower Lane a few weeks back. This is taken from near the entrance looking up towards Back Bower. Many leaves gathered in a corner.

A Sunday Puzzle

A puzzle for you today. I'd like you all to rack your brains and tell me what this is. The most amusing and original comments will get a Christmas card and a Hyde DP photo. Anyone who guesses accurately will be awarded with a small book prize. The answer will be revealed on Wednesday morning when we make our 600th post.

Flower on the Bridge

The last time I showed the railway bridge over Great Norbury Street it was graced by a pigeon.

Now we discover that the side of the bridge is home to a little flower.

Another sign at Stonepit

Beyond the new gates at Stonepit reservoir is a recently-erected sign, warning of a weak bridge. You can see the bridge on this picture from July. I suppose it is an essential warning but it does seem to spoil the view. Then again, the reservoir is there for the benefit of the anglers when it re-opens, not for mere sightseers.

Previous pictures in this series:

• Jul 20th 2006 Stonepit Reservoir
• Sep 6th 2006 Twigs & Barbed Wire
• Sep 14th 2006 Stonepit Reservoir Again
• Dec 14th 2006 Stonepit Reservoir Yet Again
• Dec 22nd 2006 A Glimpse of Stonepit Reservoir
• Jan 11th 2007 Reservoir Filling Up
• May 15th 2007 Reservoir Nearly Ready
• July 7th 2007 Waterfall flowing at Stonepit
• August 11th 2007 Stonepit Reservoir Not Quite Ready
• September 17th 2007 Missed the Birdie
• November 2nd 2007 A Licence to Fish

Shop to Let

There is yet another shop to let on Market Street. This one is not far from what used to be Burtons.

I can't remember what was there before but the arrows appear to indicate that the business has moved down the street so perhaps to was the vendor of washing-machines and other white electrical goods that now occupies what used to be Shipman's Surgery.

What brings this to my attention though is the statement that it comes with planning permission for use as a hot-food take-away. Do we not have enough? There must already be a dozen on Market Street alone of all kinds; fish-'n'-chips, Chinese, Greek, Indian, Italian, chicken burgers, Subway!

New Camera

My new camera arrived yesterday afternoon. It was ordered online on Sunday. This of course was taken by my trusty spare camera, an Olympus FE-130.

It took me a good half hour to open the package and a while to work out how to charge the battery - I was looking for a lead but in fact two prongs fold out from the charger and fit into an adaptor plug.

I think it will take me at least a week to make head or tail out of the manual, so how soon you'll see the effects of my new acquistion on here remains to be seen. Meanwhile I do have several older photos on file so tomorrow it will be back to pictures of Hyde proper.

Concrete Bridge

At first I wasn't sure if this was an actual bridge as such or an elevated section of the M67 motorway as it squeezes its way between Dukinfield Road and the canal.

I had wandered down Canal Street and already taken a couple of nice shots of the canal (which I'll be posting at a later date). Suddenly, as I took this picture, a white transit van drove up behind me. The guy wasn't heavy or anything but asked me what I was doing. "Taking photos of the canal", I replied. "Well this is private property", he told me, but then just went back to his van and watched whilst I put the camera away and moved on.

[morning update] After checking this on Google-Earth, I now see that the bridge is carrying the railway, north of Hyde Central, across the motorway which is lower down and off to the left.

I wasn't going to use this one at all but it is among the last photos I took with my old Fuji camera which died on Friday. My wife has bought me a new camera and delivery is expected later today.

There'll be lots of different kinds of bridges on show on 1st December when the CDPB theme will be Bridges. Already nearly 100 blogs have registered to participate. Blog-authors who are not registered with CDPB, but who intend to join in the theme anyway - if you let me know I'll add you to my links on the day.

Contrasts

This little potholed side-street off Crook Steet is occupied by a car repair shop and second-hand car sales. It still has a crane and hoist that probably stem from the time when the building would have been a warehouse.

By contrast the roof of the block of flats beyond is encrusted with mobile-phone relay masts.

Over Yonder

The signpost for the footpath that leads off Manchester Road towards the place from where I took my picture of the roving bridge points to "Over Yonder".

I can't seem to find any such place name on the map. It actually leads down in about a third of a mile to Raglan Street and the now closed footbridge over the canal.

On a small section of adjacent wall is a blue plague marking the site of the 1889 Hyde Colliery Explosion. Details about this disaster can be found on Old Hyde.

