Green door, what's that secret you're keepin'?

Haven't heard any old pianos being played hot round here in fact I've never seen any activity going on round here. This is or was and might still be a paint factory on Sculcoates Lane.

Here's some more green doors and  an old song  (well it's older then me).

Shelter

This is the other end of the snicket named Scott's Square. As I walked down I noticed what I thought was a some rubbish had been left in a black plastic bin liner that was just flapping in the wind that was funnelling down the passage. It occurred to me, because I read too many detective stories, that this would be a fine place to dump a body. Imagine my surprise when I came up close to find that there was indeed a body in the bag, a live one! I asked if he was OK and apologised for waking him up, he grunted something and I left him to his slumbers. I guess a man has a right to be left in peace.

You can find more monochrome images at the Weekend in Black & White here.

Old Town Blues

The latest piece of irritating frivolity from Hull City Council is to change the street signs in the old town to a blue background with white lettering, Quite what was wrong with the old black and white signs I don't know.  No doubt a highly paid consultant has come up with this wizard wheeze. Can you hear the stampede of visitors to see this latest attraction? No? Me neither.

Going, going, and soon to be gone

Oh dear, I read the just other day that the charity that runs the Arc design centre [ 1 ] otherwise known as (take a deep breath) the Humber Centre for Excellence in the Built Environment has been forced to close due to lack of funding. Practically before you could blink the 'building', which consists of five upturned caravans (see below), was up for sale by auction and sold off for £21,000. Given that it originally cost £750,000 that's no small amount of money gone down the proverbial. The buyer now has to dismantle all this and find somewhere to put it all back together again. 

The sparkling toad that used to sit outside here has already hopped it but then it is Spring and it probably has others things on its mind.... 

Molly

Whenever we pass the pet and garden shop on Beverley Road we have to stop and say hello to Molly. Molly is a Moluccan cockatoo and usually sits in her cage but is allowed out now and then to meet and greet customers with her seductive "Helloooow".

Pictures taken by Margot K Juby.

Hull: City of Culture!

It's over two years since I posted about the Albemarle Music Centre on Ferensway. Pretty soon after that post the place was threatened with closure due to a funding crisis. Fortunately funding for three years was secured last year so it can continue to be one of the country's music hubs providing an opportunity for children to learn to sing or play a musical instrument. Money well spent I think you'll agree and I was happy to read recently that this July three orchestras involving about a hundred young musicians from the centre will play at the Music for Youth festival in Birmingham. So good luck to them.

While I'm striking a cultural note I suppose I must mention Hull's bid to be the UK City of Culture in 2017.  I kid you not. The Council's bid may have attracted some jibes from various quarters but I can see no harm in at least trying to bolster the cultural amenities of the city which are often overlooked in these desperate times. Even if they don't win, making the city a more pleasant place to live and work is surely a worthwhile investment (It's something they should be doing anyway and not waiting for patronising crumbs off the Government's table). And imagine the fun if Hull won!

After this piece appeared over the weekend bookmakers cut the odds on Hull winning to 6-1! Betting, like plagiarism, is basic to all culture. 

Keep Out

Taken by Margot K Juby

Although crime rates have fallen to their lowest for many years it still pays to take precautions against unwanted visitors though maybe not quite such drastic ones as these on Stepney Lane.