Beautiful Lancashire

[Mathos]

This particular Bridge was some example of top class engineering.




There's allsorts in the area, Water Sports complex, gymnasiums, shops, restaurants, bars etc etc.

Tram Stations. Free Buses.

Short cut walk ways across the quays to Old Trafford etc.




The more you look and think about it, the nicer and more appealing it becomes.



Had to slip this one in.




One of Flobo's sky shots.

She took some good ones as well.



I bet that's not flying to LOS though.

[Mathos]

We appeared to be finding flash bridges all over the place.




Funny do at the Petrol Station tonight as well.

I wish I had had my camera with me.

A Thai lass, beating hell out of 'Falang' boyfriend or husband or whatever on the forecourt.

Maybe he had been over friendly with the cashier?

Anyhow, she was kicking and biting, thumping and screaming. He was trying to restrain her, it looked hopeless and I must admit I felt sorry for him.

Then he must have persuaded her to get in the car, she did and he got in drivers side. Then she kicked off again, ran round, pulled door open, hitting him, fists, handbag all the lot.

He appeared to try to get out and she was then dragging him by his legs, he landed on floor, she was kicking again, handbag was like a piston,

Christ I thought, he looked big enough to put her in the boot. She was only about four foot eleven.

Wild Thing.


Nightfall approaching, a shot of The Travellers on the way home. Sure are short days in The UK at this time of year.





*** Probably aware major terrorists attacks on Westerners and others in Mumbai.

About EIGHTY DEAD I understand.

Sounds pretty gruesome.

[ihf charity]

I used to love winter hill on a cold morning, or going to Bolton market, with all the Asian ingredients. spent many years in green lancashire.

[Mathos]

Originally Posted by ihf charity

I used to love winter hill on a cold morning, or going to Bolton market, with all the Asian ingredients. spent many years in green lancashire.

Welcome to Teak-Door ihf charity.

Winter Hill, I can see it quite plainly from most windows in my home or from the garden area.

Bolton Market is a really outstanding venue as well.


I did a write up and added some connections and links back in June with information regarding Winter Hill.

Here you are mate:-

Winter hill in the background, all the transmissions for normal television, radio etc are broadcast via these masts.

I understand the Police and Ambulance Service as well as Manchester Airport make use of the masts up here.

I knew a guy who worked on the maintenance up here for a few years. He got fed up with it though. Said it were bloody cold up there in winter especially.

I bet it was too.


There is quite a bit of History attached to Winter hill and I have put a few leads on below taken from The Internet.
{From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia}


All very interesting.

Winter Hill is a hill in Lancashire, England. It is located on Rivington Moor between Chorley and Bolton and is 456 metres (1,496 ft) high. Part of the West Pennine Moors, it is a popular walking area, and has been the setting for UFO sightings, mining activity, aeroplane disasters and murders.
Its prominent position made it the ideal site for the Winter Hill TV Mast, transmitting to a large part of North West England. There also a number of other telecommunicationmasts and towers around the summit and side of the hill for mobile phones, PMR users and emergency services.
Paths to the summit lead from Belmont, Horwich, Rivington and Bolton. The hill is a distinctive feature on the skyline for most of south Lancashire, being the highest point west of the Pennines in Lancashire, and further due to its unusual shape.
In clear weather conditions, it offers views over Greater Manchester, including Manchester city centre, the Civic Centre in Oldham, Salford, Werneth Low and nearby Bolton. It also offers views of Blackpool Tower, Snaefell in the Isle of Man, the Cumbrian mountains, Snowdonia in North Wales, Liverpool, Southport, the Irish Sea, Peak District, the Pennines and much of the North West of England.
The nearby Rivington area is home to the gardens of the late Lord Leverhulme. These included a large bungalow now demolished and Chinese gardens which still remain today.
Contents







[hide]

• <LI class=toclevel-1>1 History
  • <LI class=toclevel-2>1.1 Plane crashes <LI class=toclevel-2>1.2 Scotsman's Stump <LI class=toclevel-2>1.3 Two Lads
  • 1.4 The song by A Certain Ratio
  <LI class=toclevel-1>2 External links <LI class=toclevel-1>3 Further reading
• 4 References

