This afternoon as I was driving along the canal bank, I saw for the first time the huge and I mean huge housing estate that is being built there. Hundreds of new houses from 2 bedrooms up to 4 bedroom semi and detached homes and I wondered did the developers and the council, who must have agreed planning permission, look into or at least consider the impact that these homes are going to have on the infrastructure of the area. For instance, when these houses sell, the occupants are likely to have a least one car per home. So has anyone thought about the increase in traffic, which could cause havoc on a public highway system already near to breaking point. Or have the local schools been informed of the possible increase in children in the area and how are these schools going to be able to accommodate all of these extra bodies in buildings which are overcrowded already. Does anybody actually think of these questions at all or do they think that these changes will just be absorbed by the area? It made me also think about what happened to the businesses that were there originally? Where will all these new people work? Is there going to be enough jobs for them? I know that shops and hopefully any local businesses left in the area will benefit from this influx of extra people but I do worry that the congestion caused by more traffic on the already busy roads is going to become a problem. It also made me think of a visit to Perth Australia I made last year where new housing estates were going up thick and fast. First the local park or lake is built as a centre piece for the area and then roads orbited that. Schools and shops are built next and houses are built when and where needed. Now I know that Perth is a fast expanding city and that they are fortunate to have large amounts of land for huge building projects like this housing estate I saw today but we don’t have this luxury and I have to admit that I am concerned that all this building will have a negative impact on the surrounding area but hey what do I know. After house hunting with dear daughter mine I can appreciate the need for new houses so maybe I should just sit back and wait and see what develops. You never know the powers that be will have already addressed my concerns without me even knowing it. I wait with bated breath. Thought for the day: Planning is everything!
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WOW! What a week it has been what with the shock result of the referendum and now the defeat of England by Iceland! Both exits were not anticipated I must admit. A dramatic score line; England 1 Iceland 2 had the backstabbers out in force. A few days earlier everyone was a politician and last night everyone was a football manager or expert of some kind. The pundits on TV used words like humiliating, shambles, terrible, chaotic etc and castigated everyone from the coaching staff to the manager and finally the players. It was, truth be told, an awful display by the England players and we deserved to lose. A truly disappointing night for all football lovers however this was in part rescued by the comments which were made on Facebook just after the final whistle. There is always someone who can uplift you by their humorous insights and pithy comments. I’m sure that all those involved in team England might not appreciate them but hey they made me smile. Here are just a few;
Thought for the day: If you are not sure what to do with the ball just pop it in the net and we’ll think about the options afterwards. (Bill Shankley) I didn’t think that I could let today pass by without blogging about the referendum. I mean it is a momentous vote! I just hope that when people vote, whether it is to remain or to leave, they vote with true conviction that they think this is the best way forward for Britain and not just decide on a whim or be manipulated by the doggerel and propaganda that has accompanied the facts. Whatever the outcome, I hope that the country’s leaders and citizens embrace the decision and pull forward together for a better future for us all. Thought for today: Stay true to yourself. I visited Tesco at Walkden and had a look round the shopping centre for the first time in ages, and what a disappointment it was! A huge cavernous area with about 10 shops and 5 market stalls; it was like an empty ghost town, cold and unwelcoming. It really needed an influx of retail outlets to liven the place up. The structure and decoration were good; parking was plentiful but the place was soulless. Why doesn’t the council try to encourage Primark, Range or any of the High street clothing stores, Select, New Look and Next to take up residence? Surely there must be enough customers in the Walkden, Farnworth, Little Hulton and Worsley areas to justify their inclusion. They could even lower the leases to get the shops in. If I was a resident in the area I would be onto my local councillor to do something to bring life back to the centre. It has so much wasted potential I went on a Saturday and had lunch at the Lowry café. What a shame! It was full of buckets from leaks falling from the glass roof. They had electric heaters, which tried to keep customers warm but it was a thankless job. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking the café owners, they really tried to deal with the situation in the best possible way. The food was god and the service from the friendly staff was excellent. It wasn’t their fault but - come on Salford Council or whoever owns the precinct - repair the ceiling! There was a sorry attempt at providing an indoor market area which was disappointing; a few market stalls forlorn and unvisited in the time that I was there; where it should be thriving. Where are the market traders? Would I visit the shopping centre again? I don’t think so. Thought for today: When the going gets tough; the tough go shopping! P.S I hope that you like the image today as it is a painting done by my lovely husband. Just a quick random thought as I left a ladies restroom in Manchester the other day. The mirror area was absolutely full of young girls redoing their makeup. It made me wonder if guys ever feel short changed when their girlfriends take off their makeup and they finally get to see the real person underneath the layers! Thought for the day: Why not discover the real you and then trust