Matilda

Matilda has been around by the harbour for a few years now, mixing with the ducks and geese. She sees no reason to go elsewhere. She has found happiness by the water's edge. No, not the lady with the bag; the barnacle goose. Obviously flying back and forth to Spitzbergen every year was too much of a drag when there's a free meal to be had every day. She's become a  bit of a favourite with the local fishermen who also feed her.

The crab business

To judge by the number of boats landing their catches the floor of the North Sea must be covered in crabs. In ten minutes I saw four boats landing their crates and this one was just coming into harbour. 

The main crab caught is the Brown Crab (Cancer Pagurus) the most commercially important species of crab in the U.K.

To catch 'em you'll need some bait, of course, some juicy looking salmon or trout heads will do nicely.

A few of these wouldn't come amiss

Load it up then you're ready to go.

Modernisation

The development of Bridlington harbour has been a long running saga with grand plans for marinas bubbling away in the background while local interest groups squabble among themselves. Here at last is something tangible. Built by the Harbour Commissioners, a £250,000 floating pontoon with electricity and running water and berths for 66 craft. This has got to be a boost for Brid's yachting trade and the money that follows that. Previously boats could only be reached at high tide now now they're available 24/7. Below shows the almost mediaeval moorings that have been replaced (no, don't laugh).

Window Boxes

Every year the buffet at Bridlington station puts on a floral display and this year's effort is as good as ever. As you can see it's not an understated affair by any means.

If you're thinking this looks familiar I mentioned this in a post ages ago here.

The Weigh-in

Bridlington is holding a four day sea angling competition (Sep 10-14). An obvious attempt to attract trade at the end of season. I came across the weigh-in where many anglers queued up to have their catch weighed. Many had two or three  large cod and ling. It was a time of much jollity and banter as you might imagine. The poor chap who had nothing to weigh was the butt of many a coarse joke.

St Charles Borromeo, Jarret Street

The Catholic church of St Charles Borromeo on Jarret Street was opened in 1829. This is not the place to go into my views on the Catholic Church (as someone who was sent to a Catholic school and to church every Sunday believe me I could go on for some time) so I'll just say that this building is next to the brewery and is Grade 2 listed.

You'd probably never heard of Charles Borromeo and neither had I until today. Wikipedia has him as an architect of the counter-reformation and setting up seminaries for the education of priests. Quite how that makes him a saint I don't know, and frankly I don't care.

Riverside balconies

An old riverside warehouse has been converted into apartments with balconies overlooking the brown gloop of the river Hull and an unredeveloped wilderness on the far bank. So desirable.

There's more B&W fun at the Weekend in Black and White.