[edit] History

There is a Bronze Age round cairn dating from 1600–1400 BC on the hill.[1] A flint arrow head has also been found in the area.[citation needed]

[edit] Plane crashes

On February 27, 1958, a Silver CityBristol 170 Freighter (G-AICS) travelling from the Isle of Man to Manchester crashed into Winter Hill several hundred yards away from the transmitter. Thirty-five people died and seven were injured.[2]. The weather that night was so severe that none of the engineers working in the ITA transmitting station were aware of the crash.[3] Several feet of snow hampered rescue efforts, and a snow cat vehicle had to be diverted from the A6 to cut a path for emergency vehicles though the track had been cleared by people using spades by the time it arrived.
There have been several other aircraft crashes around Winter Hill. A two seater aircraft crashed there in the 1920s. During World War II an American Fairchild UC-61 Forwarder (41-54885) of 5th Air Depot Group crashed on 7 August1942. In the following year, on 16 November1943, the crew of a Wellington Bomber (Z8799) from 28 Operational Training Unit, flying from Blackpool to Manchester, were killed when it crashed just to the North of Winter Hill, on Hurst Hill, Anglezarke Moor. The following month, 24 December1943, an Airspeed Oxford (BM837) of 410 Squadron crashed on the hill. Other crashes have included several Spitfires, Hurricanes and a Gloster Meteor which crashed in 1953. In September 1965 a RAFDe Havilland Chipmunk flew into the hill in cloud, without serious injury to the crew. The last crash occurred in October 1968 when a Cessna 172 force-landed between Winter Hill and Rivington Pike.

[edit] Scotsman's Stump

On 9 November1838 George Henderson, a Scottish merchant walking over the hill from Bolton to Blackburn, was murdered by gunshot. James Whittle, a 22-year-old collier from Belmont, was brought to court and found guilty of murder. However, he was found not guilty at a second trial in Lancaster. There is a metal post with plaque on the hill in memory of the victim, replacing an earlier wooden post erected in 1912. This is known as Scotsman's Stump.

[edit] Two Lads

It is also believed that on the 'Two Lads' a hill opposite Winter Hill two young men walking from Chorley to Rochdale went mysteriously missing from the site during a winter storm in the early 20th century. Two memorial cairns are built on the site in the memory of the men. Another theory is that this was the burial site of a powerful Saxon king with a burial mound and bodies found at the site.

[edit] The song by A Certain Ratio

The song "Winter Hill", appearing on A Certain Ratio's 1981 album "To Each...", consists of excessive drumming, occasional whistling and a low pitched drone which alternates between two notes a whole tone apart for the entire length of the song. A visit to Winter Hill in 1988 found a piece of electronic equipment on the top which made a high-pitched drone which also alternated between two notes a whole tone apart. Since A Certain Ratio came from the nearby city of Manchester, the sound of the electrical equipment on the hill was presumably the inspiration for the song.



The Winter Hill Aeroplane Crash





WINTER HILL: The plane's wrecked fuselage (Picture: Chorley Guardian)
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View Gallery





ARRANGEMENTS have been made to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Winter Hill Disaster – the Isle of Man's worst aircraft disaster.
Events will take place on Wednesday, February 27 th 2008– exactly 50 years to the day since the plane crash at Winter Hill in Lancashire which claimed the lives of 35 Manx residents
__________________

[Mathos]

I was looking at some of the photographs and it is quite amazing to see how much glass there is in one quay section only of this large development.



The building to the right on this photograph is The Bupa Medical Centre.

Never been in it myself, but I understand they are doing a reasonably priced full MOT at present.

Worth a thought I suppose.


North, South, East and West on every building, glass.




That's one hell of a glass cleaning contract when you think of it.




From what I understand with regards to these apartments, there's a general annual fee to cover these sort of costings.

[Mathos]

The area is far reaching as well. Some very pleasant looking accomodation in these particular stretches.



I wonder if you can have your own boat on here?

Be alright wouldn't it, moored up and ready for a trip over to The Isle of Man



The steps are in situation. Maybe they're considering it.



Pity the sun was dropping.



