Meat, Veg and Elvis

This is the indoor market and as you can see it's not exactly crowded. The Trinity Market, to give it its formal name, was opened in 1904 and sells a range of stuff from meat and vegetables to clothing, books to tropical fish and records to musical instruments. Competition from the large shopping malls has dramatically reduced the trade in the market so much so that half of it has been converted into a wine bar. Nevertheless it's still worth visiting for value for money.
I think the flags are something to do with this country having had sixty years of the same unelected head of state or maybe it's an outbreak of contagious patriotism. Who knows what goes on in the minds of flag wavers?

Elvis apparently has not left the building.

Ever so nearly not quite finished

Six months after I last posted about the new bridge across the river and, well, it's sort of nearly ready. Here they're busy putting the finishing touches to the approach route. Rumour has it that it will be opened next month but there's no hurry as there's nothing on the other side of the river worth crossing over for.

If you haven't got a clue what I'm talking about catch up here, here and here.

Purple

If you're looking for Hull's premier restaurant here it is. Ranked #1 of 156 or 188 restaurants (depending on which review you read) Port-Side is on Princes Dock and has a website here. I don't know what the food is like I just liked the purple.

Now with less

This picture, taken from the bus on my way home, shows a little piece of 20th century history. The building on the right is the remains of the National Picture Theatre on Beverley Road. It was destroyed in an air raid on the night of the 17^th March 1941 during a showing of The Great Dictator. One hundred and fifty people sheltering in the foyer escaped with their lives. Since that day the ruins have just been left and now it is the last blitz damaged civilian building in the country.

So what to do with the site? Well there were plans to turn it into restaurants and flats but the great bankster driven recession has put paid to that. There's now a plan to turn it into a ‘tribute to the home front’ whatever that means. As far as I know they are still seeking funding for this so it may be another seventy years before anything happens.

Now I've only ever passed the front of this ruin and was unaware of what lies behind until I came across this little web page while researching this post. All I can say is what a mess!

As for the building on the left that was a pub called the Swan. I only ever went in there once many, many years ago. I recall it was full of big tall Kerry men drinking a strange black liquid and singing Country & Western songs. I did not stay long.

Canned Laughter

Here's an odd little shop in the Hepworth Arcade. Dinsdale's has been selling laughter for seventy years or so, they stock everything from itching powder and whoopee cushions to fancy dress costumes and harmonicas.

Warhol at the Ferens

There's been an Andy Warhol exhibition at the Ferens art gallery most of this Summer. I went earlier in the year and was underwhelmed. I suppose it was worth seeing just because of the hype that surrounds him but it was a totally unmemorable experience. I wouldn't call him a great artist more a great self-publicising conman. Just as well that it was free to enter.

Lost at sea

The Flourish,  a  16-metre potter, was on its way back to Bridlington Harbour when it was in collision with the 88-metre vessel Nautica 28 miles off Flamborough Head. Three crew members including the skipper's son were rescued but the skipper John Collinson was never found. [Read more]

This is one of several memorial plaques on the south pier at Bridlington, reminders of the dangers of going to sea to earn a living.

Taphophile Tragics