The Lumpy Bumps

You know how it is; finishing off a make over and deciding that a little extra decorative piece would just round off the tout ensemble. So it came to pass that Hull acquired this artfully crafted installation down by the Marina. What is it, do I hear you ask? Hmm, you and the rest of the world ...

The Alley

I showed the pleasures of the far end of this delightful place a while back (OK five years ago, who's counting?). It looked like this. I don't think it'll have changed much since then.

I suppose in the interests of fairness, filling in space and finding something to say when completely out of ideas that the building on the right is reckoned to be one of the most haunted buildings in Hull if not in the whole country. The local rag regularly runs pieces (here's one) on alleged paranormal happenings, there is apparently an evil force lurking within. Even the police have been called out, I bet they loved that. I guess even Hull has its dull news days (no, no it does, rarely, I admit, but it can be dull in Hull) so these fantastical reports should come as no real surprise. If I was to tell you that you can pay to spend the night there and be scared out of your wits you might think some sort of scam was being played. I couldn't possibly comment.

The Florist

This was taken in December when it seems there was a market for wreaths of holly and mistletoe and other Yuletide paraphernalia; how long ago that seems now. Hollyhocks is on Princes Avenue and seems to be blooming.

The Takeaway

This one is on Cottingham Road but it could be just about anywhere in town, they're ubiquitous and they all look pretty much the same.

The Deterrent

On Liberty Lane some recent demolition work has left this quite redundant anti-intruder device hanging in the wind.

The weekend in black and white is here.

The Millpond

I'd never seen old Humber so flat calm and peaceful. No clouds other than those made by the gentle folk of Lincolnshire (*waves hello*) without which this picture and the similar one below would be somewhat lacking in interest. 

Thursday was exceptionally clear and in these parts and at this time of year that almost always means there'll be a cracking sunset, so I make no excuses yet another going-down-of-the-sun photo. I could get tired of these sights but hopefully not any time soon.

Weekend Reflections are here.

The Public House

Next door to our greasy fingered barber is the Star of the West or rather the reinvented Star of the West. The original watering hole was on West Street (geddit!) and looked a lot like this. 

As I recall I went into the old place on my first Saturday afternoon in Hull some thirty five or more years ago and had a pint of uninspired beer and a memorably soggy and execrable steak pie. A fine welcome! The place remained a sleazy dive, frequented by Saturday night pub crawlers and reporters from the nearby Hull Daily Mail. I never went in again and can't really say I missed it when the old place was knocked down to make way for this. However in my assiduous research for this post I did come across a song about the Star of West, it's in the 'folk' style and clearly the writer was more impressed than I was.