Must add as well, we didn't see one 'For Sale' notice board.

That's quite impressive.

[Mathos]

I wonder, is the glass reflective, it would be like living in a greenhouse if it takes in the full force of the rays.




They might all have grapevines and tomatoes on the verandas.





One thing I did notice that didn't look too inviting, there were bicycles stored on the verandas,
maybe there's a shortage of storage space or not secure storage space down below.

These push bikes can cost thousands nowadays.




Lights on on the Motorway. Clear blue sky in the heavens.



It was busy most of the way home as well.

[Mathos]

I was looking through some earlier photographs from summer.

I thought i would place a few on here prior to turning in.

Basically, I thought they looked good, and so considered they needed sharing.

One here from my garden, it looks so different right now,

not as leaf on a tree,
the grass is grubby and it's autumn,
coming up winter, as opposed to a British Summer





A more clear photograph of the garden. Looks quite good.




This is from the top end, I'll try and remember to take some of these views over the next day or two and post them, you wouldn't believe the difference.

Country Lane just down the road, going towards Cuerden Valley.

About a mile or so away.





Looks so much different right now.

[Mathos]

Some folk turn their homes into small or even large business outlets to accommodate the tourists visiting these interesting and extremely beautiful parts of the country.



There are numerous bed and breakfast places.

Some are houses, others farm houses with cottages attached or in the grounds etc.

They must keep busy, most of those we have noticed throughout the summer and autumn of late have usually supported 'No Vacancies'




Personally, I prefer hotels, but some of the places offering B & B accomodation do look extremely inviting.




I'd a difficult job in obtaining the photograph I wanted here.
The water under the bridge dropped into quite a deep gorge
by a nice cascade.

However, it wasn't practical to climb down to get the view.




Did my best by hanging over the edge though.

[Mathos]

Some superb views.




Regardless of the seasonal changes, I thought the patio area here looked outstandingly inviting.




I'd have no trouble sitting out there with a nice 'Hot Toddy' for instance, watching the day go by.


This Church was in a brilliant spot as well.



Magnificent views and the added bonus of your own 'Honey Pot' by the look of things.



They don't intend for these bridges to be getting washed away either.



It's quite amazing how some of the trees hold their leaves much longer than others.

[Mathos]

I had an appointment in Manchester at 7-10am of all times today. It meant getting up at 5 am, Flobo decided to come with me.




It was cold.




After the appointment I brought Flobo back via 'The Last Drop Village'



It was about 10 am when we arrived there, it was still frosty in places as well.

Nice though, really fresh.



We had a walk around and took a few photographs.




It is an attractive place.

They were advertising a host of entertainment 'Stars' over the weeks up to and around Christmas and The New Year.



You couldn't help but notice how clean and well presented everywhere was either.




I noticed the 'Old Fashioned' type rocking horses for sale.




I didn't see a price marked up on the same but I have seen these beauties going for several hundred pounds each over the years.

[Mathos]

I rather think the Village will be responsible for employing quite a large number of staff in general.




There was certainly a lot to look after and maintain.



The standards were high, that's for sure.

There was a beautiful spa there, it wouldn't have been prudent to take photographs though, there were several young ladies in bathing attire and such like when we were looking round.



Made up for it though lads, loads of period type photographs here for you to look at.




As Tommy used to say:-

"You lucky people"





Next time maybe.



Just got a severe weather warning on for The North West.

Very frosty at present with fog forming, freezing fog is forecast for the night and most of tomorrow.

We are meant to be going into Manchester again as well.

It's great walking in frosty conditions, fog isn't so nice at all though.

[Mathos]

Talking of Rocking Horses as well.

This seems quite an interesting link.

Some of you guys and gals with young 'uns in Thailand especially might be tempted to buy one of these.

17 Whinneys Road, Loudwater, High Wycombe, Bucks. HP10 9RJ
Phone / Fax +44 (0)1494 452496
VAT reg no 6693466 86

Rocking horses, horse sculptures, antique horses and rocking horse restoration by Legends Rocking Horses


Please click on images
to see more rocking horses and information.