Christmas is Coming

The Christmas Lights were switched on in Hyde last night. I went down with the intention of soaking up the atmosphere and getting some pictures.

I alighted the bus at Clarendon Place and walked into the shopping centre. I felt something wet against my leg. The bottle of water in my bag had leaked. My camera, which was inside a bag within the bag, was wringing wet.

Several curses later I went out through the market. The street outside the Town Hall was closed and at one end was a stage and at the other various charity stalls and food stalls. A Father Christmas was driving around on a sleigh converted from a large mobility scooter. Some lasers were playing in front of the Town Hall.

I took this picture with my little Olympus point-and-shoot. It isn't much use in low-light conditions but I've messed about in paint-shop and I hope the result gives some idea of what it was like an hour before lighting-up time.

I didn't stay for the switch-on but got a bus back up home. Now my main camera has dried out, I think it is OK.

Roving Bridge

Like Captain Clarke's Bridge the Manchester Road bridge on the Peak Forest Canal is a roving bridge. This photograph, although I've made it look old, was taken yesterday from the south-west. Frank Bennett's photo taken in 2000 from the south-east can be seen on Old Hyde which carries more information about the history of the bridge.

Fence Shadows

low bright sun
at the end of autumn
fence shadows

Above the florists

I recently noticed this frieze on the gable end of the florists at the corner of Reynold Street and Market Street.

Herons' Roost

I took this picture on the edge of Hyde a few weeks ago. Some herons are roosting in the tree.

Still Following your Dream

Last year I published a picture of the Follow your Dream roadshow. They were back in Hyde last week, and showed us their banner which now features the picture of my son Craig with Gregg taken from my website.

Since last year they have been with the Special Olympics Team GB to the World Games in Shanghai. They have some pictures on their website.

Late Autumn Footpath

I posted a picture of this footpath last autumn, then again in winter and once again in springtime.

It was very near here last week that I found a spent rocket.

Theatre Royal Again

Here is the Theatre Royal again, this time viewed from inside Asda's carpark.

The Theatre website now has links to a BBC North-West Tonight news report.

You can also locate the theatre on a photograph taken by Graeme Green, Grand Shiek of the official Sons of the Desert tent in Hyde from the top of St. George's Church Tower.

Clarendon Place Bus Stop

Unlike bus stop EM3000, lots of buses stop here in Clarendon Place across the road from The Queens.

For buses coming in from Glossop, Hattersley and other points East it is the last stop before the Bus Station.

As you can see the roofer has finished pointing the ridge tiles above the pet shop.

Two White Horses

Saw these two horses in a field by the canal a few weeks ago.

After Based in Villigen posted a picture of three white horses, I thought it was time I showed you these two.

Bank Chambers

I thought I'd show you a picture of the Bank Chambers after an Australian commentator to Market Street c.1905 on Old Hyde said

My father was born in the residence (uppermost storey) of the Bank in the Market Square a few years after this photo was taken. His birth certificate says "Bank Chambers, Market Square, Hyde." The family were the resident caretaker/cleaners.

The bank now belongs to HSBC , before which it was the Midland Bank. You can't see the balustrade too well in this shot as there wasn't this huge tree there 100 years ago.

You can see a bit more of the bank from the other direction in this post from May 28th, 2007.

Also prominent in the picture is the old Bus Shelter.

Another Rainbow

I featured a rainbow here on January 4th 2007.

This one is from last week. It was taken from my bedroom window.

A different version of the same shot can be viewed on Autumn Haiku 2007.

5th November

November 5th is known all over the UK as Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Day. If it were just the one night it wouldn't be too bad, but these days the fireworks start in the middle of October and go on every night till the end of November.

You can get a brief idea of what is like from a short video on Belfast DP.

As well as the highly disturbing noise nuisance there is always the litter aftermath of fallen rockets. On Saturday afternoon I found the remains of one had actually impaled itself on a metal railing.

I was hit on the head by one as a child. It didn't really cause much damage but I've never been overfond of bonfires since.

Last year I republished a poem I wrote in Glasgow forty years ago on my personal blog, Ackworth born, gone West.

Reflections

Remember the roadworks on Market Street?

Here is a reflective look at them. Towards the top right is the shop sign for Up & Running.

Shaw Hall Post Office

This photograph of Shaw Hall Post Office in Newton is by guest photographer Frank Bennett.

