Our Changeable Weather

All afternoon yesterday, heavy rain clouds rushed across the sky. I had to keep running for shelter in our greenhouse to avoid getting totally drenched whilst gardening.

Intermittently the sun would burst out of the clouds with some quite powerful rays. I removed my coat several times!

Finally, the moment I had been waiting for, sitting once again sheltering from the rain in the greenhouse, the sun suddenly flashed out with the rain pouring down, and YES .. a rainbow appeared and what a fabulous sight, I do love rainbows! I could see the whole arc with all its colours quite vividly.

By the time the camera was ready, the sun was beginning to dull and the rainbow starting to fade. I stood on a wobbly chair to take these pictures looking over several other peoples backgardens in the Newland part of Kingston Upon Hull.

This was the very first snap I took, and I think the best.

Rainbows are quite common here because of our unpredictable weather systems.. no two days are the same. The weather forecasters have a terrible time predicting anything.

Perhaps April showers have been delayed to May this year, we seem to be having a hell of alot of rain, and on a daily basis.

I am just hoping for dry weather Sunday, Eric, Raphael and I have been invited to a barbecue, but, as usual, I will pack for wet weather just in case! You get used to it after a while!

Do YOU remember the Paddle Steamers across the River Humber?

...I do, many moons ago. My stepfather, then courting my mother used to take us across the river to New Holland for a day trip. The car and the dog would come too. We always had a fun time but I never did travel very well, queasy tummy over that short stretch of water. Often the ferry would lurch to a stand still hitting a sand dune on the way. Sometimes stuck for ages. We always returned home in the dark on the last ferry, it seemed so late to us as children.

The ferry was a coal-fired paddle steamer and was the last paddle steamer to cross the Humber and the last operational paddle steamer in the UK before it was withdrawn in 1978. Her resting place is Grimsby and apparently a floating restaurant.

Now, of course the Humber Bridge crosses the divide, but has become a 'White Elephant', costing huge amounts of money to the local tax payers. Perhaps its time to bring back the paddle steamers as an alternative mode of crossing the River Humber?

PS Lincoln Castle

This photograph courtesy of Ted Gator

Victoria Pier still remains in Hull, decked and flowered for visitors, a nice spot to look up and down the River Humber. Look left and you can see North Sea Ferries, look right and you see the Bridge. This picture was taken from the top deck of "The Deep".

Now the ferries have stopped the pier looks rather empty, the water distinctly dirty and hardly a soul insight. The cafe seems to stay dormantly closed all too quiet.

Bleak now but I have fond memories of this place, the smells and the noises. The men shouting to guide the cars onto the ferry. Rushing upstairs to get the best seats... packed like sardines! Fighting the howling wind that beat your face when going on deck!!

The seats look wet and lonely.


The once vibrant busy brewery and the world famous toilets stand empty and silent. Brewing commenced here in 1985 and ceased 1989, then restarted in 1994 and ceased again in 1998. The brewery has since been removed and is now part of the pub.

Just a few of my nostalgic experiences, I have no photographs of my trips across the River Humber all those years ago but there are a few to be found on the web.

Have you been on any of the 3 ferries that crossed the Humber?

Do you use that expensive bridge 7 miles upstream, or do you drive the entire way round across Goole bridge?

I miss the ferries do you?

T.K. Maxx - Thumbs Down!

Have you TIME to shop here??

I am fairly easy going when it comes to shopping, I am quite happy wandering round stores hunting for bargains, checking rails for anything 'buyable'. It does tend to be like a rather large 'jumble sale experience', shopping in T.K. Maxx with clothes dotted all over the already crammed store. Access with wheelchairs and buggies is impossible down the narrow aisles full of trolleys spewing clothes. If you are an unusual size.....very small or very big T.K. Maxx is like an Aladdin's Cave, although you have to hunt for standard sizes. I have found that if you are patient and are prepared to rake....you WILL get yourself a super bargain...

Most parents like myself, tend to drop children at school and then make a quick dash to the town to shop, childless and stress free. Time is ALWAYS limited and always precious. I shall NEVER shop first thing in the morning at T.K. Maxx in St Stephen's Shopping Centre, Hull again.

Can you believe how ridiculous this is..... the changing rooms do not open until 10.30 am in the morning!!!! Have I missed something here, isn't this a clothes shop, selling to the public, and opening at 9.00 am? What an absolutely ludicrous situation. When I asked an assistant, the curt reply was Head Office were not prepared to put extra staff on for this purpose???? The assistant also very professionally told me that "I need to go to the toilet" !!!!! (did I really need to now that!)

So me and my trolley load of bargains never made it to the changing rooms, or the unmanned tills, my money was better spent in Dorothy Perkins.

Thumbs DOWN T.K. Maxx.

Not a pleasant shopping experience.

Love Local *NEWLAND AVENUE*, Hull

The Love Local Scheme

2nd May 2009

Newland Avenue Fun Day

Kingston Upon Hull

Seventy traders signed up for a new *Love Local* campaign kicking off with a colourful fun day, in beautiful sunshine on Newland Avenue, Hull. Here are just a few photos of the fab street entertainment.

The event run by the Community Church on Newland Avenue has its own website.. http://www.lovelocal.org.uk/ for more information. If you shop on Newland Avenue you MUST take a look.

Strolling up and down the Avenue people dressed in wacky costumes...like this!

Raphael, Sally and I had come specifically to watch a group of Cheerleaders, named THE HONEYS. They danced their energetic routine outside Piper Club, the weather was just perfect.

The music was loud, the crowd were happy and the girls had fun. Nice one HONEYS!

Rounding off the afternoon, 70 golden balloons were released with people given the chance of winning £200 of shopping vouchers. The wind was strong and gusty and the balloons snaked up the side of The Piper Club and away into the distance very quickly.

The aim of this event was to promote the businesses lining Newland Avenue, by providing a loyalty scheme and discounts to compete with the local supermarkets. I wholeheartedly support this attempt to preserve the "English Local" and I too *Love my Local* and shall continue to shop on NEWLAND AVENUE, HULL.