Natural Wood
Rocking Horses


Dappled
Rocking Horses


Antique Rocking Horses
& Rocking Horse Restoration


Carousel Horses and
Special Commissions

About Us

Contact & Ordering

History of the Rocking Horse

General Materials and Manufacturing information

Site Map




Links

Acclaimed as the finest rocking horse maker in the UK, Legends Rocking Horses make exquisite Georgian and Victorian style hand-carved wooden rocking horses reflecting realism, elegance and a feeling of movement appealing to adults and children alike.

Our horses are all hand-carved using traditional carving tools which enable us to achieve in-depth and shapely carving detail. With their heads turned to one side and friendly facial expressions our horses are beautiful works of art suitable for riding or as an ornamental sculpture.

All our rocking horses are constructed in hardwoods using the very best of the Victorian techniques to ensure they take the weight of adults and their longevity is assured.

We offer a very wide range of wooden horses in both natural wood or painted finishes and the photographs throughout this website illustrate a small selection of rocking horses our small family business has made over the last couple of decades.

We also have a wide selection of rocking horses to view at our showroom in High Wycombe. Details for visiting us can be found on our Contact Us page

Although we always have horses available from stock most of our rocking horses are individually commissioned to enable you to own a unique family heirloom of the very highest quality - rare collector's items for present and future generations. More information on styles and options for customising your horse is available on our Sizes and options page.

Legends also sell restored antique rocking horses by sought after makes such as F.H. Ayres and G&J Lines. We are specialists in the sympathetic and authentic restoration of old and antique rocking horses and even the most dilapidated of horses are transformed to their former beauty and usability.

We also make outstanding replicas of the very best of the antique rocking horses we have encountered over the years which can be finished in a variety of ways to look new through to a realistic aged effect.

We also welcome special carving commissions such as carousel horses and unicorns. Please see our Carousel section for more pictures and information.



I missed these off the other posts.




Better late than never though.



There are so many different snaps to take from these places.

I'm thinking of getting a new camera in The January sales.



Anybody reading this who can give good advice, please let me know.

[Mathos]

It was freezing and foggy first thing this morning, the fog hung about all day, according to local weather reports it was quite bad with regards to visibility in some areas.




There were times though, when scenes like the one above looked so beautiful, we
simply paused a while and took a few photographs.

Flobo wanted to do some Christmas shopping in Manchester, we took one of our grandsons along with us.

First stop was The Trafford Centre.



It is indeed an extremely attractive place.

Large too.



The Trafford Centre has a tremendous amount going for it, well worth a visit and there are plenty of bargains about at present.

It's worth looking at The Link here as well.

The Trafford Centre, Manchester
The Trafford Centre, always ahead. Welcome Image of The Dome ... Find out more here Christmas partywear at The Trafford Centre ...

[Mathos]

Another great shot from the countryside.




Everything sleeping for another twelve weeks or so, and then it will start another cycle of beautiful colourful life.


Nature is kind of special.




It's nice too how The Trafford Centre portrays so many countries from all around The Globe.





You never really know what you might come across in there.

[Mathos]

This is The entrance to Lisieux Hall a rather splendid home run by The Bothers of Charity.




An additional Christmas type shot or two from The Trafford.




They must spend a small fortune on Christmas decorations in here.

We have been of an evening in other years, it always looks more effective in the hours of darkness of course.

Isn't that really how colourful lights and any form of attractive illuminations are expected to look.




Town Centre too.

We would have hung about for darkness, but whilst driving between The Trafford Centre and Manchester Town Centre, the local radio gave warning of heavier fog moving in and we thought it might be more sensible to get as close to home as possible before darkness came with it as well.

We left Manchester about 3.30pm by 4pm with the fog, it was really dark and driving visibility was restricted enormously, you wouldn't have thought that though if you had seen some of the blithering idiots driving along the fast lane of the Motorways!




Rudolph didn't have those sort of problems.



These things get all over the place though!



You could have some fun on The M6 in that I bet.

[Mathos]

Another of those country road snaps, It was quite different to be taking a few snaps in the fog.




As I mentioned, there is plenty of variation in the Trafford.

This is The New Orleans section, very well built as you can see from the buildings.





You can get lost in this place.




There's a large stage, various acts are strutting their stuff at certain times of the day.

