Tuesday, 5 May 2015

Dundee Chambers


Dundee Chambers, on Princes Quay, used to be the offices of the Dundee, Perth & London Shipping Co. Ltd. This company ran ships up and down the coast from Dundee to London with all ports in between as well as other destinations.(DP&L History) Hull seems to have had good connections with the bonnie City of Dundee as this company took over an existing Dundee & Hull Shipping Company in 1857. Dundee is famed for its three J's: Jam, Jute and Journalism. I can see Hull benefiting from the first two but it's clear, if you've ever read the local paper, that the third J never made it.
This building is now part of the Sugar Mill nightclub on the corner of Posterngate

Monday, 4 May 2015

I'm just a walking the dog


'For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?'
Jane Austen

I caught this couple walking their pet just across the road the other evening. For some reason I don't think this puppy will win any prizes at Crufts. 

Sunday, 3 May 2015

Bank Holiday Sunday

Bruiser is always touched by our presence

.... and a Bank Holiday Monday to come, so many exciting things to see and do ....

Margot took this. And don't tell me he's lost most of his teeth he still eats more than is imaginable.

Saturday, 2 May 2015

For the union makes us strong


"People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices."
Adam Smith

Workers' unions, as we all know, are a Bad Thing, but associations of employers are a boon to the economy and strengthen trade and business and are therefore a Good Thing. Here on Queen Street the glowing future of the region is being forged by the great leaders of enterprise. Solidarity Forever!

Weekend Reflections are here.

Friday, 1 May 2015

12 Floréal CCXXIII


"The French Revolution caused great loss of life, liberty, fraternity, etc., and was, of course, a Good Thing, since the French were rather degenerate at the time; but Napoleon now invented a new Convention that the French should massacre all the other nations and become top nation, and this, though quite generate, was a Bad Thing."
Sellar & Yeatman, 1066 and all that

Next Thursday the voters of this land go to chose members of one of the most successful revolutionary institutions in the world. Yes I do mean Parliament, which was formed to restrain Plantagenet excesses,  and which has led two revolutions, beheading one king and overthrowing another and creating the means to hold Government to account. Well that's what it says in the textbooks and they wouldn't lie to me would they? Obviously all thought of revolution has gone out of the place, I hear the old building is nearly falling down (perhaps with the members still inside, perish that seditious thought!). But we live in troubled times, so they say, and this next parliament could see the exit from the EU, the break up of the UK and the immiseration of millions. Or not, as the case may be. Probably not, but I doubt heads will fall in any case that's not the style these days instead a place in the Lords awaits any failed minister.
Personally I’ll just sit here and watch the river flow, I hear Chelsea will win the Premier League this year, Hull look like staying up and did you see England win the cricket the other day, and will it be a Royal boy or girl and ain't it cold for Spring?

Today's image for the City Daily Photo theme of Revolution is from a ghost ride at Hull Fair, a celebration for the local yokels of things going round and round and getting nowhere at their own expense.

Thursday, 30 April 2015

and so it begins


Having been selected as the cultural omphalos for 2017 why not go the whole nine yards and spruce up the town as well with a £25 million rearrangement of the deck chairs? First for  'improvement' is Queen Victoria Square which is to get fountains in the pavement so your trousers get wet as you walk by. Still anything that gets rid of the acres of boring red brick paving can't be all bad. As in all campaigns you must first fortify your redoubt or the thieving natives will be off with your JCB before you can say City of Culture.

Wednesday, 29 April 2015

Forget-me-nots


Exactly five years ago this wholesome old romantic posted the first of the Hull and Hereabouts on the pleasant subject of private property and shopping. Well I had to start as I meant to go on I suppose. Anyhow after five years of austerity and working together to secure a solid recovery for all the people of this country and ... sorry, sorry, you try to avoid so many election broadcasts but they seep in by osmosis ...oh yes now where was I? Hmm, now the old fool is reduced to posting pretty flowers and wondering how quick the time flies and thinking how little things have really changed ....