Many sub post offices in the UK are under threat, especially in town suburbs. Several in Hyde have already gone, but this one appears to have a more certain future. An ATM (aka cash-point, aka hole-in-the-wall} has been established here. Alterations have been made since to the roller-blinds so that the ATM can be accessed 24 hours a day.

Good news for the residents of Newton, but why I wonder is the machine operated by an Irish Bank which doesn't have a branch anywhere nearby at all?

A Licence to Fish

New steel gates have been erected at the entrance to Stonepit Reservoir, together with this stern warning notice.

Previously in this series:

• Jul 20th 2006 Stonepit Reservoir
• Sep 6th 2006 Twigs & Barbed Wire
• Sep 14th 2006 Stonepit Reservoir Again
• Dec 14th 2006 Stonepit Reservoir Yet Again
• Dec 22nd 2006 A Glimpse of Stonepit Reservoir
• Jan 11th 2007 Reservoir Filling Up
• May 15th 2007 Reservoir Nearly Ready
• July 7th 2007 Waterfall flowing at Stonepit
• August 11th 2007 Stonepit Reservoir Not Quite Ready
• September 17th 2007 Missed the Birdie

Blue

The CDPB November theme is the colour BLUE.

My picture is of the upper window of Farm Foods, the frozen food shop in the market place. I like the way the blue blind behind the window shows up a reflection of the dome from the top of Woolworths across the street.

Below are links to the 117 blogs that registered on the CDPB portal to say they would be posting on the theme today. I have sorted the list for my own convenience, but this month I will not be updating them with permalinks, adding late-comers nor removing non-participants.

Visit Helen's Albuquerque DP for a full set of 112 permalinks.

Albuquerque ~~ Anderson ~~ Arlington ~~ American Fork ~~ Arradon ~~ Auckland ~~ Austin ~~ Bandung ~~ Barton ~~ Belgrade ~~ Bellefonte ~~ Boston (1) ~~ Boston (2) ~~ Brussels ~~ Budapest ~~ Cape Town ~~ Chandler ~~ Chateaubriant ~~ Cheltenham ~~ Christchurch ~~ Cleveland ~~ Cottage Grove ~~ Crystal Lake ~~ Cypress ~~ Detroit ~~ Durban ~~ Evry ~~ Forks (1) ~~ Forks (2) ~~ Fort Lauderdale ~~ Greenville ~~ Grenoble ~~ Haninge ~~ Hobart ~~ Hong Kong ~~ Hyde ~~ Inverness ~~ Jackson ~~ Jefferson City ~~ Joplin ~~ Kuala Lumpur ~~ Kyoto ~~ Las Vegas ~~ Le Guilvinec ~~ London (1) ~~ London (2) ~~ Manila ~~ Maple Ridge ~~ Melbourne (1) ~~ Melbourne (2) ~~ Melbourne (3) ~~ Menton ~~ Mexico City ~~ Miami ~~ Minneapolis (1) ~~ Minneapolis (2) ~~ Monte Carlo ~~ Montego Bay ~~ Montpellier ~~ Montréal ~~ Moscow ~~ Mumbai ~~ Naples ~~ Nashville ~~ Nelson ~~ New Orleans ~~ New York City ~~ North Bay ~~ Norwich ~~ Nottingham ~~ Ocean Township ~~ Orlando ~~ Oslo ~~ Paderborn ~~ Paris ~~ Petaling Jaya ~~ Philadelphia ~~ Phoenix ~~ Port Angeles ~~ Portland ~~ Port Vila ~~ Prague ~~ Quincy ~~ Rabaul ~~ Radonvilliers ~~ Saarbrücken ~~ Saigon ~~ St Louis (1) ~~ St Louis (2) ~~ St Paul ~~ Saint-Petersburg ~~ Santa Fe ~~ Seattle ~~ Selma ~~ Seoul ~~ Sequim ~~ Setúbal ~~ Shanghai ~~ Silver Spring ~~ Singapore ~~ Stavanger ~~ Stayton ~~ Stockholm ~~ Sydney ~~ The Hague ~~ Tokyo ~~ Toulouse ~~ Toruń ~~ Trujillo (1) ~~ Trujillo (2) ~~ Wailea ~~ Wassenaar ~~ Wellington ~~ Weston ~~ West Sacramento ~~ Wichita ~~ Ystad