This section is meant to resemble a large 'Cruise Liner'

There's even a swimming pool down there.




More variation here as well.




This section looked quite appealing.




The Car Parks were filling up rather quickly.

[Mathos]

The last one of those country scenes in the fog for the time being as well.




No doubt there will be more through the winter months.



A better photograph of Manchester's Big Wheel here.

You can see The Arndale Shopping Centre in the back-ground.



An interesting link here I obtained from The Net.

Very informative.



Big wheel back in town

David Ottewell
18/ 5/2007

MANCHESTER'S big wheel will roll back into town next week.

The wheel, saved after the M.E.N. managed to broker a deal between the city council and operators World Tourist Attractions, is due to open again next Friday.

It will operate until the early part of next year and will then be taken down - so it can be replaced with an even bigger version that could yet stay in Manchester permanently.

This year's wheel, which stands 60m tall, will arrive tomorrow in time for the first rides to take place next week. It is the same model that left at the end of January to allow a £720,000 refurbishment of Exchange Square and Piccadilly Gardens.

That is almost complete after olive and strawberry trees were planted this week to bring a touch of Mediterranean glamour to the area.

Other parts of the upgrade already in place include 350 blue LED lights in the square and across Corporation Street to the Manchester Arndale.

Blocks with built-in lights have also been replaced with granite blocks to complement natural stone in the rest of the square.

In Piccadilly Gardens, edges have been raised and paths widened to cut down on the 28m people a year who walk across - and damage - the grass. The council also arranged for a borehole to be drilled down to a natural aquifer - a kind natural underground water-source - to keep the gardens looking green throughout the year.

Regeneration

Sir Richard Leese, leader of the council, said: "Exchange Square is an important public space and one of the symbols of Manchester's regeneration.

"These improvements, along with those in Piccadilly Gardens, have placed our usual strong emphasis on quality. We're sure residents, workers and visitors alike will appreciate the changes."

The wheel due to arrive in 2008 will stand two thirds the height of the London Eye and will be in perpetual motion, with passengers using a walk-on, walk-off platform.

Each ride is made up of three turns of the wheel and takes 12 minutes.

Manchester's first big wheel started turning in Exchange Square in 2004 and proved a huge hit.

Celebrities spotted taking a ride on the wheel included United stars Paul Scholes and Roy Keane.

Last year the M.E.N. campaigned for a permanent home for the wheel in the city Centre after 90 per cent of people who took part in our phone poll and 62 per cent of people who responded to our online poll said it was "very important" to keep the wheel here.

During its six month turn in the city from November to May last year more than 100,000 people used the wheel.


This is well worth viewing, very informative.

Big Wheel Manchester
... hold left mouse button and drag arrows to look any direction. Right click to zoom or restart the spin. Triangle Shopping Centre & Big Wheel Manchester.
www.360spin.co.uk/virtual-manchester/triangle_wheel.htm - 12k - Cached - Similar pages


A couple of photographs here from inside The Arndale.




The shops appeared to be quite busy in genral.




What recession?





Many of the shops had window signs advertising for Staff over the Christmas period.



Keep the tills jingling.

That's important.



I'll put some more on tomorrow.

[Mathos]

Been busy this last couple of days.

Nice morning sun.

Frost and snow even.





A few simple shots of yesterdays frost.

For whatever reason I never snapped the snow this morning, too busy cleaning it away I suppose.

They have promised us more for Thursday, so I'll place some photographs on accordingly.




Frost was quite keen too.




Certainly makes the 'Spider's Work' stand out.



Quite an artistic feature really.

[Mathos]

Managed a snap of The Feral Cat that has been visiting our garden he/she is quite a nice looking specimen, but you cannot get near to it.





Growls like a Tiger.



There were over 200 schools closed in Lancashire today, due to the snow.

Sounds bloody ridiculous to me.



Frost creates a magic scene.




I must start putting the car in the Garage too.



It's being lazy that.




You would never know those Spider Webs were there without the frost.



I'm sorry I didn't take the photographs of the snow this morning.

It looked pretty good until I messed it all up.





Everything looks so bare at this time of year.






Still there is a certain attraction about everything.