it. Sitting overlooking the multi-coloured blue sea with picture postcard white wispy clouds floating in the soft breeze I relax into my holiday. Gentle lapping waves, a breath of calm and a perfect stillness complete my serenity. I watch passers bye and am amazed at how the relaxed atmosphere promotes a culture of, ’let it all hang out’. Swimming costumes seem to be persona no grata as they are sweaty, still show the fact that you have a belly and are a waste of time, if you go by the people around the swimming pool at the hotel. I see so many different sizes, such as the waif like figures, with their stick thin straight limbs and pole straight bodies, which are in all honesty flat, frighteningly skeletal and basically uninteresting to watch. Then there are the shapely curves with young supple skin. The already tanned bodies which shine and glisten in the sunlight as their toned silky smooth bodies lounge supine on sun-beds. My teeth gnash; I heave a gargantuan sigh of envy and I look for other distractions, which don’t make me want to commit suicide. In the shady garden areas are the wrinkled saggy 3B brigade- breast, belly and bottoms which are out on display. The elderly generation are a law unto themselves. Liver skinned, brown bodies literally lie in the sun turning walnut and mahogany in the blistering heat, which doesn’t seem to affect their skins what so ever. They enjoy their freedom from real life and regularly burn to their heart’s content every day of the week. Turning over at half hour intervals with arms-raised, so that under arms can be treated as well. They move slowly towards the dining area and move back again smoothly and efficiently. I’ve decided that it doesn’t matter what shape, age or size you are either because - bikinis rule! It is a case of see the sun, feel the heat and throw away all your inhibitions. Package holidays are a great leveller- no-one cares what they look like or what you look like for that matter. You will never see these people again. No-one cares that all their imperfections are on show; let them all hang out is the order of the day. Let the sun caress them, tingle them, tan them so that when you get home and you take that first bath and see the white bikini line – you can sigh with pleasure as though brown patches can last you all through the winter. As for me I’m ditching the swimming costume and going all out in a bikini next time! Thought for the day: Life is worth living - so enjoy it! WOW! Excitement today as three golden goddesses arrived- glamour personified. All dressed in long white flowing clothes with shoes and jewellery that might have taken their baggage allowance way over the limit! These peacocks (I know peacocks are male but they do like to show off their finery and peahens just doesn’t do them justice.) Actually when I looked round at the clientele, myself included, they seemed like ducks out of water on a budget holiday break. Mind you I suppose it doesn’t matter where you go if you just want to catch the sun and sun bathe even though they were already tanned. The evening meal was so much more interesting after they had arrived - two older ladies 40’s /50’s, possibly sisters plus grown up daughter (her engagement ring blotted out the sun!). Each night I waited anxiously for their entrance to the dining room. Fully made up, killer heels, tight white jeans; they sat at 90 degrees angle to the table just as lady etiquette books describe I’m sure. They selected their food from the buffet; you guessed it-salad was their main meal choice - had to be really - how else could they keep their trim figures otherwise. I was mesmerised! I watched fascinated by how they ate their food. First push the food around the plate many times before actually putting it on to the fork, then only a small amount. Place it in the front of your mouth; keeping lips pursed together then chew, and chew and chew daintily and swallow discreetly. Repeat until you have eaten your fullest - leaving most of the food on the plate - yet making sure that you wash down with copious free wine (all inclusive holiday). In between eating their three courses, they took regular breaks outside to smoke. I wondered why they had chosen this particular hotel and holiday. They just stood out too much in the general crowd. Later I observed them let their hair down so to speak, answering questions in the trivia quiz (but not doing too well); joining in and laughing and it seems enjoying themselves and mixing in with the other holiday makers as well! Good on you girls. I stand corrected. My stereotypical assessment of you faltered a little until the next day when nature kicked back in and all was well with the world. The three sun goddesses sauntered round the pool dressed in exotic swimwear, usually found on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. Gold - lame wraps, Victoria Beckham sized sun glasses and bright shellac nail polish that sparkled in the sun! I couldn’t take my eyes off them as they topped up their sun tan. No holiday activities; just lying in the sun until it was time for them to get ready for dinner when the sun went down and another fashion parade took place. Honestly I couldn’t wait for them to emerge! After seven days I saw them at the airport, dragging their bulging suitcases along behind them. Their tote bags were as big as a small suitcase and as they boarded a flight to Belfast two thoughts occurred- how much was their excess baggage and how by heading off to Belfast knocked my preconceived opinions about them. If they ever read this and recognise themselves - I salute you. You certainly entertained me! Thought for the day: Never underestimate the power of glitter! Who designs bikinis? Have you ever wondered this? I have, especially when I am sitting people watching, around the pool area of my hotel. Over a ten day period I didn’t see two the same! Not one person duplicated the same bikini! Not one! It is unbelievable for such a tiny piece of clothing. The patterns, colours and styles are incredible! I mean in a hotel with over three hundred rooms, and half of them inhabited by females who can change swimwear hourly, I honestly can say that I haven’t seen one bikini replicated. Amazing! Thought for the day; Why should you fit in when you were born to stand out? |
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